Posted Jan 20, 2019, Updated May 15, 2024 Asian cuisine is one of favorites. Probably because common Asian ingredients like hoisin sauce, coconut milk, garlic, ginger etc. are rich in flavor and nutritious. This Thai slow cooker ground turkey combines the flavors I love with a cooking method that makes executing this dish very easy (crock pot). This ground turkey recipe is an easy dinner that only takes 10 minutes to prepare. It can be served in many ways including over rice or noodles.
Thai Slow-Cooker Ground Turkey: Ingredients & Substitutions
Here are a few potential substituions for this healthy slow cooker turkey recipe!
Ground turkey. Ground chicken or beef work well in this recipe. Soy sauce. For a paleo version use coconut aminos. Brown sugar. honey or coconut sugar are great substitutes for browns sugar. Powdered ginger. use fresh minced ginger instead of powdered, if desired. Bell Peppers & Edamame. use your favorite vegetables. Sometimes I even put sweet potatoes in the dish. Cornstarch. Arrowroot or tapioca starch work well.
How to Make Slow-Cooker Ground Turkey
This Thai Slow-Cooker Ground Turkey is crazy easy to make, but we’ll walk through the process step-by step and don’t forget to watch the video.
Make the Sauce
The first step in this recipe is making the sauce. Whisk the sauce ingredients together in the container of your slow cooker. No need to dirty an extra bowl by whisking it in a separate dish.
Brown the Ground Turkey
Next, brown the ground turkey & onion together in some olive oil before adding it to the slow cooker is a key step in making this healthy ground turkey recipe. Browning adds both texture and flavor to this dish.
Cook in the Slow Cooker
After the turkey/onion mixture is browned, put it into the slow cooker. Next, add the veggies and stir to combine. Since the turkey in this recipe has already been cooked, this dish only needs to be cooked until the veggies are done. I recommend cooking it on high for at least 2 hours, or on low for at least 4 to give the flavors time to blend. I love this recipe because It doesn’t need to cook all day to still be delicious.
Thicken the Sauce
If necessary, use cornstarch (or tapioca starch) and water to thicken the sauce in the crockpot. This step isn’t always necessary. It mostly depends on the water content of the vegetables you use. Cook for 30-60 minutes on high or until sauce is thick. Add the cornstarch and water to the mixture in the crockpot, then leave the top slightly ajar and cook for 30-60 minutes, until thickened.
Serve
Here are a few delicious ways to serve this Thai Slow-Cooker Ground Turkey (other than all by itself, of course!
I always serve it with crushed peanuts or cashews sprinkled on top. Serve it over Noodles or vegetable noddles of your choice (zucchini, sweet potato, etc). Enjoy it with rice of any kind (white, brown, fried rice, cauliflower, etc) Over a salad Stuffed inside a baked sweet potato
Store/Freeze
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
