Name: Ground Turkey Zucchini Chickpea Skillet
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 Tbsp olive oil (or vegetable oil); 1 lb ground turkey; 1 cup chopped onion; 3 garlic cloves (minced); 1 ½ cups chopped zucchini (about 1 medium zucchini); 1 cup chickpeas (drained and rinsed); 1 cup canned diced tomatoes (with juices); ¾ cup peas (canned or frozen); ¼ cup tomato paste; 1 tsp onion powder; 1 tsp garlic powder; ½ tsp chili powder; ½ tsp paprika; ½ tsp salt; ¼ tsp ground black pepper; 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

This ground turkey skillet couldn't be easier to make. The turkey is browned in a pan, then mixed with vegetables, chickpeas, tomatoes and spices. Freshly grated mozzarella is melted on top for extra flavor. Serve on its own, with rice, pasta or quinoa for a healthy family dinner.

Frying pan with ground turkey zucchini chickpea recipe topped with melted mozzarella cheese.

Zucchini Turkey Skillet

Need a quick and healthy dinner idea? This ground turkey skillet is easy to make and perfect for busy nights when you need a meal in under 15 minutes.

I'm a big fan of meals that save me time and money! This easy recipe checks all the boxes and is something you can repeat throughout the month.

Once you learn this easy one-pan method you can use it for a variety of dinner recipes including our ground turkey sweet potato skillet, our easy chicken burrito bowl, and ground beef with sweet potatoes.

Recipe Ingredients

2 Tbsp olive oil - or vegetable oil
1 lb ground turkey
3 garlic cloves - minced
1 cup chopped onion
1 ½ cups chopped zucchini - about 1 medium zucchini
1 cup chickpeas - drained and rinsed
1 cup canned diced tomatoes - with juices
¾ cup peas - canned or frozen
¼ cup tomato paste
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Spices:

1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp chili powder
½ tsp paprika
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper

Three images of ground turkey in a frying pan in various stages of cooking.

How To Make Ground Turkey Zucchini Chickpea Skillet

Full ingredients and instructions are also in the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.

STEP 1: Cook the 1 lb ground turkey with 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat, breaking it apart as you go.

Four images of a frying pan. First with ground turkey and onion unmixed, then mixed together. Third image is zucchini, chickpeas, diced tomatoes, peas and tomato paste over top of cooked ground turkey. Last image is

STEP 2: Move the ground turkey to the side and add 1 tablespoon olive oil, 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 cup chopped onion. Cook until onion turns translucent, about 1-2 minutes. Stir everything together.

STEP 3: Now add in 1 ½ cups chopped zucchini, 1 cup chickpeas, 1 cup diced tomatoes (with juice), ¾ cup peas, ¼ cup tomato paste and all spices (1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper).

STEP 4: Mix everything and cook on low for 2-4 minutes, or until zucchini is crisp-tender when poked with a fork.

STEP 5: Remove from heat and sprinkle 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese on top. Cover with a lid or a plate for 1-2 minutes to help the cheese melt. Dish on to plates and enjoy!

Close up of ground turkey zucchini skillet recipe topped with melted cheese

Recipe Tips

You’ll need 1 lb of ground turkey for this recipe. You can also use lean ground beef or ground chicken.
Drained and rinsed chickpeas are mixed in but can be replaced with any type of bean you prefer. Lentils, black beans, and white navy beans would also work.
Once the skillet recipe is cooked, sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top. You can also use cheddar cheese, marble cheese, monterey jack cheese, parmesan or feta.
The cheese might not melt easily - If needed, just add a lid or plate to the top of the frying pan (removed from heat) for 1-2 minutes. It should easily melt then.
Zucchini should be "crisp-tender" when ready to serve. That means it can easily be poked with a fork but isn't too mushy. The longer you cook, the mushier it can get.
This recipe can be adapted to your tastes. Try different veggies like asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, and sweet potatoes. Top with ketchup, salsa or hot sauce!

How To Store Leftovers

To Refrigerate - The leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To Reheat - Reheat in a pan on the stove or the microwave until warmed through.

Fork scooping the ground turkey cheesy recipe close up on the pan

Tools For This Recipe

(Amazon affiliate links) - Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.

10″ Professional Nonstick Fry Pan – One of the top bestselling frying pans on Amazon.
Ninja Foodi Never Dull Knife Set – I love this set as it comes with a foolproof sharpening system built right in. Great for getting those thin strips of beef for this recipe!
Measuring Spoons – I have these magnetic ones which stay nice and organized in my utensil drawer.
Spatula – Gentle enough to scrape along the bottom of the pan without scratching it. This is a sauce-making must-have! - this

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