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    Home » Recipes » Mediterranean Diet

    Easy Lean Ground Turkey Tacos (20 Minutes, Hard Shells)

    By Lily・Published:Mar 10, 2023・Updated: Mar 24, 2023・Post may have affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    lean ground turkey tacos.

    These 20-minute lean ground turkey tacos are made with homemade taco seasoning (or use store-bought packets), lean ground turkey, olive oil, water, taco shells, and your favorite taco toppings.

    homemade turkey taco meat in a skillet next to some hard shell turkey tacos.

    These delicious turkey tacos are the perfect option for reducing your red meat, eating on the Mediterranean diet, or if you are tracking your macros. And if you have leftover turkey taco meat, make a turkey taco salad.

    Lean ground turkey has high protein content with few calories. Another great way to use lean ground turkey is this one-pot turkey chili.

    What You Will Love

    These healthy turkey tacos are something the whole family will love because everyone can customize their own taco. This turkey tacos recipe is perfect for busy nights or taco Tuesdays.

    hard shell lean ground turkey tacos

    Ingredient Notes

    ingredients to make lean ground turkey taco meat.
    • Turkey taco meat: I prefer 99% lean ground turkey (or substitute ground chicken breast), homemade taco seasoning (or use store-bought packets), olive oil, and water.
    • Taco shells: Use store-bought hard shell tacos that you crisp up in the oven prior to serving. Alternatively, substitute flour tortillas or corn tortillas.
    • Taco toppings: My favorite toppings are shredded lettuce, Mexican cheese, diced tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, and creamy avocado. Other toppings for tacos are sour cream, black beans, pico de gallo, red onions, bell pepper, and guacamole.
    making hard shell tacos for taco night with ground turkey taco meat.

    See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for quantities.

    Quick Overview

    quick overview for making turkey tacos

    Steps 1 thru 6: Make the taco meat.

    Steps 7 & 8: Bake the taco shells, prep the toppings, and stuff the tacos.

    How To Make Turkey Taco Meat

    add olive oil to a large skillet

    In a large nonstick skillet on medium heat, add some olive oil.

    cooking the lean ground turkey in olive oil.

    Add the ground turkey.

    cooked lean ground turkey in a large skillet.

    Break up the clumps while the ground turkey cooks fully.

    add taco seasoning to the lean ground turkey.

    Mix in the taco seasoning.

    add water to the ground turkey taco mixture

    Pour in the water. Cover the pan and simmer the turkey meat for about 7 to 8 minutes. While the meat is simmering, put the taco shells in the oven to crisp up. Follow the instructions on the box. I baked my taco shells for 7 minutes at 325 ℉ (160 ℃).

    lean ground turkey taco meat.

    The taco meat is finished when the sauce has thickened up nicely.

    How To Assemble Tacos

    stuffing taco shells with taco meat and toppings.

    Stuff the hard shell tacos with taco meat, shredded cheese, fresh toppings, and whatever you feel like!

    homemade taco shells stuffed with ground turkey taco meat, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, mixed cheese, and cilantro.

    The best turkey taco is eaten right away. Otherwise, the taco shell gets soggy.

    Tips and Tricks

    • Use leftover taco meat or double batch the turkey mixture for turkey taco salad or a burrito bowl.
    • Save time by baking the taco shells and cutting the toppings while the taco mixture simmers.
    • Make your own taco seasoning. It takes 5 minutes to make bulk taco seasoning using pantry ingredients you probably already have. Make sure your homemade taco seasoning has cornstarch mixed in. The ratio is 3 tablespoon of taco seasoning to 2 teaspoon of cornstarch. Cornstarch gives taco meat a thick sauce.
    stuffed turkey hard shell tacos.

    ⭐️ Taco Tip: I don't know what it is about taco shell boxes from the store, but I always have broken taco shells. When I made this recipe, two of the twelve taco shells were shattered. To account for the lost souls along the way, I now buy two taco shell boxes. ⭐️

    Variations and Substitutions

    • Make ground beef tacos or chicken tacos using ground lean meat.
    • Use spicy chili powder to add some heat to the turkey meat.
    • Drizzle some hot sauce on top of these tasty ground turkey tacos.
    • Substitute corn tortillas or flour tortillas instead of corn taco shells.
    hard shell tacos stuffed with lean ground turkey taco meat.

    Storage

    Store the taco filling in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Keep the taco shells in a Ziploc bag at room temperature. Store the taco toppings separately in the fridge as well.

    FAQs

    Are turkey tacos healthier than beef tacos?

    Typically lean ground turkey meat has lower fat than lean ground beef. Reducing fat content helps to reduce calories.

    Can you substitute ground turkey for ground beef?

    Yes, you can substitute ground turkey for ground beef and vice versa. Also, you can substitute ground chicken breast.

    Mexican Inspired Recipes

    • authentic taco salad with avocado lime
      Easy Taco Salad with Quick Avocado Lime Dressing
    • mild taco seasoning
      Bulk Mild Taco Seasoning
    • freshly mashed garlic guacamole in a bowl
      Garlic Guacamole
    • pineapple salsa in a bowl
      Roasted Pineapple Salsa

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    turkey tacos on a plate

    Easy Lean Ground Turkey Tacos

    Author: Lily
    Course: Main Dish
    Cuisine: American, Mexican
    Prep: 5 mins
    Cook: 15 mins
    Total: 20 mins
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate Email
    Servings 4
    These lean ground turkey tacos are made with taco seasoning, lean ground turkey, taco shells, and a variety of taco toppings. This quick and easy dinner recipe is the perfect tex-mex meal on busy nights.

    Ingredients
     
    US Customary - Metric

    Ground Turkey Taco Meat

    • 1 lb lean ground turkey 99% or 93%
    • 3 tablespoon homemade taco seasoning or use store-bought taco mix, see note 3
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 cup water

    Turkey Tacos

    • 1 package hard shell tacos about 12 tacos in a box, see note 1
    • ¼ cup shredded Mexican cheese
    • 1 tomato finely diced
    • 2 cups shredded lettuce see note 2
    • ½ cup onion optional
    • ½ cup fresh cilantro optional
    • 1 avocado optional

    Instructions

    Make the Turkey Taco Mixture

    • In a large nonstick skillet on medium heat, add olive oil. Cook the ground turkey continuing to break up the clumps as it cooks fully.
    • Pour in the taco seasoning and water. Cover the skillet. Simmer the taco meat on medium for about 7 to 8 minutes.

    Assemble the Turkey Tacos

    • While the taco meat is simmering, bake the taco shells in the oven per the instructions on the box. I baked my tacos for 7 minutes at 325 ℉ (160 ℃).
    • Chop the tomatoes, onions, and fresh cilantro. Shred the lettuce. Prepare the avocado (in slices or mashed).
    • Stuff the taco shells with taco meat, cheese, and taco toppings.

    Video

    Notes

    1. Substitute corn tortilla or flour tortilla for hard-shell tacos. If concerned the taco shells might be broken, buy a second box, just in case.
    2. Buy store-bought pre-shredded iceberg lettuce or shred iceberg lettuce yourself.
    3. Homemade taco seasoning (enough for 4 lbs of meat): Mix 3 tablespoon mild chili powder, 1-½ tablespoon ground cumin, 1 tablespoon sea salt, ½ tablespoon black pepper, ½ tablespoon garlic powder, ½ tablespoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon chili flakes, and 2 tablespoon cornstarch. You will have some leftover taco seasoning to use for taco salad or another taco night!
    4. The recipe video shows a double batch of turkey taco meat (2 lbs). I made extra for the week to use in taco salad and egg breakfast tacos.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 447kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 171mg | Potassium: 671mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 463IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 189mg | Iron: 3mg

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    About Lily

    Howdy! My name Lilian, but my friends call me Lily. I'm the founder and one of the recipe authors here at The Matbakh. I enjoy sunsets, long walks to the fridge, meaningful relationships, and anything related to food. I'm so happy you are here!

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