If you’re wondering how to cook ground turkey and make it taste good, you’re in luck! This recipe lets you create healthy, flavourful ground turkey meat in just 15 minutes. That way, you can have your weeknight meal ready in no time. You can cook ground turkey as taco meat, a topping for salads, chilli, gyro bowls, and more!
Ground turkey is a healthy and versatile meat that can be used in everything from burgers to chili to meatballs. But because it’s so lean many cooks wonder if you need to use oil when cooking ground turkey to prevent it from drying out. Here’s a comprehensive look at how oil affects ground turkey and the best practices for cooking moist, delicious ground turkey every time.
Why Oil Helps When Cooking Ground Turkey
There are a few reasons why using a small amount of oil when cooking ground turkey can improve the results:
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Prevents Sticking: Ground turkey is very lean and contains little fat. As a result, it can easily stick to the cooking surface. A thin layer of oil prevents this.
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Promotes Browning: Oil helps the ground turkey develop a nice brown crust for better flavor. The fat also conducts heat more efficiently for even cooking.
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Adds Moisture The small amount of fat from the oil bastes the turkey and keeps it moist, instead of drying out
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Enhances Flavor: Oil helps to distribute and blend seasoning over the meat. The added fat also improves the mouthfeel.
So while not 100% required, oil does make cooking ground turkey easier and tastier. You only need a tablespoon or two for a pound of meat.
Best Oils for Cooking Ground Turkey
You have options when it comes to selecting an oil for cooking ground turkey:
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Olive oil – Provides great flavor for Mediterranean-style turkey dishes.
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Avocado oil – With its high smoke point and mild flavor, avocado oil is very versatile.
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Coconut oil – Imparts a subtle coconut flavor that works well in curries.
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Grapeseed oil – A neutral-tasting oil that is ideal for everyday cooking.
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Canola oil – Another neutral oil that won’t compete with the turkey’s flavors.
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Butter – Adds richness when melted into the pan for cooking ground turkey.
Stick with oils that have a high smoke point so they don’t burn during cooking.
How Much Oil per Pound of Ground Turkey
As a general guideline when cooking ground turkey:
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For pan-frying – Use 1 tablespoon oil per 1 pound of ground turkey.
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For oven-roasting – Use about 2 tablespoons oil per 1 pound of ground turkey.
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For turkey burgers – Use 1 tablespoon of oil total for 4 burger patties.
When in doubt, it’s better to use a bit more oil than required rather than too little. Skimping on the oil may lead to sticking, uneven cooking, and dried out meat.
Key Tips for Cooking Ground Turkey
Follow these tips for moist, flavorful ground turkey every time:
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Choose ground turkey with some fat, like 85/15 or 93/7 versus 99% lean. The fat content helps keep it juicy.
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Break up the meat thoroughly as it cooks to prevent clumping.
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Generously season the turkey while cooking. Spices and herbs build flavor.
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Add aromatics like onion, garlic, peppers or mushrooms to the pan.
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Cook over medium-high heat for the best browning. Avoid high heat that may dry out the turkey.
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Use a meat thermometer and cook until 165°F internally.
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Allow the cooked turkey to rest 5 minutes before serving.
How to Cook Ground Turkey Without Oil
While oil is recommended for most ground turkey cooking methods, you can cook ground turkey without any added oil in certain cases:
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Grilling turkey burgers or meatballs – The meat doesn’t directly touch the grill grates.
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Steaming or braising ground turkey in broth, tomatoes or other liquids.
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Slow cooker turkey – The low gentle heat tenderizes without drying out.
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Oven-roasting on a rimmed baking sheet – Turkey releases fat and juices as it cooks.
So feel free to skip the oil if using one of those cooking techniques. But for pan frying, sautéing or other high-heat stove top cooking, oil helps achieve the best results.
While not absolutely mandatory, using a small amount of cooking oil when preparing ground turkey provides benefits. The oil aids browning, keeps the lean turkey moist, prevents sticking, and improves flavor release. For the juiciest, most flavorful ground turkey, don’t be afraid to add a bit of oil to the pan before cooking. Then season generously and cook over medium-high heat until fully cooked. Follow these best practices, and you will enjoy delicious ground turkey every time.
How to cook ground turkey
- ▢ 500 g ground turkey (2-7% fat) (£2.65) (£2.65)
- ▢ 1 tbsp rapeseed/canola oil
- ▢ 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ▢ 1 tsp paprika
- ▢ 1 tsp Cayenne pepper
- ▢ 1 tsp onion powder
- ▢ 1 tsp garlic powder
- Preheat a large non-stick frying pan over a high heat, coated with rapeseed oil/canola. Add the ground turkey into the pan and break apart (roughly) with a spatula. Leave to brown on a high heat for five minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- After this time, the ground turkey should have taken on some nice colour. Break apart properly now with your spatula and stir.
- Continue to cook for another 3 minutes, then add the seasoning and another generous pinch of salt into the pan. Reduce the heat to medium now and continue to cook for a further 2 minutes.
- Serve up with a crack of black pepper and enjoy!
- Opt for ground turkey with higher fat content, like 93%, to ensure a moister result.
- Season generously to your taste preferences, using spices and seasonings you enjoy for better flavour.
- Choose a high-quality ground turkey brand for improved taste and overall quality.
I started Beat the Budget in 2018 whilst at uni to share healthy but cheap recipes that didn’t break the bank. I had/still have a weekly food budget of £20 and now I’ve created over 400 recipes at around £1 a portion. I hope you love them!
Tips for the best results
Using a stainless steel plan over a high heat This will achieve the best browning as the heat distribution over a stainless steel pan is amazing.
Add seasoning to your liking The seasoning is key if you’re wondering how to make ground turkey taste good. Be sure to use spices/seasonings that you enjoy. If you like a bold flavor, add more seasonings and vice versa.
Choose a quality ground turkey brand Since ground turkey is the star of the show, I recommend using a good-quality turkey brand. You’ll notice a difference in flavour when using lower-quality meat versus higher quality.
Now that you know how to cook ground turkey, you may be wondering what to use turkey for. Here are a few easy meal prep/dinner ideas: use the ground turkey for soup, stew, chilli, tacos, stir-fry, pasta meat sauce, egg roll in a bowl, meatloaf, burgers, or meatballs. Essentially, you can use ground turkey anywhere you would normally use other types of ground meat.
Serve with my delicious : Mexican Street Corn Off the Cob
Do I need oil to cook ground turkey?
FAQ
Can you cook ground turkey without oil?
Do I need oil to cook turkey? Oil is not strictly necessary, but it is highly recommended. It prevents that the ground turkey sticks to the pan and adds an extra layer of flavor. As an alternative you can use butter, or even a tablespoon of water to keep fats and calories down.
How do you cook ground turkey so it’s not dry?
How do you make ground turkey tender? The key is not to cook it too long while cooking it through. At 15 minutes, it should be just right without drying out.
Do you need oil when cooking ground meat?
Unless you’ve chosen a very lean ground beef such as 93/7, you shouldn’t need to oil the pan. The fat in the beef needs a bit of time on the heat to render out, so if the beef sticks at first, simply splash a little water in the pan.
Do I need to put oil on my turkey?
This not only flavors the turkey but also helps keep it moist and juicy. Lastly, rub the outside skin of the turkey with butter or oil, and season with salt and pepper. This triple application of flavor will mean an end to bland birds.
Do you need to wash ground turkey before cooking?
Ground turkey with 5 percent fat (as opposed to 1 percent) may also stay more moist. Using oil like olive oil is ideal for cooking ground turkey. “This helps cook the ground turkey more thoroughly, adds a bit of flavor and stops it from sticking to the pan,” Dillard says. Many people wonder if they have to wash meat before cooking it.
How much oil do you put in a ground turkey?
2 Tbs oil optional, based on fat content of the ground beef. In a frying pan set over medium heat on the stove top, add oil to the pan if your ground turkey is very low fat. Use your fingers to break up and pull off pieces of the ground turkey chunk and put into the pan.
Do I need to Pat dry ground turkey before cooking?
There’s no need to pat dry ground turkey before cooking it, as it’s low in fat and can be cooked straight from the package. However, if there is excess water on the surface, particularly with thawed frozen ground turkey, be sure to pat it dry with a paper towel to remove the extra moisture before cooking. Do I need oil to cook turkey?
How do you cook a pound of ground turkey?
Turkey is a lean protein and because of that ground turkey needs to have a lot of flavor added and you will always need to add a bit of fat and seasoning to ground turkey meat. 1. In a large skillet, heat some oil (avocado oil works or any vegetable/olive oil is fine). 2. Over medium heat, brown a pound of ground turkey. 3.
What is the best way to cook ground turkey?
“Stovetop is the best way to cook ground turkey, with a bit of oil, vegetables and seasoning,” says Chef Snoop Dillard of Escobar. He recommends you start with a pound of ground turkey and cook it on the stovetop with chopped yellow onions and red, yellow and green peppers.
How do you season a Turkey?
Cooking oil. A cooking oil like canola oil, coconut oil or avocado oil prevent the meat from sticking to the pan and add extra flavor. Salt. A pinch of salt is enough for a simple turkey seasoning. But you can add other seasonings such as onion powder or smoked paprika for more taste.