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About This Recipe
Three words to sum up ground turkey taco meat: healthy, convenient and DELISH! Ready in just 15 minutes and loved by everyone, it’s truly one of the best emergency dinner meals. Really there’s a reason taco Tuesday comes around every week 😉
This is high protein taco meat recipe can be used many different ways. We love a classic taco station to build ground turkey tacos. But you can also use Mexican ground turkey to build taco salads, burritos, quesadillas, burrito bowls or taquitos, the list goes on!
If you don’t like spicy, don’t worry, it’s really not spicy at all. The spice level all depends on the taco seasoning you use so just use a mild one (or make your own). But if you want it to have more of a kick for real, add some red pepper flakes or drizzle with sriracha!
For more easy protein recipes, check out my Korean ground beef, Greek chicken bites, air fryer grilled chicken nuggets, steak bites, and 15-minute bang bang salmon bites.
Why You’ll Love This Ground Turkey Taco Meat
- Versatile! Use this taco meat for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, taco salads, etc.
- High in protein making it easy to hit daily protein goals
- Great to meal prep or prep in bulk
- Lower in fat and calories than traditional taco meat recipes
- Can keep all ingredients stocked in pantry and freezer for an easy go-to dinner
- 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!
- 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 or make your own homemade taco seasoning
- 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 even coconut sugar.
- Apple cider vinegar – The vinegar and brown sugar work together to balance out the strong flavors of the taco seasoning. They help give this taco meat a more well rounded flavor profile.
- 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 (or just make your own taco seasoning at home).
- 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 and what I would recommend but if you needed to use 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
The full printable recipe is below, but let me walk you through the process so you know what to expect when you’re making it!
1. Grease a skillet and set to medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey and cook for about 4-5 minutes, breaking into small pieces with a meat chopper or wooden spatula as you go until brown.
2. 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.
3. Stir in brown sugar if using. Let simmer for another minute or two then remove from heat.
4. Use turkey taco meat for tacos, salads, 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?
Ground turkey taco meat is an excellent healthy option. 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 ground turkey taco meat best served?
Tacos are the classic choice, but you can also use this turkey taco meat to build taco salads or burrito bowls. Or stuff it in a tortilla to make burritos, quesadillas or taquitos (just replace the chicken).
Can you make turkey taco meat ahead of time?
For sure! I love to do this to make life easier (I don’t want to be cooking and cleaning late in the day!😆) Prepare the meat when you have time and then just reheat when ready to enjoy. The perfect prep-in-advance meal and great for nights when everyone eats at a different time!
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.
Taco Meat Serving Suggestions
- Set up a taco bar with all your favorites! Tortillas (or taco shells), chopped lettuce, fresh tomatoes, shredded cheese, black beans (or refried beans), sour cream (or Greek yogurt), sliced avocados or guacamole!
- Yellow rice
- Cilantro lime brown rice
- Cilantro lime cauliflower rice (low carb, high volume side)
- 7 layer bean dip (high protein)
- Rainbow corn salad
- Cilantro lime sauce – flavor maker!!
- Pico de gallo – the perfect fresh addition and so easy to make!
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 (15-minute)
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground turkey 93% lean
- 1/4 cup water (60g)
- 3 Tbsp Taco seasoning
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste (32g)
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1-2 tsp apple cider vinegar
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Instructions
- Grease a skillet and set to medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey and cook for about 4-5 minutes, breaking into small pieces with a meat chopper or wooden spatula as you go until brown.
- Add the water, taco seasoning and tomato paste; stir. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for another 5 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated.
- Stir in brown sugar and apple cider vinegar (these aren't necessary but they help balance out the strong flavors of the taco seasoning and give this taco meat a more well-rounded flavor profile). Let simmer for another minute or two then remove from heat.
- Use turkey taco meat for tacos, salads, quesadillas, burritos, taquitos, etc!
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.
