Meal PrepCheap High-Protein Turkey Bowls
Cheap and high-protein don't usually show up in the same sentence, but ground turkey, canned beans, and rice get you there for well under $2 a serving. This bowl lands around 35g of protein per portion without a single scoop of protein powder or a $12 pre-made meal box.
- for the turkey
- 1.5 lb ground turkey (93/7)
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or 2 tbsp homemade blend)
- 1 tbsp neutral oil
- for the bowl
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup white rice, uncooked
- 1 bell pepper, diced
stretches to 4 generous bowls for about $6–7 total.
- Cook the rice according to package directions.
- Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the turkey, breaking it up as it cooks, about 6–8 minutes.
- Stir in the taco seasoning with a splash of water, then add the bell pepper and black beans. Cook 3–4 minutes more until the pepper softens.
- Divide the rice and turkey mixture between 4 containers. Cool completely before sealing.
No ground turkey? Ground chicken or 90/10 ground beef both work at a similar price point.
No black beans? Pinto or kidney beans are an easy swap — same protein, same price.
Want it spicier? A diced jalapeño or a dash of hot sauce stirred in adds heat for free.
No bell pepper? Frozen diced onion and pepper mix is usually the cheapest produce option in the freezer aisle.
Kantan tip — buying the family-size pack of ground turkey and freezing half in a flat bag (see the freezer meal prep recipe) is the single biggest per-pound savings move here.