Turkey, Ground, cooked
Whole food · Poultry Products
Photo: Wikipedia
Ground turkey is lean, finely minced meat from the turkey, typically the breast or a blend of light and dark meat. When cooked, it has a mild, subtly savory flavor and a tender, crumbly texture that readily absorbs seasonings. It's a high-protein, low-carb staple, offering over 27 grams of protein per 100 grams with virtually no carbohydrates.
💚 Why it's loved
People love ground turkey for its incredible versatility and mild flavor, which acts as a blank canvas for everything from spicy tacos to savory bolognese. It's also a go-to for health-conscious cooks seeking a leaner alternative to ground beef without sacrificing the hearty, satisfying texture of a meat-based meal.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
Its low fat content can lead to dry, bland results if overcooked or not properly seasoned. To counteract this, mix in moisture-rich ingredients like diced onions, mushrooms, or a splash of broth, and avoid pressing it while cooking. Some pre-seasoned or processed ground turkey products can be high in sodium, so checking labels and seasoning at home with herbs and spices is a better option.
Key benefits
- Excellent source of complete, lean protein for muscle maintenance.
- Very low in carbohydrates, suitable for low-carb and ketogenic diets.
- Provides essential nutrients like selenium, phosphorus, and B vitamins.
- A versatile, neutral base that pairs with a wide array of global flavors.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The USDA allows ground turkey to include a small percentage of skin and fat, so '93% lean' ground turkey is not 100% breast meat unless it explicitly says 'ground turkey breast'.
Full nutrition (scales with serving)
| Water | 62.1 g |
| Energy | 203 kcal |
| Energy | 850 kj |
| Protein | 27.4 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 10.4 g |
| Ash | 1.3 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 0.00 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.00 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 28.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.5 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 30.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 254 mg |
| Potassium, K | 294 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 78.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 3.1 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.15 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.01 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 31.1 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.08 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.21 mg |
| Niacin | 8.7 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 1.2 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.63 mg |
| Folate, total | 7.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 7.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 7.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 78.2 mg |
| Betaine | 10.4 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 1.3 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 24.0 ug |
| Retinol | 24.0 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 79.0 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.11 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.01 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 0.12 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 0.02 mg |
| Tocotrienol, alpha | 0.03 mg |
| Tocotrienol, beta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, gamma | 0.06 mg |
| Tocotrienol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 8.0 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.20 ug |
| Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) | 0.20 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (Dihydrophylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 2.7 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.09 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 1.8 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.73 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 3.5 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.30 g |
| MUFA 16:1 c | 0.29 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.02 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 3.1 g |
| MUFA 18:1 c | 3.0 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.04 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 c | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 2.9 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 2.6 g |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 c,c | 2.5 g |
| PUFA 18:2 CLAs | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.14 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-3 c,c,c (ALA) | 0.14 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-6 c,c,c | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 18:3i | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-6 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.13 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.13 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-monoenoic | 0.10 g |
| TFA 16:1 t | 0.01 g |
| TFA 18:1 t | 0.10 g |
| TFA 22:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:2 t not further defined | 0.03 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-polyenoic | 0.03 g |
| Cholesterol | 93.0 mg |
| Tryptophan | 0.31 g |
| Threonine | 1.3 g |
| Isoleucine | 1.2 g |
| Leucine | 2.3 g |
| Lysine | 2.5 g |
| Methionine | 0.81 g |
| Cystine | 0.29 g |
| Phenylalanine | 1.1 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.97 g |
| Valine | 1.3 g |
| Arginine | 2.0 g |
| Histidine | 0.81 g |
| Alanine | 1.7 g |
| Aspartic acid | 2.6 g |
| Glycine | 1.5 g |
| Proline | 1.2 g |
| Serine | 1.2 g |
| Hydroxyproline | 0.23 g |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
FAQ
How is ground turkey different from ground chicken?
Ground turkey is made from turkey meat, while ground chicken is made from chicken. Turkey is generally a bit leaner and has a slightly deeper, more savory flavor than the milder ground chicken.
What does '93/7' or '85/15' mean on the package?
The numbers refer to the lean meat to fat ratio. '93/7' means 93% lean meat and 7% fat, which is very lean. '85/15' has more fat, which can yield more flavor and moisture but also more calories.
Why is my cooked ground turkey so dry and crumbly?
This is often due to its low fat content. To prevent dryness, don't overcook it, consider mixing in a little olive oil or moisture-rich vegetables before cooking, and use it in dishes with sauces or gravies.