Elevate Taco Night with Ground Turkey and Taco Seasoning

Taco night is a weekly ritual in many households. There’s just something irresistible about warm tortillas piled high with spiced meat, crisp veggies, and creamy sauces. But the classic seasoned ground beef filling can get a little boring after awhile. Enter ground turkey – a lean, protein-packed alternative that adds a fresh flavor to tired old tacos. With the right blend of spices and seasonings, ground turkey makes for a healthier, crave-worthy taco filling. In this article, we’ll explore how to make flavorful ground turkey tacos with homemade or store-bought taco seasoning.

Why Choose Ground Turkey for Tacos

Ground beef is the go-to for taco fillings but ground turkey has some advantages

• Lower in fat and calories – Depending on the fat percentage, ground turkey can have about half the fat and calories as an equivalent serving of ground beef. This makes it a slimmer option.

• More protein per serving – You’ll get around 25 grams of protein in a typical 4oz serving of ground turkey vs. 20 grams in the same amount of beef. More protein means greater satiety.

• Subtler flavor – Ground turkey has a milder taste than beef Its flavor easily absorbs spices and seasoning blends This allows the seasonings to shine.

• Budget-friendly – Pound for pound, ground turkey is usually cheaper than ground beef An economical choice for taco night.

• Versatile – Ground turkey isn’t just for tacos. Use it for chili, lettuce wraps, stuffed peppers, pasta sauce, and more.

The milder taste and meaty texture of ground turkey make it perfect for infusing with big, bold Mexican spices and flavors. So let’s look at how to add authentic taco seasoning to ground turkey.

Homemade Taco Seasoning for Ground Turkey

While store-bought seasoning packets are convenient, homemade taco seasoning allows you to control the flavor profile and skip potentially unhealthy additives.

This simple 5-ingredient blend adds the classic taco taste:

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

To make:

• Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Stir to blend evenly.

• Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

To season ground turkey:

• In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook 1 pound ground turkey, breaking it up as it cooks.

• When no longer pink, sprinkle 3-4 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning over the turkey.

• Cook for 1 minute more until combined and heated through.

This homemade blend adds robust, Tex-Mex flavors with ingredients you likely have on hand. Customize it to your taste by adding more cumin, a pinch of cayenne for heat, onion powder, paprika, and salt.

The possibilities are endless when you make your own taco seasoning. And using it to flavor lean ground turkey keeps your tacos healthy while still full of flavor.

Purchased Turkey Taco Seasoning Packets

If you want to save time and don’t mind purchased mixes, there are lots of quality pre-made taco seasoning options for flavoring ground turkey:

McCormick Taco Seasoning – Their mild and original blends both work well. Look for packets without MSG or excess sodium.

Old El Paso – Choose low-sodium varieties if available. Their mixes feature chili powder, cumin, and garlic.

Penzeys Taco Seasoning – A gourmet hand-mixed blend with some heat. Quality spices make a difference.

Frontera Taco Skillet Seasoning – Chef Rick Bayless’ line offers packet or jarred seasoning blends.

Tessemae’s Taco Seasoning – These contain only whole foods ingredients and no artificial additives.

Simply Organic Taco Seasoning – Contains USDA organic spices like cumin, coriander, and red pepper.

When purchasing pre-made taco seasoning, read ingredient lists. Avoid blends with excessive sodium, MSG, preservatives, or anti-caking agents. The best options contain spices you’d use at home.

Using 1-2 tablespoons per pound of ground turkey will provide plenty of zesty Southwestern flavor. Cook as the package directs.

Mix and Match Seasonings

You don’t have to be limited to traditional chili powder-based taco seasoning. Liven up ground turkey tacos with these creative spice blend ideas:

Fajita seasoning – Cumin, garlic, onion, oregano, cilantro. Skip the chili powder.

Jamaican jerk seasoning – Allspice, thyme, brown sugar, garlic, chili pepper.

Citrus and herb blend – Cumin, garlic, oregano, cilantro, lime zest.

Southwestern rub – Smoked paprika, cumin, brown sugar, garlic, pepper.

Tex-Mex blend – Chili powder, cumin, paprika, coriander, onion, garlic.

Cajun spices – Cayenne, black pepper, paprika, onion, garlic, thyme.

Don’t limit yourself to the classic taco seasoning flavor profile. Use whatever dry spice blends you have on hand to put a unique twist on ground turkey tacos.

Cooking Ground Turkey for Tacos

Proper technique when cooking ground turkey helps ensure it turns out juicy and flavorful – not dry and bland. Here are some tips:

• Use 80/20 turkey – The 20% fat content adds moisture and flavor. Avoid ultra-lean ground turkey.

• Don’t overcook – Cook just until no longer pink, about 5-6 minutes max. Overcooking dries it out.

• Break up the meat – Use a spatula to crumble any large pieces as it cooks. Smaller bits cook evenly.

• Rest before serving – Let the cooked turkey mixture sit 5 minutes before serving. This allows juices to redistribute.

• Add a little oil – A teaspoon or two of oil helps keep the meat moist. Olive, avocado or coconut oil work well.

• Cook spices first – Blooming the spices briefly in the pan intensifies their flavor.

• Simmer in sauce – After initial cooking, let the turkey simmer in tomato sauce, salsa or stock to boost moisture.

With these techniques, you’ll get the most flavor and moisture out of spiced ground turkey tacos.

Toppings and Fillings for Ground Turkey Tacos

Now for the fun part – piling on toppings and fillings to take your tacos over the top. Consider these flavor-packed additions:

• Salsa or pico de gallo – Fresh chopped tomato, onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime juice.

• Guacamole or avocado slices – Creamy, cooling avocado balances the spices perfectly.

• Shredded lettuce – Crisp lettuce adds crunch and freshness.

• Diced onions and cilantro – Raw white or red onions and fresh cilantro add bite.

• Lime wedges – Bright, tart lime juice cuts through the richness.

• Shredded cheese – Go melty with cheddar, queso fresco, Monterey jack, or Mexican blend.

• Greek yogurt or sour cream – Cooling, tangy dairy contrasts the spices.

• Hot sauce – Add as much heat as you want with your favorite hot sauce.

Feel free to go all out with every topping in the book, or keep it simple with just the turkey, salsa, and lettuce. However you taco, ground turkey seasoned boldly with spices and blends turns taco night into a fiesta!

Servings Suggestions for Ground Turkey Tacos

Ground turkey tacos taste amazing stuffed into warm corn or flour tortillas as hand-held tacos. But you can also serve them:

• In crunchy taco shells or with tortilla chips for taquitos or nachos

• Wrapped in lettuce leaves for lighter lettuce cup tacos

• Piled on baked potatoes, sweet potatoes or nachos

• On salad greens instead of meat for taco salads

• Mixed with beans and rice for a Tex-Mex turkey bowl

• Spooned into warmed flour tortillas and rolled for burritos or chimichangas

However you serve them up, ground turkey tacos never get boring thanks to customizable seasoning and endless topping possibilities.

Freezer-Friendly Ground Turkey & Taco Seasoning

Here’s a great shortcut for taco night – bulk cook seasoned ground turkey to store in the freezer:

• Cook 1-2 pounds ground turkey with desired taco seasoning until no longer pink.

• Portion it into ziplock freezer bags. Remove air and flatten to freeze.

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