Switching from Ground Beef to Ground Turkey

If you are looking for ways to reduce your family's intake of red meat but feel burnt out on chicken and fish, consider incorporating ground turkey into your menu. Ground turkey is high in protein but low in fat, particularly if you purchase ground white meat or the 90% lean and 10% fat or 93% lean and 7% fat content meat. Switching from ground beef to ground turkey is an easy, affordable way to help your family eat healthy.

One of the great things about switching from ground beef to ground turkey is that ground turkey tastes great and takes on the flavors of the herbs and spices with which you cook. If you are apprehensive about trading hamburgers for turkey burgers, you may wish to start out using ground turkey in recipes that traditionally call for ground beef but include other predominant flavors as well.

Here are some recipes to help you undertake switching from ground beef to ground turkey. When you make these for your family, don't say a word about the switch. They likely will not be able to distinguish the difference!

Secret Ingredient Meatloaf

This meatloaf helps make switching from ground beef to ground turkey painless, as it includes a special ingredient - stuffing mix - that makes the meatloaf extra moist and flavorful. Use your favorite top-of-the-stove stuffing mix, even if that is the store brand. Do not be surprised when your family asks you to add this to your dinner repertoire!

Ingredients

2 lbs. ground turkey
1 (6 oz.) pkg. stuffing mix
2 eggs
1 cup milk or water
Ketchup or barbecue sauce

Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray 9 x 13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Combine turkey, stuffing, eggs and milk or water in a large mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly. Spread and pat evenly into casserole. Bake for about an hour or until internal temperature is 160 degrees F. Spread ketchup or barbecue sauce over the loaf and return to oven for about five minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Barbecue Sloppy Toms

This recipe is quick and simple enough to make on any weeknight. Use your favorite flavor of bottled barbecue sauce or make your own using one of these recipes. Serve on your favorite buns, although selecting whole grain rolls will up the healthiness factor.

Ingredients

1 small onion, chopped
1 lb. ground turkey
1 cup barbecue sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

Sauté onion in a small amount of canola or olive oil until translucent. Add the ground turkey and cook until brown and crumbled. Add barbecue sauce, salt and pepper. Simmer over low heat until hot, about seven to 10 minutes. Spoon onto hamburger buns or other split rolls.

Tortilla Chip Casserole

This quasi-Mexican dish is also a breeze to make and tastes delicious. Your kids will love the novelty of eating Doritos for dinner, so they will never suspect this healthful meal is an instrument for switching from ground beef to ground turkey! If you can find Baked Doritos, use them instead for a dish that is even lower in fat and calories.

Ingredients

1 lb. ground turkey
1 package taco seasoning (or make your own with this recipe)
1 can of your favorite cream soup (cheese, chicken or celery are some good choices)
2 cups shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
6 oz. Doritos, crushed
1 can Rotel, if desired.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Brown turkey over medium heat. Stir in taco seasoning, soup and Rotel tomatoes, if using them. Spray square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Layer half of the crushed chips into the dish. Cover with half of the meat mixture. Add half of the cheese. Repeat the layers. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and return to oven until cheese is melted. Slice into squares and serve on beds of shredded lettuce.

The next time you are making a recipe that calls for ground beef, try substituting ground turkey instead and see what you think. Your family may be cutting down their intake of red meat in no time.