If you love ground beef tacos, but are looking for a healthier alternative your whole family will love, try these turkey tacos instead. They are made with lean ground turkey meat and hand-blended taco seasonings. We’ve added extra veggies cooked right in for added nutritional benefits, and they can be served in either crunchy taco shells or soft corn tortillas so everyone can enjoy theirs just the way they like them on taco night! 

healthy ground turkey tacos served in browned taco shells with avocado, red onion, and cheese on top

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Why We Love This Turkey Taco Recipe

Are you ready to be a dinner hero? All you need for these ground turkey tacos is ground turkey and our delicious blend of slices and a few pantry staples. Then you can wrap the meat in a taco shell, fajita, or lettuce and add the toppings of your choice.

Recipe Highlights

  • There are added veggies to the turkey mixture for more flavor and nutrition.
  • This is a customizable recipe that’s perfect for picky eaters.
  • Made with kitchen staples so it’s a simple recipe to include in your Taco Tuesday rotation.
  • Ground turkey is a nice lean alternative to beef

Love Taco Night? Try our ground chicken tacos, easy veggie tacos, 20-minute cod fish tacos and flank steak tacos.

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More Weeknight Ground Turkey Dinners

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Ingredients for Healthy Tacos with Ground Turkey Meat

an overhead photo of oil, salt, water, tomato paste, chili powder, chipotle powder, cheese, ground turkey, cumin, garlic, onion, bell pepper, and taco shells to make turkey tacos
  • Ground Turkey: Lower in fat content than beef.
  • Tortillas: You can use soft corn tortillas or crispy taco shells. 
  • Seasoning Blend: Chili powder, ground cumin, ground chipotle, and salt.
  • Vegetables: Green or red bell pepper (seeded and diced), finely chopped onion, and minced garlic. 
  • Oil: Avocado or Organic Canola Oil. 
  • Tomato Paste
  • Water
  • Cheese: Shredded colby jack or Monterey jack cheese
  • Toppings: Chopped tomatoes, salsa, shredded lettuce, diced red onion, and avocado.

How To Make Ground Turkey Tacos

wrap the tortillas in foil then sautee the veggies

Step 1: Preheat and Prep Tortillas

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Wrap soft tortillas in aluminum foil stacked in two packages. Place tortillas in the hot oven to warm through. Or if using crispy shells, follow heating instructions just before serving.

Step 2: Cook Vegetables

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pepper, onion, and garlic, and cook, stirring often until the vegetables are softened and beginning to brown. This should take 5 to 8 minutes. 

two photos side by side, the left is labeled 3 and has ground turkey and vegetables in a skillet, while the photo labeled 5 has browned turkey in the skillet with seasonings added on top

Step 3: Add Turkey

Add the ground turkey, and cook, breaking it up into small pieces as it becomes opaque, until the turkey is completely cooked – 4 to 6 minutes. 

Step 4: Add Taco Seasoning Blend

Sprinkle the ground turkey mixture with chili powder, cumin, salt, and chipotle, and stir everything to combine until it’s fragrant, which takes about 30 to 90 seconds. 

two side by side photos: the one on the left is labeled with the number 5 and shows a hand pouring water into a skillet full of ground turkey taco meat with tomato paste and a wooden spoon in the middle, while the photo on the right labeled with the number 6 shows a skillet with finished ground turkey taco meat, a wooden spoon, and the cheese, lime, onion, etc scattered around

Step 5: Add Tomato Paste

Add the tomato paste and water and stir until the tomato paste is dissolved into the water and it forms a sauce to coat the turkey mixture.

Step 6: Serve With Toppings

Serve the turkey in the warm tortillas (or crispy taco shells) with cheese and top with desired toppings.

a white plate with three turkey tacos on it, topped with avocado slices, chopped red onion, parsley, and some shredded cheese.
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FAQs For This Ground Turkey Taco Recipe

Are Turkey Tacos Healthy?

Turkey tacos are a balanced and nutritious meal. These are made with whole grain corn tortillas, added vegetables and lean protein. Turkey is low in saturated fat and a great alternative to beef.

Is Ground Turkey Good For Tacos?

Yes, it’s the perfect meat for tacos! Our homemade taco seasoning doesn’t hurt either. 

How Many Calories Are In Ground Turkey Taco Meat?

These ground turkey tacos contain 352 calories per serving of two tacos each. 

What Are Good Toppings For Ground Turkey Tacos?

We suggest the traditional taco toppings like chopped tomatoes, salsa, avocado, lettuce, and red onion. You can also add your personal favorite taco toppings like sliced black olives, sour cream, queso, or hot sauce.

Serving Suggestions

We all know tacos speak for themselves, but we can also elevate the dish in a variety of ways. Here are some ideas that’ll take your turkey tacos to the next level. 

  • Enjoy your tacos with a side of rice and shredded cheddar cheese sprinkled on top!
  • Add a squeeze of lime juice for a boost of citrus!
  • Black beans or pinto beans would make a great topping or side for this healthy tacos recipe.
  • Use sour cream or plain non-fat Greek yogurt to top your turkey.
  • Add diced red onion, greens, fresh cilantro or minced fresh jalapeno or sliced pickled jalapeno.
  • Try pico de gallo or my favorite homemade jarred salsa recipe that we make sure to have on hand every summer!
  • There’s nothing like sliced avocado or homemade guacamole on a turkey tacos!

Make Ahead, Storage, Freezing, Reheating

  • Make Ahead: This is a great make-ahead recipe for easy dinners or lunches throughout the week. The turkey mixture will keep in the fridge for up to four days, and then you can add the meat to a salad, pasta, or wrapped up as a taco again. 
  • Leftovers + Storage: Allow the leftover taco meat to cool and refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to four days. 
  • Reheating: Use a non-stick skillet to reheat your tacos with a little bit of water or broth over high-medium heat. Stir often until it’s steaming hot. Alternatively, you can reheat your tacos in the microwave for 90 seconds per portion, or until it’s steaming hot.

Variations To Try and Substitutions

  • Use ground chicken instead of ground turkey, or feel free to use Beyond Beef to make this a vegetarian taco recipe.
  • Try grain free tortillas like Siete almond flour tortillas or make lettuce wraps.
  • Break out the tortilla chips and make ground turkey nachos or assemble burrito bowls.

Slow Cooker Instructions for Ground Turkey Tacos

  • Prepare the recipe through step 4 as directed
  • Scrape the mixture into the insert of a slow cooker. Add one 10-ounce can of Rotel tomatoes and chilies, tomato paste, and water.
  • Stir everything well, and then cook on low for 4 hours.
  • Serve as directed in step 6. Use a slotted spoon if necessary.
three turkey tacos on a plate

Additional Ground Turkey Recipes To Try

At Healthy Seasonal Recipes, we specialize in cooking with fresh veggies and creating weeknight meals. Sign up HERE to get more produce-forward dinner ideas for FREE! If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought! Happy Cooking! ~Katie

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three turkey tacos on a white plate topped with avocado sliced, red onion chopped small, and some lime wedges on the side

Ground Turkey Taco Recipe

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5 from 1 review

  • Author: Katie Webster
  • Total Time: 30 mins
  • Yield: 12 tacos; 3 to 3 1/2 cups taco meat 1x
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Description

If you love beef tacos, but are looking for a healthier alternative, try these turkey tacos instead. They are made with lean ground turkey meat and hand-blended taco seasonings. We’ve added extra veggies cooked right in for added nutritional benefits, and they can be served in either crispy or soft corn tortillas so everyone can enjoy theirs just the way they like them! 

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 soft corn tortillas, or crispy taco shells
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil or organic canola oil
  • 1 green or red bell pepper, seeded and diced
  • 1 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 pound to 20 ounces ground turkey
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle, or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 4 ounces shredded Colby Jack or Monterey Jack cheese
  • Chopped tomatoes, salsa, shredded lettuce, diced red onion and avocado for serving

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Wrap soft tortillas in foil stacked in two packages of four. Place tortillas in hot oven to warm. Or if using crispy shells, follow heating instructions just before serving.
  2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pepper, onion and garlic, and cook, stirring often until the vegetables are softened and beginning to brown, 5 to 8 minutes. 
  3. Add turkey, and cook, breaking up into small pieces as it becomes opaque, until the turkey is completely cooked, 4 to 6 minutes. 
  4. Sprinkle with chili powder, cumin, salt and chipotle, and stir to coat until fragrant, 30 to 90 seconds. 
  5. Add tomato paste and water and stir until the tomato paste is dissolved into the water and it forms a sauce to coat the turkey mixture.
  6. Serve the turkey in the warm tortillas (or crispy taco shells) with cheese and top with desired toppings.

Notes

Make Ahead: The turkey can be cooled and stored in an airtight container up to four days. It can be reheated in a non-stick skillet with a little water (or broth) over high medium heat, stirring often until steaming hot. Alternatively reheat in the microwave for 90 seconds per portion, or until steaming hot.

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Active Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 tacos
  • Calories: 352
  • Sugar: 4 g
  • Fat: 16 g
  • Carbohydrates: 28 g
  • Fiber: 5 g
  • Protein: 26 g

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