Here at Jeff’s, we’re all about family -especially when it comes to sharing a delicious meal together. Just like all behaviors, your little ones learn to eat well from watching what you eat on a daily basis. That’s why eating together and enjoying some kid-friendly recipes is a beautiful thing to do. Plus, let’s face it, we can all use a win in the kitchen every now and then.
So, with that in mind, we’ve taken the liberty of rounding up our top 5 mouth-watering turkey recipes for kids that include our turkey jerky. Trust us, these delicious turkey recipes will have everyone leaving the dinner table happy, healthy, and full-bellied.
What more could you ask for?
Turkey Jerky Pasta Bake
First up, we have a healthy casserole with Gluten-Free teriyaki turkey jerky, whole wheat pasta, kale, and of course, bubbly cheese! This turkey recipe boasts a restaurant-quality dinner, and is absolutely out of this world. The whole wheat Penne soaks up the delicious tomato sauce, with a hint of balsamic and spice, while the soft and tender 100% all-natural, gluten-free turkey jerky seeps out the outstanding Teriyaki flavoring which kids all over the world LOVE.
The Ingredients:
- 2 packets of Gluten Free 100% All-Natural Teriyaki Turkey Jerky
- 3 cups (10 oz) whole wheat penne/fusilli pasta uncooked
- 4 – 5 cups kale stems removed & chopped
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 4 large garlic cloves minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 1 tbsp oregano dried
- 1 tsp rosemary dried
- 1 tsp basil dried
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Ground black pepper to taste
- 28 oz tomato sauce low sodium
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup pasta water
- 2 cups 6 oz mozzarella cheese shredded & divided
- 1/3 cup Italian parsley chopped
- Cooking spray
The Instructions:
- Cook pasta al dente as per package instructions, undercooking by 4 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water, and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- In the meanwhile, preheat a large skillet on medium heat and add olive oil. Add onion and garlic, sauté for 2 – 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add oregano, rosemary, basil, a pinch of red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring a few times.
- Add your turkey jerky and cook for another 5-7 minutes, breaking it into small pieces and stirring occasionally.
- Add tomato sauce, honey, balsamic vinegar, and pasta water. Stir, bring to a boil, and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Add kale and stir to combine. Now add cooked pasta and stir to combine more.
- Transfer half of the mixture to a previously prepared baking dish and sprinkle with 1 cup cheese. Add remaining pasta meat mixture and sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, let stand for 10 minutes, garnish with parsley and serve hot.
Turkey Jerky Pesto Panini
Looking for the ultimate kid-friendly recipes for lunchtime? We’ve got you covered with this tasty Turkey Pesto Panini. It’s packed with pesto, avocado, tomatoes, ooey-gooey melted mozzarella, and once again, our yummy tummy teriyaki turkey jerky. If you have some cranberry sauce, you can even include it in this super simple turkey recipe!
The Ingredients:
- 1 pack of Gluten Free 100% All-Natural Teriyaki Turkey Jerky
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 loaf of French bread, cut into 3-4 equal pieces
- 1/2 cup pesto, homemade or store-bought
- 4-8 ounces mozzarella, sliced
- 2 Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced
- 1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled and sliced
The Instructions:
- Heat olive oil in a grill pan over medium-high heat.
- Spread 2 tablespoons of pesto over 1 side of French bread and top with mozzarella, turkey jerky, tomatoes, avocado and top half of bread. Repeat with remaining slices of bread.
- Add sandwich to pan and grill until the bread is golden and the cheese is melted, about 2-3 minutes per side.
Thai Turkey Jerky Rice Casserole
This turkey recipe for kids is perfect for a healthy dinner any day of the week! By using veggies, canned soup, turkey jerky, and rice -it can be whipped up in no time.
Our Thai jerky is a low-sodium masterpiece of culinary originality. If your little one loves Thai Peanut sauce, they will LOVE this. Jeff created this unique flavor using innovative methods to make it without nuts, so it is safe even if your child has a peanut or nut allergy. Jeff wanted to offer an alternative to red meat jerky, and he worked on this tirelessly to make sure it was mouth-watering, soft, and tender with so much flavor that everyone would enjoy it.
The Ingredients:
- 2 packets of Thai Satay Turkey Jerky
- 2 cups frozen mixed veggies -could use chopped fresh as well
- 2 cups whole grain rice
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
The Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix together turkey jerky, veggies, rice, soup, chicken broth, salt, and pepper. Pour into a 9 x 9 casserole baking dish. Top with shredded cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes, uncovered.
Turkey Jerky Pot Pie
This twist on traditional turkey pot pie is so delicious, and as it features our teriyaki jerky, it’s a complete hit with the kids!
Truly comfort food at its finest -the flaky puff pastry crust that sits on top, with the creamy turkey mixture that melts in your mouth; mmm, we forgot what we were talking about. But this kid-friendly recipe is definitely something the whole family will enjoy, and probably even beg you to make!
The Ingredients:
- 2 packets of Gluten Free 100% All-Natural Teriyaki Turkey Jerky
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2/3 cup frozen corn kernels
- 1/2 cup frozen diced carrots
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 puff pastry sheet, cut into four 4 1/4-inch squares
- 1 large egg, beaten
The Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly oil four 10-ounce ramekins or coat with nonstick spray.
To make the filling:
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add garlic, onion, corn, carrots, and peas and cook, occasionally stirring, until onions become translucent for about 2 minutes.
- Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute.
- Gradually whisk in chicken broth, milk, and thyme, and cook, constantly whisking, until slightly thickened, about 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in turkey jerky; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Then, divide the filling evenly into the ramekins. Top with puff pastry and gently cut four vents in the top of the crust. Brush each crust with the beaten egg.
- Place into the oven and bake until the crust is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Thai Turkey Jerky Curry
Last but not least, this turkey recipe for kids is quick to whip up, super easy to make, and is jam-packed full of flavor. Super delicious served white, pilau, or brown rice, or just naan bread if you feel like going solo!
Ready in just 25 minutes, this Thai turkey jerky curry is a great way to add some authenticity to your dinner table.
The Ingredients:
- 2 packets of Thai Satay Turkey Jerky
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 1 red pepper sliced
- 1 green pepper sliced
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- 3 cloves garlic crushed or grated
- 3 cm ginger grated
- 3 teaspoons garam masala
- 2 teaspoons turmeric
- 1/2 cup frozen chopped carrots
- 350 ml passata (or chopped canned tomatoes)
- 200 ml coconut milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
The Instructions:
- Place the oil, onions, and peppers in a wide, deep pan and cook over gentle heat (lid on) for about 5 minutes, or until softened but not brown.
- Add the chili, garlic, ginger, garam masala, and turmeric and fry gently for two more minutes (add a tiny splash of water from the kettle if it gets too dry).
- Chop and add your turkey jerky, passata, chopped carrots, coconut milk, salt, and pepper, and bring to a boil. Turn down low and simmer for 10 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Serve with rice or naans, and all your favorite accompaniments.
Not a big fan of turkey? All of the recipes above work great with beef jerky too! Click here to see our incredible selection of beef jerky, and become a culinary genius with delicious kid-friendly recipes.
