Description
A quick and easy turkey taco meat recipe perfect for meal prep, delivering bold, balanced flavors with a lean protein base. This large batch keeps the meat juicy and flavorful, ideal for lunches, dinners, or taco nights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) ground turkey (93% lean)
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp (14 g) chili powder
- 1 tbsp (7 g) cumin
- 1 tsp (2 g) paprika
- 1 tsp (1 g) oregano
- 1 tsp (6 g) salt
- ½ tsp (1 g) black pepper
- ¼ tsp (0.5 g) crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ cup (120 ml) low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- Juice of 1 fresh lime
- A handful fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Finely chop the onion and mince the garlic cloves. Measure out your spices and have the broth ready (about 5-7 minutes prep).
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Warm until shimmering but not smoking (1-2 minutes).
- Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent and soft, about 4-5 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Add the ground turkey, breaking it up with a spatula. Let it cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes to sear, then stir and cook another 4-5 minutes until no pink remains.
- Sprinkle chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) over the turkey. Stir well and toast spices for 1-2 minutes.
- Pour in ½ cup chicken broth, scraping browned bits from the pan. Simmer gently until most liquid evaporates, about 5-7 minutes, to keep turkey moist.
- Remove from heat, squeeze fresh lime juice over the meat, and toss in chopped cilantro if desired. Stir to combine.
- Let the turkey taco meat cool slightly before dividing into meal prep containers, portioning about 4 servings.
Notes
If turkey dries out during cooking, add a splash more broth or olive oil. Do not overcrowd the pan to ensure proper browning. Use good quality chili powder and cumin for best flavor. The broth simmer step is key to keeping the meat moist.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 170 gr
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 30
Keywords: turkey taco meat, meal prep, easy taco recipe, ground turkey, healthy tacos, lean protein, taco seasoning, quick dinner