Ground Turkey and Butternut Squash Skillet with Feta

Butternut squash is traditionally considered to be more of a winter vegetable, but you know what? This veggie is way too tasty to be relegated to one season. So, today I’m breaking from the norm and boldly announcing that butternut squash is an every-season vegetable. Exhibit A: This ground turkey and butternut squash skillet.

This rich and savory one-pan recipe is filled with drool-worthy flavors in every bite. All you need is ground turkey, cooked butternut squash cubes, canned tomatoes, fresh veggies, feta cheese, and Italian seasoning. In under 30 minutes, you’ll be enjoying your new favorite healthy meal with butternut squash and wishing you had made more.

You can serve this delectable dish on its own as a complete (and ultra-satisfying) meal or pair it with a side salad or cooked veggies. If you want to make it extra filling, you could even add some cooked rice or quinoa to the skillet. There are plenty of ways to adapt this recipe to make it your own, so have some fun with it and enjoy!

What You’ll Need

Here are the key ingredients you’re going to need to make this butternut squash skillet.

• Ground Turkey: I like to keep this dish lean by using 99% lean ground turkey, you can use any kind you like. If using frozen, make sure to let it thaw in the fridge for 24 to 48 hours before cooking with it.
• Butternut Squash: You’ll want to use cooked butternut squash for this dish. You can buy a whole one or cut down on some prep time with pre-cubed butternut squash.
• Diced Tomatoes: Make sure to leave the tomatoes undrained—we want those tomato juices!
• Feta Cheese: This tangy cheese beautifully balances the rich and savory flavors of the dish. If you don’t have any feta on hand, goat cheese would have a similar effect.
• Italian Seasoning: You can make your own homemade Italian seasoning or use your favorite store-bought blend. This adds tons of delicious, warm flavors to our skillet.

Recipe Tips and Substitutions

Here are some of my favorite recipe tips and substitution ideas for this dish:

• For some added fresh flavor and a pop of color, garnish the dish with chopped fresh herbs just before serving it. Oregano, thyme, and parsley would all work great.
• Feel free to toss in some extra veggies like spinach, kale, swiss chard, or mushrooms.
• Not a fan of feta? Swap it out for another cheese like gruyere, parmesan, mozzarella, or goat cheese. For a dairy-free meal, swap your favorite plant-based cheese or just leave out the cheese.
• You can switch up the meat by replacing ground turkey with ground beef, turkey, chicken, or pork. Alternatively, you could leave out the meat altogether and make this butternut squash skillet vegetarian.
• If you can’t find butternut squash at the store, you can use another root vegetable in its place. Good options include sweet potatoes, russet potatoes, yuca, or any combination you like.
• If you’re looking for more of a kick, double the amount of crushed red pepper or add some finely chopped red chilies into the mix.

Side Dish Ideas

This healthy weeknight meal is loaded with protein and packed with nutrients. I’ve found that it’s perfectly satisfying on its own, but this butternut squash skillet also tastes fabulous with a simple side dish like cooked veggies or a refreshing salad. Need some ideas? Here are some of my favorite side dishes to pair with this main course:

• Easy Dinner Rolls – You can never go wrong with some fresh, warm, fluffy bread. Oh, and did I mention you only need two ingredients?!
• Slow Cooker Brussels Sprouts – This brussels sprouts recipe is cozy, delicious, and super easy to make.
• Easy Mediterranean Salad – This vibrant salad is packed with flavor and tons of beneficial nutrients, protein, and fiber.
• Garlic Sautéed Spinach – Want some leafy greens but don’t feel like adding them into the skillet? This tasty spinach side dish is your best friend.
• Easy Cucumber Salad – If you want to keep things simple but still flavorful, this tasty side salad is a fantastic choice.