Creamy Ground Turkey and Spinach Skillet
A quick, creamy, and protein-packed one-pan dinner featuring ground turkey, fresh spinach, and a luscious sauce made with cream cheese and parmesan. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights and reheats beautifully for meal prep.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey (93% lean preferred)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 5 oz fresh baby spinach (about 5 packed cups) or 1 cup frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- 3 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
- 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper, or to taste
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
- Red pepper flakes, to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Dice the onion, mince the garlic, and measure out all other ingredients. If cream cheese is cold, microwave for 10-15 seconds to soften.
- Heat olive oil in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until no longer pink and starting to brown, about 5-7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Move browned turkey to the edges of the skillet. Add diced onion to the center and cook 2-3 minutes until soft. Add minced garlic and cook 1 minute more, until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth and scrape the skillet bottom to loosen any browned bits. Stir everything together.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Add cream cheese in small chunks and stir as it melts into the turkey. Slowly pour in heavy cream, stirring to create a smooth, creamy sauce.
- Stir in grated parmesan, ground nutmeg, and red pepper flakes (if using). Taste and adjust salt or pepper as needed. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes.
- Add spinach and stir until wilted and bright green (or until excess liquid from frozen spinach cooks off).
- Remove skillet from heat. Squeeze in lemon juice and stir well. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
- Serve hot, topped with extra parmesan and black pepper. If sauce thickens too much, add a splash of broth to loosen.
Notes
For a lighter version, use half-and-half or whole milk instead of heavy cream. Substitute kale or arugula for spinach, or use ground chicken instead of turkey. For dairy-free, use plant-based cream cheese and coconut cream. Add sun-dried tomatoes or cooked pasta for variations. Prep all ingredients before starting for a smooth cooking process. If sauce is too thick, add broth; if too thin, simmer uncovered.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/4 of recipe (1 generous cup)
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 11
- Carbohydrates: 7
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: ground turkey, spinach, skillet dinner, creamy, one pan, low carb, gluten free, easy dinner, meal prep, high protein