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Quick and easy ground turkey tacos are a family favorite and great for busy nights! Ground turkey is seasoned with my delicious homemade taco seasoning, and green chiles and salsa keep the taco meat extra juicy and full of flavor. The best turkey tacos will be ready to eat in 30 minutes or less!
Need another easy taco recipe? Make my and shrimp tacos with creamy slaw!
Ground turkey often gets a reputation for being dry and flavorless, and I completely agree if you’re not preparing it to its’ full potential. My ground turkey tacos are proof that ground turkey can be absolutely delicious and they’re a great alternative to ground beef tacos.
My secrets to making the best turkey tacos are simple. Use ground turkey that has some fat in it, fat is flavor! The homemade taco seasoning is the other key component to making these tacos flavorful. Sure you can buy a packet of taco seasoning, but I promise once you make mine you won’t go back! Make a double batch so you have it on hand for your next taco night.
Ground turkey is a lean source of protein and a great alternative to ground beef. If you meal prep turkey tacos are not only a healthy option, but great because the taco meat keeps for up to 5 days. You can also freeze it to have on hand for a night when you don’t have time to cook. You can also use the leftover taco meat to make taco salads or turn it into a rice bowl.
Ingredient Notes
Ground turkey – Skip the extra lean ground turkey (99%) it’s too dry. Go with 93/7% lean. The modest amount of fat makes all the difference in how juicy and delicious the taco meat will be.
Onion – Yellow or white onion can be used. For a more mild onion flavor use 2 thinly sliced green onions.
Chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder – The taco seasoning blend. It’s smoky, earthy, but not spicy. Chili powder is a blend (not to be confused with cayenne pepper) and unless you buy one that is specifically spicy it should be mild.
Green chiles – Canned diced green chiles add a tangy and earthy flavor to the tacos. They come in mild and hot so use whichever you prefer.
Cilantro – I love the freshness cilantro adds to the tacos. It brightens up the flavor. There really isn’t a good substitute for cilantro, so if you don’t like it, omit it.
Salsa – Jarred salsa boosts the flavor of the turkey taco meat and helps give them a saucy consistency. I recommend using salsa verde.
Tips for Making Turkey Tacos
- I love using this meat chopper to break up the ground turkey. It makes it so easy and finely chopped.
- For the best flavor use 93% lean instead of 99% lean. You need some fat for both moisture and flavor.
- Don’t overcook ground turkey or it will be dry. Cook it just until it’s no longer pink. Remember it will continue to cook when you add in the other ingredients.
- Warm the corn tortillas or flour tortillas before serving. If you have a gas stove, place the tortilla over the open flame until it gets some charred spots, then flip it over and do the same with the other side.
Substitutions and Variations
- Swap salsa verde with a tomato based salsa. I like any of the Whole Foods jarred salsas.
- Add black beans and/or corn into the taco meat mixture.
- For a smoky, spicy kick, chop up a canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce and add it to the taco meat.
Toppings
When it comes to taco toppings, there’s so many choices! Some of my favorites are chopped tomatoes and lettuce, shredded cheese, avocado or my green chile guacamole, and plain Greek yogurt or sour cream.
This black bean and corn salsa and Mexican street corn salad would also be amazing or you can serve them as side dishes.
Storage
The ground turkey taco meat will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Reheat in the microwave or in a skillet on the stove until warmed through.
More Ground Turkey Recipes
If you’re a fan of ground turkey and looking for new and delicious ways to cook with it, here’s a few recipes to try!
- Ground Turkey Stir Fry
- Ground Turkey and Vegetable Soup
- Turkey Meatballs in Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
- Healthy Turkey Chili
- Apple Cheddar Turkey Burgers
- Turkey Taco Quinoa Skillet
Turkey Tacos Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 tablespoon chili powder mild
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- 4 ounces diced green chiles
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 8 corn tortillas
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine all of the dried spices and salt for the taco seasoning.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add in the ground turkey and onion and break it up into small crumbles.
- Stir in the taco seasoning. Turn the heat down to medium-low and add in the green chiles, cilantro, and salsa. Stir together until combined. If it looks a little dry, stir in 1-2 tablespoons of water. Continue to cook until the sauce thickens, 3-5 minutes. Taste for seasoning.
- Serve the turkey tacos in warmed corn tortillas with your favorite taco toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If you make these Turkey Tacos, please leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love hearing from you and do my best to respond to your comments. And if you’re on Instagram tag @reciperunner so I can see your beautiful creations!
