This easy ground turkey seasoning is the best way to add bold flavor to lean ground turkey. Made with simple spices like chili powder, cumin, garlic, and onion, it takes just 2 minutes to mix and stores for months. Use it anytime for juicy, perfectly seasoned turkey.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ✅ Recipe Name: Ground Turkey Seasoning
- 🕒 Ready In: 2 minutes (plus 8–10 minutes to cook turkey)
- 👪 Serves: Seasoning for ~1 pound ground turkey
- 🍽 Calories: ~10–12 per serving (seasoning only)
- 🥣 Main Ingredients: Chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, salt, pepper (plus a garlic-herb variation with oregano, thyme, and basil)
- 📖 Dietary Info: Gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, healthy
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: Adds bold flavor to lean ground turkey with simple pantry spices. Quick to prepare, perfect for meal prep, and stores for months, this versatile seasoning includes two variations so you can use it for tacos, pasta, chili, lettuce wraps, or burgers.
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Ground turkey is one of those ingredients I always have in my fridge. It's lean, healthy, and works in just about anything—but let's be real, it can taste pretty plain on its own. That's why I started making this ground turkey seasoning. It's my go-to way to turn basic turkey into something flavorful and juicy in minutes.
I use it all the time—whether I'm throwing together healthy turkey chili on a cold night, making ground turkey stuffed peppers for meal prep, or rolling up my favorite air fryer turkey meatballs. The best part? It takes 2 minutes to mix with pantry spices, stores for months, and tastes way better than any packet.
Below, I'll share my recipe for the best ground turkey seasoning, along with a herb-based variation I love using in pasta dishes, as well as my top tips for keeping turkey moist, flavorful, and anything but boring.
Jump to:
- A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- The Ingredients
- Substitutions & Variations
- How to Make Ground Turkey Seasoning
- Top Tips for Juicy Ground Turkey
- Ways to Use Ground Turkey
- Storage Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Didn't find the answer you're looking for?
- More Turkey Recipes You'll Love
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Healthier than Packets: Naturally gluten-free, lower in sodium, and free of additives or preservatives you find in store-bought taco mixes.
- Bold Flavor, Every Time: This isn't bland turkey! The seasoning blends simple pantry spices like chili powder, cumin, garlic, and onion to make lean ground turkey taste juicy and delicious.
- Quick & Easy: Mix the spices in just 2 minutes and cook the turkey in under 10 — perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.
- Two Blends in One: You'll get both a smoky southwest mix (amazing for tacos and chili) and a garlic-herb version (perfect for pasta, burgers, and meatballs).
- Meal Prep Friendly: Make a big batch of the seasoning to keep on hand for months, or cook extra turkey and use it throughout the week for quick meals.
- Versatile: Use seasoned ground turkey in tacos, chili, stuffed peppers, pasta, lettuce wraps, burgers, or soups — it works with almost everything.
The Ingredients
- Chili powder: My go-to base for taco-style seasoning. It adds warmth and color without being overly spicy.
- Ground cumin: Earthy and nutty — this is what gives turkey that southwest flavor.
- Paprika: I love using smoked paprika here for a subtle smoky kick and rich color.
- Garlic powder: A pantry staple that makes everything taste better.
- Onion powder: Adds sweet-savory depth and rounds out the garlic flavor.
- Dried oregano (optional): A little sprinkle gives the blend a nice herbaceous note.
- Salt & black pepper: Simple but essential to bring all the flavors together.
- Red pepper flakes or cayenne (optional): If you like some heat, add a pinch!
Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this page for exact quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Make it gluten-free & dairy-free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free.
- Chili powder swap: If you're out, try chipotle powder for a smoky kick or even a mild cayenne pepper for heat.
- Cumin substitute: No cumin? Swap in ground coriander or just add extra paprika for warmth.
- Oregano/Thyme swaps: Either works, and if you don't have them, a pinch of Italian seasoning or dried basil is a great stand-in.
- Broth: No chicken broth? Use beef broth for a richer, beefier taste, or just water in a pinch.
- Asian-inspired: Swap oregano for ground ginger and add a splash of soy sauce while cooking. It's perfect for stir-fries or lettuce wraps.
How to Make Ground Turkey Seasoning
- Step 1: Combine all of the seasoning ingredients in a small bowl.
- Step 2: Whisk until the mixture is evenly combined. Store the blend in an airtight container for later use, or use it immediately to season ground turkey.
- Step 3: Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey and cook for about 5 minutes, breaking it up as it cooks, until no longer pink. Reduce the heat to low, sprinkle about 1 ½ tablespoons of the seasoning over the turkey.
- Step 4: Pour in 2 tablespoons of chicken broth or water. Stir and let the turkey simmer until most of the liquid cooks off. For extra juiciness, add up to 2 more tablespoons of broth or water and cook for another minute.
Top Tips for Juicy Ground Turkey
- Don't Overcook It: Ground turkey cooks quickly, in like 8 minutes max! Once it's no longer pink and reaches 165°F, take it off the heat. Overcooking is the #1 reason it dries out.
- Seasoning Rule of Thumb: Use about 1 ½ tablespoons of seasoning per 1 pound of ground turkey. After cooking, give it a quick taste and adjust if needed — every palate is different! But don't be shy with the spices. Since ground turkey is lean and mild, bold seasoning is what makes it flavorful and juicy.
- Add Broth at the End: Stir in a few tablespoons of chicken or beef broth after seasoning and let it simmer down — this locks in flavor and moisture.
Ways to Use Ground Turkey
I use this seasoned ground turkey in so many recipes — it's one of my favorite meal prep proteins because it works with just about anything.
- Turkey Tacos: My #1 use! Pile the smoky southwest turkey into taco shells with avocado, salsa, and cheese. You can even do turkey lettuce cups.
- Healthy Turkey Chili: Add beans, tomatoes, and a little extra seasoning for the coziest chili night.
- Stuffed Peppers: Mix the seasoned turkey with rice and tomatoes, then bake inside bell peppers. I love these ground turkey stuffed bell peppers.
- Turkey Sloppy Joes: Serve the seasoned turkey on hamburger buns for a classic healthy sloppy joe's recipe.
- Weeknight Bowls: Serve it over rice or quinoa with roasted veggies for an easy meal-prep dinner.
- Turkey Quesadillas: Fill tortillas with turkey, cheese, and your favorite fillings. Try my favorite air fryer quesadillas.
- Turkey Meatballs: Try these healthy teriyaki turkey meatballs, these air fryer turkey meatballs, or these zucchini turkey meatballs.
Storage Tips
Store it in an airtight jar in a cool, dry place. It stays fresh and flavorful for about 4–6 months (though technically safe up to a year).
Frequently Asked Questions
From my experience, use 1 ½ tablespoons of seasoning per 1 pound of ground turkey. After cooking, taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Everyone's spice preference is a little different, so start with a small amount and add more if you prefer a bolder flavor.
Yes! This blend works great on ground chicken, ground beef, or ground pork. You can also use it as a dry rub for chicken breasts, pork chops, or even steak. It's super versatile.
The trick is to add a splash of chicken broth or water after seasoning the turkey. Let it simmer for a couple of minutes — this helps keep the meat juicy and ensures the spices coat every bite.
Definitely, just cut back the salt or leave it out of the mix and season to taste when cooking. Everything else in the blend is naturally salt-free.
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📖 Recipe
Best Ground Turkey Seasoning
Ingredients
The Seasoning:
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika or dried oregano
- ½ - 1 teaspoon salt, based on your preference
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes or ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, for a little kick
The Turkey:
- 1 pound ground turkey, 94% is preferred, but 99% lean works
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 - 4 tablespoon chicken broth, chicken stock, or water
Instructions
Make the Seasoning:
- First, combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Stir or whisk to combine.
- Rule of thumb: About 1.5 tablespoons of seasoning per 1 pound of ground turkey.
Cooking the Turkey:
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the ground turkey to the pan and cook for 5 minutes, breaking up the turkey as it cooks.
- When the turkey is no longer pink, reduce the heat to low, then add 1 ½ Tablespons of the seasoning and stir to combine. Then mix 2 Tablespoons of the chicken broth or water (this ensures juicy ground turkey). Allow it to simmer for a few minutes until the liquid reduces. If you want it to be juicier, add up to 2 Tablespoons more.
Serving:
- Serve taco-style with tortillas, shredded cheese, guacamole, salsa, and any other taco fillings you like. Or serve with white or brown rice and your favorite roasted vegetable. Enjoy!
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