This Ground Turkey Broccoli Cheese Rice Skillet is cozy, comforting, and reminds me of my Southeast Texas roots! Plus it’s made in one-pot, ready in 40 minutes, loaded with protein, and even the picky eaters will want to go back for seconds!
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You know how sometimes you take a bite of a dish and it immediately reminds you of home? That’s exactly what happened when I first made this ground turkey broccoli cheese rice skillet.
My family grew up eating at a restaurant called Black Eyed Pea. It was your typical Southern spot with cozy comfort dishes you’d find in an old-school cafeteria.
And their broccoli cheese rice casserole was THE THING to order. (Oh ya, and their mini cornbread muffins were delish, too!)
It was unlike any other I had tasted before.
Yes, it was cheesy. Yes, it was secretly loaded with TONS of broccoli.
But it also had this incredibly crunchy topping that balanced out the softer textures so well.
That’s where the inspo for the Panko-Parmesan cheese topping came from in this recipe. It’s a must-make to take this dish to the next level of awesome!
This One-Pot Meal is a Go-To Dinner Recipe!
As if this header doesn’t tell you enough, let me go into a little more detail as to why you won’t be able to stop making this dish:
- One pot is all you need! You will want to make sure it’s oven-safe as you’ll need to pop the dish into the oven to broil a bit at the end.
- Packed with protein. Unlike your typical broccoli cheese rice, this recipe makes a FULL meal as it’s loaded with a pound of lean ground turkey.
- 40 minutes from start to finish. And that includes the prep time AND cook time!
- Picky-eater approved. While yes, there is a bunch of green in this dish, kiddos will eat their veggies when they’re disguised in a big bowl of cheesy rice!
- Full of flavor. Unlike other broccoli cheese rice recipes, this one has a few extra ingredients to give it that extra bit of grown-up taste. (The hint of mustard is key to giving it a unique flavor, so don’t leave it out!)
Ingredients
- Broccoli. Fresh was used in making this recipe, but you can go with frozen if needed. Just make sure to thaw it and add later in the process so it doesn’t get overcooked.
- Turkey. A lean 85/15 blend of turkey is perfect to keep this dish light but still full of flavor. You can go with another ground meat, like chicken or beef, as well.
- Green onions and sour cream. It might seem optional, but these two really add an extra dimension of flavor to the finished dish (plus they make it look so pretty!).
- Dried herbs. Oregano, basil, paprika, salt, and pepper give this dish so much flavor.
- Liquid. Both broth and milk combine to create a creamy base that pairs perfectly with the rice and broccoli. You can go with all broth if needed, but sub the broth with water rather than choosing only milk.
- Cheese. You’ll want both grated Parmesan cheese and shredded cheddar cheese for the filling and the topping.
How to Make Broccoli Cheese Rice with Ground Turkey
Please see the recipe card below for ingredient amounts and more detailed instructions.
1. Cook the Turkey and Veggies
Before beginning, be sure the broccoli is cut into chunks no bigger than 1 inch.
Add 1 tablespoon of oil to an oven-proof Dutch oven or large saucepan. Stir in the turkey and cook for 6 to 7 minutes. Break it apart while cooking until it’s no longer pink.
Push the turkey to the side of the pan and drizzle another tablespoon of oil to the pan. Add the diced onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. It should be translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
2. Season and Add Veggies
Pour in the milk and broth, being sure to scrape the bottom of the pan to pick up any browned bits. Stir in the rinsed and drained rice, dried oregano, basil, paprika, mustard, salt, and black pepper.
Spread the broccoli across the top of the rice, but do not stir. Cover with a lid, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook the rice mixture for 17 to 20 minutes, just until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
3. Add the Cheese and Topping
While the rice is cooking, stir together the melted butter, Panko breadcrumbs, and grated Parmesan cheese.
After the mixture is cooked, stir the shredded Cheddar cheese for 1 to 2 minutes, until it’s completely melted. Sprinkle the Parmesan-breadcrumb mixture evenly on top.
4. Broil and Serve
Preheat the broiler. Then, place the pot under high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. The cheese topping should be golden brown.
Serve this dish hot with some thinly sliced green onions and a dollop of sour cream, if preferred.
FAQs
You will need to adjust the amount of liquid you add and the cook time when using brown rice. Also, add the broccoli later on since it will need to cook longer.
The best way to store leftovers is in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days. You can freeze this dish for 3 to 4 months, as well.
This is an excellent dish to make ahead of time and reheat it. Just note, the breadcrumb topping won’t be quite as crispy.
What to Serve with Ground Turkey Broccoli Cheese Rice?
While this dish is perfect to scoop up in a bowl and enjoy, there are a few things you can add.
Add some sauce, like Sriracha Mayo or Ranch Dressing.
Or, whip up a salad, like Chopped Kale Salad with Cranberries, Spinach Beet Salad, or Lemon Arugula Salad.
More One-Skillet Recipes
On a busy weeknight, there’s nothing like a one-pot meal. Try one of these next!
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Ground Turkey Broccoli Cheese Rice Skillet
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Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. avocado oil divided
- 1 lb. 85/15 ground turkey
- 1 small sweet onion finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves finely minced
- 1 ½ cups chicken or vegetable broth regular sodium
- ½ cup 2% milk
- 1 ¼ cups white rice rinsed and drained
- ¾ tsp. dried oregano
- ¾ tsp. dried basil
- 1 tsp. paprika
- 1 tsp. Dijon or yellow mustard
- 1 ¼ tsp. salt to taste
- ½ tsp. black pepper to taste
- 1 large head broccoli cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 Tbsp. salted butter melted
- ¼ cup Panko breadcrumbs gluten-free if needed
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Green Onions thinly sliced, for serving, optional
- Sour Cream regular or dairy-free, for serving, optional
Instructions
- In a large ovenproof Dutch oven or saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add ground turkey and cook, breaking apart, until no longer pink, for about 6-7 minutes.2 Tbsp. avocado oil, 1 lb. 85/15 ground turkey
- Push the cooked turkey to the side and add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the pan. Add diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until translucent. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.1 small sweet onion, 3 garlic cloves
- Pour in broth and milk, scraping the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits. Add rinsed and drained rice, dried oregano, dried basil, paprika, mustard, salt, and black pepper. Arrange broccoli florets on top in a single layer. Do not stir.1 ½ cups chicken or vegetable broth, ½ cup 2% milk, 1 ¼ cups white rice, ¾ tsp. dried oregano, ¾ tsp. dried basil, 1 tsp. paprika, 1 tsp. Dijon or yellow mustard, 1 ¼ tsp. salt, ½ tsp. black pepper, 1 large head broccoli
- Cover and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for 17-20 minutes or until the rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Meanwhile, in a medium-sized bowl, whisk together melted butter, Panko breadcrumbs, and grated Parmesan cheese.1 Tbsp. salted butter, ¼ cup Panko breadcrumbs, ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Once the rice is cooked, stir in the shredded Cheddar cheese and stir for 1-2 minutes until melted. Sprinkle the Parmesan breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top.2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Preheat the broiler. Broil the dish under high heat for 2-3 minutes or until the topping is golden brown.
- Serve hot and finish with thinly sliced green onions and a dollop of sour cream (if using).Green Onions, Sour Cream
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Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This will be a repeater in our house! It is soooo delicious! My husband had seconds!
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Kathy! It’s always great when husbands go for seconds. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!