What Can You Use Instead of Turkey?

The closest substitutes for turkey are chicken breast or thighs; both are white meat, so their cooking methods are largely similar. For ground turkey, use ground chicken or a chicken-and-beef blend to balance the fat content. A small chicken can replace a whole turkey. How can you use chicken breast instead of turkey breast? Turkey breast has a denser texture and slightly less fat than chicken breast, so an equal weight of chicken breast usually cooks 20-25% faster. If roasting, use a thermometer to make sure the internal temperature reaches 74°C / 165°F; estimating the time can dry out the chicken. Turkey tends to cook up a little drier, so recipes often recommend a long marinade. With chicken, 2 hours in the refrigerator is enough, because chicken absorbs flavor faster and marinating it too long can soften its texture until it falls apart. What can you use instead of ground turkey? Ground turkey is leaner than most store-bought ground meat. Ground chicken gives a similarly light result, but it may release more liquid as it cooks, so chilling the mixture for about 10 minutes helps it hold together in meatballs and burgers. For a richer flavor, mix ground chicken with 20% ground beef to get closer to ground turkey’s light but hearty balance. What can you roast instead of a whole turkey? For a small gathering, use a 1.5-2 kilogram chicken. It cooks much faster than turkey—about 90 minutes on average—so the roasting time should be about one-third of the time in a turkey recipe. Reduce the amount of stuffing to fit the smaller bird; otherwise, the chicken may be too small to hold it. The time is only an estimate: cook the chicken until the innermost part of the thigh and wing, the thickest part of the breast, and the center of the stuffing reach 74°C / 165°F. What can you use instead of turkey pastrami or smoked turkey? In sandwiches and breakfast dishes, smoked chicken breast or thinly sliced beef pastrami can replace smoked turkey. Smoked chicken is closer in flavor, while beef pastrami is richer and saltier. Whichever you choose, slice it thinly to keep the sandwich from falling apart and better mimic turkey’s light texture. Overall, chicken is a close match for turkey’s naturally light, low-fat character. Red meat may have a similar texture, but its flavor is noticeably different, so adjust the seasoning accordingly. What can you use instead of turkey drippings for Thanksgiving gravy? If you do not have the traditional gravy made with turkey drippings, use chicken stock or gravy made with the browned bits left from roasting chicken breast. The flavor will be a little lighter, but adding one 5 ml measure of soy sauce or a few drops of balsamic vinegar can add depth. For a vegetarian alternative, thicken roasted vegetable stock with flour or starch for a similar texture.