Ground turkey is a healthy and delicious alternative to beef, but knowing how long to cook it can be a bit tricky. Cook it for too long, and it can become dry and tough, but not long enough, and it can be undercooked and potentially dangerous to consume.
So, how long should you cook ground turkey? This article will detail the ideal cooking times for ground turkey to help you achieve a juicy, flavorful, and safe dish every time whether you’re making tacos, meatballs or burgers.
Ground turkey is a popular choice for those who are looking for a white meat alternative to ground beef. With fewer calories and fat, it’s a great option when looking to keep dishes lighter.
Like chicken, ground turkey has two different meat types: dark meat and white meat. Dark turkey meat comes from the legs and thighs of the turkey while the white meat is primarily from the breasts.
Dark turkey meat contains more fat and calories than the white meat but is also more flavorful because of this.
Both ground varieties are typically sold in any grocery store and since cooking time or methods are the same, choose the one that makes the most sense for your dish.
Dark ground turkey is great in turkey meatballs while white ground turkey is a good choice for this lighter turkey cauliflower skillet meal.
Ground turkey can be a lean and healthy alternative to ground beef. With less fat and calories, ground turkey is growing in popularity for home cooks looking to lighten up their favorite dishes. But before you swap ground beef for ground turkey in your recipes, it’s important to know how to properly cook ground turkey. Undercooking poses safety risks while overcooking can yield dry, bland turkey. So how long should you cook ground turkey to get it just right? Let’s find out.
Why Choose Ground Turkey?
Ground turkey provides a number of benefits over ground beef
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It’s lower in fat and calories – Ground turkey can have about half the fat of regular ground beef, lowering the calorie count. This makes it great for heart health and weight management.
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More protein – Ounce for ounce ground turkey packs in more protein than ground beef. Protein supports muscle growth and keeps you feeling fuller longer.
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Versatile – Ground turkey can be seamlessly substituted into any ground beef recipe like tacos, pasta, chili, burgers, meatballs, etc
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Budget-friendly – Buying ground turkey over ground beef can trim grocery costs, especially when purchasing bulk turkey.
So by choosing ground turkey, you get a tasty, lower-fat option that lends well to your favorite dishes!
How to Cook Ground Turkey on the Stove
The stovetop method is one of the quickest and easiest ways to cook ground turkey. Here’s a simple stovetop ground turkey recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground turkey (93% lean works best)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Spices of choice (like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, etc.)
Instructions:
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Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
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Add ground turkey and break up the meat thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
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Season with salt, pepper, and any additional spices (to taste).
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Continue cooking for about 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
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Remove from heat and serve.
This stovetop method takes only 10-12 minutes start to finish! Be sure to use a meat thermometer to verify the ground turkey reaches 165°F internally.
Baking Ground Turkey in the Oven
For recipes like meatloaf, turkey burgers, or stuffed peppers, the oven is the way to go. Here are some oven cooking tips for ground turkey:
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Preheat the oven to 400°F. Use a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil or parchment.
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Form the ground turkey into patties, loaf, or stuff into vegetables.
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Cook for 17-22 minutes until 165°F internally.
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Drain any excess grease during cooking.
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Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Roasting turkey in the oven traps in moisture and coaxes out flavor. Allow for extra oven cooking time compared to the stovetop.
Ground Turkey Slow Cooker Recipes
Slow cookers are ideal for simmering ground turkey gently for tacos, chili, soups, and more.
To slow cook ground turkey:
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Sear turkey over the stovetop first to get browning for flavor.
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Transfer seared turkey to a slow cooker and add ingredients like beans, tomatoes, broth, spices.
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Cook on Low for 7-8 hours or High for 3-4 hours.
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Shred with two forks and serve.
The low heat of the slow cooker tenderizes the turkey and marrying flavors. Skip the sear for rushed mornings!
How Long Does Ground Turkey Take to Cook?
- Stovetop: 8-12 minutes
- Oven: 17-22 minutes
- Slow Cooker Low: 7-8 hours
- Slow Cooker High: 3-4 hours
- Grill: 10-15 minutes
Use a meat thermometer to accurately determine doneness. Ground turkey is safe to eat once it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F regardless of method.
If using previously frozen ground turkey, tack on a few extra minutes of cook time. Defrosting thawed ground turkey in the fridge overnight leads to more even cooking.
Ground Turkey Cooking Tips
Follow these simple tips for foolproof ground turkey every time:
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Lean ground turkey ensures a healthier, lower fat option. Opt for 93-99% lean.
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Cook in batches for crisper browning. Avoid overcrowding the pan.
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Break up the turkey continuously as it cooks. This prevents clumping.
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Pat dry before cooking for optimal browning and less splatter.
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Season turkey boldly and early in cooking. Feel free to get creative!
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Rest cooked turkey for 5 minutes before serving. This seals in juices.
Is Pink Turkey Safe to Eat?
You may notice some pink hues in cooked ground turkey, but is it safe to eat?
The short answer is no. Any pink indicates undercooked turkey harboring bacteria.Cook ground turkey to an internal temperature of 165°F to kill germs and make it completely safe to eat. Use a meat thermometer to be sure.
If the turkey shows pink after thorough cooking, it could be from added juices or spices. When in doubt though, continue cooking until 165°F. Don’t risk eating undercooked turkey.
Ground Turkey Recipes to Try
With proper cooking times, you can use ground turkey in place of beef in most recipes. Here are some tasty ideas:
- Turkey burgers with sweet potato fries
- Zucchini turkey meatballs with marinara
- Turkey taco lettuce wraps
- Greek turkey gyro bowls
- Turkey bolognese pasta
- Maple dijon turkey meatloaf
- Turkey chili mac
Get creative mixing up the seasonings and cuisines! Properly cooked ground turkey won’t dry out.
The Takeaway
Cooking ground turkey isn’t too tricky once you know proper techniques. For food safety, cook raw turkey to an internal temperature of 165°F – no matter which cooking method used. Then let the cooked turkey rest 5 minutes before serving up delicious, lighter dishes the whole family will love.
How to cook ground turkey
Before getting into how long to cook ground turkey, let’s review the best way to cook the ground meat.
Like any ground meat, the easiest and fastest way to cook ground turkey is in a skillet on the stove top.
Preheat a skillet with a cooking oil of your choosing over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the ground turkey to the pan. Using either a wooden spoon, spatula or a ground meat chopper, start to break up the turkey into smaller pieces while it browns.
Continue to cook the turkey until all the small pieces are browned and it has released any retained water. During the cooking process, the meat will turn from a pinkish color to a dull brownish gray. When there’s no pink remaining, the ground turkey is fully cooked.
If there’s excess water in the pan once the turkey is almost fully cooked, drain it in the sink then return the pan to the heat.
At this point, the ground meat can be seasoned however you desire. Stir in the seasoning and continue cooking until crispy bits form on the edges of the turkey pieces.
How long does ground turkey take to cook?
Ground turkey can be cooked either on the stove top or in the oven. If you’re making burgers, of course on the grill too. How long it takes to cook the ground turkey will depend on the method.
Once the ground turkey is added to a hot skillet, it should take about four to five minutes to cook thoroughly.
Start by breaking up the meat into larger chunks with a spatula for about one minute. Cook the turkey for an additional two minutes until starting to turn brown then continue breaking into smaller pieces for another one to two minutes until fully cooked.
Turkey is cooked once the internal temperature reaches 165°F just like chicken. Testing this with ground meat, however, is nearly impossible with a meat thermometer. Using visual cues such as the meat turning a light gray/brown color with no pink remaining is a sign the turkey is fully cooked and safe to eat.
While the oven takes longer than the stove top method, it’s very hands off and easy to do.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the ground turkey in a greased baking dish with desired seasonings. No need to break up the meat at this point.
Transfer the dish to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until the ground meat has turned gray/brown. Remove from the oven, break into pieces as desired and serve.