According to 2023 research from Technomic, nearly one-third of U.S. consumers eat turkey once a week. Are they doing so at your restaurant? And if they are, what are they selecting from the menu?

Is it the classic club sandwich with deli-style slices? Or are they leaning into the health halo of a turkey sausage or bacon or a ground turkey burger? Perhaps it’s a weekly blue-plate special of roast turkey with gravy and mashed potatoes? These are legit options with unquestionable popularity. But they also signal the delicious possibilities you might be overlooking if turkey only appears once or twice on the menu and only in the most expected ways. Indeed, Technomic’s research found that of consumers who reported eating more turkey than they did two years prior, nearly 30 percent attribute the increase to restaurants offering more turkey dishes that they like.

Turkey is a versatile protein option that can star in numerous center-of-the-plate applications across cuisines and concepts. When was the last time you took a closer look at turkey as a hero ingredient in craveable, buzz-worthy menu items?

TAKE ON TURKEY

Turkey’s longstanding connection with Thanksgiving and Christmas may contribute to it being overlooked as a viable menu option all year long, says Chef Joe Urban, a Butterball chef consultant and CEO/founder, School Food Rocks. He also finds it’s regularly overshadowed by beef and chicken as the go-to for innovative preparations, hobbled by the misperception that it lacks the richness and complexity of other meats. “And there just isn’t enough marketing pushing its versatility,” Urban says.

Versatility actually tops the list of reasons Urban loves working with turkey. “Its mild flavor makes it the perfect base for bold marinades, spice rubs and sauces, allowing me to take it in any direction: smoky, spicy, sweet or savory,” he says. “Unlike some other proteins that can dominate a dish, turkey enhances and balances flavors, making it a great match for everything from chipotle and curry to fresh herbs and citrus. It works seamlessly in global cuisines from Asian stir-fries to Mediterranean wraps, and because it’s lean, you get all the flavor without the extra fat.”

Beyond its inherent menu versatility, turkey’s nutrition benefits are well-known and well-regarded, serving as a driver for both operators and their customers. Turkey appeals on other levels, as well. “It’s often more cost-effective than beef or pork, which helps manage food costs,” says Urban. “It also has a reliable supply chain, ensuring it’s available year-round. And it’s a more sustainable choice compared to some other meats.”

Ultimately, turkey is its own best champion, making an especially good case in the wide array of forms and formats from Butterball Foodservice. From raw roasts and cooked breasts to ground, sliced and diced, plus much more, Butterball turkey products are recognized as high-quality options backed by the reputation of a national brand, which provides another driver for participation. Technomic’s Consumer Trend Reports 2023 found that 36 percent of consumers indicate they’re more likely to purchase a turkey dish from a restaurant if the product is from a well-known brand.

Feature turkey in globally inspired builds, like this Turkey Medallion Torta. This Baja-style sandwich stars Butterball Sliced Turkey Tenderloin Medallions, paired with escabeche on a crusty bolillo, along with avocado and black bean purées.

ELEVATE AND INNOVATE

With the “whys” for increased menu mentions of turkey abundantly clear, exploring the “hows” is where the fun begins! Turkey can anchor many of today’s top trends, including global flavors, elevated twists on classic fare and the reemergence of nostalgic dishes with a modern spin. Turkey has a place across the menu, from breakfast to late-night bar munchies, and inspiration abounds!

Turkey’s fairly neutral taste profile allows chefs to pull in their favorite flavors from all across the globe. “It just works with so many different flavors,” says Urban. “Mediterranean ingredients like feta, olives and lemon bring brightness, while soy sauce, garlic, and ginger give it that umami-packed punch in Asian dishes. I also love using smoky chiles and spices in Mexican-style dishes to really elevate the turkey.”

Butterball Foodservice’s impressive turkey portfolio provides menu developers with an extensive canvas for flavor play in different cultural cuisines. In addition to the Turkey Medallion Torta pictured above, its collection of global menu inspirations in this area include:

• Guajillo Roasted Turkey Breast, an entrée inspired by Oaxacan street food, combines Butterball Roast & Serve Skin-On Turkey Breast with a nopales-and-corn relish, white been purée, mole and pickled beans.
• Moroccan-Spiced Turkey Salad Sandwich offers a novel upgrade to the classic chicken salad sandwich, swapping Butterball Roast & Serve Skin-on Turkey Breast as the protein and bringing in Greek yogurt, dried apricots, toasted almonds, cumin, honey and cinnamon.
• Korean BBQ Turkey Wonton Tacos provide a multicultural mashup, marinating Butterball Fully Cooked Turkey Thigh Roast in a mix of soy sauce, sake, sesame seeds, garlic, ginger, green onions, sesame oil, brown sugar and Korean red pepper powder. Use crispy wonton shells as an alternative to tortillas and top with pickled cucumbers and roasted hot peppers vinegar soy sauce.
• Asian Tea Smoked Turkey Filets leverage the popularity of tea for an on-trend special. Butterball Sliced Turkey Tenderloin Medallions are marinated in Sichuan peppercorns, cinnamon and fresh ginger before being brushed with dark soy sauce and smoked in a medium of jasmine tea, orange peel, star Anise, brown sugar, jasmine rice and bay leaves. Serve on a steamed bun with green onions and a seasoned hoisin sauce.
• The Hot Honey Meatball Wrap puts an Asian spin on a classic meatball sandwich. It features prepared Butterball Turkey Meatballs (or made from Butterball All-Natural* 85/15 Ground Turkey) coated in a hot honey sauce and piled into a moo shu-inspired wrap using naan. Add stir-fried mushrooms, shredded cabbage, cucumber, ginger, garlic and a julienned egg and top with a garnish of shredded carrots and scallions.

Putting a turkey twist on the Southern classic, this Country Fried Turkey Waffler is an easy way to retool your brunch menu. Butterball Roast & Serve Skin-On Turkey Breast filets are marinated in a buttermilk-and-egg batter seasoned with paprika, black pepper, garlic, cayenne and thyme, fried and served with honey-flavored candied turkey bacon, savory waffles and a Nashville hot honey syrup.

TEMPTING TWISTS

Turkey shines at the center of fun twists sure to intrigue customers, with special appeal to the Instagram demo. The Country Fried Turkey Waffler pictured above and the creative sweet-and-savory Turkey Breakfast Sliders pictured below are just two on-point examples. Lean further into the breakfast space to inspire more innovation. Butterball’s Savory White Turkey Burger patty stars in Turkey Burger Benedict, which also features a poached egg, shredded cheddar, pico de gallo, sautéed onions and a jalapeño hollandaise served on a brioche bun or bagel.

With so many directions to spin up fresh takes on turkey, how do you choose where to start? Easy “Ground turkey is incredibly versatile for dishes like burgers and tacos,” says Urban. “Roasted turkey breast can be sliced for sandwiches or served as a main dish, while turkey medallions are quick to cook and can be paired with various sauces and served in wraps and salads.” These forms and formats all provide lots of options that are easy to execute by the kitchen team while retaining cues of familiarity for diners.

Consider, for example, a Turkey French Dip, which gives a new application for deli-style turkey slices. Butterball Just Perfect Handcrafted All Natural Turkey Breast is heated in turkey jus and tucked into the bottom slice of a French baguette, then topped with provolone and caramelized onions and a honey horseradish sauce with Cajun mustard. Serve with hot turkey jus for dipping.

Maybe try a refresh of a conventional beef Bolognese recipe by using Butterball All Natural* 85/15 Ground Turkey to produce a slightly lighter alternative. This flavorful Turkey Bolognese is a spicy, hearty sauce that yields multiple menu possibilities. It can top pasta, polenta and serve as a filling for sandwiches.

In these Turkey Breakfast Sliders, silver dollar pancakes step in for slider buns as the first innovative swap in a sweet and savory spin. In one slider, two Butterball Fully Cooked Turkey Breakfast Sausage Patties are paired with a one-egg omelet and blueberry or grape jelly, while in the other, two slices of Butterball Foodservice Turkey Bacon get the same pairings, subbing in strawberry or raspberry jelly.

A PARTNER WHO TALKS TURKEY

Butterball stands ready to be your expert partner in developing successful menu solutions that feature turkey.

Focused entirely on a single protein, Butterball invests 100 percent of its resources on the production and development of high-quality turkey products—and materials designed to aid operators in their turkey transformations. Understanding the needs of operators and interests of their customers, Butterball has produced an expansive list of menu inspirations. Other culinary support is available in the form of videos, trend watch blog posts, operational tips and tricks, infographics and more.

Foodservice operators that partner with Butterball also can take pride in the knowledge that the company was the first American Humane Certified^TM turkey supplier, upholding rigorous standards established by the American Humane Society for the humane treatment and welfare of farm animals at hatcheries, farms and processing facilities. Butterball is currently approaching its twelfth year of program certification.

“Turkey is one of the most adaptable proteins, making it easy for chefs to create bold, exciting dishes that keep customers coming back,” says Heather Ness, Senior Foodservice Trade & Product Manager. “Whether you’re putting a fresh twist on comfort food or exploring global flavors, turkey fits right in. At Butterball Foodservice, we’re here to help operators make the most of turkey with high-quality products that work across the menu, any time of day.”

Click here to find fresh inspiration for expanding your menu with bold, irresistible turkey dishes.