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 ingredient that can be used in many dishes from tacos to chili to meatballs. However because ground turkey is quite lean, many cooks wonder if oil is necessary when cooking it. The short answer is – yes, using oil when cooking ground turkey is highly recommended for the best texture and flavor.
Why Oil is Important for Cooking Ground Turkey
There are a few key reasons why adding oil when cooking ground turkey is beneficial
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Prevents sticking and drying out Ground turkey is very lean and contains little fat As a result, it can easily stick to the pan and dry out during cooking Adding a tablespoon or two of oil prevents this. The oil coats the pan and the meat, allowing for proper browning without sticking.
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Adds flavor: The small amount of added fat from the oil also helps enhance flavor. Oil can add richness and depth to what would otherwise be very lean and potentially bland ground turkey.
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Aids in cooking process: Oil promotes even cooking and heat distribution. This is especially important when pan-frying ground turkey to get nice browned bits for additional flavor.
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Keeps meat moist: The extra fat prevents moisture from evaporating out of the meat as it cooks. No one wants dry, rubbery ground turkey!
Best Oils to Use
When it comes to selecting an oil for cooking ground turkey, you have options:
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Extra virgin olive oil: A heart-healthy choice that provides great flavor. Use for Mediterranean-style turkey dishes.
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Avocado oil: With a mild flavor and high smoke point, avocado oil is a versatile choice.
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Coconut oil: Imparts a subtle coconut flavor. Use for curries or other Asian-inspired turkey recipes.
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Grapeseed oil: A neutral-tasting oil good for everyday cooking.
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Canola oil: Another neutral oil that won’t overpower the turkey.
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Butter: Provides rich flavor and works well for sautéing ground turkey.
Stick to 1-2 tablespoons of your preferred oil or butter when cooking a pound of ground turkey.
How Much Oil to Use
As a general rule, use 1-2 tablespoons of oil per pound of ground turkey. To be more exact:
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For pan frying ground turkey, use 1 tablespoon oil per 1 pound turkey.
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For oven roasting, use about 2 tablespoons oil per 1 pound turkey.
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If making turkey burgers, use 1 tablespoon oil total for 4 burger patties.
When in doubt, it’s better to use a little more oil than needed rather than not enough. Insufficient oil will lead to sticking, dry meat, and uneven cooking.
Cook Time with Oil
Cooking time will vary slightly depending on the amount of oil used. Here are general guidelines:
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Pan frying: Cook for 8-12 minutes with 1 tbsp oil per lb.
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Oven roasting: Roast at 400°F for 15-18 minutes with 2 tbsp oil per lb.
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Turkeys burgers: Grill or pan fry 4-5 minutes per side with 1 tbsp oil total.
Be sure to use a meat thermometer to confirm the turkey reaches 165°F internally.
Oil-Free Cooking Methods
While adding oil is recommended for most ground turkey cooking methods, you can cook ground turkey without oil in some instances:
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Grilling turkey burgers: Oil isn’t required since the burgers don’t make direct contact with the grill grates.
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Steaming or boiling: Ground turkey for soup or stew can be cooked gently in broth or water.
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Slow cooker turkey: Slow, moist heat tenderizes without oil.
For any high-heat pan frying or oven roasting, oil should be used for best results.
Flavoring Oil for Turkey
Plain oil is effective, but you can also flavor it for extra taste. Try:
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Oil infused with garlic, rosemary, chili peppers or other herbs/spices
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Olive oil + lemon juice or zest
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Coconut oil + lime juice + cilantro
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Sesame oil + soy sauce + ginger
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Compound butter melted into the oil
Get creative with oil and flavor combinations to make your ground turkey even more delicious.
Ground Turkey Cooking Tips
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Choose 93% lean or 99% lean ground turkey depending on preference. Higher fat content = more moisture.
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Break up turkey continuously as it cooks to prevent clumping.
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Season well with salt, pepper and spices. Ground turkey benefits from bold flavors.
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Add chopped veggies like onions, peppers or mushrooms while cooking.
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Cook to 165°F internal temperature as measured by a meat thermometer.
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Let sit 5 minutes before serving.
With the proper amount of oil and some seasoning, you can enjoy tender, flavorful ground turkey in tacos, pasta sauce, soups, burgers and more!
Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions
After learning how to cook ground turkey, it’s necessary to know how to store leftovers (if there are any!).
Refrigerator If you plan to use the leftover cooked turkey in ground turkey recipes in the next few days, you can store it in the fridge. Be sure to allow the meat to fully cool first. Then, store it in an airtight container for up to four days in the refrigerator.
Freezer If you’ve doubled or tripled the recipe and want to store the meat for future recipes, you can store it in the freezer. Like above, be sure to let the meat cool before packing it in an airtight container or baggie. Then, keep it in the freezer for no more than six months.
Reheat When you’re ready to use frozen ground turkey, allow it to defrost overnight in the fridge. Then, toss it in a pan over medium heat and warm. Be sure to stir the meat regularly.
One of the great things about learning how to cook ground turkey is that you can make it ahead of time. Simply follow the directions below. Then, store the ground turkey in the fridge until you’re ready to use it. Then, you can reheat it in a pan over medium and use it in your recipe of choice.
No, you don’t usually need to drain ground turkey because it is such a lean meat.
The best way to cook ground turkey is with a bit of oil in the pan. Since turkey is quite lean, you’ll need to add oil to prevent it from sticking to the pan.
For those wondering how to cook ground turkey in a pan, see the notes/recipe below. Here’s a quick summary on how to cook ground turkey on the stove. First, you’ll want to preheat a pan with oil. Then, brown the ground turkey, add the seasoning, and continue cooking until the meat is cooked through.
If you’re wondering how long to cook ground turkey, it’s important to note that different cooking methods will yield different cooking times. If you decide to cook ground turkey in a pan, it will take about 10 minutes. Depending on the method, other recipes may require 5-20 minutes of cook time.
If you tried this Ground Turkey mince recipe, it would be mean so much to me if you could leave a review & a star rating to let me know how you found it! I love hearing about your experiences – it motivates me to keep creating more and more recipes for you guys Let’s get cooking! – Mimi x
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?
How to cook ground turkey so it’s not dry?
Should I put oil on my turkey?
What is the best way to season ground turkey?
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.
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.
How do you keep ground turkey moist while cooking?
If you’re worried about ground turkey drying out, you can baste it while it cooks. Spoon melted butter, stock, meat drippings or some other kind of liquid onto the ground turkey as it’s cooking, and it will soak up all the moisture and flavors. Ground turkey with 5 percent fat (as opposed to 1 percent) may also stay more moist.
Is ground turkey safe to eat?
Ground turkey needs to reach a higher internal temperature than other meat products Ground turkey is a type of poultry, so you will have to cook it to a different internal temperature than ground beef to ensure it is safe to eat.