Can You Cook Ground Beef and Ground Turkey Together?

Last Updated on May 24th, 2023

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Cooking is generally lawless territory when it comes to mixing ingredients together. It all comes down to your own preference and taste. It is possible to cook ground beef and ground turkey together for recipes, and they will taste good.

Cooking the two types of meat together will yield a leaner protein choice compared to straight-ground beef. Ground turkey is a lean protein that is low in calories and carbohydrates.

Using both types of meat as the protein for a recipe will produce more flavor and a little more moisture for your dish.

Ground meat cooked with peas - Can You Cook Ground Beef and Ground Turkey Together?

What Happens When You Mix It?

In short, nothing crazy is going to happen when you mix the two types of meat. In order to cook these meats together, it is suggested that you first cook the ground beef since it will take a little longer to start browning.

Then, after a few minutes of cooking, breaking up the meat, and stirring, you can add in the ground turkey. Since turkey is a lighter and leaner meat than beef, it will take less time to cook fully. You should also stir the meats well while cooking to incorporate them fully.

 

Will it Mostly Taste Like Beef?

Due to the ground beef having a higher fat content, it will overpower the flavor of the turkey. In addition, beef is red meat, which has a stronger flavor than turkey, which is poultry.

For the end result, if you are cooking equal portions of beef to turkey, the beef flavor will consume the turkey flavor. However, if you are using more turkey than beef, you can expect the beef flavor to be less and less, depending on how much more turkey you use.

 

How to Cook it Together Properly?

There are two options for cooking ground beef and ground turkey together properly. First, you can plop both meat packs in a hot pan and begin chopping them up as they cook. This option is easier and is typically more desirable due to not having to touch either of the meat.

The other option is to place both types of meat in a bowl and mix until well combined. From there, you can take the combination of meat and place it in a hot pan to cook.

 

How to Season it?

The type of seasoning you should use depends on what type of dish you plan on making. At a minimum, it is recommended that you season the mixture of meat with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.

These are the basic seasonings that can be used with any dish. For example, if you are making an Italian dish, you can use spices such as oregano, savory, parsley, and red pepper flakes.

If you are cooking an Indian dish, you can use spices such as savory, curry powder, chili powder, raisins, and tomato paste. The type of seasoning and strength of flavor truly depends on your preference and your taste.

 

What Meals Can You Have With This Mix?

You can use the combination of ground beef and ground turkey meat for any dish that calls for protein. For example, you can make burgers, meatloaf, meatballs, and ground meat for tacos, just to name a few.

In addition, you can add this meat to any dish that calls for beef or turkey. For example, you can add it to a box meal or even a spaghetti sauce.

The options and possibilities are endless. This is a very mild combination of meat that will taste great no matter how you choose to enjoy it!

 

Final Thoughts on Can You Cook Ground Beef and Ground Turkey Together

Cooking ground beef and ground turkey can seem like an odd choice of protein for your next meal, but this combination will not leave you disappointed.

Combining two mild types of meat, such as beef and turkey, yields a versatile protein that fits surprisingly well into any meal you prepare. It is easy to cook together, easy to season, and goes in any dish that calls for ground meat.

This combination can make meatballs, hamburgers, sliders, meatloaf, and even tacos. Season it how you like by making it savory, spicy, or mild with salt and pepper. This is a great way to eliminate some fat content you get when cooking just straight ground beef.

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