April 4, 2025

Ground Turkey Taco Meat

Name: Ground Turkey Taco Meat
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
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))

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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 is the answer to your Taco Tuesday needs.

A white bowl of ground turkey taco meat on a wooden counter with taco toppings surrounding the bowl.

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, lunch, dinner, dessert. Tacos reign supreme. And 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.

From the side, a white skillet with ground turkey taco meat being scooped by a wooden spoon.

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.

Ingredients for ground turkey taco meat on a white counter.

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.

A white pan with a wooden spoon and cooked ground turkey.

A white pan with a wooden spoon and cooked ground turkey with onion.

A white skillet with ground turkey, onion, seasoning, and garlic before being stirred.

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.

A white skillet with ground turkey taco meat before mixing the sauec in.

A white skillet with a wooden spoon and ground turkey taco meat.

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.

How to Serve Ground Turkey Taco Meat

Over the years, I have made this ground turkey taco meat and used it in a variety of different ways. Some of my favorite include:

Taco Lunch Bowls– Add this taco meat to a burrito bowl meal prep that is sure to make meal prep delicious and easy for the week ahead.
Tostadas– Top a crispy corn tortilla with this healthy turkey taco meat for a delicious Tex-Mex dinner.
Taco Cups- Use it in a taco cup for a delicious appetizer or snack.
Taco Salad– Served up in a flour tortilla bowl, this hearty taco salad is sure to hit the spot.

A top down photo of a dairy-free taco salad on a white plate with a green rim.

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.

From the side, a white bowl filled with ground turkey taco meat in front of a bowl of salsa, avocado, and shredded lettuce.

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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