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 lean and healthy meat that can be used in a variety of dishes. However, many cooks wonder if you need to use oil when cooking ground turkey to prevent it from drying out. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll examine if and when oil is necessary for achieving moist, flavorful ground turkey.
Why Oil Helps When Cooking Ground Turkey
There are a few reasons why using a small amount of oil when cooking ground turkey can be beneficial
-
Prevents Sticking: Ground turkey is very lean with little natural fat. As a result, it can easily stick to the cooking surface. A thin layer of oil prevents this.
-
Adds Flavor The added fat from oil enhances moisture and imparts subtle flavor. This boosts the taste of lean ground turkey.
-
Promotes Browning: Oil helps the turkey cook evenly and achieve browned bits that add depth of flavor.
-
Keeps Meat Moist Oil prevents moisture from escaping as the turkey cooks, resulting in a juicier texture
-
Allows Spice Infusion: Spices and seasonings can be sautéed in oil before the turkey is added, allowing the flavors to fully permeate the meat.
Best Oils for Ground Turkey
When selecting an oil for cooking ground turkey, consider these healthy options:
-
Olive Oil: A heart-healthy oil with robust flavor, ideal for Mediterranean-inspired turkey dishes.
-
Avocado Oil: With its high smoke point and mild flavor, avocado oil is a versatile choice.
-
Coconut Oil: Imparts a subtle coconut essence and pairs well with Thai or Indian turkey recipes.
-
Grapeseed Oil: A neutral oil suitable for everyday cooking and turkey sautés.
-
Canola Oil: Another mild, neutral oil perfect for quick turkey sautés.
How Much Oil to Use
When cooking ground turkey, just a small amount of oil is needed—1 to 2 tablespoons is typically sufficient for 1 pound of meat. Too much oil can make the dish greasy.
Sautéing Ground Turkey Without Oil
While oil is recommended for the juiciest turkey texture, it’s not strictly necessary. Ground turkey contains around 10% fat, allowing it to brown and cook without sticking excessively.
To sauté turkey without oil, preheat the pan over medium heat before adding the meat. Break up the turkey and sauté until lightly browned. Monitor closely and add a splash of broth or water if it begins to stick. The results may be slightly drier than when using oil.
Ground Turkey Cooking Times
Cooking times for ground turkey can vary based on preparation method:
- Pan-fried: 8-12 minutes
- Baked: 15-20 minutes at 375°F
- Instant Pot: 8-10 minutes high pressure
Always use a meat thermometer to confirm the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Making Flavorful Ground Turkey
To boost flavor, use these easy seasoning tips:
- Add 1-2 teaspoons of dried herbs like basil, thyme or sage
- Use 1-2 teaspoons of spice blends like taco seasoning, jerk seasoning or Italian seasoning
- Sauté garlic, onions or bell peppers before adding turkey
- Add Worcestershire, soy sauce or hoisin sauce for savory umami flavor
- Grate in fresh ginger, lime zest or crushed garlic before cooking
- Mix in a spoonful of mustard, BBQ sauce or chili sauce
- Sprinkle freshly cracked black pepper and sea salt generously
Ground Turkey Uses
Once cooked, ground turkey is endlessly versatile. Here are some simple meal ideas:
- Ground turkey tacos or burritos
- Turkey lettuce wraps
- Turkey bolognese sauce or chili
- Asian turkey lettuce cups
- Turkey burgers or meatballs
- Turkey stuffed peppers or zucchini boats
- Turkey enchiladas, quesadillas or fajitas
- Ground turkey: 34
- Oil: 20
- Olive oil: 2
- Avocado oil: 2
- Seasoning: 6
- Flavor: 5
- Moist: 5
- Sticking: 3
- Fat: 3
- Browning: 3
- Cooking time: 2
- Recipe: 2
- Texture: 2
- Meat thermometer: 1
- Cooking surface: 1
- Natural fat: 1
- Smoke point: 1
- Coconut oil: 1
- Grapeseed oil: 1
- Canola oil: 1
- Tablespoon: 2
- Pound: 1
- Greasy: 1
- Pan-fried: 1
- Baked: 1
- Instant Pot: 1
- Herbs: 1
- Spice blends: 1
- Umami: 1
- Ginger: 1
- Lime zest: 1
- Crushed garlic: 1
- Mustard: 1
- BBQ sauce: 1
- Chili sauce: 1
- Tacos: 1
- Burgers: 1
- Meatballs: 1
- Chili: 1
- Fajitas: 1
Best ground turkey to use
Fat content Knowing which kind of turkey to buy is essential when learning how to cook ground turkey. I recommend aiming for a turkey with 2-7% fat. This percentage keeps the turkey relatively lean yet still flavourful. A higher fat percentage means you’ll have moist, not dry, meat.
Ground turkey breast vs mixed meat (dark and light) Either ground turkey breast or ground mixed turkey meat will work for this ground turkey recipe. However, I recommend ground turkey breast, as it’s leaner. You can use mixed meat for a richer recipe if you don’t mind the extra fat/calories.
Ground Turkey – Part of learning how to cook ground turkey is grabbing the correct turkey from the store (see notes above). For this lean ground turkey recipe, I recommend turkey that has 2-7% fat. This seasoned ground turkey recipe will also work for ground beef, chicken, and pork.
Italian Seasoning – I’ve included Italian seasoning in this ground turkey seasoning, as it’s great for Italian-inspired recipes like pasta dishes. However, you can swap this out with other spice mixes, depending on what you plan to use the turkey for. For example, if you’re making ground turkey tacos, use a taco spice mix instead.
Cayenne Pepper – When you season the ground turkey with cayenne pepper, it adds a bit of a kick to the dish. If you have a low heat tolerance, consider using a smaller amount or leaving the cayenne pepper out completely.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
There are a few ways you can change up this recipe for how to cook ground turkey to meet your flavour preferences. For one, you can use whichever seasoning you desire. Be sure to prepare the meat with a seasoning that matches your intended recipe for the best results (like taco seasoning for ground turkey taco meat). Additionally, you can swap out the ground turkey for another ground meat of your choosing, like ground chicken, pork, or beef.
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!
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.
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 cook a ground turkey in a frying pan?
Heat a skillet with a tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. When the oil starts to glisten, add the ground turkey to the skillet, sauteing and breaking it apart with a spatula or spoon. Cook, turning, for 3 to 5 minutes. Season the ground turkey with any seasonings you like. You can try salt, pepper, garlic powder and chili powder.
How long can you keep cooked ground turkey?
The cooked ground turkey can be used immediately. Or let it cool and transfer the meat to an airtight storage container and put in the fridge for up to 3 days or the freezer for up to 3 months. Ok, here’s a game changing tip for you – add mushrooms when cooking ground turkey!
Is ground turkey good for You?
Ground turkey is an extremely versatile food that fits well into so many recipes. It typically costs less than ground beef in grocery stores, so it can be a budget-friendly menu option. Ground turkey is also high in protein, B vitamins and amino acids — nutrients your body needs to function.
What can I use ground turkey meat for?
There are so many great uses for your ground turkey meat, basically any dish where you would use ground beef or ground chicken. Try making ground turkey tacos or add it into your pasta sauce. You can use ground turkey for turkey chili, lettuce wraps, stir-fries, and so much more.