Our family makes this turkey taco recipe almost every week. Everyone loves it and it takes less than 30 minutes. A perfect weeknight meal!
Like many of you, I’m looking for quick, throw-together weeknight meals. These easy turkey tacos made with ground turkey are one of my favorites. I always make my taco seasoning with spices I have in my pantry, so I don’t have to worry about making it.
The turkey will be cooked within 20 minutes. All you have to do is warm up the tortillas, add your favorite toppings, and dinner is ready. Honestly, this is one of the recipes we make the most. If you love tacos like we do, check out our ground beef tacos and pork tacos.
main ingredients
Taco seasoning: I know you can buy packs at the store, but I prefer the taco spice blend below. Combine chili powder, cumin powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, oregano, and salt. Another option is to use this homemade taco seasoning. This makes a big batch and adds some optional ingredients for added flavor. Ground Turkey: I like to use ground turkey for my tacos, which has at least 7% fat. With the slim packaging it can be a bit dry. You can also just use ground chicken instead. If you want to add vegetables, see our taco meat recipe. Tomato paste and stock: These make the taco mixture richer and more flavorful. I like vegetable soup, tomato soup, or chicken stock. You only need 1/2 cup, so use whatever you have (or water if you’re in a hurry). Tortillas: Use your favorite tortillas. Homemade tortillas are always delicious. We have recipes for both corn tortillas and flour tortillas if you want to try making them. Taco Toppings: These are your tacos, so enjoy your favorites! At our house, we alternate between lettuce, cabbage, tomato, avocado (sliced ​​or mashed), sour cream with a squeeze of lime, and pickled red onions. Cheese is also always popular.
See the complete recipe with measurements below.
How to make turkey tacos
Tip 1: Make your own homemade spice mix. If you’ve been here a while, you know we love homemade taco seasoning. If this is your first time, trust me. Mix chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, and salt yourself without using a store-bought pack. That makes all the difference.
Tip 2: Brown the turkey. You want the ground turkey to have a little color and crispy edges. I like to press the turkey into the pan and let it sit for a minute before breaking it up. Sprinkle with the spice mix and use a wooden spoon to break it up into small pieces. A heavy skillet (cast iron is my favorite) works well here. I do the same thing when making beef tacos.
Tip 3: Finish with tomato paste and stock. This is the secret to juicy and flavorful taco meat. Once the turkey is browned and crumbly, stir in a spoonful of tomato paste and a little stock. Let it bubble for a minute or two and you’re ready to make tacos.
Tip 4: Warm the tortillas. My favorite method is to toast them one at a time over a gas burner until the slightly charred bits soften. If you don’t have a gas burner, heat it in a hot frying pan until tender. Stack them and wrap them in a clean dish towel until you’re ready to eat them.
offer suggestions
You probably already have your favorite taco toppings, but here are some more ideas from our kitchen. We love filling tortillas with different toppings. The options are endless. Here are some recommended options.
As a side dish, we love rice and beans. Introducing recipes for Mexican rice, saffron rice, and coriander lime rice. Additionally, there are two bean recipes. Refried beans or saucy black beans. If you want to enjoy dinner like your favorite Tex-Mex restaurant, try the homemade salsa with tortilla chips.
See more taco recipes
ground turkey taco
preparation
10 minutes
cook
10 minutes
total
20 minutes
These turkey tacos use our family’s favorite taco meat recipe, but use ground turkey instead of ground beef. These are best made with ground turkey that contains at least 7% fat. For something really special, try the homemade tortillas. Introducing recipes for flour tortillas and corn tortillas.
For 4 people
will be needed
1 and 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon powdered cumin
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, more if needed
1 and 1/2 tablespoons avocado oil
1 pound ground turkey, 93/7 (450 g)
2 tablespoons tomato paste (35g)
1/2 cup chicken stock or water
8 flour or corn tortillas, heated over a gas burner or in a frying pan
Your favorite taco toppings like cheese, cabbage, avocado, sour cream, pickled onions, pico de gallo, roasted tomatillo salsa, lime wedges, or hot sauce
direction
1Make the spice mix: In a small bowl, combine chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, and salt.
2Cook the taco meat. Heat the avocado oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the ground turkey and sprinkle the spice mixture over it. While cooking, use a wooden spoon to break up the meat and stir until it begins to brown.
3Add tomato paste, stir and cook for another 2 minutes. Add chicken stock (or water) and simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens. Taste and add more salt if you think it’s needed.
4Heat the tortillas: If using a gas burner, turn the burner to medium-high and place the tortillas over the flame to heat through. When it starts to swell a little, flip it over to warm the other side. Continue with remaining tortillas. Alternatively, if you prefer to reheat in a skillet, place a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat, add tortillas (one at a time) and cook until warm and soft torties. Wrap warmed tortillas in a clean dish towel to keep them warm.
5Make the tacos: Divide the turkey between warmed tortillas and top with your favorite taco toppings.
Adam and Joan’s Tips
Make ahead: Make the turkey mixture up to 4 days in advance. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat before serving. Adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of additional stock or water will moisten the meat. To make thin sour cream: To make a drizzle, mix 2 tablespoons of sour cream with 1 to 2 teaspoons of fresh lime juice and a pinch of salt. The nutritional information shown below is an estimate. It also included taco meat and tortillas.
Nutritional information per serving
Serving size
1/4 of the recipe
/
calorie
341
/
total fat
16.6g
/
saturated fat
3.4g
/
cholesterol
84.1mg
/
sodium
580.5mg
/
carbohydrates
24.8g
/
dietary fiber
4g
/
Total sugar content
1.6g
/
protein
25.4g
author:
We’re Adam and Joanne Gallagher, the creators of Inspired Taste. Founded in 2009, Inspired Taste has grown from a childhood dream to one of the internet’s most trusted recipe sites, with hundreds of trusted recipes, step-by-step videos, and expert tips.
