This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
About This Recipe
Three words to sum up this ground turkey taco meat – healthy, convenient and DELISH! It’s a super easy recipe to prep for protein for the week and can be used so many different ways.
The obvious answer is ground turkey tacos, which is what we do a lot (I mean you can never go wrong with a classic taco station!) But you can also use this Mexican Ground Turkey for Healthy Taco Bowls, burritos, quesadillas, Burrito Bowls or Taquitos (just replaced the chicken) – and the list goes on!
One of the best things about cooking with ground turkey is how much it can soak up flavor. And this Mexican Ground Turkey is bursting with all the sweet, spicy and savory Mexican flavors! Also you don’t have to use ground turkey either, ground beef or ground chicken both work great!
If you don’t like spicy, don’t worry, it’s really not spicy at all. Just has a little bit of that Mexican heat if you know what I mean. But if you want it to have more of a kick for real, add some red pepper flakes or drizzle with sriracha!
If you’re looking for more easy protein recipes, check out my Korean Ground Beef, Greek Chicken Bites, Air Fryer Grilled Chicken Nuggets, Seared Steak Bites, and 15-Minute Bang Bang Salmon Bites!
Why You’ll Love This Ground Turkey Taco Meat
- Perfect easy healthy ground turkey taco meat recipe!
- Can also be used for burritos, enchiladas, rice bowls, taco salad and so much more!
- Packed with protein and lower in fat and calories than traditional taco meat recipes
- You can keep all ingredients stocked in your pantry and freezer for an easy go-to dinner recipe!
- Uses store bought taco seasoning to make it extra easy but an a simple homemade taco seasoning recipe included too if you want to switch it up!
- Ground turkey – I used 93/7. 93% lean is my favorite ground turkey to use since its lower fat than the standard but still has some flavor and you can make it taste really good, which is harder with the 99% lean. But they all work, so take your pick!
- Brown sugar – The brown sugar gives this healthy taco meat the most delicious subtle sweetness to balance some of the heat from the taco seasoning. It’s my secret ingredient for making this taco meat taste super yummy! We’ll just be using a little bit, but you can also use a sugar substitute, like Truvia brown sugar blend or golden monk fruit sweetener. Or even coconut sugar!
- Tomato paste – Tomato paste is what gives this Mexican ground turkey depth! If you need to replace in a pinch, try tomato sauce.
- Taco seasoning – you can use store-bought for convenience. Or you can make your own homemade taco seasoning with chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano and cayenne pepper. See the recipe card for exact amounts!
- This taco meat is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free. Just make sure your taco seasoning is gluten-free as this could vary amongst brands. Check here for a list of gluten-free brands!
- Switch out the protein: Instead of ground turkey, you could use ground beef or ground chicken.
- Lower the fat: 93/7 ground turkey is already lower in fat than regular ground turkey, but if you needed even lower, you could use 99% lean. If using 99% lean, I would add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (or other vinegar) to the skillet when adding the taco seasoning. This will help keep the lean turkey a little more juicy.
How to Make Ground Turkey Taco Meat (Healthy & Easy!)
- Spray a large skillet with cooking spray and set to medium heat. Add the ground turkey and cook for about 5 minutes (or until no longer pink), breaking the meat with a wooden spoon as you go.
- Add the water, taco seasoning and tomato paste and stir to combine. Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated.
- Finally, stir in the brown sugar. Let simmer for another minute or two, then remove from heat.
- Use turkey taco meat for tacos, Taco Salad, quesadillas, burritos, Taquitos, etc!
- Store: Store leftover ground turkey taco meat in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- To freeze: Alternatively, you can easily freeze this ground turkey to pull out at a later date! To freeze, let turkey cool to room temperature then store in a freezer-safe bag for 2-3 months.
- To defrost & reheat from frozen: Allow turkey to defrost in the fridge overnight for best results. Then reheat in a skillet or in the microwave like you usually would, until warmed through.
Is Ground Turkey Taco Meat Healthy?
Yes! Of course I am a firm believer that everything is ok in moderation (including beef), but on paper ground turkey is a healthier option because it contains less saturated fats and more polyunsaturated fat (the healthy type of fat).
Ground turkey is also packed with good quality protein which is good for your bones and important for maintaining and increasing muscle mass and strength. It’s also beneficial in fat loss. Read more about all the health benefits of protein here.
How is this ground turkey taco meat best served?
Tacos are the classic choice! But you can also use this taco meat for Healthy Taco Bowls, burritos, quesadillas, Burrito Bowls or Taquitos (just replaced the chicken).
What to serve with healthy turkey taco meat?
Anything you would normally serve with tacos with really! Pico de Gallo, Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice, Healthy Refried Bean Dip, or Rainbow Corn Salad would all be yummy. This Healthy Cilantro Lime Sauce would also be delicious with it!
How long does ground turkey taco meat stay fresh for?
Leftover ground turkey stored in an airtight container stays fresh in the fridge for 5 days. It stays fresh in the freezer for 2-3 months.
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure leave a review, tag me on Instagram or TikTok at @LaurenFitFoodie or hashtag #LaurenFitFoodie so I can see your creations!
Mexican Ground Turkey Taco Meat
Ingredients
- 1 lb. 93/7 lean ground turkey
- 1/4 cup water (60g)
- 3 Tbsp Taco seasoning see notes for homemade taco seasoning
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste (32g)
- 1.5 tsp brown sugar
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes. Scroll for macros and MyFitnessPal code.
Instructions
- Spray a large skillet with cooking spray and set to medium heat. Add the ground turkey and cook for about 5 minutes (or until no longer pink), breaking the meat with a wooden spoon as you go.
- Add the water, taco seasoning and tomato paste and stir to combine. Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated.
- Finally, stir in the brown sugar. Let simmer for another minute or two, then remove from heat.
- Use turkey taco meat for tacos, Taco Salad, quesadillas, burritos, Taquitos, etc!
Notes
Homemade Taco Seasoning:
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp cumin
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
Nutrition Information
Nutrition is hand-calculated and accurate. No autocalulations! However, note that values can vary based on the brands you use and if you substitute ingredients.
