Im always working on my recipes to keep my calories down. Mixing lean hamburger and adding ground turkey, still keeps the flavor of the hamburger. Your guests will never know and they are half ground beef and ground turkey, a crowd-pleaser as well. My husband and I lost 80lbs. For us, just changing our mindset by always revamping recipes and working ingredients without losing flavor. It’s like a challenge for me to share what I make and keep track of every calorie, fat, and carb. Sandwich Thins Multigrain or a lettuce wrap is what we use unless we have guests over.
Try this healthy hamburger recipe if you love a classic hamburger but want to make it a little lighter. It combines ground beef and lower-fat ground turkey. Tender and juicy, youd never guess theyre not completely ground beef. When the patty is perfectly seasoned, you can put it on a whole wheat bun or on top of a salad and get any burger you want. — The Test Kitchen.
Ground beef and ground turkey are two popular types of ground meat. Both are versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes. But can you mix the two together? Let’s take a closer look at whether you can mix ground beef and ground turkey.
The Short Answer
The short answer is yes, you can definitely mix ground beef and ground turkey together in recipes that call for ground meat. In fact mixing the two can have some benefits compared to using just one type of ground meat.
Ground beef provides fat and flavor while ground turkey is leaner. By combining the two, you get the best of both worlds – the flavor of beef with some of the health benefits of turkey. The turkey can help make the beef mixture a little leaner overall.
So mixing ground beef and turkey is perfectly fine for burgers, meatloaf, chili, tacos, meatballs, and any other ground meat recipes.
Looking at the Differences Between Ground Beef and Turkey
To better understand if and how these two meats can be mixed, let’s first look at what makes ground beef and turkey different.
Ground Beef
Ground beef is made from beef cuts like chuck, round, and sirloin. It has the following characteristics:
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Fat content: Ground beef contains anywhere from 15% to 27% fat depending on the leanness. For example, 80/20 ground beef is 80% lean and 20% fat.
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Flavor: Thanks to its fat content, ground beef has a beefy, rich, savory flavor. The fat gives it a juiciness and moist texture when cooked.
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Nutrition: Ground beef provides protein, iron, zinc, vitamins B6 and B12, niacin, and phosphorus. It’s high in saturated fat.
Ground Turkey
Ground turkey can come from either white or dark turkey meat. It has the following properties:
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Fat content: Ground turkey is leaner than ground beef, with fat content ranging from 2% to 12%. 93% lean is a popular option.
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Flavor: Ground turkey has a mild flavor compared to beef. The dark meat has a slightly stronger turkey flavor.
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Nutrition: Ground turkey is high in protein, niacin, vitamin B6, zinc, and phosphorus. It’s lower in saturated fat than beef.
Benefits of Mixing Ground Beef and Turkey
Mixing ground beef and turkey offers a few advantages:
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Improved nutrition: Turkey helps reduce the overall fat and calories compared to all beef. You get more protein per serving as well.
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Better flavor: Turkey alone can be bland. Adding some ground beef improves moisture and flavor.
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Cost savings: Ground turkey is often cheaper per pound than ground beef. Stretching beef with turkey saves money.
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Versatility: The mixture works for any recipe calling for ground meat like tacos, chili, burgers, meatloaf, etc.
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Easier portion control: It’s easier to make a leaner meat mixture than reducing fat content of beef alone.
What Ratio of Beef to Turkey Should You Use?
There’s no set rule for the ratio when you mix ground beef and turkey. Feel free to experiment to find a blend you like based on the flavor and fat content desired. Here are some common ratios to try:
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50/50 ground beef to ground turkey: This gives a good balance of fat and leanness.
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75% ground beef to 25% ground turkey: Use when you want mostly beef flavor but still a bit of turkey.
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25% ground beef to 75% ground turkey: Great if you want a healthier, leaner option with some beef for moisture.
In general, choose a fattier ground beef and leaner turkey. An 80/20 beef with 93% lean turkey works well. Just note the overall ratio will be leaner than the beef alone.
Tips for Cooking Mixed Ground Beef and Turkey
Cooking a blend of ground meats is just as easy as cooking them separately. Here are some useful tips:
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Browning: Brown the mixed meat just like beef to develop flavor. Cook over medium heat until browned and cooked through.
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Fat content: The mixture may be a bit leaner than all beef. To prevent dryness, cook in a skillet instead of the oven and be careful not to overcook.
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Moisture: Consider adding breadcrumbs or an egg to help retain moisture, especially for burgers and meatloaf.
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Season well: Boost flavor with ample seasoning like salt, pepper, spices, or herbs. Onions, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce also add lots of flavor.
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Don’t overmix: For burgers, mix just until combined. Overmixing makes the texture dense and rubbery.
Sample Recipes Using a Beef and Turkey Blend
Mixed ground beef and turkey works great in any recipe that calls for ground meat. Here are just a few tasty options:
Turkey-Beef Burgers
Make juicy burgers with a blend of 3 parts 93% lean ground turkey to 1 part 80/20 ground beef. Season the patties and grill or pan fry until cooked through. Top with cheese and favorite burger toppings.
Zesty Meatloaf
For a hearty meatloaf, use 1 pound each of ground turkey and 80/20 ground beef. Add breadcrumbs, egg, diced onions, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings. Form into a loaf, top with ketchup, and bake.
Chili con Carne
Cook up flavorful chili with 1 pound ground turkey and 1/2 pound ground beef. Make it extra hearty with beans, tomato sauce, onions, peppers, chili powder, cumin, and garlic.
Fajita-Style Skillet
Quick fajitas are easy with 1 1/2 pounds mixed ground turkey-beef. Cook with bell peppers and onions. Wrap in tortillas and top with guacamole.
Beef and Turkey Dumplings
Make a savory stew using 3/4 pound turkey and 1/4 pound beef. Simmer with veggies then top with fluffy whole wheat dumplings.
So go ahead and mix up that ground beef and turkey for delicious, healthier meals your whole family will love! The blend of flavors and textures works great in so many dishes. Just adjust the ratio to get the fat content and taste you desire.
Ingredients For healthy hamburger mix of beef and turkey
- 1-1/4 lb 80/20 ground beef
- 1-1/4 lb 85% lean ground turkey
- 1 Tbsp garlic powder
- 1/2 Tbsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp ground pepper
- 1/2 Tbsp sea salt
- 1-1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
How To Make healthy hamburger mix of beef and turkey
- 1 Mix all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Massage the mixture well so that all the meat is mixed in with the other ingredients.
- 2 Create six tennis balls-size balls with the meat. Then use your thumbs to press the meat together to make patties.
- 3: Put the patties on a grill over high heat and cook the first side for 6 minutes. Then cook the second side for 4 to 5 minutes. Let burgers rest for 5 min before serving.
- 4 Serve with your veggies and condiments. Optional. add cheese, and/or bacon strips. If you want to cut back on carbs, burgers in a lettuce wrap are a great option.
- Last Step: Don’t forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network and watch all of your friends drool. And dont forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too! .
MIXING GROUND TURKEY AND GROUND BEEF | Reducing Red Meat Consumption | The Squeebee Cooking
FAQ
Is it okay to cook ground turkey and ground beef together?
How do you mix two ground meats together?
Is it safe to cook ground beef and ground chicken together?
What meat to mix with ground beef for burgers?
Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef?
Ground turkey can be used instead of ground beef in any dish. It is a healthy alternative and can be cooked and seasoned accordingly. You can also use the bones and organs to create a rich stock that can be used in place of store-bought chicken stock instead of using it for ground turkey.
What are the health benefits of ground turkey?
Ground turkey has multiple benefits. It is a good source of minerals, and B vitamins, rich in proteins, low in fat and it is lower in calories than common turkey.
Can you mix ground turkey and beef for meatballs?
Both beef and turkey are high in protein, but beef has slightly more protein per serving. In conclusion, mixing ground turkey and ground beef for meatballs can be a delicious and healthy way to change up your routine. With a few simple ingredients, you can create a flavorful and moist meatball that is sure to please everyone at the table.
Can you put ground beef and Turkey in a burger patty?
The Spruce Eats / Nita West You may not have thought of doing it before, but combining ground beef and turkey into one burger patty creates a nice texture and flavor combination. The beef keeps the burger juicy, and the turkey adds a leaner meat to the mix while reducing the amount the cooked burger will shrink on the grill.
How do you make ketchup with ground turkey?
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat a 9×13-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Combine ground turkey, ground beef, onion, milk, bread crumbs, egg, rosemary, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Press into the prepared pan. Whisk ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard together in a separate bowl; pour over meatloaf.