How to make ground turkey... not taste like ground turkey?

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Replies

  • lucys1225
    lucys1225 Posts: 597 Member
    I don't dislike it but I prefer ground chicken.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    If I'm using it in chili, tacos, meatballs or something like that my family doesn't mind it. My dd is kind of picky and is fine with ground turkey in these things. It is a little squishier than ground beef would be.
  • laurenebargar
    laurenebargar Posts: 3,081 Member
    I occasionally like turkey burgers, but thats about all I enjoy it in. Otherwise just buy 95% lean ground beef.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited May 2017
    I don't like it myself, so I don't use it. You don't have to either.

    I don't like it much, but I had some (got a mixed box from a farm and they included some -- not doing that again), so mixed it with onions and jalapenos to make a burger and then added cheese. I also used it in a chili (made it spicy and included beans). Both were pretty good, but I see no reason to use it instead of ground beef (or ground pork or lamb or bison, which I also like), normally.

    I love turkey itself, but ground makes it so much less appealing, IMO. Plus, lean ground beef is quite low cal.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    I'm finding a lot of yummy looking recipies that call for ground turkey. I've used it a few times before (years ago) and it always came out like soggy cardboard. How can I make it better? Is it the fat content or cooking method? I was thinking of trying it in tacos, sloppy joes or chili.

    I only use it with strong flavors.....like you mentioned above.
  • lemmie177
    lemmie177 Posts: 479 Member
    lemmie177 wrote: »
    I don't understand the hate either. I don't notice a huge difference from beef tastewise, but I pretty much only ever make chili or unstuffed cabbage roll soup. Occasionally, I'll mix with beef to make meatloaf or meatballs. I actually made turkey chili yesterday. It was delicious.

    Not liking the taste of something is called a preference. Not hate. *shrug*

    I dunno, coming into a thread asking for advice about a food only to call it 'nasty AF' seems pretty passionate. *Shrug*
  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
    lemmie177 wrote: »
    lemmie177 wrote: »
    I don't understand the hate either. I don't notice a huge difference from beef tastewise, but I pretty much only ever make chili or unstuffed cabbage roll soup. Occasionally, I'll mix with beef to make meatloaf or meatballs. I actually made turkey chili yesterday. It was delicious.

    Not liking the taste of something is called a preference. Not hate. *shrug*

    I dunno, coming into a thread asking for advice about a food only to call it 'nasty AF' seems pretty passionate. *Shrug*

    If you read I didn't call it nasty AF. I said I don't have time for food that's nasty AF. Also calling something nasty is far from being passionate. But good try. :laugh:
  • diliveslife
    diliveslife Posts: 42 Member
    If you like onions I first will grill onions in tiny pieces until they are clear, then put in a bowl, then brown the turkey meat and season with Italian seasoning, then mix in with onions and eat with whatever, like rice or veg side. I also make this the same way with pasta sauce and put over broccoli and it's DEEEEELISH. If I am feeling extra indulgent I will put half of a sweet Italian sausage in with the whole package of turkey and it really adds a lot of flavor.
  • RachelElser
    RachelElser Posts: 1,049 Member
    I often combine it with another ground meat- rabbit, bison, or beef. Also Make sure you pan cook it but don't overcook it- I find that's when it turn mushy. Good luck!
  • fitv1020
    fitv1020 Posts: 1 Member
    Mix bell peppers and onions when you fry it and add some Tony's seasoning! You can also smoother it in some barbecue sauce.
  • WickedPineapple
    WickedPineapple Posts: 698 Member
    I like using ground turkey in place of beef in lasagna. I use the 93% rather than 97% or 99%, since the really lean stuff tends to be dry.
  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
    edited May 2017
    Try seasoning with powdered beef stock.
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    Try seasoning with powdered beef stock.

    I'm intrigued
  • blackcomaro
    blackcomaro Posts: 796 Member
    I'm intrigued
    [/quote]
    Me to

  • mortuseon_
    mortuseon_ Posts: 257 Member
    It's better when heavily seasoned, as others have mentioned. If you can put it in a sauce (like in a chili or in stuffed pepper soup) or season it heavily (e.g. to make soboro), you might have a better time with it. But YMMV. If you don't like it, it's not like it's a requirement for weight loss.
  • mortuseon_
    mortuseon_ Posts: 257 Member
    tattygun wrote: »
    I add garlic, lime, coriander, chopped fresh chilli, sea salt and pepper and form it into burgers. Tastes amazing.

    That sounds excellent. Might try that this weekend, thanks!
  • Queenmunchy
    Queenmunchy Posts: 3,380 Member
    I only like ground beef for burgers. Otherwise, I use ground turkey because it's cheaper and I prefer it.
    Like everyone else said, season - mix with seasonings to make Italian or breakfast sausage patties, season when putting into a sauce, stew or curry, season when stuffing peppers.
  • SVeit28
    SVeit28 Posts: 3 Member
    If you are a sausage lover, you may like ground venison. Can still use with a portion pork sausage for that familiar flavor but much healthier overall. I just double ground 250lbs of processed sausage with a predominance of venison and natural seasonings...great protein and flavor! I bet you could try the pork mix with grass fed beef mentioned earlier too...not quite as lean, but gets you closer to what you like☺
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    I don't like ground turkey as much as ground beef, but some times its on sale way cheaper, so I get it then. I don't think the turkey is any healthier in the same fat% as beef. Its hard to say if it is cooking method, seasoning or if you just don't care for ground turkey. Season it up! It seems to need a bit more flavoring added than beef.
  • Acem24
    Acem24 Posts: 157 Member
    Turkey taco soup.

    1lb ground turkey
    1 reduce sodium taco seasoning packet
    1 reduce fat ranch dressing mix packet
    1 can of corn
    2 large cans of black beans
    3 cans of rotel

    Cook turkey till done, drain fat. Then combine all ingredients( and ingredients juices) in one big pot and heat serve with toppings

    Toppings optional but so delicious.
    Fresh jalapeño slices
    avocados slices
    Cilantro
    Cheese or sour cream
    Homemade Chips ( if your yolo).
  • figgy362
    figgy362 Posts: 1 Member
    Sriracha works for me, I can't taste the turkey at all. The texture though... Still dry and chewy, no matter how much I try not to over cook it, it needs to be cooked thoroughly. I suppose some eat to live, and some live to eat. I alternate with both. We're not all the same people, thankfully :)
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,616 Member
    I use ground turkey or ground chicken or both in the slow cooker meals I cook ... and to me, they're delicious! :)
  • susanp57
    susanp57 Posts: 409 Member
    Has anyone tried mixing it with ground beef? Just wondering...

    Yes. I make meatloaf half and half. You can't even tell.
  • southhamptonmike
    southhamptonmike Posts: 61 Member
    ground chicken breasts is your friend. we made the switch from turkey to chicken a long time ago. still use grass fed ground beef on occasion. my wife cannot stand the smell of ground turkey cooking.
  • isyvanek
    isyvanek Posts: 1,039 Member
    Ground chicken is my suggestion as well. Or grass fed beef. And if you really like/want the sausage flavor use chicken sausage instead of the pork sausage. If you have a Sprouts Market near you, they make their sausage in house and the hot Italian chicken sausage is fabulous!
  • EllaLeahB
    EllaLeahB Posts: 310 Member
    I recently tried ground chicken and I like it much better. Depends on what you're doing with the ground turkey, are you making meatloaf with it or putting it in spaghetti?
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