This simple skillet Green Chile Ground Turkey is an explosion of flavor! Well-seasoned ground turkey with savory black beans, crisp corn, and a saucy fire-roasted green chiles base make an easy, 30-minute (or less) weeknight meal!

Try some of our other favorite ground turkey skillet meals — like Hoisin Ground Turkey Bowls, Asian Ground Turkey, or Ground Turkey Stir Fry.

Overhead image of the Green Chile Ground Turkey

Green Chile Ground Turkey

This Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet is a favorite at my home — my boys are constantly requesting it! It’s also such a perfect weeknight (and easy) meal that I can have on the table in a hurry. (A must with their ever-evolving, busy schedules!) 

In an effort to change things up a bit, but still present a dinner the kids would go crazy for, I channeled flavors from another favorite (this White Turkey Chili) into this quick skillet meal that is a new family favorite.

And it’s been a huge hit! There is so much flavor, loads of “hidden” veggies, and a melty cheesy topping.

Process shots-- images of the veggies being sautéed and then the ground turkey being browned

Let’s Chat Ingredients

Below are my notes on some of the ingredients in this Green Chile Ground Turkey Skillet:

  • Green enchilada sauce. We like Old El Paso® mild sauce best. Use a hotter sauce if you’d like some heat. And if you’re feeling ambitious, try making your own Green Enchilada Sauce! We have also tested this recipe (and loved the results) using Herdez’s mild salsa verde in place of the enchilada sauce.
  • Diced red pepper. We love the sweet bell pepper in this recipe but have also made this recipe with finely diced carrots and that was also tasty — whichever you have on hand! (If using carrots, make sure to really dice them small so they’ll get tender in time.)
  • For ground turkey, use turkey sold in a carton, rather than in a chub. Chub-style ground turkey is the kind that comes in the plastic tube and it tends to be less flavorful and more watered down, so you’ll likely need to drain the meat after browning.
  • Cheese. We love pepper Jack here, but Monterey Jack, sharp white Cheddar, or sharp Cheddar would be delicious! Even better? A combo of several types of cheeses.

Process shots of Green Chile Ground Turkey-- images of the green chiles, enchilada sauce, black beans, and corn being added

Shortcuts

Green Chile Ground Turkey Shortcuts

  • We recommend fire-roasted diced green chiles — this adds layers of flavor (fire-roasting) without any additional work on your end! 
  • Use minced garlic from the jar to save more time.
  • Diced onions. A lot of grocery stores sell diced onions in the produce section of the store. Alternatively, frozen diced onions are often found by the other frozen veggies and can be used in this recipe.

Process shots-- images of the cilantro, lime juice, and cheese being added

Let’s Top This Green Chile Ground Turkey!

This Green Chile Ground Turkey is so tasty right out of the skillet — we’ve even enjoyed it with a bag of chips right out of the skillet!

Here are some of our favorite toppings:

  • Sour cream: regular, lite, or fat-free sour cream — any of these will work. Fat-free keeps things light while also adding in some nice creaminess. A small scoop goes a long way!
  • Chips: Crushed chips or tortilla strips (seasoned or plain) add a nice contrasting crunch to the dish.
  • Ripe avocado or guacamole: For an additional element of creaminess, we love a ripe avocado sliced on top.
  • Additional cilantro and lime juice are always nice flavors to add.

Up-close overhead image of the Green Chile Ground Turkey

Quick Tip

Green Chile Ground Turkey Spice Levels

  • As written, it’s fairly mild using a mild green enchilada saucemild green chiles, and mild chili powder (such as McCormick®).
  • For a spicier dish, use medium or hot green enchilada sauce and hotter green chiles. You can also add in 1-2 tablespoons diced jalapeños and 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper to boost the heat. 
  • Also note that if you add in cheese and/or sour cream, this tames down the spice quite a bit.

More Ground Turkey Recipes:

5 from 1 vote

Green Chile Ground Turkey

This Green Chile Ground Turkey skillet is packed with flavor! Juicy turkey, black beans, crisp corn, and a saucy fire-roasted green chile base come together in just 30 minutesโ€”perfect for busy nights!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Equipment

  • Large pot or Dutch oven

Ingredients 
 

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1-1/2 cups finely diced red onion 1 large onion
  • 1 red pepper diced
  • 1 pound ground turkey 93/7, see note 1
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 tablespoon ground chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 3/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 (4-ounce) can mild fire-roasted diced green chiles drained
  • 3/4 cup mild green enchilada sauce or 3/4 cup mild salsa verde, see note 2
  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans drained and rinsed
  • 1-1/2 cups frozen corn optional
  • 1-1/2 cups freshly shredded pepper Jack cheese see note 3
  • 1 lime optional
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
  • Toppings as desired see note 4

Instructions 

  • Place a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the oil and once hot, add in diced onion and red pepper. Sautรฉ until becoming tender, about 5โ€“7 minutes. Press veggies to edges and add ground turkey in the center. Season with salt and pepper (I add 1/4 teaspoon each here). Crumble ground turkey with a wooden spoon, breaking it down as you cook.
  • Once mostly cooked through (5โ€“7 minutes), drain off any excess liquid in pot (if needed) and add the seasonings: chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste (I add 3/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper). Add minced garlic. Cook, stirring constantly, until very fragrant, 2โ€“3 more minutes.
  • Add in drained green chiles and green enchilada sauce, scraping the bottom of the pot to release any browned bits. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. Add drained and rinsed black beans and frozen corn. Stir until warmed through, about 3โ€“4 minutes. Mix through 2 tbsp lime juice and cilantro, if using. Remove the pot from the heat. Cover evenly with pepper Jack cheese and cover the pot with a lid (or foil). Let stand for 5โ€“7 minutes or until nicely melted. Remove the lid and dig in!
  • Top bowls with desired optional toppings such as extra cilantro and/or lime, thinly sliced avocado or scoop of guac, sour cream, and crispy tortilla strips.

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Choose turkey sold in a carton, rather than in a chub. Chub-style ground turkey comes in the plastic tube and tends to be less flavorful and more watered down, so youโ€™ll likely need to drain off the meat after browning.
Note 2: I like Old El Pasoยฎ mild sauce best. Use a hotter sauce if youโ€™d like some heat. If youโ€™re feeling ambitious, try making your own green enchilada sauce! I have also tested this recipe (and loved it) using Herdezโ€™s mild salsa verde in place of the enchilada sauce.
Note 3: I love pepper Jack here, but Monterey Jack, sharp white Cheddar, or sharp Cheddar would be delicious! Even better? A combo of 2โ€“3 types of cheeses.
Note 4: Optional toppings: extra cilantro and/or lime wedges, thinly sliced avocado, fat-free or lite sour cream, and crispy tortilla strips.
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through or in the microwave, stirring occasionally.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 656kcal | Carbohydrates: 32.1g | Protein: 49.7g | Fat: 13.2g | Cholesterol: 145.2mg | Sodium: 1006.1mg | Fiber: 9.9g | Sugar: 6.4g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Meet Chelsea


Hello, and welcome to Chelseaโ€™s Messy Apron! Iโ€™m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. Iโ€™m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping byโ€”I hope you find something delicious to make!

More Recipes You'll Love

5 from 1 vote

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




2 Comments

  1. LIZZIE WOOLSEY says:

    5 stars
    Living in Mew Mexico, I have been trying recipes with Hatch green chiles. Tried this out yesterday and it was a HUGE hit, even amongst my kiddos who do not like green chile.

    I used leftover Thanksgiving turkey that we had put in the freezer. I chopped it to resemble ground turkey (just for aesthetics).

    I served it with baked rice that I put green chile in.

    Thank you! I am sharing this recipe with all my friends

    1. Chelsea says:

      I am so thrilled to hear this! Thanks Lizzie!