Dumpling Lasagna Skillet Turkey (Printable)

A savory skillet combining ground turkey, cabbage, dumplings, cheese, and tomato sauce in one hearty dish.

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 1 pound ground turkey

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 small head green cabbage, shredded (approximately 4 cups)
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced

→ Sauces and Dairy

05 - 2 cups marinara or tomato pasta sauce
06 - 1 cup ricotta cheese
07 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
08 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Dumpling Layer

09 - 10 to 12 round dumpling wrappers

→ Seasonings

10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
11 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs or basil
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
14 - Pinch of red pepper flakes, optional

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
02 - Add ground turkey, salt, pepper, and Italian herbs to the skillet. Cook while breaking up the meat until browned and cooked through, approximately 6 to 7 minutes.
03 - Stir in shredded cabbage and cook for 5 to 6 minutes until softened. Pour in 1 cup of marinara sauce and simmer for 2 minutes.
04 - Remove half the turkey-cabbage mixture from the skillet and set aside for the second layer.
05 - Arrange half the dumpling wrappers over the mixture in the skillet, overlapping as needed to cover the surface.
06 - Spread half the ricotta over the wrappers. Sprinkle with half the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
07 - Layer the reserved turkey-cabbage mixture on top, followed by the remaining dumpling wrappers.
08 - Spread the remaining marinara sauce over the wrappers, then dollop with the remaining ricotta. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
09 - Cover the skillet with a lid or foil and cook over low heat for 10 minutes to steam the dumpling wrappers until tender.
10 - Remove the cover and broil under the oven grill for 2 to 3 minutes until bubbly and lightly browned on top.
11 - Allow the skillet to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving to allow the layers to set.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a complete one-pan dinner that tastes like you've been cooking all day but actually takes less than an hour.
  • The dumpling wrappers add this pillowy, tender texture that regular lasagna noodles can't quite match, and they steam perfectly in their own little pocket of flavor.
  • Ground turkey keeps it lighter than traditional lasagna without sacrificing any of that rich, satisfying feeling you're after.
02 -
  • Don't skip the steaming step—dumpling wrappers need that gentle steam bath to become tender rather than chewy or tough, and covering the skillet is the only way to get that moisture they need.
  • The order of your layers matters more than you'd think; putting the meat mixture on the bottom and top means every bite gets that savory turkey-cabbage combination, while the dumpling wrappers sandwiched in between become these little pillows of texture.
03 -
  • Break your ground turkey into the smallest pieces possible before it finishes cooking—small pieces distribute more evenly through the layers and create a more cohesive texture throughout.
  • If you're broiling and notice the cheese browning faster than the wrappers are softening, cover with foil and move the skillet down a rack, then finish under the broiler for the last minute.
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