Ground Turkey Tacos | Elizabeth Rider

Spice up Taco Tuesday with this Ground Turkey Taco Recipe! 

This is hands-down my favorite way to make ground turkey tacos. They’re fast, healthy, and taste just like traditional ground beef tacos.

Plus, who doesn’t love tacos? They’re easy to make, highly customizable, and always delicious. Sometimes it’s fun to mix up the ingredients and try something new.

Turkey tacos are a great way to switch up your dinner game. Packed with flavor and lean protein, this taco filling will be your new favorite. Let’s get cooking!  

Ingredients

• Neutral oil: I like to use avocado oil. Its high smoking point makes it great for sauteeing and it’s a healthier alternative to other frying oils. You could also use extra virgin olive oil, or your preferred cooking oil. Ground turkey is very lean, so you have to add some fat to the pan to cook with it.

• Onion: For this recipe, you’ll need one large to medium onion, finely chopped. I recommend using white onion but any onion works.

• Ground turkey: You’ll need 1 pound of ground turkey for your tacos. Turkey is a leaner alternative to beef if you want to switch things up or want a healthier option. You can often find two types of ground turkey. 99% lean or 93% lean. Go for the 93% lean as it’s still very lean and that little bit of extra fat helps it brown and adds flavor. If you use the 99% lean variety you may need some extra oil in the pan. 

• Garlic: I used two cloves. Finely chop or grate them to really infuse your taco filling with that delicious garlic flavor.

• Taco seasoning: You can check out my super easy Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe here. It’s basically a mix of chili powder, cumin, coriander, garlic powder, oregano, paprika, sea salt, and black pepper. You can make a big batch and use it every time you need some Taco seasoning.

• Salt and pepper: Add salt and pepper and season the taco filling to your liking.

• Tortillas: Use your choice of tortilla, soft or hard taco shells.

• Tomato sauce: This is optional, but you can add a little tomato sauce if you want to make your tacos saucy.

Toppings

• Lettuce: Add a hint of freshness to your tacos with some finely chopped or shredded lettuce.

• Salsa: Whether as a topping or a dip, you can add any salsa you like. Some Pico De Gallo would go great with these turkey tacos.

• Shredded Cheese: You can go with some classic cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese. Or if you want a more traditional cheese you try Cotija or Queso Blanco.

Check out the printable recipe card below for the recipe and detailed instructions.

How To Make Ground Turkey Tacos

1. Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the finely chopped onion and saute for 4-5 minutes until soft. 

2. Push the onions to the side of the pan. Swirl the other tablespoon of oil into the pan and add the ground turkey. It should sizzle a little (if it doesn’t, turn up the heat a little).

3. Cook the turkey for 5-8 minutes until opaque and cooked through, break it up with a wooden spoon as you go.

(Tip: keep a small cup of water next to the stove, if the onions start to brown, or the meat seems too dry, add a splash of water a few teaspoons at a time to cool the pan down and add a little moisture).

4. Turn the heat to medium. Add in the garlic, taco seasoning, and two tablespoons of water and stir to combine.

5. Cook for 3-5 minutes until very fragrant. If the pan seems too dry, add another 1-2 tablespoons of water. Or, if you’re using tomato sauce, add that now instead of more water.

6. Add the tomato sauce if you’re making “saucy” turkey tacos. Or, leave it out for a more traditional taco.

Cooking Time

25 minutes.

It takes around 5 minutes to prep the ingredients and then 20 minutes to cook your taco filling.

Storing

You can refrigerate your turkey taco filling in a container with a tight-fitting lid for up to 3 days.

Yield

This recipe should make around 8 turkey tacos, which is roughly 4 portions.

Print

Ground Turkey Tacos

• 
  Author: Elizabeth Rider
• 
  Prep Time: 5 minutes
• 
  Cook Time: 20 minutes
• 
  Total Time: 25 minutes
• 
  Yield: 8 Tacos 1x
• 
  Category: Dinner
• 
  Method: Chop, Saute
• 
  Cuisine: American, Tex-Mex

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Description

Ground turkey tacos are a great way to spice up your Taco Tuesdays. Packed with flavor and lean protein, these tacos will be your new favorite.

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Ingredients

Units
USM

Scale
1x2x3x

• 2 tablespoons neutral oil (e.g. avocado oil)
• 2 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
• taco seasoning
• sea salt and pepper to taste
• tortillas of your choice
• 1 (8-ounce) can of tomato sauce to make them saucy (Optional)
• Toppings: Shredded or chopped lettuce, salsa, shredded cheese, pickled jalapeño, pickled red onion, and fresh lime wedges

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Instructions

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the finely chopped onion and saute for 4-5 minutes until soft.
2. Push the onions to the side of the pan. Swirl the other tablespoon of oil into the pan and add the ground turkey. It should sizzle a little (if it doesn’t, turn up the heat a little).
3. Cook the turkey for 5-8 minutes until opaque and cooked through, break it up with a wooden spoon as you go. (Tip: keep a small cup of water next to the stove, if the onions start to brown, or the meat seems too dry, add a splash of water a few teaspoons at a time to cool the pan down and add a little moisture).
4. Turn the heat to medium. Add in the garlic, taco seasoning, and 2 tablespoons of water and stir to combine. Cook 3-5 minutes until very fragrant. If the pan seems too dry, add another 1-2 tablespoons of water if needed. Or, if you’re using tomato sauce, add that now instead of more water.
   1. Add the tomato sauce if making “saucy” tacos and let them cook for another 5 minutes to come together. It may need another tablespoon or 2 of water. 
5. Serve the taco meat in your favorite tortillas with your choice of toppings. We like lettuce, a sprinkle of cheese, and pickled red onions. Enjoy!

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