We Have 18 Recipes for Ground Turkey That Are Easy and Full of Flavor (2024)

FAQs

How to make ground turkey more flavorful? ›

With ground turkey, you need fresh aromatics to season it. Chopped yellow onions, scallions, cilantro, and red bell pepper all help add flavor.

Feed the turkey meat through the grinder, using a plunger or pusher to guide the meat through the blades. If you're using a food processor, work in small batches to ensure even grinding, pulsing the machine until the turkey reaches the desired consistency.

Whether you're making ground turkey tacos, turkey burgers, or another family favorite, 93% Lean Ground Turkey will be your go-to for lean, flavorful dishes. Shady Brook Farms® turkeys are raised by independent farmers with no antibiotics ever, and with no added hormones or steroids.

Not seasoning the meat enough.

Leaner ratios of ground turkey are missing on the flavor boost from a higher fat content, so they need some extra help in the flavor department. Without a good sprinkle of salt and pepper (or any other herbs and spices), ground turkey cooks up bland and flavorless.

Instead of filling your bird with stuffing, fill it with aromatics. (News flash: Cooking stuffing inside a turkey can be dangerous.) The basics, like onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and sage, help lend that traditional Thanksgiving flavor. Take your aromatics up a notch by adding halved lemons or oranges.

Add flavor to a bland turkey.

Turkey needs to be generously seasoned. But if the meat is still under-seasoned after cooking, carve the turkey and place the slices on a serving platter. Sprinkle all over with sea salt and a few grinds of fresh black pepper. And be sure to properly season the gravy.

The exact seasonings you should use for ground turkey depends on how it's prepared. For meatballs and Italian-inspired recipes, you can't go wrong with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and oregano. If you're making a taco, lift the flavor of your ground turkey with ground cumin or taco seasoning.

All you have to do, is add 1 tablespoon of Kitchen Bouquet Browning & Seasoning Sauce per 1 pound of ground turkey. Then incorporate the Kitchen Bouquet into the meat. Now, this is to give the turkey the flavor of beef.

Ground beef and turkey are both nutritious meats that provide protein, fat, and a variety of vitamins and minerals. Turkey is generally lower in saturated fat than beef. As such, it may be a better choice for heart health. Fat-free turkey is also the lowest calorie option if you're interested in weight loss.

First, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Then, add the ground turkey to the pan and cook for 5 minutes, breaking up the turkey as it cooks. When the turkey is no longer pink, reduce the heat to low, then add 1 ½ Tablespoons of the seasoning and stir to combine.

Is ground turkey actually healthy? ›

"Ground turkey contains less saturated fat than ground beef, giving it a more beneficial fat profile," says Beaver. "In its place, ground turkey instead contains more polyunsaturated fat, which is a protective, healthier type of fat."

However, you can marinate ground turkey for a turkey burger or turkey meatballs. What flavors go well with turkey? Since turkey meat makes an easy weeknight dinner recipe, it is best to throw in some brown sugar or maple syrup for a sweeter flavor. Or, pepper, sage, and lemon for a savory flavor.

Fresh raw ground turkey doesn't give off any smell. The meat is likely spoiled if you unwrap the package and smell an unpleasant odor, like a sour scent.

Signs Ground Turkey is Spoiled

While it's still fresh, ground turkey won't have much of an odor, but it will start smelling off-putting as soon as bacteria starts forming. Raw and cooked ground turkey start to develop odors when they go bad.

But as any poultry starts to go bad, it will start to turn an unpleasant shade of gray. If that pink hue starts to look slightly dull then it's time to use up your ground turkey immediately, and if it has a gray tint (even just a slight one), then it's time to toss it.

All you have to do, is add 1 tablespoon of Kitchen Bouquet Browning & Seasoning Sauce per 1 pound of ground turkey. Then incorporate the Kitchen Bouquet into the meat. Now, this is to give the turkey the flavor of beef.

Enhance Flavor with Seasonings

While ground turkey has a mild flavor, adding the right seasonings can make it truly delicious. Experiment with a variety of herbs and spices like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, or dried oregano. Don't be afraid to get creative and adjust the flavors to your liking!

Ok, here's a game changing tip for you – add mushrooms when cooking ground turkey! This may sound odd, but it's a really nice addition, especially if you have lean ground turkey breast. The mushrooms add moisture and umami flavor to the ground turkey, which can otherwise end up on the dry side.

Mushrooms! Ground mushrooms to be exact. Trust me, with this juicy recipe, you will fall head over heels in love with ground turkey. Mushrooms add moisture, mouthfeel, and umami (beefy) flavor to the otherwise dry ground turkey.