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!

The quick version: sauté a finely chopped onion in a little avocado oil, push it aside and brown 1 pound of 93% lean ground turkey until it’s cooked through (165°F), then stir in garlic, taco seasoning and a splash of water and cook for about 5 minutes. You’ll have filling for about 8 tacos in 25 minutes.

Ingredients

• Neutral oil: I like to use avocado oil. Its high smoke point makes it great for sautéing. 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 1 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’ll need about 3 tablespoons (or 1 packet). 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, try Cotija or queso blanco.

• Pickled onions and/or jalapeños: We like to add pickled jalapeño and pickled red onion to our tacos.

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 sauté for 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 8 minutes until opaque and cooked through (165°F), breaking 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 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.

Ground Turkey Taco FAQs

How much taco seasoning do I need for 1 pound of ground turkey?

About 3 tablespoons, which is one packet or one batch of my homemade taco seasoning. Taste the filling at the end and add a pinch more salt if it needs it.

How do I know when ground turkey is cooked through?

There should be no pink left, and the meat should be opaque all the way through. For peace of mind, an instant-read thermometer should read 165°F.

Do ground turkey tacos taste like beef tacos?

Once the turkey is browned and seasoned, most people can’t tell the difference. The 93% lean turkey has just enough fat to brown well, and the taco seasoning does the rest.

Can I freeze turkey taco meat?

It freezes really well. Let the filling cool, then freeze it in a freezer bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight and reheat it in a skillet with a splash of water.

Round out taco night with my Cilantro Lime Rice, or try my Chicken Street Tacos next.

Print