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What is the best seasoning for ground turkey? The question on the best seasoning for ground turkey can come in handy when you need to switch things up. Whether you have a pound of ground turkey that needs to be used or simply craving a healthy dinner for you and your family, using the proper seasoning can surely help you get that flavorful spicy meal.
Ground turkey is no doubt the trendy protein of the moment. It is the best choice when you are hankering for a healthy protein. Ground turkey is a year’s favorite when it comes to including lean protein in your pasta, soups, and burgers. Instead of ground beef, ground turkey is much better, as it is lower in saturated fat so it would help your heart more in the long run.
On your hunt for the best ground turkey recipe, you might be confused about which seasoning will give you the perfect result. Some easy seasonings would taste great with ground beef but might not show you the flavor you want with ground turkey.
Ground turkey recipe can end up bland if it is not seasoned correctly and this is definitely where choosing the right spice comes in. Seasonings can take your ground turkey to the next level, and they also allow you to find your perfect combination of flavors.
Read on to discover the best seasonings worth trying for your ground turkey.
Reason Why You Should Season Your Ground Turkey
Seasoning your ground turkey will not only help you create a flavor but is also important if you don’t want your ground turkey to end up bland. Ground turkey will taste bland if there are no accurate salt, pepper, or other types of seasonings in it. One thing we have to agree on is that ground turkey can be pretty boring on its own but with the right season, you can contour this blandness. Here are some other reasons why you season the ground turkey.
- It enhances the flavor, you can create a ground turkey recipe that is savory and delicious with the right blend of seasonings.
- You can budget seasonings like spice in bulk and use them for multiple recipes so it’s an excellent investment for your kitchen.
- Some seasonings like rosemary or turmeric can boost your overall health.
- You can use the seasonings in various stews to soups.
The Best Seasoning For Ground Turkey, Ranked
Ground turkey is often touted for its healthy benefits and with the right combination of seasoning, you can turn this blank canvas of meat around. Seasonings are essential when making your ground turkey, they help in adding flavor and depth to your recipe. Here are highly ranked seasonings for ground turkey and you can go ahead to experiment with different blends to find your perfect combination of flavors.
1. Italian Seasoning
One of the super easy and delicious seasonings for ground turkey, no matter what the recipe is all about is Italian seasoning. The Italian seasoning gives your ground turkey a complex flavor profile, and it can be used on almost everything. You can choose to make this seasoning at home or get it at the store.
Italian seasoning is packed with classic Italian herbs and spices. It is practically one of the best seasoning blends for your ground turkey, pasta sauces, lasagna, stuffed peppers, and meatballs. Basic ingredients in Italian seasoning include; garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, dried oregano, dried thyme, and dried basil.
2. Onion Powder And Black Pepper
An onion powder and black pepper blend is a great way to add a sweet onion flavor and some spice to your ground turkey. Onion powder is an essential seasoning for ground meat especially when you are making burgers, meatloaf, chili, and many other recipes. Also, adding onion powder to ground turkey is a way to avoid the onion texture thereby making it taste like hamburger meat.
To add onion powder and black pepper to your ground turkey, use 1 to 2 tablespoons of onion powder and 1 tablespoon of black pepper. To enhance the taste of ground turkey, add garlic powder and salt.
3. Herbs de Provence
Herbs de Provence is a herb that can be made at home by combining other types of herbs’ flavors. The dominant flavors are usually thyme and rosemary while the other blends are fennel, bay leaf savory, basil, chervil, and marjoram. Only a few pinches of this is needed to elevate the flavor of your ground turkey.
Herbs de Provence is a brilliant type of spice seasoning for your ground turkey, it provides such a unique flavor that would impress you. It goes so well with turkey ground which is why it’s one of the most recommended spices. You can get this at the store or make it at home yourself.
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons dried summer savory
- 1 tablespoon fennel seeds
- 2 tablespoons dried rosemary
- 1/4 cup dried thyme
- 3 tablespoons dried marjoram (optional)
- 1 tablespoon dried tarragon
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried chervil (optional
- 1 teaspoon dried mint
- 1 teaspoon dried lavender (optional)
Directions:
- Grind the fennel seeds and rosemary in a spice grinder. Pour into a mixing bowl and add the rest of the ingredients to it as well. Mix well and use for your ground turkey.
4. Chili Powder
Chili powder is a form of seasoning spice that should be in every kitchen. It has a warm earthy flavor with mild to moderate heat to your ground turkey dish. Chili powder is perfect for adding a spicy smoky flavor to ground turkey dishes. The aroma is rich due to the different blends of ground oregano, cumin, paprika, and cayenne powder
5. Rosemary Seasoning Blend
Dried or fresh rosemary is easy to get our hands on when we are making any quick delicious dish. Rosemary is the ideal ingredient to add to your stews and ground turkey when you want a unique bold flavor. The flavor is distantly like mint and with a hint of bitterness.
Rosemary is a traditional herb that can be expected to pair nicely with ground turkey. You can also use other recipes you already have to give it an extra kick of woody, sweet, and warm flavor.
6. Celery Salt
Celery makes a great garnish and also makes a great addition to turkey meatball soup. Celery salt can be the perfect way to give your ground turkey a flavor boost but just don’t overdo it. This seasoning has been described as having a mild peppery and highly bitter finish. However, this states salty naturally, you can include ingredients like thyme, rosemary, and sage which are natural ground turkey accompaniments.
7. Teriyaki Sauce
Teriyaki sauce has a bold tangy flavor that is loved over the world and it would offer a balance of sweet and savory taste to your ground turkey. Teriyaki sauce can also be used as a basting agent, marinade, or dipping sauce. It is one of the ultimate seasonings you can put into your ground turkey to instantly boost its delicious flavor.
8. Thai Seasoning
Thai seasoning is quite an interesting and refreshing season and is loved by many home cooks and chefs when it comes to seasoning ground turkey. If you love a delicious Thai food experience after a night out with friends then you can easily make it at home without feeling intimidated by using the Thai seasoning method.
Thai Seasoning might seem a bit complicated to recreate especially when using ground turkey but thanks to Asian grocery stores, you can easily find all the spices needed to create it. Typically, there are basic ingredients for making it and they are listed below.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon garlic clove minced
- 1 tablespoon shallots, chopped
- 2 tablespoons lemongrass chopped
- 1 tablespoon Thai fish sauce
- Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon Thai Chile, sliced.
Directions:
In a bowl, mix all the ingredients then add the spice to your ground turkey, mix it well and you can cook as desired.
9. Thanksgiving Turkey Rub
Looking for a way to a more robust seasoning for your ground turkey? This seasoning is made with various spices and herbs, including salt, brown sugar, paprika, pepper, thyme, rosemary, sage, and garlic powder. So, when next you are making a ground turkey recipe, this Thanksgiving turkey rub can give your dish all the warm flavor it should have.
Incorporating the popular Thanksgiving turkey rub into your ground turkey recipe will compete for the best dinner night meal award. Below are the required ingredients for making Thanksgiving turkey rub seasoning.
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons of dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon of dried sage or oregano
- 2 or 3 teaspoons of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of an instant chicken or beef stock mix(or salt)
Directions:
Mix it all in a small bowl and you can sprinkle it all over your turkey or use it as desired.
10. Sun Dried Tomatoes, Olives and Feta
Another amazing seasoning that will probably have you making a ground turkey recipe every week is the seasoning combination of sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and feta. If this is used in making meatballs, they come out delicious and tender. This combination of seasoning has always been the ideal choice when creating a Mediterranean recipe.
11. Smoked Paprika
Smoked paprika is an excellent seasoning to have handy when making a ground turkey recipe. Paprika is perfect for adding a smoky and slightly sweet flavor to your ground turkey recipe. This spice pairs well with other spices like cumin and chili powder. You can use sweet or hot smoked paprika depending on what the recipe calls for.
12. Basic Salt And Pepper Seasoning
We have to agree that salt and pepper mixture will always stand out as an ideal seasoning no matter what dish you are creating. Salt and pepcreate are simple but they are effective for seasoning your protein. If you are making a burger turkey, you can go for this simple seasoning, it is high-ranked among chefs and home cooks.
If you are seasoning your ground turkey with salt and pepper, never skimp on the amount of salt needed, or your turkey will turn out bland. Also, you will need to add other ingredients such as tomatoes, lettuce, onions, oil, or better especially when making patties.
13. Greek Ground Turkey Seasoning
If you are in for something with a blood flavor and a Mediterranean flavor, the Green ground turkey seasoning is a great choice. This seasoning is easy to make at home, it is packed with herbs like oregano and dill. It also features some warm spices such as nutmeg, and cinnamon so it is perfect for making Greek ground turkeys meatballs or dishes like gyros and souvlaki.
Ingredients:
- Dried oregano
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Lemon zest
- Dried dill
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground nutmeg
Directions:
Mix in a small bowl. Add the seasoning mixture to your ground turkey and cook as desired.
Wrapping Up
The purpose of seasoning ground turkey is to infuse it with some flavor before cooking, this is simply because ground turkey can be pretty bland. With the right blend of herbs and spices, you can turn ground turkey into a delicious satisfying dish.
In the article, you can find a wide range of seasoning that works for you, whether you choose to go with a single herb or spice, they all offer a flavorful profile that keeps your ground turkey recipes interesting and delicious.
