When you are short on time but still want something tasty and nutritious, this is the recipe to reach for. Keto Italian ground turkey and peppers is loaded with flavor and just 3 net carbs per serving.

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This is a genuine one-skillet wonder, my husband, who insists he cannot cook, makes this one for the family regularly, and even he agrees it is one of the best ground turkey recipes we make.
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Chef Jenn’s Take on Italian Ground Turkey and Peppers
Cook the peppers and onions first, remove them from the pan, then brown the turkey separately. Trying to cook everything together at once muddles the texture of both.
Sautee the onion until translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes, adding garlic for just the last minute. Add the peppers and cook 2 to 3 minutes more, until tender-crisp, then remove everything from the pan. Brown the turkey in the remaining oil and drain any liquid. Season the turkey directly with Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes if you want it, then add the peppers and onion back in to heat through together. Use fresh peppers only, frozen ones turn mushy. Do not overcook the peppers, keep them tender-crisp, not fully soft.
Buy good quality lean ground turkey when it goes on sale and keep extra in the freezer, it makes a quick meal like this even easier. One reader served this over mini farfalle for the non-keto side of her family. Another, recently starting keto in her 70s after a concerning A1c result, made this her very first keto recipe and plans to double the peppers, onions, and garlic next time.

What You’ll Love About Italian Ground Turkey and Peppers
- Ready in about 20 minutes, real weeknight speed.
- Loaded with flavor, just 3 net carbs per serving.
- A genuine one-skillet wonder, easy enough for even a self-described non-cook.
Ingredients

- Ground turkey – Lean. Buy on sale and freeze extra for quick meals.
- Bell peppers – Red and green, or whatever you have on hand. Fresh only, frozen turns mushy.
- Onion – Sliced thin.
- Garlic – Fresh, minced.
- Italian seasoning – Check the label for hidden sugar.
- Red pepper flakes – Optional, for a pop of heat.
- Fresh parsley – Don’t skip it, it adds real flavor.
- Avocado oil – Or your favorite cooking oil.
How to Make Italian Ground Turkey and Peppers
Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.
Sautee the onion in half the avocado oil until soft and translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sautee until aromatic, about 1 minute.

Add the peppers and cook 2 to 3 minutes more, until tender-crisp. Remove the pepper and onion mixture from the pan.

Brown the ground turkey in the remaining oil. Drain any juices from the pan. Add the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Mix well.

Add the peppers and onions back to the pan and heat through. Adjust the seasoning and serve, garnished with fresh parsley.

Make It A Meal
I like this with Mashed Turnips or a batch of cauliflower rice. My family gets regular rice or potatoes alongside theirs.
For more quick keto dinners, Korean Beef Bowl, Egg Roll in a Bowl, and Italian Chicken Lettuce Wraps are all worth adding to the rotation.

Storage
Cool thoroughly, then package in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave or a skillet on the stovetop. The peppers will not be as crisp after freezing, but the dish will still be good.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it totally is! It has only 3 net grams of carbs and no high carb ingredients, making it a great pick for a low-carb diet.
They sure can be! This Italian Ground Turkey & Peppers recipe is totally keto. You can limit the onion and garlic if you want to drop the carbs down even further.
This is a 1 pound ground turkey recipe – 1 pound plus the other ingredients, will make four servings.
Italian Ground Turkey with Peppers
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1/2 cup onion sliced
- 1/2 red bell pepper cubed
- 1 clove garlic minced finely
- 1 tablespoon italian seasoning
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes optional
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil divided
Instructions
- Sautee the onions in 1 tbsp of the avocado oil until soft and translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Add the garlic and sautee until aromatic, about 1 minute.
- Add the cubed peppers to the onions and garlic. Continue to cook for 2-3 minutes or until the peppers are tender crisp. Remove the pepper and onion mixture from the pan.
- Brown the ground turkey in the remaining oil. Drain any juices from the pan.
- Add the Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, and red pepper flakes (optional). Mix well.
- Add the peppers and onions back to the pan and heat through. Adjust the seasoning and serve!
Video
Notes
Recipe Card Tips
- Cook the peppers and onions first, then brown the turkey separately, rather than cooking everything at once.
- Use fresh peppers, not frozen, which tend to turn mushy.
- Don’t overcook the peppers, keep them tender-crisp rather than fully soft.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed. Erythritol carbs (sugar substitutes) are not included in the carbohydrate counts as they have been shown not to impact blood sugar, and they have zero calories and zero carbs. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
If you’re looking for even more easy keto recipes, be sure to check out this slow cooker ribs and sauerkraut dish, or this meaty sausage pick. If you’re a soup fan, this wonton classic is a must try, or this veggie packed beefy soup.
Breakfast can also be tasty when you feast on these fun egg bites or this deli classic. And for a bite of something sweet, try these Keto Cinnamon Sugar Pork Rinds!









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Great quick and easy keto recipe. It’s super convenient for those days when I get home late and quickly need dinner on the table. Works well for us as we always keep ground turkey and bell peppers at home. Thanks
This recipe looks so easy and delicious! Pinning for later.
Super easy and tasty meal for my busy nights driving kids around!
This recipe is so easy. Thank you for sharing. Will make it this weekend.
Gave this a try for dinner and it did not disappoint! So hearty and flavorful; the whole family loved it!
Much tastier than you’d think! Repeater!
Right!?!? I keep coming back to this simple recipe because the flavors just WORK! ~Jenn
the Italian ground turkey and peppers were delicious! We had with mini farfalle.
Thank you.
Hi Jenn! I too have recently (sadly) gotten a 6.6 A1c after never having one over 6.1. As I’m 71 years old, I don’t want to start with diabetes. So now I’m looking at keto recipes and found this one. I made it last night, and will make it again, but with double the peppers and onions – and probably garlic. Thanks for your recipe!!
Hi! I’m sorry to hear your A1c is high but it’s not too late to turn things around! That Turkey & Peppers is one of my fav recipes! So simple but so good – I’m glad you loved it!
Jenn