Turkey Mince Noodles – A high-protein, low-fat stir-fry ready in just 20 minutes! Lean turkey mince is crisped and tossed in a bold chilli-garlic soy sauce, then served over noodles with fresh cabbage.
Naturally gluten-free (use tamari instead of soy) and easily adaptable for low-carb diets (swap noodles for zucchini noodles). Packed with flavour, light on calories—perfect for healthy weeknight wins!
🍜 Serves 4 | 🥩 High-Protein | 🥛 Dairy-Free | ⏱ 20-Min
Love Cooking with Cabbage? Try These:
- Easy Cabbage Breakfast Recipe - A protein-packed morning meal with hidden veggies
- Cabbage Pasta Dinner Idea - Surprising way to make pasta healthier
- Comforting Cabbage Casserole - Hearty one-pot meal the whole family loves
Pro Tip: Chop and freeze extra cabbage to save time on future recipes!
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💭 Expert Tips
- Cook the Ground Turkey Well: Brown the turkey completely to improve its taste and texture.
- Prep Cabbage Properly: Shred or slice the cabbage thinly so it cooks evenly and mixes well with the other ingredients.
- Cook Noodles Al Dente: Make sure the noodles are firm but cooked through to avoid them becoming mushy.
💗 Why This Recipe Works
✅ 20-Minute High-Protein Meal
• Lean turkey mince + fiber-rich cabbage for balanced nutrition
• Umami chili-garlic sauce with pantry staples
• Perfect for busy parents - faster than takeout, no complicated techniques
♻️ Easy Dietary Swaps:
→ GF: Use tamari + rice noodles
→ Keto: Swap noodles for shirataki + omit sugar (monk fruit sweetener)
→ Vegan: Crumbled tofu + mushroom oyster sauce
→ Low-Carb: Spiralized zucchini (reduce sauce by ⅓)
🥘 Ingredients
*See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
♻️ Substitutions
- Sesame Oil: Use vegetable oil or olive oil. Cooking times remain the same.
- Turkey Mince: Substitute with ground chicken, pork, or beef. Cook all these proteins until browned and fully cooked, usually about 5-7 minutes.
- Garlic: Use garlic powder if fresh garlic isn’t available.
- Cabbage or Pak Choi: Use spinach, bok choy, or broccoli slaw. Spinach wilts quickly, so add it in the last 2 minutes of cooking. Bok choy and broccoli slaw should be added to the noodles and cooked until tender, about 3-5 minutes.
- Green Onions: Substitute with chives or shallots. Chives can be added raw or at the end of cooking for garnish. Shallots should be cooked until soft, about 2-3 minutes.
- Instant Noodles: Use rice noodles, udon noodles, or spaghetti. Cooking times vary: rice noodles typically need 4-5 minutes, udon noodles 2-4 minutes, and spaghetti around 8-10 minutes. Swap noodles for zucchini noodles for low-carb diets.
Noodle Sauce:
- Oyster Sauce: Use hoisin sauce or mushroom sauce.
- Light Soy Sauce: Substitute with dark soy sauce or tamari (for gluten-free). Dark soy sauce will give a richer colour and slightly different flavour, but cooking times remain the same.
- Brown Sugar: Substitute with honey or maple syrup. Add these with the other liquids, and they will integrate into the sauce just as quickly.
- Chilli Powder: Use red pepper flakes or hot sauce.
📋 Variations
- Asian-style stir-fry – Toss with soy sauce, garlic, and veggies.
- Spicy bolognese – Cook with tomatoes, Italian herbs, and chilli flakes.
- Thai basil noodles – Add fish sauce, garlic, and fresh basil.
Topping Ideas
- Fresh herbs (cilantro, parsley, basil)
- Green onions
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Lime or lemon wedges
- Chilli flakes or Sriracha
- Crispy shallots or garlic
- Thinly sliced bell peppers, carrots, or cucumbers
👩🍳 How To Make Tantalising Turkey Mince Noodles: A Delight
Check out our handy guide with step-by-step photos to help you along the way and make the most of this noodle recipe!
Step 1: Cook the Turkey Mince
Heat oil in a pan, then add turkey mince and garlic. Break it up as it cooks until browned (5-7 minutes).
Step 2: Cook Noodles & Set Aside
Remove turkey, then boil noodles just until tender (check package time). Rinse with cold water to stop cooking.
Step 3: Stir-Fry Veggies & Combine
Heat oil in the same pan. Add cabbage and green onions - stir-fry 2-3 minutes until slightly wilted. Return turkey to pan and mix well.
Step 4: Combine Noodles & Sauce
Add cooked noodles to the pan. Pour sauce over everything and toss gently until evenly coated.
Portion the noodles into bowls. Top with extra green onions or sesame seeds if you like. Serve hot and enjoy!
💡 PRO TIP: Save ½ cup noodle water to adjust sauce thickness later. Al dente noodles hold up better when mixed with sauce.
Other Asian-Inspired recipes
- If you're looking for a quick meal, try easy 15-minute yaki udon (stir-fried udon noodles)—a super fast and tasty dish. You can also make spicy tuna onigiri for a fun snack!
- If you're in the mood for something hearty, try Korean keema—it’s a tasty, comforting meal. For a quick and easy dish, delicious and easy chicken noodle stir fry is a great choice.
- Craving something crispy? Crispy sesame chicken with a sticky asian sauce will do the trick. Or, for a tender meal, go with a sticky Chinese pork belly—it's juicy and full of flavour.
- If you want something light, try easy wonton recipes with ground turkey—they’re easy to make and super yummy. And for a veggie-packed dinner, make sweet and sour veg stir fry—it’s quick and delicious!
❓FAQs
- Use a mandoline slicer (3mm setting) for uniform shreds. If you're making this often, a $10 mandoline saves time. The thinner the shreds, the better they blend with your turkey and noodles.
- I like using a sharp knife - just cut the cabbage in half, remove the tough core, then slice thinly against the grain.
- I use my food processor to chop the cabbage too—it’s the quickest way.
Pro tip: Salt shredded cabbage lightly and let sit 5 minutes to soften slightly before cooking.
Great alternatives:
Napa cabbage: More delicate, cooks faster (reduce time by 1 minute)
Red cabbage: Adds colour (may tint noodles slightly purple). Just know it might turn your noodles slightly pink. I sometimes mix both for a pretty presentation. The taste is nearly the same, maybe a bit earthier.
Savoy cabbage works great too - its wrinkly leaves add more flavor but cook faster. Reduce cooking time by about 1 minute.
If using bok choy: Cook stems with the cabbage for 2 minutes, then add leaves for just the last 30 seconds.
This happens to me, too, when I add cabbage too early. Here's what works:
-Cook your turkey mince first and set it aside
-Stir-fry the cabbage just 2-3 minutes until it's slightly soft
-Mix everything at the end
The cabbage stays crisp and doesn't release too much liquid.
Zero-waste ideas:
- Pickle it: Thinly slice the core, quick-pickle in rice vinegar + sugar for a tangy garnish
- Flavour booster: Simmer the core in the noodle cooking water for subtle sweetness
- Crunchy topping: Julienne and quick-fry for a crispy texture contrast
- Add it to soups for extra crunch, or stir it into creamy soups
- Blend it into smoothies (you won't even taste it)
Yes, but adjust:
Reduce sugar in sauce (coleslaw often has sweet dressing residue)
Cook 1 minute less (pre-shredded cabbage is thinner)
Check for carrots - they add nice colour, but cook slightly longer
Rinse first to remove any preservative taste
If You Enjoyed This Recipe, You Will Love These Too
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Turkey Mince Noodles
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 500 grams turkey mince or ground pork or beef
- 2-3 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 2 cups cabbage (or Pak Choi) cut into long thin pieces
- 4 green onions roots and tips trimmed, cut into small segments
- 3 cakes instant noodles
Turkey Mince Noodle Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 4 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder optional
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon of sesame oil in a large frying pan or wok over medium heat. Add the turkey mince to the pan and break it up with a spatula or wooden spoon.500 grams turkey mince
- Add the minced garlic and cook until browned and cooked through, stirring occasionally. This should take about 5-7 minutes. Remove the cooked turkey mince from the pan and set it aside.2-3 cloves garlic
- In the meantime, bring a large pot with water to a boil. Add the instant noodles and cook according to the package instructions until they are al dente.3 cakes instant noodles
- Drain the noodles and rinse them under cold water to stop the cooking process. Save ½ cup noodle water to adjust sauce thickness later. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the oyster sauce, light soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, and chili powder (if using). Stir well to ensure all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed.4 tablespoons oyster sauce, 4 tablespoons light soy sauce, 3 tablespoons sesame oil, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoon chili powder
- In the same frying pan or wok used for the turkey mince, heat the remaining tablespoon of sesame oil over medium heat. Add the cabbage and green onions to the pan and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until they begin to soften.2 cups cabbage (or Pak Choi), 4 green onions, 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- Bring in the cooked turkey mince back to the pan with the vegetables and stir to combine.
- Add the cooked instant noodles to the pan and pour the prepared sauce, toss everything together gently, ensuring that the noodles are coated in the sauce. Use tongs for easiest mixing without breaking noodles.
- Divide the Turkey Mince Noodles into individual serving bowls. Garnish with additional green onions or sesame seeds if desired. Serve hot and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- You can substitute turkey mince with ground pork, beef, or chicken if preferred.
- Cook the turkey mince until fully browned and no pink remains for the best texture.
- Rinse the cooked noodles under cold water to prevent them from sticking together.
- Adjust the chili powder in the sauce to your spice preference; skip it if you don’t like heat.
- Stir-fry the cabbage (or Pak Choi) and green onions just until softened to keep them crisp.
- Combine all ingredients gently to avoid breaking the noodles.
- Garnish with extra green onions or sesame seeds for added flavor and presentation.
- Serve immediately for the best taste and texture.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days; reheat gently before serving.
Cristina says
These turkey mince noodles were such a quick and tasty dinner—done in 20 minutes and packed with flavor. I’ll definitely be making this one again on a busy weeknight!
Claudia Ciorteanu says
My family loved this!
Swathi says
Turkey mince noodles are a delight I have made it for my lunch box.
Lathiya says
Made this fo rour family dinner yesterday and we totally loved it. Perfect flavor and easy recipe for a quick dinner.