I love to batch cook and freeze these turkey and pork meatballs for the week. These meatballs are leaner than beef meatballs because they are made with ground turkey and carrots. The ground pork gives them the juicy, chewy texture I love in meatballs. These meatballs go well with a tomato-based sauce and are great for pasta, salad, or sandwiches.
Mixing Up Meals: Blending Pork and Turkey for Delicious Dinners
As a home cook, I’m always looking for ways to add variety and new flavors to my family’s dinners. Lately I’ve been experimenting with combining two of our favorite meats – pork and turkey. The result? Some incredibly tasty and unique meals that go beyond the expected.
In this post, I’ll share everything I’ve learned about cooking pork and turkey together. We’ll cover:
- The benefits of blending these meats
- Tips for prepping and seasoning
- My go-to cooking methods
- Health considerations
- Creative recipe ideas to try
I did lots of testing to find the best techniques for cooking pork and turkey in one dish. Keep reading for a complete guide to mixing up your meals with this tasty meat combo.
Why Combine Pork and Turkey?
There are a few great reasons to blend pork and turkey together in recipes
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It makes the flavors more complex. Pork has a rich, savory taste, while turkey has a mildly sweet taste. Together they balance beautifully.
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Improves texture – Turkey can be dry but pork stays juicy, so they complement each other.
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Leaner option – Turkey has less fat than beef or pork alone
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Satisfies big appetites – Hearty portions of combined meats.
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Allows creativity – Endless possibilities for global flavors!
One of my favorite techniques is to roast a whole turkey layered with pork belly or bacon. The pork bastes the turkey from the inside for incredibly moist, tender meat infused with tasty fat and smoky notes.
Preparing and Seasoning the Meats
When working with two types of meat, proper prep is crucial for both food safety and maximum flavor. Follow these tips:
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Always wash hands, utensils, and surfaces before and after contact with raw pork and turkey. Prevent cross-contamination.
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Season the turkey aggressively. Turkey is mild and benefits from bold spices. Use lots of salt, pepper, garlic, thyme, rosemary, etc.
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Brine pork cuts like chops overnight before cooking. Helps pork stay juicy when cooked with drier turkey.
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For ground meats, season halfway through mixing to evenly distribute spices.
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Marinate meats in complementary flavors like citrus, salsa, barbecue sauce, etc.
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Pat meats dry before searing to help achieve a nice browned crust.
My Favorite Cooking Methods
Over the years, I’ve landed on a few go-to cooking techniques that deliver perfect results when blending pork and turkey:
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Roasting – Roast a spatchcocked turkey layered with pork belly or bacon strips on top. The rendered pork fat bastes the turkey.
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Grilling – Quick grill thick pork chops and turkey tenderloins for easy weeknight meals.
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Braising – Braise pork shoulder and turkey legs together in flavorful liquid until fall-off-the-bone tender.
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Meatballs – Mix ground pork and turkey for juicy, flavorful meatballs. Bake, simmer in sauce, or pan fry.
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Soup – Simmer pork and turkey sausage meat, leftover meats, or bones into robust soups and stews.
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Stir fry – Quickly stir fry thin strips of pork and turkey with tons of veggies and sauce.
The key is using methods that keep both meats tender and moist. Roasting, braising, or simmering works better than say grilling a pork tenderloin and turkey breast together.
Health Considerations with Pork and Turkey
Pork and turkey both provide lean protein, but there are some healthy prep tips to keep in mind:
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Use lean cuts of pork like tenderloin or pork chops. Avoid fatty high-sodium options like sausage.
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Opt for skinless turkey or remove the skin before cooking to cut saturated fat.
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Trim excess fat from pork before cooking.
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Limit sodium by avoiding packaged and processed meats. Stick to fresh.
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Skip deep frying, breading, and heavy cream-based sauces. Lighten things up.
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Add lots of veggies like roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, and kale.
Focus on fresh, whole food preparation methods. Roast, bake or poach – skip the oil-laden pan frying. With smart techniques, you can still enjoy the savory flavor these meats provide.
Inventive Recipe Ideas Blending Pork and Turkey
Ready to get cooking? Here are some of my favorite recipes for combining pork and turkey:
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Italian Meatball Bake with turkey, pork, pasta, and marinara
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Carnitas Tacos with pulled turkey, pork shoulder, and Mexican spices
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Saucy Stir Fry with thin-sliced pork, turkey, broccoli, peppers, and teriyaki
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Meat Lover’s Chili with ground turkey, pork shoulder, beans, tomatoes, and beer
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BBQ Pork & Turkey Slider Bake with pre-cooked sausage and shredded rotisserie turkey
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Brunswick Stew with pork, turkey, corn, okra, and barbecue sauce
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Pork and Turkey Pot Pie topped with tender crust
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Thai Coconut Curry with pork, turkey, sweet potatoes, and red curry paste
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Tortilla Soup with shredded turkey, chorizo, veggies, beans, and tortilla strips
The flavor combos are endless! I suggest starting with recipes that use pre-cooked meats or gentle simmering methods while you get the hang of cooking pork and turkey together.
Making turkey meatballs chewy
All-turkey meatballs end up a bit mushy and soft. Though everyone has a different taste, I like my meatballs chewy with a little fat. I mix pork into these meatballs to give them chewiness and juiciness.
Adding a tablespoon of gelatin to the mix can make these meatballs even chewier. Gelatin isn’t something I’d buy just for meatballs, but if you have it on hand, it’s a good thing to add. Why would I keep gelatin in my pantry? I keep them for making homemade gummies!.
For the best meatball texture, try not to overmix. Gently massage the mixture using your fingers until they are just combined.
Hidden veggie for picky kids
I sneak veggies into my recipes as much as possible to ensure my kids eat enough veggies. A little bit here and there adds up in addition to serving veggies as sides. Carrots complement the flavors of these turkey and pork meatballs, and the orange color blends in well. However, you can use other vegetables you have on hand. If you want the carrots to blend, put them in a food processor and pulse them until they are very small. You can also use a box grater to grate the carrots. The cooked meatballs will look better with coarsely grated carrots.
How To Shop For Beef, Chicken, Pork, & Turkey At The Grocery Store
FAQ
Should you cook turkey or pork first?
Can you cook pork and beef together in the same pan?
Can you cook beef and turkey together?
Is turkey better for you than pork?
Can You bake a Turkey in the oven?
Yes, the last thing in your oven should probably be the turkey (unless you’re grilling or deep-frying ). But any turkey should rest for at least 30 minutes before carving, so take full advantage. Your oven will be free to bake a batch of biscuits, or reheat any oven-baked side dishes that need to be warm before serving.
Can one have turkey and carrots?
Eating turkey and carrots is part of healthy habits. The turkey has meat like chicken and is another healthy poultry option. Carrots are rich in carotenoids, it is a source of vitamin A, fiber, potassium and vitamin B3.
How do you cook a ground turkey?
Set the ground turkey and ground pork out at room temperature to warm slightly. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook the carrot, bell pepper, onion, garlic, and spinach in the heated oil until soft; set aside to cool. Mix together the turkey, pork, bread crumbs, wheat germ, eggs, 2 tablespoons ketchup, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
What temperature do you cook ground turkey & ground pork?
There’s always enough for sandwiches the next day and crumbled into spaghetti sauce the day after that. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Set the ground turkey and ground pork out at room temperature to warm slightly.