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Creamy Spinach Ground Turkey Skillet - Fast, Cozy, and Satisfying

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • Ground turkey (1 to 1.25 pounds, 93% lean works well)
  • Olive oil or avocado oil (1–2 tablespoons)
  • Yellow onion (1 small, finely chopped)
  • Garlic (3–4 cloves, minced)
  • Paprika (1 teaspoon)
  • Dried Italian seasoning or dried oregano (1 teaspoon)
  • Crushed red pepper flakes (optional, 1/4 teaspoon for heat)
  • Salt and black pepper (to taste)
  • Chicken broth or stock (1/2 cup)
  • Heavy cream (3/4 cup; or half-and-half for lighter)
  • Cream cheese (2 ounces, softened; helps thicken and add tang)
  • Parmesan cheese (1/3 cup, finely grated)
  • Baby spinach (4–5 cups, roughly 5 ounces)
  • Lemon (1, for zest and a squeeze of juice)
  • Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
  • Cooked rice, pasta, or crusty bread (for serving, optional)

Method
 

  1. Prep your ingredients. Chop the onion, mince the garlic, and measure spices, broth, and dairy. Cut cream cheese into small cubes so it melts quickly.
  2. Brown the turkey. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add ground turkey, breaking it up with a spoon. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Cook until no pink remains and edges are lightly browned, 5–7 minutes. Transfer to a plate, leaving some drippings in the pan.
  3. Sauté the aromatics. Reduce heat to medium. Add onion with a pinch of salt and cook until soft and translucent, 3–4 minutes. Stir in garlic, paprika, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Deglaze and simmer. Pour in chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits. Let it bubble for 1–2 minutes to reduce slightly.
  5. Make it creamy. Stir in heavy cream and cream cheese. Whisk or stir until smooth and slightly thickened, 2–3 minutes. If it seems too thick, splash in more broth; too thin, simmer another minute.
  6. Add the turkey back. Return the cooked turkey and any juices to the skillet. Stir to coat in the sauce. Simmer 2 minutes to mingle flavors.
  7. Stir in spinach. Add spinach by handfuls, stirring until just wilted. It will look like a lot at first but cooks down quickly, 1–2 minutes.
  8. Finish with cheese and lemon. Turn heat to low. Stir in Parmesan, a little lemon zest, and a squeeze of juice. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or spice as needed.
  9. Serve. Spoon over rice or pasta, or serve with crusty bread. Garnish with parsley and extra Parmesan if you like.