These easy turkey steaks are made in less than 10 minutes. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, or as a simpler alternative to roast turkey. Serve the steaks with your favorite side dishes, like green beans, mashed potatoes, rice, salad and more.
You’re in the right place if you’re looking for easy turkey steak recipes. They’re very simple to make, taste great, and are a lot faster than roasting a whole turkey. I learned how to make turkey steaks, which changed everything for me. Now I often make a quick turkey dinner.
As with any other steak, I suggest cooking turkey steaks in a frying pan. This is especially true if you’re cooking them for Christmas or Thanksgiving or just want to find healthy turkey steak recipes in general.
Turkey steaks are an underrated cut of meat that can make for a delicious and satisfying meal when cooked properly With a few simple tricks, you can transform plain old turkey steaks into tender, juicy perfection bursting with flavor In this article, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to cook turkey steaks just right.
Selecting Your Turkey Steaks
The first step is choosing the right turkey steaks at the store. Look for steaks that are:
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Approximately 1 inch thick Thinner cuts will dry out, while thicker ones take too long to cook. 1 inch is the ideal thickness.
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Uniform in size: Try to pick steaks that are similarly sized so they cook evenly.
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Minimal fat or gristle: Some visible marbling is fine, but avoid pieces with large chunks of fat, which don’t render well.
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Bright pink Opt for turkey steaks with a fresh bright pink color rather than dull or gray. This indicates fresher meat.
Once you’ve selected your turkey steaks, it’s time to start prepping them at home.
Prepping and Seasoning Your Steaks
Proper seasoning is key for making your turkey steaks ultra flavorful. Here are some tips:
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Pat the steaks dry: Gently pat off any excess moisture with paper towels before seasoning. Wet meat won’t hold seasoning as well.
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Generously season both sides: Use a sprinkle of salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano, paprika, or any combo of your favorite spices. Turkey can handle bold flavors!
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Let the seasoning penetrate: Allow the seasoned steaks to sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes before cooking. This helps the seasoning permeate the meat.
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Consider marinating (optional): For extra flavor, marinate in olive oil, herbs, citrus, etc. But seasoning alone will still do the trick.
Now the turkey steaks are ready to hit the heat!
Choosing Your Cooking Method
You have options when it comes to cooking turkey steak. Here are some of the most popular methods:
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Pan-searing: This quick stovetop method yields a flavorful browned exterior while keeping the interior juicy. Use a heavy skillet over medium-high heat with a bit of oil.
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Broiling: For easy hands-off cooking and great char, broil turkey steaks 4-5 inches from high heat for 3-5 minutes per side. Monitor closely to avoid burning.
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Grilling: Like broiling, the grill imparts delightful char. Cook over direct medium-high for 6-8 minutes, flipping once. Avoid flare-ups.
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Baking: For a no-fuss approach, bake at 400°F for 15-18 minutes on a lightly oiled pan until done. Check temperature to confirm doneness.
Whichever you choose, use a digital meat thermometer to guarantee the turkey reaches 165°F internally when finished cooking. Now for the fun part: digging in!
Serving Your Succulent Turkey Steaks
Hot off the stove, grill or oven, your turkey steaks will be irresistible. Here are some tasty ways to serve them:
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On salads: Slice or dice the steak over a fresh green salad for a protein punch.
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In sandwiches: Sliced turkey steak is delicious between bread or in a wrap or sub. Add cheese, veggies, sauce, etc.
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With roasted veggies: Pair your steaks with oven-roasted broccoli, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash or other veggie sides.
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Over rice or quinoa: For a simple meal, serve turkey steaks over a bed of rice, quinoa or other grain.
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With potatoes: Mashed, baked, fried or roasted potatoes complement turkey steaks wonderfully.
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With gravy: A rich mushroom or turkey gravy takes your steaks over the top.
Get creative with toppings, sauces, spices and sides to make each turkey steak meal unique and mouthwatering. Leftovers also make excellent sandwiches or wraps the next day.
Turkey Steaks FAQs
How long does it take to cook turkey steaks?
Cooking times vary based on thickness and method, but in most cases turkey steaks take 15-20 minutes to cook through. Always use a meat thermometer to confirm they reach 165°F.
Can you cook turkey steaks from frozen?
It is not recommended. Thaw turkey steaks completely in the fridge before cooking for food safety and best texture.
What’s the best oil for cooking turkey steaks?
For pan-searing or grilling, avocado, grapeseed, canola or refined olive oils work well with high smoke points. Avoid unrefined virgin olive oil.
Is brining or marinating necessary?
While brining or marinating can impart extra moisture and flavor, properly seasoned turkey steaks don’t require it.
What are the best seasonings for turkey steak?
Salt, pepper and garlic powder make a great basic combo. Also try onion powder, paprika, oregano, chili powder, lemon-pepper, etc. Go bold with the spices!
Satisfying and Simple Turkey Steaks
With their lean protein, turkey steaks make for a healthier alternative to fattier cuts of meat. And as you now know, coaxing the best flavor and texture out of turkey steaks is easy with the right techniques. A quick brine or marinade can take them up a notch, but even simply seasoned and seared, broiled or grilled turkey steak is sure to become a regular in your dinner rotation.
Why you’ll love it
- Easy to make
- 10-minute turkey entree
- Tastes amazing
- An affordable and light alternative to beef steak
- Use any seasoning that you like
- For weeknight dinners, special occasions, or even holiday meals
Turkey steaks are boneless turkey breasts which are cut into ½-inch steaks. Something like a thin chicken breast or a steak would be a good way to describe them.
You can cook the steaks in a sauce pan, an oven, an air fryer, a grill, or some other device. They only take a few minutes to cook because they are so thin. This makes them a quick alternative to cooking a whole turkey breast. You can season them with traditional flavors,.
You can buy turkey breast strips in most supermarkets. These are sold all year in the UK, but most of the time in the US and Australia from October to December, during the holiday season.
Turkey breast steaks: You can buy steaks that have already been cut, or you can cut a turkey breast into steaks with a sharp knife. If you want to use frozen steaks, you will have to defrost them beforehand.
Olive oil: The oil keeps the meat juicy, and prevents the turkey from sticking to the frying pan. You can also use melted butter, avocado oil or vegetable oil instead.
Seasoning: Salt, pepper and Italian seasoning or mixed dried herbs add lovely flavor to the turkey. You can find other seasoning suggestions below.
You can find full instructions + ingredient measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of this page
One: Season the turkey well on both sides.
Two: Heat up the cooking oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Place the steaks in the pan, and make sure to eave a little space between each steak. Cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the meat is golden brown on the bottom. Then, flip and repeat until its cooked on the other side. This will take between 5-10 minutes in total.
Leave the steaks to rest for up to 10 minutes, or serve them immediately.
TIP! Make sure that the meat is thawed before use. To make the meat extra tender, you can use a meat tenderizer before adding seasoning.
- Avoid overcrowding the pan to ensure an even cooking result. You might have to cook the steaks in multiple batches.
- Before you start cooking the turkey steaks, make sure they are completely defrosted.
- Adjust the seasoning to taste. You could add more or less seasoning, or you could change it all together.
- Make sure that the meat is cooked through before serving. A meat thermometer is the best tool for this job. The turkey should have a temperature of 165 F/74 C inside.
Pan seared turkey steaks are best served as an entree or main course for dinner or lunch. You can also dice them up, and add to stews, soups, salads and more.
If you change up the seasoning, you can serve these steaks with any sides you like. Serve them how you would serve chicken breasts, beef steaks or pork loin.
Use a seasoning mix: Replace the suggested spices and herbs with your favorite spice mix. For example, try using Cajun seasoning, taco seasoning, chicken dry rub, or BBQ spice mix.
Marinated turkey steaks: You can use your favorite marinade, either store bought or homemade. Olive oil, lemon juice, and any herbs or spices you like can also be mixed together to make a simple marinade. Sauces like BBQ sauce, sweet chili sauce and teriyaki are also great as marinades.
Other herbs: Replace the Italian seasoning or mixed dried herbs with any dried herbs that you like. Basil, parsley, thyme, oregano and rosemary are all excellent choices.
Other spices: Turkey pairs nicely with a variety of flavors. Try adding garlic powder, paprika, lemon zest, cumin, smoked paprika or mustard powder.
Baked, roasted or air fried: Cook the steaks at 400 F / 200 C for 5-15 minutes. The exact cooking time will vary. Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the meat is cooked through.
To make this recipe, all you need is a frying pan or skillet. A cast iron skillet is a great option, as it will sear the surface of the steaks nicely. You can also use a non-stick pan to make sure that the meat doesnt stick to the pan.
Additionally, you will need a spatula to flip the steaks. Make sure to use separate kitchen utensils for handling raw and cooked meat.
Store leftover turkey steaks in a sealed container in a refrigerator for up to 2 days. You can reheat them in a microwave or skillet for a few minutes, and serve them warm.
Alternatively, slice or dice the meat, and add it to other dishes like casseroles, pasta, salads or soups. In this lemon chicken pasta, you can use sliced turkey instead of chicken. You can also add turkey to my Mexican casserole.
I dont recommend cooking the steaks from frozen, as this tends to make the meat quite dry. You can try baking them at 400 F/200 C for 20 to 30 minutes, though. Cook them in a sauce or marinade to keep them juicy.
They take between 5-10 minutes to cook, depending on the cooking method and temperature used. The meat should ideally be cooked on both sides, at around 400 F / 200 C.
Turkey steaks are usually made from turkey breast. The breast is sliced into thin steaks, which are much easier to cook, but taste just as good.