How To Turn Ground Turkey And Rice Into A Comforting Dinner Under $10

When you want a satisfying and hearty dinner without spending a fortune, these ingredients can help. Ground turkey, rice, and gravy make a comforting and satisfying combination. You don't need to spend hours in the kitchen, and you can turn these ingredients into a meal for less than $10. Ground turkey is a versatile and budget-friendly protein option, white rice provides carbohydrates, and vegetables provide additional vitamins and nutrients. The best part is how easily you can customize this set to your preferences and what ingredients you have available.

Try serving the turkey and veggie gravy over fluffy white rice, stir everything together in a skillet, or transform the ingredients into a comforting casserole. If you decide to go the casserole route, check out these tips for making better casseroles so you can get the right balance of ingredients and avoid that soggy result — a common mistake in casserole dishes. Frozen veggies are simple to prep, but you need to make sure you add them at the right time so they don't get mushy.

If you grab your ingredients from Walmart, you can find frozen vegetables for $0.98, ground turkey roll for $4.44, brown gravy mix for $0.57, and white rice for $1.82. That brings your total to $7.81 — less than $10, and you're not even going to use up all of these ingredients in one meal. Depending on how many people you're cooking for, you will have some rice, turkey, and veggies leftover for another meal. Or you can cook most of it up now and find creative ways to use the leftover rice later.

Cooking this dish on your stovetop is probably the easiest way to make a turkey and vegetable gravy over rice. Brown the ground turkey and season with salt and pepper, along with garlic and onion powder for some upgraded flavor. You could also use some poultry seasoning for an easy way to kick up the flavor and give the turkey some depth. If you have an onion on hand, dice it up and fry it up with the turkey. Or for further convenience, use frozen chopped onion to cook in the turkey fat.

Stir in your frozen veggies and prepare the gravy according to the directions on the packet. Mix everything together and allow to simmer so the flavors combine. If the mixture is too thick, add a spoonful of water at a time until it's the right consistency. If it's too thin, you can simmer it all for an extra couple of minutes to help it reduce. Similarly, thin or lumpy gravy can be cured with this retro ingredient. Once it reaches the desired consistency, pour it over the rice and serve.

However, the stovetop method isn't the only way you have to cook up this meal. Try a casserole edition for a super comforting spin. For the casserole method, combine all your ingredients, cover with foil, and bake in the oven until it's cooked through. If you have some shredded cheese, sprinkle some over the top for even more comfort and richness.