The Budget Meat You Should Always Keep On Hand For Quick Meals

It's common knowledge that most home chefs are open to exploring creative ways to shop smarter without sacrificing flavor in their favorite recipes. With that said, if you enjoy preparing signature recipes like loaded beef taco casserole, spaghetti and meatballs, and spicy slow cooker beef chili but often wish you could swap out pricier ground beef for a more cost-effective alternative, look no further than ground turkey.

Sure enough, while ground turkey has a paler color and a more mild taste than ground beef, this leaner substitute easily serves as a cheaper, more nutritious way to prepare your most coveted ground meat recipes. Whether you're preparing nostalgic staples like sloppy Joe's and meatloaf, or simple rice bowls and stir-fry, with the right adjustments, ground turkey is equally reliable and satisfying.

Not to mention, in terms of cost, ground turkey is often cheaper than ground beef. Also, in terms of nutritional benefits, ground turkey has less saturated fat. Whether you're looking to save money, follow a heart-healthy diet, or simply want more variety in your recipes, ground turkey is a worthwhile protein source. As a matter of fact, you can easily substitute ground turkey for beef (or chicken) in any favored recipe.

Thanks to ground turkey's subtle flavor, you can also simplify meal prep and use different seasonings on individualized portions to make a multitude of quick and easy meal options. Nonetheless, there are a few important factors to consider as you incorporate more ground turkey into your everyday diet.

Since ground turkey is leaner and more mild than beef or pork, making a few adjustments in order to achieve optimal flavor and texture is essential. One way to ensure ground turkey consistently works as an effective swap in many of your favorite dishes is to choose the right ratio of meat to fat. Sure enough, the simple mistake that ruins ground turkey dishes like meatballs or meatloaf is using turkey that is too lean.

For dishes that rely on more internal flavor and moisture such as burgers, cabbage rolls, and stuffed peppers, use turkey with a higher percentage of dark meat for more satisfying results. Keep in mind though, if you happen to prefer white meat over dark meat, you can also upgrade turkey burgers to max juiciness with one easy addition like mayonnaise.

Otherwise, use extra-lean turkey breast (or ground turkey made exclusively with white meat) for sauce-based dishes like pasta and stir-fry. In saucier dishes, lean ground turkey is able to soak up flavors from other staple ingredients like crushed tomatoes, bone broth, and milk.

Besides choosing ground turkey with various ratios of meat to fat and using enough salt and seasonings, avoid overcooking your meat for the best results. Ground turkey tends to dry out when cooked for too long. Therefore, you should always use a meat thermometer and cease cooking once your meat reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.