Ground Turkey Taco Meat
Last Updated on August 21, 2026 by Annie
Healthy, flavorful, and ready in under 30 minutes, this simple recipe for Ground Turkey Taco Meat will quickly become your go-to taco recipe. Made with ground turkey and a blend of spices, this simple taco meat recipe works perfectly for tacos, tostadas, burrito bowls and more!
2025 Update: This recipe was originally shared in June 2019. This post has been updated to include new photos, detailed directions, and additional dairy-free tips. I hope you enjoy this simple ground turkey taco meat recipe.
I love tacos. If it can be taco-ed I will taco it. Breakfast tacos check. Tacos at lunch, you bet. Tacos for dinner? Count me in! In our home, tacos reign supreme. And having lived outside of Texas for over 10 years I can say with certainty, Texas is King of the Taco.
Needless to say, leaving Texas was difficult. To mourn the loss of all things Texas, I spent the last 3 months that we lived there eating every last bite of Tex-Mex I could scrounge up. Every time we went to Lupe Tortilla, I told myself “This is my last queso.” I had my “last queso” at least 9 times before we moved.
Yes, leaving Texas was hard, but my waistline was ready for the North East. In the first month, Jason and I lived in a small AirBnB while closing on our new home. I decided to try the 21 Day Fix during that time and while the colorful cups and daily workouts didn’t last much beyond the 21 days, this taco meat has become a staple in our home.
This healthy taco meat recipe whips up in less than 30 minutes and can be used in an abundance of recipes. Personally we make a batch of this taco meat and then use it for taco lunch bowls, nachos, and taco dinners throughout the week.
Why We Love Ground Turkey Taco Meat
We have been making this recipe for close to 9 years. Some of the top reasons I come back to this recipe time and time again include:
- Versatility. This taco meat can be used in Chipotle-style taco bowls, taco salads, little taco cups, you name it, I’ve put this taco meat in it.
- Quick to make. Ready in about 30 minutes or less, this taco meat is quick to whip up at a moments notice.
- Made from scratch. No questionable seasoning packets loaded with sodium here. Simple and flavorful spices season this meat.
- Flavor. A back-handed compliment we often give this at the dinner table is that it “tastes just like Taco Bell”
How to Make Ground Turkey Taco Meat
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ground turkey– Browned and crumbled for the meat of this recipe. You can also use ground beef, ground chicken, or a plant-based ground meat alternative.
- Onion+ Garlic– Adds a little aromatic flavor to the taco meat.
- Spices– A blend of onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, paprika, chili powder, oregano, and salt season this taco meat delightfully.
- Tomato sauce– Helps make the taco meat more flavorful and thick.
Directions for Ground Turkey Taco Meat
- Cook the turkey: In a large skillet, over medium high heat cook 1 lb ground turkey. Brown and crumble as it cooks.
- Dice vegetables: While the meat cooks, dice 1 onion and grate 1 garlic pod with a microplane.
- Mix spices: In a small bowl measure onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, paprika, chili powder, oregano, and salt. Mix together and set aside.
- Season and cook: Once the ground turkey is cooked through add onion and the seasoning mixture into the skillet. Cook for 3-5 minutes.
- Stir in sauce and simmer: Next, add an 8 oz can of tomato sauce to the skillet along with the grated garlic pod. Stir and cook on low for 10-15 minutes.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
When it comes to making this simple ground turkey taco meat there are a few kitchen tools you might want to have on hand.
- Skillet– Great for cooking the ground turkey taco meat.
- Measuring spoons– For scooping out the seasoning.
- Microplane– Used to grate the garlic if mincing isn’t your jam.
What can I make with Ground Turkey Taco Meat?
Personally I like to meal prep at the beginning of the week to get some of the heavy lifting of deciding what we are going to eat that week out of the way.
This healthy taco meat is perfect for meal prep because you can make a batch (honestly with the 5 of us we are a double batch crew) and then sprinkle it into our meals throughout the week.
Breakfast: I would add a 1/3 cup of this taco meat in place of sausage in my breakfast scramble. Alternatively you can whip up some breakfast tacos with the taco meat instead of bacon or sausage.
Lunch: Add this taco meat to a burrito bowl meal prep, like my taco lunch bowls, that is sure to make meal prep delicious and easy for the week ahead. You can also serve it up in a flour tortilla bowl, for a hearty taco salad.
Dinner: This makes a perfect taco night meat. Pop into fresh tortillas or crispy taco shells and top with all of your favorite fix-ins like guacamole, salsa, and pico de gallo for a taco night everyone will love.
Another option would be to top a crispy corn tortilla with this healthy turkey taco meat for a delicious Tostada.
Toppings for Ground Turkey Tacos
If you are looking to simply dish out this turkey taco meat with your typical Taco Tuesday vibes, here are some toppings that will pair deliciously with this taco meat.
- Guacamole
- Mom’s Blender Salad
- Vegan Avocado Cilantro Lime Crema
- Mexican Street Corn Dip
- Fresh Avocado
- Green Onion
- Purple Onion
- Dairy-free sour cream
- Shredded Lettuce
Storing and Freezing Turkey Taco Meat
Once you have made your turkey taco meat you can use it right away or save it for later.
- Storing Turkey Taco Meat– Allow the ground turkey taco meat to cool and place in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- I would suggest a glass container so the seasoning does not stain or leave any odors in the container.
- Reheating from refrigerated state. You can either microwave the amount of taco meat you need or reheat in a skillet if you have the time/desire to wash the skillet again.
- Freezing Taco Meat– I have recently found Souper Cubes and will probably never not use them for freezer meal prep. For the Souper Cubes, place cooled taco meat in the cubes and cover to freeze. Once frozen transfer to a freezer safe container and keep up to 3 months.
- Reheating from frozen. Remove from the freezer the night before and allow to thaw in the fridge overnight.
- Place in a skillet and reheat until desired temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ground Turkey Taco Meat
Can you use other ground meat instead of ground turkey?
Yes, this recipe works well with ground beef, ground chicken, and even plant-based ground meat alternatives.
How long can I keep the turkey taco meat?
I would suggest using the turkey taco meat within 5 days of making it. If you don’t plan to use it all, you can freeze the leftover meat up to 3 months for another taco night in the future.
Can you freeze taco meat?
Yes. I allow the meat to cool to room temperature, transfer to a freezer safe container and freeze up to 3 months.
Taco Recipes to Make Next
Looking for more Taco Tuesday inspiration? I’ve got you covered!
Did you make this delicious ground turkey taco meat? I would love to hear how it went! Leave a comment below or snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram by tagging @mylifeafterdairy so I can share your life after dairy adventures!
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Ground Turkey Taco Meat
Light, healthy, and ready in about 30 minutes, this Ground Turkey Taco Meat Recipe is sure to step up your next Taco Tuesday.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 people 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground Turkey
- 1 Onion (diced)
- 1 clove Garlic (grate using microplane or dice)
- 2 teaspoons Garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons Cumin
- 2 teaspoons Chili Powder
- 2 teaspoons Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Oregano
- 8 ounces Tomato Sauce ((no salt added))
Instructions
- In a skillet, on medium heat, brown ground turkey until no longer pink.
- Add diced onion, minced garlic, and garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt, and oregano to the pan. Cook for a few minutes, until onion is tender and the seasoning has covered the meat.
- Add tomato sauce and stir. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for about 10 minutes.
Notes
Original Recipe adapted from a defunct Bloggr site, current recipe slightly adapted from skinnytaste
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