Lemon turkey cutlets

Thin turkey cutlets seared golden, served on wilted spinach with a garlic lemon butter.

  • Have some energy
  • Gluten-free
  • American
  • Dinner
  • Turkey
  • Keto
  • Low carb
  • High protein
Hands-on
18 min
Total time
25 min, show breakdown
  • Prep 8 min
  • Cook 12 min
  • Clean up 5 min
Pans
1
Ingredients
7
Cost/serving
$4.47

Per serving

Calories
333
Protein
44 g
Fiber
1.6 g
Net carbs
3 g
Fat
15 g

High in (% Daily Value per serving): Vitamin K 297%, Niacin (B3) 85%, Selenium 82%, Vitamin B6 78%, Vitamin B12 44%, Vitamin A 38%, Folate 34%, Vitamin C 32%, Riboflavin (B2) 30%, Magnesium 24%, Zinc 23%

Full nutrition facts, vitamins and minerals. All nutrition is estimated; check your own labels.

Already egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free.

Ingredients for 2

Tap an ingredient for other units and forms.

  • 350 g turkey breast cutlets

    Same amount as: 12¼ oz.

  • 1 tbsp olive oil (14 g)

    Same amount as: 15 mL.

  • 4 cups baby spinach (120 g)

    Same amount as: 960 mL.

  • 1 tbsp butter (14 g)

    Same amount as: 15 mL, about ⅛ stick.

  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed (6 g)

    Same amount as: 2 tsp fresh minced garlic, 1 tsp jarred minced garlic, ¼ tsp garlic powder.

  • 2 tbsp lemon juice (30 g)

    Same amount as: 30 mL, ¾ lemon squeezed from fresh lemons.

  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley (7.6 g)

    Same amount as: 30 mL.

  • salt, to taste
  • black pepper, to taste

Find alternative ingredients

Healthier swaps

Optional. Nutrition and cost update as you choose; the recipe was written with the original.

  • butter
    • olive oil: Much less saturated fat. Uses a little less, since oil is all fat. Best for cooking, not baking.

Quantities are for 2 servings. A 30 cm pan fits about 350 g of cutlets. Sear more in rounds.

Nutrition Facts

2 servings per recipe

Serving size 1 plate (271 g raw)

NutrientPer serving% DV*Whole recipe
Calories333
Total fat15 g20%
Saturated fat5.1 g26%
Cholesterol124 mg41%
Sodium355 mg15%
Total carbohydrate4.6 g2%
Dietary fiber1.6 g6%
Total sugars0.7 g
Net carbs†3 g
Protein44 g87%
Vitamin D0.46 mcg2%
Calcium88 mg7%
Iron3 mg17%
Potassium895 mg19%
Vitamin A345 mcg38%
Vitamin C29 mg32%
Vitamin E2.6 mg17%
Vitamin K357 mcg297%
Thiamin (B1)0.15 mg12%
Riboflavin (B2)0.39 mg30%
Niacin (B3)14 mg85%
Vitamin B61.3 mg78%
Folate138 mcg34%
Vitamin B121.1 mcg44%
Magnesium100 mg24%
Zinc2.5 mg23%
Selenium45 mcg82%

Estimated, not verified. These numbers are calculated from typical ingredient data and haven't been checked against a lab or your brands. Check the labels of what you buy and confirm anything that matters to you, especially sodium, sugar and allergens.

* % Daily Value shows how much one serving adds to a 2,000-calorie day. † Net carbs is not on US labels; it is total carbs minus fiber, allulose, erythritol and half of other sugar alcohols. "To taste" amounts are counted as written. Counted items (eggs, cloves, spoons) use the rounded amount shown in the ingredient list. Vitamins and minerals are from raw ingredients; cooking lowers some, especially vitamin C and folate. How this is calculated.

Steps

  1. If the cutlets are thicker than 1 cm (½ in), press them flat between baking paper with the bottom of a pan. Pat dry. Salt and pepper both sides. Mince the garlic. Chop the parsley.

  2. Heat the oil in the pan on medium-high for 2 minutes. Lay in the cutlets. Do not move them for 3 minutes.

    Done looks like: Golden underneath, and they release from the pan on their own.
  3. Flip and cook 2–3 minutes. Check the thickest one with a thermometer: 74 °C / 165 °F. Move them to a plate.

    Done looks like: Thermometer reads 74 °C / 165 °F; white all through.
  4. Add the spinach to the pan and stir until wilted, 1–2 minutes. Divide it between the plates.

  5. Turn the heat to low. Add the butter and garlic and stir 30 seconds. Add the lemon juice and swirl the pan.

    Done looks like: Butter melted into a cloudy, glossy sauce. Garlic pale gold.
  6. Set the cutlets on the spinach. Spoon over the lemon butter and sprinkle with parsley.

Equipment

Large frying pan or skillet, 30 cm (12 in) $25–60

What to look for

  • Wide flat base so food cooks in one layer
  • Stainless steel or cast iron for high heat

Skip: Woks on flat electric stoves; they do not heat evenly there.

Silicone spatula $5–12

What to look for

  • One-piece (no seam where the head meets the handle)
  • Stiff enough to scrape, safe on non-stick

Skip: Wooden spatulas for non-stick pans; they work but do not scrape as cleanly.

Instant-read digital thermometer $10–30

What to look for

  • Reads in 5 seconds or less
  • Thin probe tip
  • Shows °C and °F

Skip: Dial thermometers that take 20+ seconds.

Chef's knife, 20 cm (8 in) $15–50

What to look for

  • Comfortable handle that does not slip when wet
  • Blade you can sharpen, or a cheap one you replace every few years

Skip: Knife blocks with 12 knives. A chef's knife and a small paring knife cover almost everything.

Cutting board $10–30

What to look for

  • At least 30 × 40 cm (12 × 16 in), so food stays on it
  • Wood or plastic; plastic goes in the dishwasher

Skip: Glass or stone boards. They dull knives fast.

What goes wrong

WhatCauseFix
Tough, dry cutletsThin turkey overcooks fast.Check the temperature early and take them off at 74 °C / 165 °F.
Greasy, separated sauceButter added to a very hot pan.Turn the heat to low and wait 30 seconds before adding the butter.

Versions

VersionChangesPer serving
OriginalAs written. Hands-on 18 min, total 25 min.333 kcal
44 g protein
1.6 g fiber
3 g net carbs
15 g fat
Higher carbAdd cooked white rice (microwave pouch). Hands-on 18 min, total 25 min.495 kcal
47 g protein
2.1 g fiber
38 g net carbs
16 g fat

Notes

Allergies: removing an allergen from the recipe does not remove it from your kitchen or from other products. Check labels for "may contain" warnings.

Pregnancy: Cook turkey to at least 74 °C / 165 °F in the thickest part.