Getting ready for back-to-school means getting back to planning for everyday meals – breakfast, lunches, dinners and snacks.
As busy parents, it’s more important than ever to find new ways to help your family eat well that are budget-friendly, too. Canadian Turkey can help you get back-to-school ready with easy and delicious recipes (like Turkey Ragu!) that will please every member of your family!
5 TIPS TO GET BACK-TO-SCHOOL READY WITH CANADIAN TURKEY
This post is sponsored by Canadian Turkey, Turkey Ragu recipe provided.
- Scale Up
Turkey is a great option when planning to double or triple your favourite recipes. Scale your recipes so you can cook once and then freeze extra portions to have on hand when you need dinner or lunch in a hurry.
- Foolproof Favourites
Develop a series of go-to recipes that you know are easy to prepare and that your family will love. The Canadian Turkey website is packed with kitchen-tested recipes that are both healthy and tasty too. Turkey is so versatile and comes in so many cuts that you can find something for everyone’s taste and preference.
- Plan Ahead
Try to cook with recipes where you can do some prep work ahead of time or plan to pre-cook some or all of the ingredients. Meal planning up to a week in advance is a great way to save time during busy weeknights.
- Keep it Healthy
Turkey is a great source of protein and important minerals and nutrients. Both dark and white meat is lean, so you can feel good putting turkey on your plate without having to compromise on taste and flavour.
- Change It Up
Turkey adapts to all of your favourite flavour profiles and spice combinations, and with so many cuts to choose from you can find choices that please the whole family. Turkey is a delicious option for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can serve it hot or cold, and it tastes great the next day, too!
Meal Starter Turkey Ragu
- 3.5 – 4 lbs. ground Canadian turkey
- 2 turkey sausages, removed from casing (optional)
- 3 cups white onion, minced
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 tbsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. sweet paprika
- 1 tbsp. ground Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp. tamari sauce
- 2 jars (2 X 680 ml) pureed tomatoes
- 3 cans (3 X 398 ml) diced tomatoes
- Salt and pepper to taste
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil and sauté onions over medium heat.
- Cook until onions are lightly browned and caramelized, 6 – 8 minutes. In the last 2 minutes, add garlic and mix to incorporate. Do not let garlic or onions burn or they will make your sauce bitter.
- Add turkey meat and sausage if using. Stir occasionally so meat cooks evenly.
- Add garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, Worcestershire and tamari. Cook for 8 – 10 minutes until no longer pink and cooked through.
- Add tomato puree and diced tomatoes.
- Bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 10 minutes until flavours incorporate.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. (Some tomato products do not come seasoned)
- Divide into desired portions, approximately 1 cup per person, and freeze until ready to use.
- TIP: To add big flavour, make sure to follow these tips. Cook onion slowly until caramelized, but not burned. For best tomato flavor, use a premium brand of canned tomatoes. To add a large punch of flavor, buy butcher made sausage and remove from casings.
Canadian Turkey can teach you to cook smart by creating ‘meal starters’ that you can cook once and then use as a base to create multiple recipes later on. Make the Meal Starter Turkey Ragu, freeze in multiple portions and then you have a base on hand for quick meals during busy weeks. Use this meal starter to create soups, pastas, casseroles, chili, and rice dishes. Do the heavy lifting once and make cooking multiple healthy and nutritious dinners super quick and easy!
Click here to see other ways you can use this Turkey Ragu base.
I know that Saucy Turkey Meatball Subs would be a big hit.
We would love the QUICK & TASTY HONEY LEMON ROSEMARY TURKEY TENDERS.
The Spiced Fried Turkey Nuggets is sure to become a family favourite!
I love the sounds of the MAKE-AHEAD CREAMY TURKEY MAC AND CHEESE
I love the sounds of the MAKE-AHEAD CREAMY TURKEY MAC AND CHEESE.
The MAKE-AHEAD CREAMY TURKEY MAC AND CHEESE is sure to become a hit!
The Turkey Burger Mac-N-Cheese is sure to be popular because it combines a healthy food with one of the few food items popular with both the young and older ones in the family.
The yummy Stuffed Turkey Rolls with Pasta Sauce will definitely become our family favourite.
The JERKY TURKEY MEATBALL SUB would be a hit!
I’m planning to try the Make-Ahead Creamy Turkey Mac and Cheese.
The Turkey Burger Mac ‘n Cheese sounds delicious!
the turkey burger mac and cheese would be a big hit with the family
My grandkids would find CREAMY TURKEY STEW IN A BREAD BOWL simply amazing. 🙂
For sure the Sky-High Veggie Packed Turkey Nachos will be a family favourite in my house.
Stuffed Turkey Rolls with Pasta Sauce. thanks
Fried turkey would be a keeper for us.
My kids would love Turkey Burger Mac-N-Cheese.
I know they will love the Batch Turkey Meatballs, easy to freeze and great on sub buns with cheese
TURKEY SLOPPY JOE SLIDERS is sure to become a family favourite
I think my family would like MINI PIZZA MEATLOAVES
The Smoked Turkey Wraps (https://www.canadianturkey.ca/recipes/smoked-turkey-wraps/) are sure to become a family favourite because everybody gets to customize their own plate.
The Turkey Lettuce Wraps sound great!
I think we’d like the Saucy Turkey Meatball Subs.
Make-Ahead Creamy Turkey Mac and Cheese will be a favourite.
Batch Turkey Meatballs would be enjoy by my family for a variety of recipes.
Batch Turkey Meatballs would be enjoyed by my family for a variety of meals.
MAKE-AHEAD CREAMY TURKEY MAC AND CHEESE is sure to be a hit with the kids
MAKE-AHEAD CREAMY TURKEY MAC AND CHEESE
My whole family would enjoy The Turkey Burger Mac-N-Cheese
I think my daughter would really like the crunchy turkey cutlets!
I think the Porcupine Meat Balls would be a big hit!
TURKEY SLOPPY JOE SLIDERS will be a favourite with my family.
The turkey mac and cheese!
The Turkey Burger Mac ‘n Cheese sounds perfect!
I know they would like Make-Ahead Creamy Turkey Mac and Cheese.
Turkey mac & cheese
Italian Turkey and Spinach Pie looks delicious.
I think my family would love the Crunchy Turkey Cutlets….on their own or in a Crunchy turkey burger!
Stuffed Turkey Rolls with Pasta Sauce.
The Grab and Go Turkey Muffins would be a quick family favourite; perfect for breakfast and yummy lunches.
My grandchildren would love the Make-Ahead Creamy Turkey Mac and Cheese.
TURKEY MAC AND CHEESE
We would all love the Turkey Burger Mac ‘n Cheese
The Grab and Go Turkey Muffins! I already make these all the time because they are SO easy to throw in my son’s lunch for school.
The Turkey Quesadillas sounds like it could become a family favourite.
Turkey sloppy joe sliders! Yummy!
Make ahead creamy mac n cheese is a favourite.
We would love the Crunchy Turkey Cutlets
The Quick & Tasty Honey Lemon Rosemary Turkey Tenders are sure to be a family favorite.
My children love Mac n cheese so I would love to try turkey Mac n cheese
Turkey burger mac’n’cheese sounds good.
I think the PARTY TURKEY & CRANBERRY QUESADILLAS would be a family favourite!
I’m sure that TURKEY BURGER MAC ‘N CHEESE will easily become a family favourite!
The Turkey Sloppy Joe Sliders would be a family favorite.
The turkey sweet potato burrito looks fantastic – I know we will love it!
The meatball subs look so good
fried turkey
I’d like to try the Quick & Tasty Honey Lemon Rosemary Turkey Tenders–so useful for leftovers at lunch and suppers.
I think the turkey burger man n cheese would be super.
The Crunchy Turkey Cutlets would be something our family would enjoy.
MAKE-AHEAD CREAMY TURKEY MAC AND CHEESE would be a hit with my family!
The Spiced Fried Turkey Nuggets
We would like the Best Ever Turkey Chili.
Turkey Burger Mac ‘n Cheese for sure! Thank you!
Turkey lettuce wraps would be yummy!
The turkey bagel burgers would be a hit at my house. I’m sure the kids would like to experiment using different types of bagels!
I can see the Turkey Lettuce Wraps becoming a favourite for all of us! Yum!
I think the kids would really enjoy the CREAMY TURKEY STEW IN A BREAD BOWL.
MINI PIZZA MEATLOAVES , the whole family will love this one !
I love the MAKE-AHEAD CREAMY TURKEY MAC AND CHEESE
turkey tacos!
The Crunchy Turkey Cutlets look divine!
my family would like to try the Saucy Turkey Meatball Subs
My kids would love the MAKE-AHEAD CREAMY TURKEY MAC AND CHEESE.
My family would love the The Spiced Fried Turkey Nuggets
The post on your Facebook page this morning about the reason coffee is so popular (because kids don’t like it enough to take it from adults) made me laugh out loud! 😛
Fried Turkey looks amazing
TURKEY AND CRANBERRY SANDWICH SPREAD
honey lemon rosemary turkey tenders
I know my whole family would like the Stuffed Turkey Rolls with Pasta Sauce
because of my daughters obsession with macaroni … hands down a family favorite would be the Turkey Burger Mac ‘n Cheese
I think my kids will love the party turkey cranberry quesadillas.
The Smoked Turkey Wraps would be a favourite both for a meal or for school lunches!
I think the CRUNCHY TURKEY CUTLETS would be a big hit
The TURKEY BURGER MAC ‘N CHEESE looks like it could become a family favourite.
TURKEY LASAGNA WITH RICOTTA AND BASIL sounds great.
Turkey nachos for the big and little kids and the tzatzikiand cucumber sandwich
Turkey lettuce wraps would be great for my kids 🙂 such fun ideas! Thanks
The Turkey Quesadillas could definitely become a family favourite!
the turkey meatball sub is our favourite
Italian Turkey and Spinach Pie
The turkey burger mac n cheese/
MAKE-AHEAD CREAMY TURKEY MAC AND CHEESE
Turkey lettuce wraps..
Love the stuffed turkey rolls with pasta sauce. It’s already a family favourite!
We choose turkey burger mac and cheese.
SAUCY TURKEY MEATBALL SUBS would be a hit in our home.
Spicy friend turkey nuggets, for sure!
STUFFED TURKEY ROLLS WITH PASTA SAUCE sounds like something my kids would love!
Quick & Tasty Honey Lemon Rosemary Turkey Tenders
The Turkey Lettuce Wraps will be a favourite
I’m sure my kids would love the CRUNCHY TURKEY CUTLETS. They sound so good.
MAKE-AHEAD CREAMY TURKEY MAC AND CHEESE
I would make the MAKE-AHEAD CREAMY TURKEY MAC AND CHEESE
The BAKED TURKEY CHEDDAR RANCH PULL-APART SLIDERS are sure to become a family favourite in our house!
the creamy turkey mac and cheese
the turkey burger mac and cheese would be a big hit with the family
My kids would love me to make the PORCUPINE MEAT BALLS! So cute and yummy.
turkey mac n cheese
We will try the make ahead creamy turkey mac and cheese.
I think the MAKE-AHEAD CREAMY TURKEY MAC AND CHEESE will definitely become a family favourite.
The Turkey Quesadillas would definitely be a family fave!
I’d have to say the Batch Turkey Meatballs.
Stuffed Turkey Rolls with Pasta Sauce
I so want to try Creamy Turkey Mac and Cheese.. looks awesome!
My family will love the The Spiced Fried Turkey Nuggets.
The family is sure to love Piri Piri Grilled Turkey Drummettes
The mac n cheese turkey burger is really yummy! Thanks
The Turkey Lettuce Wraps!
Make-Ahead Creamy Turkey Mac and Cheese!
The MAKE-AHEAD CREAMY TURKEY MAC AND CHEESE is sure to become a favourite for my family.
The Turkey Burger Mac ‘n Cheese sounds so good
I think the Tortilla Pizza Melt will be a hit!
the make ahead mac and cheese would probably be a big hit in our home.
The yummy Stuffed Turkey Rolls with Pasta Sauce would become our family favourite. sound soooo good
The CREAMY TURKEY STEW IN A BREAD BOW
My favourite is APPLE MAC AND CHEESE BAKE
TURKEY SWEET POTATO BURRITO sounds so darn good
The Turkey Lettuce wraps for sure! Great snack , easy to prep and of course healthy
The turkey sloppy joe sliders look delicious!
We’ll be making the fried turkey!
THe SKY-HIGH VEGGIE PACKED TURKEY NACHOS – ALL THE WAY!!!!!
TURKEY BURGER MAC ‘N CHEESE
The turkey lettuce wraps is sure to become a family favourite.
TURKEY SLOPPY JOE SLIDERS would be a hit at our home!
Turkey sloppy joe sliders
The SMOKED TURKEY WRAPS recipe is the one that would be a family favorite.
I think that the honey lemon rosemary turkey tenders would become a quick family hit!
The Turkey burger Mac n’ cheese looks amazing!
My son would like the Turkey burger mac n cheese
Definitely the turkey lettuce wraps
i’m confused, when I use the link for finding ways to use the base recipe, the recipes don’t use the base ragu. the recipes all start from stratch.
I think my kids would love the porcupine meatballs. They look tasty and fun to eat!
The Stuffed Turkey Rolls with Pasta Sauce is sure to become a hit and fave lunch at our house.
My kids would absolutely love the MINI PIZZA MEATLOAVES.
Turkey Burger Mac and Cheese is sure to be a hit with our family.
the Stuffed turkey rolls with pasta sauce look amazing
The Good Morning Casserole sounds great!
Crunchy Turkey Cutlets would be great.
stuffed turkey rolls with pasta sauce is appealing.
i think definitely the shredded turkey tacos – taco anything is a huge hit in my house lol
The turkey burger mac and cheese would be a big hit in my house!
https://www.canadianturkey.ca/recipes/auto-draft-11/ this would be great because I’ve done this with other poultry products so know i can do it
I expect smoked turkey wraps to be a big hit.
Turkey mac and cheese is sure to be our favourite.
Turkey mac and cheese sounds delicious!
My kids would luke the lemon rosemary turkey tenders
my son would like shredded turkey tacos
Veggie packed turkey nachos would be a hit in our house.
Quick & Tasty Honey Lemon Rosemary Turkey Tenders. My son would eat these every day.
https://www.canadianturkey.ca/recipes/turkey-apple-cheddar-patty-melts/
Italian Turkey and Spinach Pie is bound to be a favourite
https://www.canadianturkey.ca/recipes/italian-turkey-and-spinach-pie/
The BAKED TURKEY CHEDDAR RANCH PULL-APART SLIDERS would be a favourite with my family.
Turkey Burger Mac & Cheese
Crunchy turkey cutlets
The Porcupine Meatballs look cute!
i’m pretty sure the fried turkey would be an universal hit. we don’t eat a lot of fried stuff but really do enjoy a great recipe like the one listed
TURKEY SLOPPY JOE SLIDERS
the turkey burger mac and cheese would be ahit with my kids casue they love pasta
BAKED TURKEY CHEDDAR RANCH PULL-APART SLIDERS will be a BIG hit!!!
(now I’m starving haha)
My kids and I would love the CREAMY TURKEY STEW IN A BREAD BOWL, because the concept is just cool, and looks delicious!
I think the Crunchy Turkey Cutlets would be a hit in our house.
Honey Lemon Rosemary TUrkey Tender would be the fav !
I think everyone would love the Mini Pizza Meatloaves recipe.
saucy turkey meatball subs look so delicious.
I’d like to try turkey Mac and cheese.
We would love the Fried Turkey!
Turkey mac and cheese family favorite
TURKEY AND CRANBERRY SANDWICH SPREAD
The tortilla Pizza wraps, everything revolves around pizza here in our house