My kids love it when we have Taco Tuesday! It’s like a little celebration for them in the middle of the school week. These ground turkey tacos are one of my go-to taco recipes on the regular rotation. They’re a little leaner than beef tacos and, with my seasoning mix, are still so rich in flavor.
I make a simple homemade taco seasoning that comes together in seconds, but you can also use store-bought if you want to save on time. With just a single skillet, the whole dish comes together with minimal prep and cleanup! Try it alongside my black bean and corn salsa and cilantro lime rice, and I guarantee your family will be asking for seconds!
Why you’ll love this recipe
My whole family claims these are the best ground turkey tacos!! And you will too.
- One-pan dinner – That’s the beauty of tacos! Make the ground turkey mixture in the skillet, and the rest of the toppings are in bowls, keeping the mealtime quick.
- Less than 30 minutes – No need to spend hours in the kitchen. This is a dinner your kids will find so fun to eat, and it’s a great way to get them to try new foods, too!
- The best leftovers – The ground turkey taco meat is delicious the next day, reheated on top of a salad, in a quesadilla, or served over rice in a burrito bowl.
Tips for Busy Cooks
I like to make a big batch of this homemade taco seasoning and keep in in an airtight container for many months. I use it in these tacos but also on chicken, steak, salmon, or anything I like with a smoky, Mexican-inspired flair!
Key Ingredients Notes
- Lean ground turkey – I recommend buying 93–94% lean for a tender bite without the grease. If the fat content is higher and there is excess grease in the pan, you can easily drain it from the skillet.
- Chili powder adds nice smokiness and a hint of spice to every bite.
- Ground cumin adds warmth and a hint of lime flavor to the meat.
- Smoked paprika – A hint of extra smokiness that is so delicious in the turkey taco meat.
- Garlic powder infuses every bite with concentrated garlic flavor we love.
- Onion powder adds that burst of onion sweetness without having to chop a whole onion.
- Dried oregano – Herbal and warm in flavor, a little pinch really complements the smokiness of the chili powder.
- Tomato paste – Concentrated tomato flavor that gives more depth to turkey tacos.
- Water (or low‑sodium chicken broth) helps moisten the turkey meat so it’s not too dry but just the right consistency.
- Corn or flour tortillas – Either works here! You can even serve both if some people like corn and others like flour.
- Toppings – Shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, avocado slices, Greek yogurt or sour cream, lime wedges are my go-tos when making a taco bar!
How to make ground turkey tacos
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium‑high heat. Add ground turkey and cook 5–7 minutes, breaking into crumbles, until no longer pink.
Mix chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and salt in a small bowl. Blend the seasoning mixture into the turkey and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Add tomato paste and water. Stir well and simmer 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened. Warm tortillas in a skillet or wrapped in foil in a low oven. Spoon the turkey mixture into tortillas and add your favorite taco toppings. Serve immediately.
Expert Tips:
- Add extra veggies to the filling. This is the perfect way to sneak in some extra nutrition for kids! I like to add finely diced zucchini or bell pepper for extra veggies.
- Double the turkey mixture. I can’t recommend this enough for meal prepping. Freeze half of the filling for easy leftovers and use the other half for dinner that night.
- If you don’t want to buy all of the spices, you can easily use your favorite taco seasoning mix from the store.
- After adding the tomato paste, be sure to cook it down for a couple of minutes. This helps the flavor to caramelize and become richer, rather than slightly acidic and metallic in flavor (which often happens when it’s straight from the can).
- Before serving, if the turkey mixture seems dry, add ¼ cup of water and this will help to moisten the mixture to make it tender and soft.
What to serve with ground turkey tacos
While they’re a great meal on their own, there are so many ways to make a taco toppings bar for a crowd or turn these turkey tacos into burrito bowls! Here are some of my favorite options:
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave for a few minutes until warmed through. Give a splash of stock or water when reheating if it seems dry.
Freezing any leftover ground turkey taco meat is simple and so easy. Just let it cool, then place it in an airtight freezer-safe container to freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed before serving.
This is also an easy recipe to make in advance. I’ve made this ground turkey filling a day or two before eating, so it’s easier to reheat when there’s no time to cook!
FAQs
I like to add fresh toppings like avocado, shredded iceberg lettuce, red onions, jalapeno slices, black beans, fresh cilantro, fresh salsa or pico de gallo, shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese, hot sauce, and guacamole! There are so many options, so add your favorites!
Yes, lean ground turkey is usually lower in fat and also calories than ground beef tacos.
Of course, this will cut down on the prep time a little bit and is also great to season other proteins too!
More easy Mexican-inspired recipes
Ground Turkey Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground turkey 93–94% lean
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon Salt plus more to taste
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons water or low‑sodium chicken broth
- 12 small flour or corn tortillas
Toppings:
- shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, avocado slices, Greek yogurt or sour cream, lime wedges
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium‑high heat.
- Add ground turkey and cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking into crumbles, until no longer pink.
- In a small bowl, mix chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and salt.
- Stir the seasoning mixture into the turkey and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add tomato sauce and water. Stir well and simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Warm tortillas in a skillet or wrapped in foil in a low oven.
- Spoon turkey mixture into tortillas and add desired toppings.
Share your thoughts! If you make this please leave a review letting me know how it was!
Notes
– Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave for a few minutes until warmed through. Give a splash of stock or water when reheating if it seems dry.
– Freezing any leftover ground turkey taco meat is simple and so easy. Just let it cool, then place it in an airtight container to freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed before serving.
Nutrition
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full nutrition disclosure.
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