Ground Turkey Quesadilla

If you’re looking for a quesadilla that’s a bit on the lighter side, a lean Ground Turkey Quesadilla is a fantastic option, especially when jazzed up with the bold flavors of garlic and sage. 

There’s no doubt that turkey is a lean, healthy protein but it needs some serious help when it comes to flavor. Ground turkey is like the rice cake of the protein world; there’s a reason people eat those things slathered in nut butter (or Nutella). And there’s a reason I aggressively season ground turkey, as I prescribe in this Ground Turkey Quesadilla recipe. 

Ground sage is the perfect seasoning to punch up the flavors of ground turkey. And adding fresh minced garlic, onion powder, and hot Hungarian paprika to the mix creates a quesadilla that’s bold and unique.

Especially when paired with a quick Mustard Crema :).

How do you make a Ground Turkey Quesadilla?

INGREDIENTS  

• 1 pound ground turkey (I used 97% lean, 7% fat ground turkey)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil or bacon grease
• 1 heaping teaspoon ground sage
• ¼ teaspoon hot Hungarian paprika (or regular paprika)
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 3-4 cloves garlic, finely minced 
• salt, to taste
• black pepper, to taste
• 4 large flour tortillas
• 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese (I grate my own)
• cooking spray

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Melt bacon grease (or heat olive oil) in a large pan over medium heat. Add ground turkey and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally and using a spoon to break the turkey into smaller pieces. 
2. Add the minced garlic, ground sage, hot Hungarian paprika, and onion powder. Stir and cook for another 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the turkey is cooked through.
3. Remove pan from heat. Taste and add a few dashes of salt and pepper until you’re satisfied with the seasoning.
4. Lay a tortilla on a cutting board and sprinkle half with ½ cup shredded cheese. Top with a quarter of the cooked ground turkey. Finish by sprinkling with another ½ cup shredded cheese. 
5. Fold the naked half of the tortilla over the top of the side with fillings. Repeat the step above with the remaining quesadillas.
6. Heat a large pan or griddle to medium heat. When warmed up, spritz the surface with cooking spray.
7. Add quesadillas and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side, or until crisp and toasty looking (you may need to cook one at a time, depending on the size of your cooking surface).
8. Remove from heat and cut into four slices. Serve with Mustard Crema.

How do you make Mustard Crema?

If you want an easy dipping sauce to go along with your Ground Turkey Quesadilla that isn't salsa, try this Mustard Crema.

INGREDIENTS  

• ⅓ cup crema
• 2 tablespoons country Dijon mustard
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ⅛ teaspoon ground mustard
• salt, to taste
• black pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add crema, mustard, onion powder, and ground mustard to a bowl and whisk to combine.
2. Taste and add salt and black pepper as you see fit.

Optional additions and substitutions

If you don’t have all the ingredients called for in this Ground Turkey Quesadilla recipe, or want to explore alternative additions and substitutions, check out these suggestions. 

• Add ½ teaspoon cumin to add earthy notes.
• Try using ½ cup diced white onion instead of the onion powder.
• If you don’t have fresh garlic, use 1 teaspoon garlic powder instead.
• Add in a fresh, finely diced jalapeno or a few dashes of cayenne pepper to add heat.
• Feel free to use another good melting cheese other than cheddar, like pepper jack or Oaxca. 

*NOTE: This Ground Turkey Quesadilla would also be FANTASTIC with leftover cranberry sauce. Keep this quesadilla recipe in mind when you’re faced with flipping Thanksgiving leftovers. You can even swap in leftover shredded turkey :). 

If you dig this, try these other quesadillas:

• Spinach Feta Quesadilla
• Grilled Chicken Quesadilla
• Buffalo Chickpea Quesadilla
• Chorizo and Caramelized Onion Quesadilla
• Dill Pickle Quesadilla

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