Dumpling Lasagna Skillet Turkey (Printable)

Savory skillet with ground turkey, cabbage, layered dumpling wrappers, cheese, and tomato sauce in one dish.

# What You'll 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

# Method:

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 with salt, pepper, and Italian herbs. 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. Arrange half the dumpling wrappers over the remaining mixture in the skillet, overlapping as needed.
05 - Spread half the ricotta over the wrappers. Sprinkle with half the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
06 - Layer the reserved turkey-cabbage mixture on top, followed by the remaining dumpling wrappers.
07 - Spread the remaining marinara sauce over the wrappers, then dollop with remaining ricotta. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
08 - Cover the skillet with a lid or foil and cook over low heat for 10 minutes to steam the dumpling wrappers.
09 - Remove the cover and broil under the oven grill for 2 to 3 minutes until bubbly and lightly browned.
10 - Rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in one skillet without the fussy assembly line of traditional lasagna, so your kitchen stays relatively sane.
  • Ground turkey keeps it lean and protein-packed, but the cheese and creamy ricotta layers make it feel completely indulgent.
  • Dumpling wrappers soften into the most delicate, pillowy texture that somehow feels more luxurious than regular pasta sheets.
02 -
  • Don't skip the five-minute resting period—I learned the hard way that cutting into it too early will result in everything sliding apart into a delicious but formless mess.
  • The broiler step is what transforms this from good to show-stopping, but every broiler is different, so stay in the kitchen and watch it like a hawk instead of wandering away.
03 -
  • Use an oven-safe skillet with a good heavy bottom so the heat distributes evenly and the bottom doesn't brown too quickly—cast iron is your friend here.
  • If you're worried about the dumpling wrappers sticking, lightly brush them with a tiny amount of olive oil before layering, and they'll separate more easily when you slice.
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