Slow Cooker Recipe for Ground Turkey With Split Peas & Rice

Split peas are a type of lentil.

Slow cookers have been a treasured kitchen appliance for years thanks to the ease with which dishes can be prepared and left to cook. Whether you start a meal in the morning and let it slowly cook all day, or take just a few hours in the afternoon, a slow cooker makes any dinner nearly effortless. A meal with turkey, split peas and rice is delicious but should be cooked in increments, so as not to overcook any of the ingredients. Vegetables and grains cook faster than meat, even in a slow cooker.

Things You'll Need

• Slow cooker
• Skillet
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 cup split peas
• 1 cup rice
• 2 teaspoons basil
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Brown 1 pound of turkey in a skillet before putting it in a slow cooker. Ground meat is more prone to bacteria when added to a slow cooker raw, so cooking it first insures that your meal is safe and healthy.

2. Add the turkey to the slow cooker and season it with salt and pepper. Cook the turkey on low for 3 hours.

3. Stir in 1 cup split peas to the turkey. If you used lean turkey, add about 1/2 cup of water for the peas to absorb. Split peas are hard and take a longer cooking time, so after mixing them with the ground turkey you need to continue cooking for 3 hours.

4. Add a cup of rice to the slow cooker and stir in 1/2 to 1 cup of extra water. For 1 cup of rice, you need 2 cups of liquid, so you’ll need to eyeball how much liquid is in the slow cooker. For added flavor, use chicken broth instead of water.

5. Cook for 15 to 30 minutes before adding the spices. At this point, your meal should have cooked on low for about 6 hours.

6. Season the turkey mixture with 2 teaspoons of dried basil and 1/2 teaspoon of paprika. If you like, sprinkle a little more salt and pepper on as well. Place the lid back on the slow cooker and cook for 45 more minutes.

7. Serve the dish hot with a sprinkle of fresh paprika on top.

Tips & Warnings

• If you’re in more of a hurry, cook the turkey on high for 1 hour before adding the peas and rice and cooking the remainder of the time on low heat.

• You can also make the turkey and peas and make instant rice on the stove if you prefer.

• Mix in other additions such as mushrooms or onions for extra flavor.