Ingredients Meat & Poultry Turkey Recipes Ground Turkey Recipes Ground Turkey Tacos 4.0 (297) Ready in under 30 minutes, these crunchy tacos make an easy, crowd-pleasing dinner. Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins Total Time: 30 mins Servings: 5 Yield: 10 Tacos Jump to recipe Our recipe for Ground Turkey Tacos is a lightened-up take on the well loved ground beef version usually served in crunchy taco shells. To make the filling, diced onion and protein–packed ground turkey are cooked in a skillet before being combined with chili powder, tomato paste, and chicken broth. After a brief simmer, the saucy filling is ready to spoon into crispy shells. Serve them alongside assorted toppings like shredded cheese and lettuce, diced tomato and onion, pico de gallo, sour cream, and avocado. You can also use the turkey mixture to fill burritos or burrito bowls, taquitos, or quesadillas. 25 Delicious Taco Bar Toppings That Offer Something for Everyone What Kind of Turkey to Use for Tacos Just like shopping for ground beef, you're bound to find a few different types of ground turkey for sale at the store. While any type of ground turkey will work in this recipe (we prefer a mix of light and dark meat), it's important to know how they all stack up: Dark vs. White Meat Most ground turkey you'll find at the store contains a mix of dark and light meat (if the package doesn't specify, assume it's a combination). For the leanest option, look for ground turkey labeled "ground turkey breast" or "extra lean"—it'll also be lighter in color than the other options. Fat Content Packages of ground turkey will almost always list the fat content on the front, just like with ground beef. You're likely to see ratios of 85-percent lean to 15-percent fat, 93-percent lean to 7-percent fat, and 99-percent lean to 1-percent fat. The higher the percentage of fat, the more moist and flavorful the meat will be after cooking. To keep chili powder and other spices tasting fresh, be sure not to store them above—or next to—the stove as exposure to heat and humidity can degrade their flavor and color over time. Make Ahead To get a head-start on dinner, you can make the taco filling and prep the toppings up to 3 days ahead of time (but wait to cut the avocado until you're ready to serve). Keep all of the components stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator. Directions Cook onion until translucent: Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. When oil shimmers, add onion and cook until onion becomes translucent. Add turkey and cook until cooked through: Add turkey and cook, breaking up meat with the side of a spoon, just until meat is cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in chili powder, salt, and tomato paste; add broth: Stir in chili powder, salt, and tomato paste and cook 1 minute. Add broth and simmer, stirring occasionally, until liquid becomes thick and clings to meat. Serve with desired toppings: Divide meat mixture, cheese, lettuce, and tomato among taco shells and serve immediately with optional sour cream, pico de gallo, and avocado. What to Serve with Ground Turkey Tacos Serve our Ground Turkey Tacos with your favorite toppings like shredded cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, hot sauce, and more. To round out the meal, consider adding a side of plain or Mexican-style rice, refried beans, or a crunchy salad. Storage and Reheating Leftover taco filling can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days after cooking. Reheat filling in a skillet on the stove or in a microwave in a microwave-safe container until hot throughout. 10 More Ground Turkey Recipes to Try: Pot-Sticker Dumplings and Soy-Vinegar Sauce Turkey-and-Mushroom Bolognese Ginger-Peanut Turkey Stir-Fry Turkey Meatloaf With Hoisin Glaze Roasted-Garlic Turkey Burgers One-Pot Turkey Rice With Coconut Milk, Lime, and Fish Sauce Ground Turkey Shepherd's Pie Creamy Baked Tortellini With Spinach Our Favorite Turkey Burger Recipe Turkey Meatballs in Apricot Sauce With Mint and Almonds Frequently Asked Questions Why is my ground turkey watery? Since ground turkey contains a fair amount of water, it's normal to see liquid collecting in the skillet as it cooks. Usually, increasing the heat slightly and/or cooking the turkey for a few minutes longer will help to evaporate the excess moisture, but you can also pour off the liquid once the turkey is fully cooked. Can I use ground chicken instead of turkey in this recipe? Yes, you can use ground chicken instead of turkey in this recipe with great results. Pay attention to the labels when shopping to ensure you're buying the fat content that's right for you. How are ground turkey tacos different than ground beef tacos? Ground turkey is quite a bit leaner than ground beef, so these tacos will be lower in saturated fat and calories than tacos made with ground beef. Thanks to the additional ingredients (onion, chili powder, tomato paste), however, they'll still be full of flavor and be perfect for serving with your favorite toppings. Updated by Esther Reynolds Esther Reynolds Esther Reynolds is an experienced recipe developer, recipe tester, food editor, and writer with over a decade of experience in the food and media industries.