You want to cook ground turkey but don’t know how to season it. Let’s look at two easy and tasty seasoning blends you can use for all your ground turkey needs. Plus, you probably already have all of these spices in your spice rack.
Ground turkey is a healthy and versatile protein that can be used in everything from burgers to chili. While more flavorful than chicken, ground turkey still benefits greatly from marinating. Marinating is a simple process of soaking meat in a seasoned liquid, which tenderizes the meat and infuses it with flavor. With the right marinade, you can take your ground turkey recipes from bland to bold and delicious.
Why Marinate Ground Turkey?
There are a few key reasons to marinate ground turkey
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Enhances flavor – Marinades impart new flavors and seasoning that bring out the best in milder meats like turkey A flavorful marinade can make your recipe taste restaurant-quality,
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Tenderizes meat – The acids in marinades help break down tough proteins in the meat making it more tender and easier to chew.
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Keeps meat juicy – Marinating adds moisture, so your cooked turkey stays juicy and doesn’t dry out.
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Quick and easy – Marinating ground turkey requires minimal hands-on time. Most of the work is done while the meat sits in the fridge.
Choosing a Marinade
The possibilities are endless when it comes to marinade flavors. Consider what cuisine or recipe you’ll be using the ground turkey for, then choose complementary seasonings.
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For Mexican-style turkey, use chili powder, cumin, garlic, and lime.
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For Mediterranean turkey, use olive oil, lemon, oregano, and garlic.
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For Asian turkey, use soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger.
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For barbecue turkey, use ketchup, brown sugar, garlic, and smoked paprika.
You can also buy pre-made marinades from the grocery store to make the process even easier.
Marinade Ingredients to Include
To make your own marinade from scratch, be sure to include a few key components:
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Acid – Ingredients like lemon juice, vinegar, and yogurt tenderize the meat.
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Oil – Oil seals in moisture and carries flavor. Olive, vegetable, and sesame oil all work well.
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Seasonings – Spices, herbs, garlic, onion, etc customize the flavor.
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Sweetener (optional) – Honey, brown sugar, maple syrup, etc enhance sweetness.
How Long to Marinate Ground Turkey
The marinating time depends on the thickness of the meat. Ground turkey patties or meatballs only need 30 minutes up to 2 hours. Boneless turkey breast may need 4-6 hours. For best results, marinate ground turkey in the refrigerator overnight. Any longer than 24 hours and the texture may become too mushy.
Marinating Process
Follow these simple steps for perfectly marinated ground turkey:
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Mix the marinade – Whisk together the acid, oil, seasonings, and any other ingredients in a small bowl.
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Place turkey in bag or dish – Seal the ground turkey in a zip-top bag or arrange in a glass baking dish.
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Pour marinade over turkey – Make sure all pieces are evenly coated.
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Refrigerate – Let the turkey marinate in the fridge anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight.
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Cook as desired – Bake, grill, or pan fry. Discard any leftover marinade.
Marinated Ground Turkey Recipe Ideas
Marinated ground turkey is extremely versatile. Here are just a few recipe ideas:
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Turkey burgers – Garnish with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, etc.
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Turkey stuffed peppers – Fill peppers with marinated ground turkey and rice.
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Turkey meatballs – Serve over pasta with marinara sauce.
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Turkey meatloaf – Top with ketchup or barbecue sauce.
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Turkey tacos – Top with slaw and salsa.
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Turkey chili – Make it with beans, peppers, onions, and spices.
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Turkey fried rice – Stir fry with veggies and soy sauce.
With a simple marinade, you can make your ground turkey meals more moist, tender, and packed with flavor. Experiment with different marinade combinations to find your new go-to recipe.
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Use a great seasoning blend
One of my favorite ways to season ground turkey is with a garlic-onion ground turkey seasoning blend. The other is with a ground turkey taco seasoning.
Ground turkey doesn’t have as much flavor as ground beef or other meats, so you need to add a lot of seasoning.
Cook with a fat
Most ground turkey is “lean ground turkey”, meaning it has a low fat content. It’s a great leaner meat alternative, but it can be a little dry. Make sure to add a good source of cooking fat like olive oil or avocado oil.
Because ground turkey meat usually has less fat, you’ll need to add more water to keep the meat from getting too dry. You can do this by adding sauces and/or condiments, depending on the dish.
This could be salad dressing on a salad, sour cream and salsa on a taco, ketchup and mustard on a turkey burger, or pasta sauce on a pasta dish.
While the turkey is cooking, it helps to add a few tablespoons of broth or water to the pan. After seasoning the ground turkey, just add a few tablespoons of water or broth and let it simmer until the liquid thickens and reduces.
Ground Meat and Veggies Recipe! Do this with your Ground Beef or Turkey. Absolutely Delicious!!!
FAQ
How do you make ground turkey not taste bland?
What to add to ground turkey to make it moist?
How long is it safe to marinate a turkey?
How do you marinate a Turkey?
Garlic: Add a generous amount of freshly minced garlic to accentuate the flavor of the turkey. Spices: I add salt, pepper, smoked paprika and sweet paprika to finish off the marinade. Be sure to rub the marinade all over the entire bird, including under the skin.
What is a good marinade for ground turkey?
Some popular wet marinades for ground turkey include: * Soy sauce marinade: This marinade is made with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and honey. It’s perfect for creating a flavorful and tender dish. * Teriyaki marinade: This marinade is made with soy sauce, mirin, and brown sugar. It’s a sweet and savory marinade that’s perfect for grilling.
How do you cook a ground turkey?
With our tips, you’ll be able to make delicious ground turkey that everyone will love. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground turkey and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Add the onion, green bell pepper, and red bell pepper and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
How do you cook ground turkey in a crock pot?
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground turkey and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Add the onion, green bell pepper, and red bell pepper and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic powder, oregano, salt, and black pepper and cook for 1 minute more.
What seasoning goes well with ground turkey?
Taco seasoning like chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt and pepper taste great with ground turkey. Other herbs like paprika, dried oregano, basil and rosemary are a good choice too. If you love ground turkey, then you will want to try a few of our other favorite ground turkey recipes.
What temperature should a turkey breast be marinated at?
A meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast or thigh should register 165 degrees F. This marinade makes enough to cover an average 12-14 pound turkey. If you’re using a larger turkey, you may need to double the marinade.