What can I do with my ground turkey(turkey mince)?

Heroness
Heroness Posts: 19
in Recipes
I was always hearing Bob and Jillian from The Biggest Loser going on about ground turkey and how good it is...

So today I saw some in the supermarket and bought a packet of it. I have no idea what to do with it. Im fairly good in the kitchen department but am just not sure about the ground turkey. Do I use it like ground beef or pork? Does anyone have any tasty recipes I could make with it.

I would love to hear what you think.
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Replies

  • SundayGirl1989
    SundayGirl1989 Posts: 94
    I use it in any recipe that would normally have beef mince so chilli, spaghetti bolognese, burritos and i also use it to make turkey burgers with onions/spices and a bit of cheese mixed in :)
  • jan3h
    jan3h Posts: 55 Member
    I often use chicken mince to make spaghetti bolognaise, it tastes fine to me!
  • aszwarc
    aszwarc Posts: 200 Member
    What SundayGirl said - just use it instead of ground beef. It has less "meaty" flavor than beef, so foods that have lots of spices will help it not be so bland, like chili, sloppy joes, tacos, etc.
  • Allyoopadoop
    Allyoopadoop Posts: 30 Member
    Here is Bob Harper's Turkey Meatball recipe. It is FABULOUS -- 7 balls is one serving

    Bob Harper’s Turkey Meatballs

    Makes 4 servings

    INGREDIENTS

    1 lb. extra-lean ground turkey ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
    3 garlic cloves, minced ½ tsp. dried oregano
    ¼ cup finely chopped onion 1 large egg, beaten
    ¼ cup chopped parsley ½ cup cooked brown rice, cooled
    ½ tsp. kosher salt Olive oil spray

    DIRECTIONS

    1. Combine all the ingredients except the olive oil in a large mixing bowl and shape into about 30 meatballs 1 inch across.

    2. Spray a large nonstick skillet generously with olive oil.

    3. Cook the meatballs for 5 to 6 minutes, working in batches if your pan is not large enough to fit them all, occasionally moving them around to brown all sides.

    NUTRITION INFORMATION PER SERVING:

    213 calories, 24g protein, 8g carbs, 9.6g fat.
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    People usually use it as a substitute for any other ground meat. I don't have any specific recipes for you, but you could just use it in anything you normally make with beef or pork.
  • auntiemsgr8
    auntiemsgr8 Posts: 483 Member
    I like the Jenny-O Italian ground turkey. Has the Italian seasonings in it. I then use for chili, goulash, etc where I would use beef.
  • PunkyRachel
    PunkyRachel Posts: 1,959 Member
    What she said, any recipe you would typically use ground beef for. Hamburger helper, chili, taco meat, spaghetti, burgers. My husbands favorite is burgers, so I make these awesome turkey burgers, I just season the ground turkey with garlic pepper for him, and hickory smoke seasoning for mine.
  • thinklivebefree
    thinklivebefree Posts: 328 Member
    1st off by turket breast and ground it yourself! Thats all!
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    People usually use it as a substitute for any other ground meat. I don't have any specific recipes for you, but you could just use it in anything you normally make with beef or pork.

    ^ This. I prefer it to other meats. While I do occasionally eat beef, I won't even touch ground beef anymore. It's got all that fatty gristle that just feels gross when you chew it. Ground turkey has a nicer texture. the 99% lean has less fat, of course, but it's kind of too dry for my taste. I prefer the 93% lean. It's got just the right amount of fat. :drinker:
  • Heroness
    Heroness Posts: 19
    Thank you - I love the Bob Harper meatball recipe. I love Bob, seriously like. My plan is to make these meatballs for dinner tomorrow evening. Hmmm now I just have to think about what I will serve with them...the possibilities are endless!

    I also love that I can use turkey mince as an alternative to beef or port mince in other recipes. I could eat chilli all day long.

    Keep the recipes coming though - I think Im going to be buying a lot of turkey mince from now on :)
  • kimosabe1
    kimosabe1 Posts: 2,467 Member
    I've never been able to get into turkey like i can beef. Just watch your portion sizes.......:-)
  • Ribena145
    Ribena145 Posts: 201 Member
    Turkey meatloaf! Way better than beef, you don't get that oily taste rolling off your tongue afterwards..
  • Heroness
    Heroness Posts: 19
    I live in Germany - I don't think we have Jenny-O here at all, which is a shame really as it seems there are so many products from that range all low in fat and you dont even have to think about it!

    It seems to me that it is harder in Germany to do a food shop and come home with a lot of products that will make it easy for me to prepare a healthy, nutritious and low fat meal.

    If there are any others living in Germany that can give me any tips, Id really appreciate it. Thanks
  • trisH_7183
    trisH_7183 Posts: 1,486 Member
    I like to use 2-3 pds of low fat ground turkey for making meatballs.So handy when in the freezer.All ready to use in spaghetti sauce,or crumbled on pizza,for making soup,sloppy joes,meatball subs.Daughter uses it 1/2 & 1/2 with ground beef to make meatloaf.
  • Iron_Lotus
    Iron_Lotus Posts: 2,295 Member
    Stuffed peppers!!! So easy and delicious!
  • Tessyloowhoo
    Tessyloowhoo Posts: 504
    Best Turkey meatloaf EVER!

    http://www.yummly.com/recipe/external/Vegetable-Meatloaf-With-Balsamic-Glaze-Food-Network
  • Miss_Izz
    Miss_Izz Posts: 10
    You can do everything with ground turkey that you do with any other ground meats.
    Depending on what your diet allows, get creative!

    Ground Turkey is kind of plain, and it can get weird when you cook it..but it doesn't have a strong distinct flavor (imo) so you can pretty much make it taste like whatever tickles your fancy.
  • kathy0015
    kathy0015 Posts: 4
    We use it in our chili, as Burgers, in our spaghetti, make meatloaf with it. Just use it as a hamburger replacement
  • uscgmcpo
    uscgmcpo Posts: 2
    If you season with Italian seasoning and garlic (fresh grated or minced) Then brown it, it is great in spaghetti, lasagna, and if you roll it ito small balls after adding some fennel seed it makes great "sausage" for pizza.
  • 80lbslost
    80lbslost Posts: 93 Member
    The Biggest Loser black bean turkey chili is yummy. Recipe is on Jennie-O website. I'm making spaghetti squash tonight with ground turkey and Alfredo sauce.
  • bunnybutler29
    bunnybutler29 Posts: 291
    Ground turkey can be used in place of any ground meat. I use it for tacos, meatloaf, burgers, spaghetti, chili, on pizzas for the kids. Turkey and black beans burgers are yummy and even my husband loves them. With a family of five that is one easy way to stretch out food.
  • morethenjustmum
    morethenjustmum Posts: 170 Member
    One of my favorites is mini turkey meatloaf with sundried tomatos
    You do it in a cupcake pan, they are too cute and make it easy to control portions

    1 lb ground turkey
    1 egg
    1/2 cup rehydrarted sun dried toms
    1/4 whole wheq bread crumbs
    1/4 parm
    fresh parsley
    mix it up , saving the parm

    bakefor 30 mins @ 350
    sprinkle parm n top for last five minutes
  • bert16
    bert16 Posts: 726 Member
    Another vote for just using it as a substitute for ground beef in any recipe you've got... I use it in chili, bolognese sauce, tacos, meatballs, burgers, etc.
  • oc1timoco
    oc1timoco Posts: 272 Member
    Make meatballs with it. Its pretty moist and holds together good without a binder like eggs. It can easily be over worked so pay attention to that aspect. I make a slurry of onion, jalapeno and garlic and mix into it along with oregano. Use very little bread crumb. I like to grill mine but of course you can bake too. I serve mine with a homemade Tequila Cranberry Orange Chutney. Have a good one
  • Heroness
    Heroness Posts: 19
    Thank you for all the brill info. I like the sound of the meatloaf. Although I have never made on myself yet...I asked my German husband if he knows what meatloaf is...

    So his answer was it is either a singer or a type of meat cake that you bake in the oven! Love it!
  • rhondatime2chg
    rhondatime2chg Posts: 92 Member
    I do not buy ground beef anymore, only ground turkey. My children don't even notice. They have adapted :) I use it in spaghetti, chili, tacos, etc.
  • loriq41
    loriq41 Posts: 479 Member
    I LOVE (in fact I am having it tonite)...I brown the ground turkey..then add like...a half a tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and throw in two cups of spinach..I may sprinkle it with a bit of Adobo seasoning..then I put it in a low carb tortilla with either a serving of 2% milk fat cheese or else 2 tbsp of my favorite hummus..wrap up and voila! A filling meal!
  • Aust1967
    Aust1967 Posts: 68 Member
    I am going to try the Bob Harper recipe for meatballs - it sounds so good to add rice to it! Thanks!
  • mapenguinkeeper
    mapenguinkeeper Posts: 191
    use just like beef for burgers, meatballs, stuffed peppers, stuffed tomatoes and meatloaf, just need to add some extra spice (cumin, coriander, chili powder, cayenne) to compensate for blandness.

    oh yeah, I bake mine to not add additional fat, I place them on a cooling rack that I then place on the cookie tray so they brown evenly all around.
  • thefitzner
    thefitzner Posts: 8 Member
    I use ground turkey for everything. I make:

    Turkey Meatballs 1/2 cup breadcrumbs - you can use quinoa instead if you like, 1 egg or egg substitute, 1/2 onion minced - I usually throw the onion and a couple of cloves of garlic in a mini prep chopper, salt, and a couple of spoonfulls of greek yogurt. Mix all together and form into golf-ball sized balls. Bake at 425 for 20 - 25 minutes)

    Turkey burgers with quinoa: 1 package ground turkey, 1/3 cup cooked quinoa, kosher salt, garlic powder, dehydrated onions, Worchester sauce

    Turkey meatloaf: Basically the same as turkey meatballs, but I add dried ground mustard and Worchester sauce, skip the greek yogurt and put ketchup over the top before cooking in the oven.

    Turkey lettuce cups: 1 Package ground turkey, 1/2 onion - chopped, 1-2 cloves of garlic, fresh ginger or ground ginger powder, yoshida's teriyaki sauce (if I have more time, then I mix my own sauce), and 1 can water chestnuts. Cook all together in saute pan and then wrap in lettuce.

    Turkey taco salad: 1 package ground turkey, 1/2 onion, 2 Tbs onion powder, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 Tsp chili powder (more if you like it spicy), 1 tsp ground oregano, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp salt, 1 tbs all purpose flour, 1 can tomato sauce. - sauté onion until softened then add turkey and all spices, cook until turkey is brown. Then add the flour and sauté for 1 minute to cook off the flour taste. Then add in the can of tomato sauce. Cook for 1 - 2 minutes until heated through. I don't eat tortillas so I put it over shredded lettuce, but you can make regular tacos as well. Depending on your taste, you can add light sour cream or plain greek yogurt, avocado, olives, fat-free refried beans, etc...

    I've also been known to sauté ground turkey, onions, salt, garlic and cubed sweet potato. And also take that recipe and add chopped fresh tomatoes or canned tomatoes depending on what I have on hand.

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