Is Ground Turkey Healthier Than Ground Beef?

Short answer: Usually, yes. Browned ground turkey has fewer calories (185 vs 245 kcal per 100 g) and less than half the saturated fat of ground beef, with similar protein. The blend matters more than the animal: extra-lean beef can beat fatty turkey.

Nutrition side by side

Rounded averages from food composition tables (USDA FoodData Central and others) for the foods as eaten; brands and recipes vary.

Which wins, and when

• Less energy: Ground turkey — 60 kcal less per 100 g than ground beef.
• Less saturated fat: Ground turkey — 3.4 g less per 100 g than ground beef.

In short: for fewer calories or less saturated fat, look at the “less” lines; for staying full longer, protein and fiber matter most. Goals like lower sugar, more protein or more omega-3 can be set in the diary, and swaps there are ranked for that goal.

Portion tips

• Ground Turkey: a typical serving (serving, 100 g) is 185 kcal — about 60 min of easy walking for a 70 kg (154 lb) person.
• Ground Beef: a typical serving (serving, 100 g) is 245 kcal — about 80 min of easy walking.

Portion size usually moves the numbers more than the choice between two similar foods: a heaping serving of the “healthier” one can easily outweigh a modest serving of the other.

Log it and see your day

In Calories Not Count every food gets a Nutri-Score grade, a sugar–salt–fat–fiber traffic light, fair same-calorie swaps and the minutes of movement it costs for your weight and your activities — no scale needed.