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I don’t know why I thought I could swap turkey for ground beef in our favorite taco recipe. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t taste the same.
(And my kids weren’t happy about it.)
That’s why I spent the past few months testing these ground turkey tacos. I wanted them to be as easy to prepare as our usual tacos, without a glaring “turkey” flavor. It took numerous attempts to get the seasoning right, but now I’m thrilled with the taste.
There’s also a sneaky serving of soluble fiber inside, in case you’re like me and care about getting both protein and fiber into your meals. This helps with texture and saves you money, so it’s a win-win!
Turkey Taco Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Ground turkey. I use 93% lean ground turkey because it’s more affordable than the 97% option, but either option will work in this recipe.
- Lentils. Adding lentils to this recipe stretches the taco meat, adds essential fiber, and saves you money. Because they are smaller than black beans, they blend right into the texture of the ground meat. (But any other canned bean could work here, too.)
- Taco seasoning. You can create your blend using simple pantry spices, like chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and garlic powder.
- Salsa. Turkey needs a little “something extra” when it comes to flavor. Since you’re probably opening a jar of salsa anyway for serving, this is the easiest addition. But you could also use a squeeze of fresh lime juice instead.
Other than that, all you need is your favorite taco toppings!
How to Make Turkey Tacos
Step 1:
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drizzle olive oil into the hot pan, then add the ground turkey and a half teaspoon of sea salt. Use a sturdy spatula to break up the meat as it cooks, moving it around the pan often.
Continue cooking and breaking up the meat into small crumbles until it’s no longer pink. This should take about 8 minutes.
Step 2:
Open the can of lentils and drain them in a fine mesh strainer over the sink. Rinse the lentils well, then add them to the pan after draining.
Season with the spices and stir well to distribute the seasoning. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the lentils are heated through and the spices smell fragrant.
Turn down the heat slightly if the spices start to stick to the pan. (You can add a splash of water to help prevent that.)
Step 3:
To boost the flavor, add a half cup of your favorite salsa to the ground turkey mixture. Stir well until the mixture appears evenly distributed. This adds moisture right before serving, since ground turkey can have a drier texture than beef.
Adjust the seasoning to taste, if needed, then serve warm in your favorite tortillas or over a taco salad. I like to top mine with chopped romaine, tomatoes, and fresh cilantro.
Turkey Taco Meat Storage Tips
Leftover ground turkey can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, adding a splash of water as needed, until it’s heated through again.
Ingredients
Turkey Taco Meat:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- fine sea salt
- 1 (15 ounce) can lentils , drained and rinsed
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup salsa
For Serving:
- 12 to 16 small tortillas
- romaine lettuce , chopped
- tomatoes , diced
- shredded cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat on the stovetop. Once the surface is hot, add a drizzle of olive oil and the ground turkey. Season with a ½ teaspoon of fine sea salt and use a spatula to break up the meat into small clumps. Stir and cook until the meat is no longer pink, about 8 minutes.
- Once the meat is cooked, add the drained lentils to the pan, along with the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and another ½ teaspoon of salt. Stir well to distribute the seasoning and heat the lentils for an additional 2 to 3 minutes.
- For extra flavor and moisture, stir the salsa into the meat. Once it's distributed and heated through, taste the mixture and adjust the seasoning to taste. Serve the taco filling warm in your favorite tortillas or over a taco salad with your favorite toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
More Recipes to Try
- Healthy Tacos (Ground Beef)
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
- Black Bean Tacos
If you try this ground turkey recipe for tacos, please leave a comment and star rating below to let me know how you like it.
