# What's a good sauce for ground turkey? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 21, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654 "2008-06-21T02:08:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654/1 "2008-06-21T02:08:49Z")
When I eat ground beef or ground chicken I like to eat it with spaghetti sauce, but ground turkey has too strong a flavor for that. So what is a good sauce for ground turkey? ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654/2 "2008-06-21T02:22:30Z")
I don’t think ground turkey has much flavor at all. I’ve used it in chili and spaghetti…which have strong flavored sauces. Ground turkey seems to need flavor. Maybe I’m getting different ground turkey than what you get. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654/3 "2008-06-21T02:35:40Z")
Chile Verde makes a nice green chile turkey enchilada I like to make with Thanksgiving leftover turkey, but it might be too strong for ground turkey over pasta. I might try it over rice. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654/4 "2008-06-21T04:24:20Z")
What **lobotomyboy63** said. Whenever I cook with ground turkey, I make it a point to add fat so it has some flavor\* (I’ve found that olive oil can be pretty good, but sometimes I just put in a single 4-oz. beef patty per pound of turkey). _Then_ I make a spaghetti sauce (or chili) with it. \*When I use extra-lean ground beef (93% lean, f’rinstance), I also add some fat from an external source. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654/5 "2008-06-21T04:56:54Z")
Wow, I was going to start a thread about how much I hate cooking with ground turkey, because it has no fat to convey flavor… it always tastes like dry nothing to me. My wife insists on cooking with it “to be healthy.” If you’ve got ground turkey, I’m having a salad. I have made serviceable chili with ground turkey, though. Probably because the spicing is so strong… ---
**Author:** ![Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654/6 "2008-06-21T14:02:42Z")
Well, this is very interesting. Perhaps I’m buying an unusual brand of ground turkey, because its flavor is very, very strong, much stonger than ground beef or ground chicken. It really clashes with the spaghetti sauce. I’ll try to find a different brand. ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654/7 "2008-06-21T14:06:28Z")
I kinda like it with Casa Fiesta enchilada sauce. I use the seasoned meat in tacos or to make taco salad. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654/8 "2008-06-21T14:31:35Z")
I wonder what the fat content is of the ground turkey you’re using? To combat the “flavorless” complaints, (and to up the profit margins), some brands add a lot of skin and stuff, for more fat and therefore more flavor. The problem is, then you’ve got something that’s at least as high in fat as lean ground beef, and doesn’t taste as good. You’d be much better off using good ground beef. If you use the really lean ground turkey, it is indeed dry and practically flavorless. I agree with others that if you’re going to use lean ground turkey (and I almost never do, but I can), use it in something that’s very spicy like chili or a great spaghetti sauce recipe. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654/9 "2008-06-21T14:35:24Z")
Unless the ground turky is ultra-lean, I don’t think it’s flavorless at all. Even 93% fat-free ground turkey has a subtle flavor that I enjoy. Heck, I love turkey breast, and it’s pretty much 99% fat-free. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654/10 "2008-06-21T14:41:10Z")
May I submit for your approval [Doug’s Hot Brownout Mayonnaise](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=378075). Take 1 heaping tablespoon mayo, blend in 1 level tablespoon Worcestershire sauce and as much (or as little) Tabasco as you can stand. Also makes a serviceable rémoulade in an emergency. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654/11 "2008-06-21T15:36:14Z")
I make a brown mushroom gravy with water from boiled potatoes, soy sauce, mushrooms, salt and pepper and mushrooms. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654/12 "2008-06-21T15:41:43Z")
Try using a mole poblano sauce. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654/13 "2008-06-21T19:36:53Z")
I usually mix ground turkey with pesto, or mix it into seasoned rice or noodle mix. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654/14 "2008-06-21T19:44:03Z")
[QUOTE=Can Handle the Truth] Well, this is very interesting. Perhaps I’m buying an unusual brand of ground turkey, because its flavor is very, very strong, much stonger than ground beef or ground chicken. It really clashes with the spaghetti sauce. I’ll try to find a different brand. [/QUOTE] What brand do you use? I haven’t bought it in awhile, but I typically bought Jennie O. I didn’t detect much variation if I tried a store brand. IME it’s just bland stuff but will work fine if you have a strong sauce, giving the texture of ground beef w/o the fat. ---
**Author:** ![Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654/15 "2008-06-23T02:51:05Z")
[QUOTE=lobotomyboy63] What brand do you use? I haven’t bought it in awhile, but I typically bought Jennie O. I didn’t detect much variation if I tried a store brand. IME it’s just bland stuff but will work fine if you have a strong sauce, giving the texture of ground beef w/o the fat. [/QUOTE] There is no brand name on the ground turkey that I’ve been buying, but in very small print the label says “Distributed by Jennie-O Turkey Store Sales LLC”. Strange thing is, on the next shelf over, there is ground turkey in full Jennie-O Brand packaging, for the same price. I’m going to buy some of that other stuff and see if there’s any difference. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654/16 "2008-06-23T03:02:33Z")
[QUOTE=Can Handle the Truth] There is no brand name on the ground turkey that I’ve been buying, but in very small print the label says “Distributed by Jennie-O Turkey Store Sales LLC”. Strange thing is, on the next shelf over, there is ground turkey in full Jennie-O Brand packaging, for the same price. I’m going to buy some of that other stuff and see if there’s any difference. [/QUOTE] Hmm, I wonder if they might include other things like the livers, gizzards, etc. in the stuff that doesn’t carry the full packaging. But I’ve bought cheap stuff too and it’s been pretty uniformly flavorless IME, or at least nothing that could be detected beyond the sauce it was in. But for something healthier, I’d use 1 lb ground beef + 1 lb ground turkey instead of 2 ground beef…that sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654/17 "2008-06-23T03:22:22Z")
[QUOTE=Can Handle the Truth] There is no brand name on the ground turkey that I’ve been buying, but in very small print the label says “Distributed by Jennie-O Turkey Store Sales LLC”. Strange thing is, on the next shelf over, there is ground turkey in full Jennie-O Brand packaging, for the same price. I’m going to buy some of that other stuff and see if there’s any difference. [/QUOTE] What fat percentage does it have? ---
**Author:** ![Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654/18 "2008-06-23T03:27:32Z")
[QUOTE=Renee] What fat percentage does it have? [/QUOTE] 15% ---
**Author:** ![Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654/19 "2008-06-27T16:49:05Z")
[QUOTE=Can Handle the Truth] There is no brand name on the ground turkey that I’ve been buying, but in very small print the label says “Distributed by Jennie-O Turkey Store Sales LLC”. Strange thing is, on the next shelf over, there is ground turkey in full Jennie-O Brand packaging, for the same price. I’m going to buy some of that other stuff and see if there’s any difference. [/QUOTE] So I bought the stuff in the Jennie-O package, and the difference is that it is 7% fat instead of 15%, and has much less flavor, which is fine with me. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654/20 "2008-06-27T17:26:24Z")
I don’t care for ground turkey either, but when it’s in the house I can make a pretty decent Jerk Turkey Meatloaf using some store bought Jamaican jerk marinade and crushed pineapple. It caramelizes nicely in the oven and makes a decent crust. Serve that with some fried plantains or some mashed cinnamon sweet potatoes and all of a sudden you have dinner… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-sauce-for-ground-turkey/453654.md?page=2)