Tacos can be made healthy. There's more than one way to make one, and these ground turkey tacos are healthier than most. Our turkey taco recipe is perfect for anyone who's trying to reduce the amount of saturated fat in their diet but doesn't want to compromise on flavor.

Aside from being nutritious — ground turkey tacos have about two-thirds of the calories compared to making the same recipe with ground beef — turkey tacos are also easy to make. You can take your time and still spend only 30 minutes on it. Faster ones take half the time. Not bad for a delicious dish, isn't it?

Healthy Turkey Tacos Recipe with Authentic Mexican Spices

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Servings

4

Prep Time

3 minutes

Cook Time

12 minutes

Ingredients

For the turkey taco seasoning

• 1 tbsp chili powder

• 1 1/2 tsp cumin

• 1 tsp cornstarch (optional)

• 3/4 tsp paprika

• 1/2 tsp ground coriander

• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

• Salt to season the turkey tacos

For the ground turkey tacos

• 1 lb ground turkey (leaner is better to make healthy tacos!)

• 4 tortillas (flour or corn)

• 1 can tomato sauce, 8 oz

• 3 cloves of garlic, minced

• 1 onion, finely chopped 

• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar

• 1 tsp olive oil or vegetable oil

• 1 tsp dried oregano

• 1 tsp brown sugar

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. Add all of the ingredients for the ground turkey taco seasoning mix to a medium-sized mixing bowl. 

2. Whisk the salt and spices together until you're confident that they are evenly mixed.

3. If you're using cornstarch (it gives a thicker texture to the ground turkey taco filling), add it evenly into the mixture as well. 

4. Heat the olive or vegetable oil in a cast iron skillet until it becomes silky and flows freely. Turn the skillet a few times to ensure the oil coats the whole cooking surface. 

5. Add the chopped onion to the pan and cook it until it becomes soft and translucent. You don't need to brown or caramelize the onions, just soften them.

6. When the onions are ready, stir in the seasoning mix that you had prepared. At this point, you can also add the oregano and the garlic. 

7. Stir all the ingredients together and cook the mixture for a further 30 sec to 1 min. You should notice the fragrance of the herbs and spices increasing as they warm up and begin to cook.

8. Add the ground turkey taco meat to the pan and cook it to the point where it is still very slightly pink (don't worry, the meat will continue to cook as you add the remaining ingredients). 

9. Stir in the vinegar, tomato sauce, and the brown sugar and then simmer the mixture for a few minutes, or until the mixture thickens to your liking. 

10. Add salt and pepper as needed.

11. You can choose how much to allow the sauce to thicken. If you're planning to serve the ground turkey tacos as finger food, it's probably wise to opt for a thicker sauce, as the filling will hold together better. If you're serving this as a plated dish or side dish to be eaten at the table, you might prefer a more liquid sauce, for a juicier turkey taco.

12. To construct your ground turkey tacos, create a bed of salad vegetables on each tortilla. Layer on a portion of the turkey taco filling, and optionally top this with shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack. 

13. Serve and enjoy!

FAQ

What vegetables go great with this turkey taco recipe?

You can use any vegetables of your choice with this ground turkey taco recipe. Some good ones include lettuce, tomato, scallions, cilantro, or any salad leaves. You can also serve it with classic Mexican dips such as guacamole, sour cream, salsa, or pico de gallo.

What kind of tortilla is best with ground turkey tacos?

Most people buy their tortillas from the store if they're making tacos. However, if you have time to cook the filling, you have time to make the tortillas from scratch. All you need is a traditional cast iron tortilla press. Alternatively, you can also just use a cast iron skillet in cooking it. With only four ingredients (flour, water, oil, and salt), our tortilla recipe is easy to follow.

While store-bought tortillas are fine, homemade tortillas are a world away from the plastic packaged version and will make your turkey tacos stand out. You can make a batch, put them in the freezer, and just reheat when needed.

The Last Word on Making Turkey Taco

Turkey taco is a great Mexican-inspired dish that is healthy and easy to make. As it takes only a half-hour (or less!) to prepare, it can even be a good weeknight meal. Ground turkey is leaner and has less fat content than beef and other meats so you can enjoy the flavor without worrying about your health.

If you opt to skip on meats altogether, you can also make your taco vegan or vegetarian. Our tofu tacos and mushroom tacos are good sources of protein without animal products. Seafood tacos are another option for healthier meals without meat. We have an easy tuna taco recipe, delicious shrimp tacos, as well as blackened salmon tacos.

Whichever kind of taco you choose to serve in your taco holder, we know you and your family and friends will love it. Have fun creating these nutritious Mexican dishes!