How to Season Ground Turkey

Ground turkey is a low-fat health alternative to ground beef. with this dish, you can limit your red meat consumption by opting for ground turkey. When cooked correctly, it has a satisfying taste by itself. But before cooking your ground turkey, make sure you season it. In this article, we will show you how to season ground turkey.

Maybe you have always wanted to season ground turkey, but you don’t know where to begin. Here we will provide you with a guide on seasoning ground turkey. 

How to Season Ground Turkey

Best Way to Season Ground Turkey

Instructions

  • Add paprika, salt, garlic powder, oregano, chili powder, onion powder, and cayenne in a small bowl and mix them. Cook turkey in a large nonstick pan over medium heat, turning to break up clumps, for 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Stir in chili powder mixture and water.

How to Cook Baked Turkey Meatballs

After seasoning, you can quickly cook ground turkey in the form of meatballs or in any way you want.

Materials

  • 1/2 pounds of ground turkey.
  • 1 egg.
  • 3/4 cups of bread crumbs.
  • 1/4 cups of chopped parsley.
  • Two cloves garlic, diced.
  • 1/2 cups of onion, diced
  • 1 1/2 tbsp. of tomato paste.
  • 1 tbsp. of salt.
  • 1 tbsp. of pepper.

Instructions

  • Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Mix the ingredients above- put the spices, the meat, the tomato paste, the onion and garlic, the breadcrumbs, and the egg in a large mixing bowl. Mix the ingredients using clean hands.
  • Knead the mixture until all of the ingredients are well incorporated.
  • Form meatballs from the mixture- scoop some mixture and use both hands to roll it into a ball. Place the meatball on a buttered baking sheet. Continue with the process until you form all the mixture into meatballs of the same size.
  • Cook the meatballs- place the baking sheet in the oven until they are golden brown. Take them off from the range and serve.

Notes

Notes: 
  • To easily make meatballs of the same size, use an ice cream scoop or a measuring cup. 
  • Prevent the meatballs from falling off by using a pan with high sides.

The Accurate Way to Season Your Ground Turkey

Before cooking ground turkey, season it well with salt and pepper. Consider adding dried herbs and spices for added taste. If you want to cook meatballs or meatloaf, pinch off some of the seasoned mixtures and cook it in a skillet to taste.

Common Mistake To Avoid While Cooking Ground Turkey

Ground turkey has the potential of making a flavorful meal if it’s used in the right way, and if used in the correct form, it’s an alternative to ground beef. Here are some of the mistakes you should always avoid while cooking ground turkey.

Avoid Using Ground Turkey With The Wrong Fat Content

Before deciding the fat ratio in the recipe, first consider what you’re cooking. Ground turkey is known for its dry texture, but just like ground beef, you can purchase it with a ratio of fat to meat.   

Look keenly at the label or consult your butcher before buying. Ground turkey breast is the leanest, and the thighs and drumsticks contain dark meat. Packages with the title “ground turkey” contain dark and white meat.

Darker meat works well with meatballs and burgers, while white meat is best for sauces. You may ask your butcher to grind a mixture of thighs and breasts to have a preferred combination.

Not Seasoning The Ground Turkey Enough

Seasoning ground turkey is a must when cooking it. Due to the high-fat content, the linear ratio may miss flavor boost, requiring more effort in the flavor department. To avoid cooking bland and flavorless ground turkey, sprinkle enough salt and pepper and other herbs or spices.  

Avoid Handling Ground Turkey too Much.

It’s always good to keep the meet handling to a minimum whether you’re making burgers, meatballs, or meatloaf. It has a direct influence on the texture of the finished recipe. The meat compacts and the results are a tough complete product if you overhandle. 

Final Thoughts

Maybe you have always wanted to cook a ground turkey, but you find it hard since you don’t know how to season it. This blog gives you a step-by-step guide on how to season a ground turkey, cook meatballs after seasoning, and some of the mistakes to avoid while cooking.   

We understand you might be a first-timer; therefore, our steps are simple to follow and direct to the point.

READ ALSO: How Long to Cook a Stuffed Turkey?