Mixing Ground Turkey and Pork: Creating Juicy, Flavorful Dishes

Ground turkey and ground pork are two versatile and tasty meats that can be used in a variety of dishes. Many home cooks wonder if it’s possible to mix these two proteins together. The answer is yes – you can absolutely cook ground turkey and pork together to create juicy, flavorful meals!

Combining ground turkey and pork allows you to take advantage of the benefits of each meat Ground turkey is a lean, healthy option that’s lower in fat than beef or pork. Ground pork provides richness and bold, savory flavor. Together, they make a winning team

In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about cooking ground turkey and pork together. We’ll cover proper food safety, how to blend the meats, recipe ideas, and more. Let’s get cooking!

Key Benefits of Mixing Ground Turkey and Pork

There are several advantages to blending ground turkey and pork in your recipes:

Increased juiciness – The higher fat content of the pork keeps the turkey moist and tender.
Bold, savory flavor – The pork adds rich depth of flavor that turkey alone can lack.
Healthier than all beef – Turkey has less fat than beef or pork alone, making it a lighter option.
Leaner than all pork – Turkey helps cut back on the high fat content of pork sausage or ground pork.
Versatility – The combination works great in tacos, pasta, burgers, meatballs, and more.
Savings – Use up ground turkey and pork you have on hand without buying anything new.

As you can see, mixing these two proteins gives you the best of both worlds – juicy, flavorful meat dishes with a healthier nutrition profile.

Food Safety Tips When Handling Raw Turkey and Pork

When handling any raw meats, it’s essential to follow food safety guidelines to avoid illness. Here are some key tips for safely working with raw ground turkey and pork:

Wash hands and surfaces thoroughly before and after contact with raw meat.
Store ground turkey and pork separately in sealed containers below 40°F.
Never re-freeze thawed ground turkey or pork.
Use separate cutting boards and utensils for each meat.
Cook ground pork and turkey thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165°F.
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and use within 3-4 days.

Following these precautions prevents cross-contamination and protects you and your family.

How to Mix and Blend Ground Turkey and Pork

When it comes to actually combining the ground turkey and pork, the process is simple:

Use approximately 3 parts turkey to 1 part pork. This achieves the right fat ratio.
In a large bowl, add the ground turkey and pork.
To evenly distribute the pork, use clean hands to gently knead the meats together.
Resist overmixing, as this can toughen the texture.
For burgers, divide and shape the blend into patties right after mixing. The pork fat helps bind.
For meatballs or meatloaf, allow the blended meat to chill for 30 minutes which helps it hold its shape better before forming.

That’s all there is to it! Be sure your hands are impeccably clean during the mixing process. Now let’s look at some recipe ideas.

Delicious Recipes Using a Turkey and Pork Blend

This winning combination of ground turkey and pork can be used in all sorts of dishes. Here are just a few recipe ideas to inspire you:

Juicy Turkey-Pork Burgers

For the ultimate burger, mix together 1 lb ground turkey and 1/3 lb ground pork. Shape into patties and grill to perfection. Top with cheese and your favorite burger fixings.

Spaghetti with Meaty Turkey-Pork Sauce

Cook up 1 lb ground turkey and 1/3 lb pork sausage for a chunky, meaty Bolognese-style sauce. Toss with spaghetti and grated parmesan.

Zesty Turkey-Pork Meatballs

Blend 3 parts ground turkey with 1 part ground pork. Add egg, breadcrumbs and Italian spices. Form into balls and bake until done. Toss in your favorite tomato or cream sauce.

Savory Turkey-Pork Meatloaf

For a family-friendly meatloaf, mix together 1.5 lbs ground turkey with 1/2 lb pork sausage and your other favorite add-ins like onions, peppers, and cheese. Bake in a loaf pan until cooked through.

Hearty Turkey-Pork Chili

Brown 1 lb turkey and 1/3 lb pork, then simmer in a chili made with beans, peppers, onions, chili powder, and cumin for a protein-packed bowl. Top with avocado, cheese or sour cream.

Cheesy Turkey-Pork Stuffed Peppers

Fill pepper halves with a blend of 1 lb ground turkey, 1/3 lb pork, rice, tomatoes, garlic, and cheddar. Bake until peppers are tender and filling is bubbly.

The options are endless for ways to incorporate this tasty turkey-pork blend into your cooking routine. Play with different herb and spice combos to customize the flavor profile.

Helpful Cooking Tips for Ground Turkey and Pork

Cooking with a blend of ground turkey and pork is mostly straightforward. But here are some helpful tips:

Always use a meat thermometer to ensure the meat reaches 165°F.
Be mindful of cooking times, as turkey cooks faster than pork. Reduce heat if browning too quickly.
Choose 85% lean ground turkey so the pork adds moisture, not more fat.
When making patties or meatballs, let the mixture chill for 30 minutes so it holds its shape better.
Turkey-pork burgers can be drier than beef, so aim for thinner patties and don’t overcook.
Brush sautéed turkey-pork crumbles with olive oil or broth for extra moisture.

With a bit of care, you’ll end up with perfectly cooked ground turkey and pork dishes your whole family will love.

Ground Turkey and Pork Nutrition Facts

When mixing ground turkey and ground pork, you get a nutritional profile that falls somewhere in between the two meats. Here’s how they compare:

Ground Turkey (85% lean)

Calories: 155 per 4oz raw
Total Fat: 7g
Saturated Fat: 2g
Protein: 24g

Ground Pork

Calories: 212 per 4oz raw
Total Fat: 16g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Protein: 17g

Ground Turkey-Pork Blend

Calories: Approximately 180 per 4oz raw
Total Fat: 10-12g
Saturated Fat: 3-4g
Protein: 20-22g

So the turkey helps lighten up the final nutrition numbers for this combo compared to pork alone.

The Takeaway

Bringing together the strengths of lean ground turkey and savory, succulent ground pork results in an extremely versatile meat blend. Cooked properly, this winning protein combo can elevate favorites like burgers, tacos, meatballs, chili and so much more.

Just be mindful of proper food safety protocols when handling raw turkey and pork. And adjust cooking times and temperatures accordingly for perfectly cooked results. With endless possibilities for amazing flavor, a turkey and pork blend is a simple trick to add excitement and dimension to your everyday recipes!

How To Cook Ground Turkey

FAQ

Can you cook ground meat and ground turkey together?

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.

Which is healthier, ground turkey or ground pork?

As you can see, the most significant difference between these two meat sources is their fat content. Otherwise, they contain many of the same vitamins and minerals in comparable quantities. The main exception is that turkey usually has a much higher concentration of B vitamins.

Do you have to cook ground turkey longer than ground beef?

Food Network explains that ground turkey needs to reach a higher internal temperature than ground beef. Ground turkey is done at 170 to 175 F, while ground beef is at 160 F. Ten degrees might not sound like much, but it will make a significant difference in the outcome of your dish.

Can you use ground turkey instead of ground pork?

Yes! If a recipe calls for ground pork or ground chicken, you can easily substitute it with ground turkey with great results. If the recipe calls for ground pork, try swapping it for ground dark turkey meat and white meat for ground chicken.