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With over 400 5-star reviews, this Turkey Taco recipe is one of the most popular recipes on Culinary Hill. I spent years developing the perfect recipe that was packed with flavor, not dry, and even better than ground beef tacos. Once my kids starting asking for “taco Tuesday” more than once per week, I knew I had a hit!
Meggan’s notes
The secret is in the sauce: Just one can of tomato sauce added to the meat makes all the difference. It takes ground beef from dry to juicy, and you’ll never make it any other way!
Taco meat isn’t just for tacos, either. Try this turkey taco meat on quesadillas, salads, burritos, lettuce wraps, nachos, and more.
Table of Contents
Ground Turkey Tacos Recipe Ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Ingredient notes
- Taco seasoning: Make it yourself with 1 Tbsp. chili powder, 1 ½ tsp. ground cumin, ¾ tsp. paprika, ½ tsp. ground coriander, ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper, and salt to taste (I like ½ tsp.).
- Ground turkey: Look for 93% lean ground turkey. If you get the 99% fat-free ground turkey breast, your meat is going to be dry.
- Brown sugar: Leave this out if it sounds weird to you.
How to Make Turkey Tacos
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil until shimmering. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in taco seasoning, garlic, and oregano until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add ground turkey and cook, breaking up clumps with a wooden spoon, until almost cooked through but still slightly pink, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in tomato sauce, vinegar, and brown sugar. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 4 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve the meat hot with the tortillas and all your favorite taco toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, cheese, and diced avocado.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This recipe makes about 4 cups (1 quart) of delicious Turkey Taco meat. That’s enough for 4 servings, 1 cup of meat each, enough to make 3 or 4 tacos per person.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Cool the cooked meat, then transfer it to a freezer-safe bag and press flat to gently squeeze out the air from the bag as it seals. Label, date, and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator (never at room temperature). Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
- Slow cooker: Sauté the onions in a skillet on the stove. Add the taco seasoning, garlic, and dried oregano. Add the ground turkey and cook until almost done. Transfer the turkey to the slow cooker and add the sauce, brown sugar, cider vinegar, and tomato sauce. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or on LOW for 6-7 hours.
- Dried spices: Cooking out of the pantry? Substitute ½ teaspoon garlic powder and 1 tablespoon onion powder or 3 tablespoons dried onion flakes for the fresh garlic and onion.
- Taco toppings: Load it all up! Try lettuce, tomato, avocado (or avocado sauce), guacamole, shredded cheese, sour cream, black olives, minced white onion, cilantro, and minced jalapeños.
- Salsa: Try mild tomato salsa (pico de gallo), hot salsa, green tomatillo salsa, or corn salsa.
- Crunchy taco shells: Fry corn tortillas until crispy on the stove or in the oven.
- Lettuce wraps: This taco meat is delicious on butter lettuce or romaine leaves.
- Taco salad or bowl: Add the cooked meat to a bowl with chopped lettuce, cooked black beans, tomatoes, scallions, and a creamy cilantro lime dressing. Add cooked brown rice to make a hearty turkey taco bowl. Serve with tortilla chips.
- Add quinoa: Add cooked quinoa to the mixture to make it more filling or stretch it further.
- More ground turkey recipes: Turkey Meatloaf and Turkey Chili are tasty ways to eat more ground turkey, and Turkey Meatballs are one of the most popular recipes on this site.
- Ground Chicken Tacos: Easy Ground Chicken Tacos are juicy, perfectly seasoned, and perfect for hectic weeknights. They are also lightning fast, ready in about 15 minutes!
- Ground Beef Tacos: Delicious Ground Beef Tacos are full of flavor and are also done in 15 minutes or less. A couple of surprise ingredients can really elevate your standard beef taco recipe beyond just that packet of seasoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are turkey tacos healthier than beef tacos?
Ground turkey is lower in cholesterol and saturated fat than ground beef, so by that measurement, it’s healthier. Lean beef can be enjoyed in moderation depending on your goals.
Is turkey a good substitute for beef?
There are many recipes where ground turkey is a fantastic, maybe even preferable, substitute for beef. Meatloaf, meatballs, tacos, spaghetti sauce, and chili are some of the best ways. You won’t even miss the beef!
What fat to add to ground turkey?
Olive oil and avocado oil are two great fats to consider when cooking with ground turkey.
More easy dinner ideas
Mediterranean Recipes
Pan-Seared Halibut with Peppers and Olives
Fish and Seafood Recipes
Baked Salmon
30 Minute Meals
Chicken Vesuvio
Main Dishes
Sheet Pan Greek Chicken and Potatoes
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Ground Turkey Tacos Recipe
Ground turkey shows up where you least expect it, in the best Turkey Taco you've ever had. This recipe has a few tricks up its sleeve to make sure every bite is juicy and perfectly seasoned. Coming to tortillas near you in about 15 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion peeled and finely chopped
- 1 packet taco seasoning (see note 1)
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 pound ground turkey (see note 2)
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar packed (see note 3)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- corn tortillas or flour tortillas, shredded cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, ands our cream, for serving
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil until shimmering. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in taco seasoning, garlic, and oregano until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add ground turkey and cook, stirring occasionally, until almost cooked through but still slightly pink, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in tomato sauce, vinegar, and brown sugar. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 4 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve in tortillas with all your favorite toppings like cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and sour cream.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Taco seasoning: To DIY a packet’s worth of homemade taco seasoning, whisk together 1 Tbsp. chili powder, 1 ½ tsp. ground cumin, ¾ tsp. paprika, ½ tsp. ground coriander, ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper, and salt to taste (I like ½ tsp.). Add 1 tsp. cornstarch if you prefer a thickener in your taco seasoning.
- Ground turkey: Look for 93% lean ground turkey. If you get the 99% fat-free ground turkey breast, your meat is going to be dry.
- Brown sugar: Leave this out if it sounds weird to you.
- Yield: This recipe makes about 4 c. of turkey taco meat. That’s enough for 4 servings, 1 c. of meat each, enough to make 3 to 4 tacos per person.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 cup meatCalories: 212kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 22gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 84mgSodium: 116mgPotassium: 368mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 932IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 3mg
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Love this recipe! My husband could eat Mexican food every night, but I’m lukewarm on it. Some of the seasoning mixes are too much for me. This one is amazing! I’m sure this can be made with chicken or beef, but the turkey is perfect. The seasoning gives the turkey such great flavor and is not overly filling like ground beef can be. I made this on Tuesday, and I am making it again tonight, Friday. I left out the cayenne pepper only because my husband does not like it too spicy. It’s such a quick and easy meal to pull together. We have already talked about how this would be our choice for Taco Tuesdays. Thank you for a great recipe!!
You’re so welcome, Rene’! I’m so happy you both loved them! – Meggan
Very good! Just made these for lunch and picky husband loved them!!!
I’m so glad you both loved them, Marianne! Take care! – Meggan
Soooo good!! Followed the recipe to a T – it had just the right amount of heat and the taste was so clean. You can definitely tell the difference between ground meat and processed taco seasoning. This is our new favorite…..I even sent the recipe to my kids.
The only adjustment….I added a little more OO bc the onions were sticking to my cast iron. Thanks for the work to create the perfect recipe!!
You’re so welcome, Megan! Thank you so much for sharing my recipe, I hope your kids love it, too! – Meggan
This recipe is so delicious and easy! I actually substituted the tomato sauce with tomato paste to make the sauce a bit thicker. It is absolutely amazing!
I’m glad you loved it, Hannah! Take care! – Meggan
This changed boring old taco night for us! The addition of onions and tomato sauce to the filling was a hit, however it was really overshadowed by the oven baked flour tortillas. It’s so easy to stuff the tacos with other toppings that way. Kids dug it. Thank you.
You’re so welcome, MK! I’m glad it was a hit! – Meggan
“5 Stars” from this family!
My son and teenage grandson said they were the best they have had and I agree.
Thank you so very much for this 5 star recipe!
You’re so welcome! I’m glad it was a hit. Take care! 🙂 – Meggan
Fantastic recipe! I used the tomato paste option and left out the cayenne pepper & cornstarch. The meat needed no further seasoning! I’ll make a double batch next time to freeze half.
Thank you for your comment, Debbie! I’m so glad you loved it! – Meggan
This takes the typical turkey taco meat to another level! (Typically we just brown the meat & add taco seasoning). Loved the additional flavor added from sautéing onions & garlic beforehand. I did not have tomato sauce on hand, but substituted using some chopped adobo chipotle peppers (canned) and about 1/2cup chicken broth.
(Shout out to the fellow reviewer for that adobo suggestion!)
Served the meat over Insta-pot Mexican Quinoa with some diced sweet potato mixed in. An excellent bowl meal!
I’m watching my cholesterol so I was looking for good turkey tacos.
Wife was not looking forward to turkey tacos. Truth told, I was not expecting much.
I did make two additions. I added 1 finely chopped Chipotle in Adobo, and a couple of shots of Worcestershire Sauce.
These were SO GOOD!! Couple slices of avocado on tortilla and a little fresh cilantro.
If I can get this flavor from Turkey, I’m keeping it.
Thank you so much for this recipe!
You’re welcome, Joe! Thank you, too! Take care – Meggan
Love the flavors of this dish so much! We eat this on a bed of quinoa, which also has a ton of sauteed onion and garlick in it.
Sounds absolutely delicious, Deena! – Meggan