Cook up this easy skillet dinner of ground Turkey Tacos for a satisfying (and affordable) dinner that’s easy enough to pull off on a busy weeknight.
Ground Turkey Tacos
I’m always looking for satisfying options for taco night in our house, and while we often keep that meal vegetarian by relying on beans, we sometimes incorporate less expensive proteins like ground turkey for our taco meat.
This meal comes together easily in a skillet, has a veggie in the mix, and has plenty of flavor (without being too much for the kids). It’s great in taco shells, or you can even serve it with rice.
The meat is also easy for little kids to pick up as finger foods or to eat with a spoon or a fork.
(You may also like my White Turkey Chili and my Turkey Sweet Potato Meatballs.)
Table of Contents
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Ingredients You Need
Here’s a look at the ingredients you need to make this easy taco recipe.
- Ground turkey: This is a very lean meat option and is usually very inexpensive. You can swap in ground beef or chicken if you prefer, too.
- Sweet potato: I love the flavor of sweet potato in Mexican-style dishes.
- Onion: I rarely call for chopping onions in my recipes since I know it can be hard to do with little kids underfoot, but using one here adds nice flavor.
- Tomato sauce: A small can of this adds moisture to ensure the veggies are soft and cooked through, and flavor.
- Cumin, chili powder, garlic powder: These three spices add flavor to the taco mixture.
We usually have these with soft corn or flour tortillas and classic taco toppings including shredded lettuce, cheese, guacamole, and/or sour cream.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Below is a look at how to make this recipe so you know what to expect. Scroll down to the full instructions at the end of this post when you’re ready to cook.
- Peel and dice the sweet potato and onion. The sweet potato should be fairly small to ensure it cooks through evenly.
- Add the oil to the pan to warm, then add the turkey, vegetables, and spices.
- Cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon and stirring occasionally.
- Serve with tortillas and any desired taco toppings.
Frequently Asked Questions
In this recipe, we add flavor with onion, sweet potato, and tomato sauce. Plus spices including cumin, oregano, and garlic powder.
Ground turkey is very lean and usually very affordable. You can also use ground beef if you’d like and you can choose a leaner ground beef if you prefer. A lot of this for me comes down to flavor and price, which may vary.
How to Store
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Or freeze in a storage container for up to 6 months.
Best Tips for Success
- Dice the sweet potato finely to ensure it cooks through.
- Use corn or flour tortillas, as you like. Warm them slightly before serving.
- Try the taco meat with rice as burrito bowls.
- Serve them deconstructed for younger kids for easy eating.
I’d love to hear your feedback on this post, so please comment below to share.
Favorite Ground Turkey Tacos
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion (minced)
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 medium sweet potato (peeled and diced finely)
- 8 ounce can tomato sauce (crushed tomatoes)
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- 8-10 taco-size tortillas (corn or flour)
- Sour cream, salsa, shredded lettuce, tomato, and/or guacamole (optional)
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, turkey, and sweet potato and stir to coat, cooking for 4 minutes. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, ¼ cup water, cumin, chili powder, oregano, and salt. Cover, turn the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 12-16 minutes, or until the turkey is cooked through and the sweet potato is very soft when poked with a fork.
- Serve with tortillas and desired taco toppings.
Notes
- To warm tortillas, place the stack on top of a damp paper towel. Wrap paper towel around the tortillas. Microwave for 1 minute, flipping the stack over halfway through. Wrap in a clean kitchen towel to keep warm.
- Dice the sweet potato finely to ensure that it cooks through.
- Use corn or flour tortillas, as you like. Warm them slightly before serving.
- Try the taco meat with rice as burrito bowls.
- Serve them deconstructed for younger kids for easy eating.
- Swap in ground chicken or beef if you prefer.
- Add 1-2 cups pinto beans, if desired.
My kids (4 and 2) are picky about Mexican food, but both of them ate this, which is a huge win! Great recipe.
I admittedly did not make this exactly as written because I didn’t have all the ingredients but I used the dry seasonings on my turkey tacos tonight and they were a hit with my toddler. Usually he says tacos are too spicy even when I buy mild seasoning but he dug right into these! Thanks so much!
Wonderful and easy!
I made this tonight after seeing your Instagram post and they were a surprise hit with the whole family!
I’d suggest adding a bit more flavor for the adult portion but the seasoning was just right for kiddos.
It will definitely be in our regular rotation!
I’m glad to hear that!