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WW Recipe of the Day: Caribbean Jerk Ground Turkey Freezer Meal
Last spring my husband and I purchased an older model travel trailer and renovated it…
Being dog owners, we loved the idea of traveling around the United States with our “furry boys” Axel and Wilson.
In a small 19-foot trailer, counter and storage space are extremely limited. So for someone who loves to cook, I was faced with a big challenge.
Then Martha introduced me to the New Leaf Wellness Blog (now Family Freezer) created by Kelly McNelis.
Freezer Meals…..what a great concept! Prep all the ingredients ahead of time, put them in a freezer bag and store in the freezer until ready to use.
Then simply thaw a bag in the refrigerator overnight, dump the contents into a skillet, and you have a meal in minutes. A crockpot could also be used if you had 4-6 hours prior to mealtime.
This worked so well for camping that I’ve continued to make them at home. We always have several in the freezer ready and waiting for nights when you want something fast and delicious.
How Many Calories and WW Points in this Caribbean Jerk Turkey?
According to my calculations, each serving has about 250 calories and:
5 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
5 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
5 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
7 *PointsPlus (Old plan)
To see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here!
How to Assemble Healthy Caribbean Jerk Ground Turkey Freezer Meal
Gather all your ingredients, washing and prepping (dicing, chopping, etc.) them as necessary.
For this One-Pot Caribbean Jerk Turkey Meal, wash and dice the zucchini and green beans. If you’re using fresh pineapple, be sure to dice that ahead of time as well. Or do what I did and just open a can!
Assembling this freezer meal is super simple. Grab a Quart-size (or larger) freezer bag and magic marker (or use some paper and tape) for labeling the bag. You’ll find it to be much easier labeling your freezer meal bag while it’s empty and can lay flat! Be sure to add the date it was prepared too.
This is how I wrote my label:
Caribbean Jerk Turkey
- Thaw
- Add to skillet
- Cook until meat is done (10-15 minutes)
- Serve with rice
Add the turkey to bag first so it takes up the bottom, then add the diced zucchini, then the diced pineapple. Next add the diced green beans and pour in the sauce last – which will run down and mix into all the layers.
Squeeze out as much air from the bag as you can and seal the bag. This cuts down on the formation of ice crystals and possibility of freezer burn.
Place the bag flat in your freezer (at least until hardened) with label facing up (which is much more convenient once you get a freezer full of meals).
Cooking Notes
Don’t be alarmed if you find the water that releases from the frozen turkey and vegetables to be excessive. You can add 2-3 teaspoons of cornstarch, or instant tapioca granules, directly to the skillet to thicken up the mixture.
You also may have to cook your meal a little longer to get the liquid to evaporate and the sauce to thicken.
If you don’t have the store bought sauce, no problem. Simply combine the four simple ingredients above (pineapple juice, cold water, hoisin sauce and cornstarch) to make your own.
Hak’s One Pot Cooking Sauces are created by Chef Sharone Hakman.
The sauce packet shows just how easy it can be to cook with these sauces. All you have to do is add one pound of of beef, chicken, shrimp, pork, fish or vegetables.
This Caribbean Jerk Sauce with Pineapple and Peppers is gluten-free, all natural, no preservatives, non-GMO and made in small batches. It can be used as a simmer sauce for the stove top or slow cooker, for sautéing, in the slow cooker or as a grill marinade. I think that just about covers all the possibilities!
Add 1/4 teaspoon each of cayenne and ginger to spice it up a bit, or keep it as is and season to taste prior to serving.
Serving Suggestions
- I added cooked brown rice and fresh chopped spinach to a bowl, along with a serving of the Caribbean Jerk Turkey for a nutritious meal in a bowl.
- You can also serve it on top of any grain of choice (white rice, brown rice, quinoa, etc.).
- For a low carb alternative, serve your Caribbean Jerk Turkey over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles.
- Have it alongside any fresh chopped salad or your favorite steamed/sautéed vegetables.
- Serve it in a lettuce leaf for Caribbean Jerk Turkey lettuce wraps, or in your favorite low calorie wrap, flatbread or pita pocket.
Ways to Use Leftovers
Of course you could always just warm up the leftovers and eat them again. But I love to keep lunch and dinner interesting. So I often take what’s left and repurpose it into something new….
When I think of the Caribbean, coconut rice and beans always come to mind, so I turned my leftovers into a soup using those ingredients:
- 1/3 of cooked Caribbean Jerk Turkey freezer meal
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 can reduced fat coconut milk
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 1 cup canned light red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice (or nutmeg (optional))
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Combine all the ingredients in a pot and cook on medium/high heat until boiling. Then reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. If you want your soup a little thicker add 1-2 teaspoons of instant tapioca granules.
Get creative with your leftovers. If my combination doesn’t sound good to you, try something else like adding more vegetables and chicken broth or just beans and no rice.
Do it your way and then share your recipe with us below.
If you’ve made this Caribbean Jerk Turkey Skillet Freezer Meal, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Healthy Caribbean Jerk Ground Turkey Freezer Meal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 13 ounces fresh ground lean turkey
- 1 cup zucchini, diced
- 1 cup pineapple (fresh or canned), diced
- 1 cup green beans, diced
- 1 package Hak's One Pot Caribbean Jerk Cooking Sauce (found at Aldi, World Market or most grocers)
Or, make your own jerk cooking sauce with:
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Instructions
Prepare the jerk turkey freezer meal:
- Label a quart size freezer bag using a marker, paper and tape, or whatever you have available.
- Add turkey to the labeled freezer bag.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the bag in the order listed (diced zucchini, diced pineapple, diced green beans, cooking sauce).
- Remove as much air as possible and seal the bag. Lay it flat in your freezer (at least until hardened).
- Remove bag the night before and thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours. (Be sure to plan ahead)
When you're ready to cook:
- Add contents of the thawed bag to a skillet.
- Cook on medium/high heat for 20-25 minutes until done.
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Ideal slow cooker size: 4-Quart.
- Add contents of the thawed bag to slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on LOW 4 to 6 hours, or until done.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If you like this Easy Caribbean-Spiced Jerk Ground Turkey One-Pot Freezer Meal, you might also like:
- Slow Cooker Caribbean Jerk Chicken (Simple-Nourished-Living)
- Healthy 5-Ingredient Pineapple Jerk Chicken Foil Packs (HungryGirl)
- Slow Cooker Jerk Pork with Caribbean Salsa (SkinnyTaste)
- Jerk Chicken Lettuce Wraps (HungryGirl)
