Make a Delicious Turkey Taco Salad For a Satisfying Tex-Mex Meal

Taco salad with turkey is a fun and delicious way to enjoy classic taco flavors in salad form. This protein-packed main dish salad is easy to customize with your favorite taco toppings, making it a crowd-pleasing choice for Tex-Mex lovers. Keep reading for tips, inspiration and recipes for making your best turkey taco salad at home.

Why You’ll Love Turkey Taco Salad

A taco salad made with ground turkey has a lot going for it

• It’s hearty and filling thanks to the lean turkey protein. One serving provides around 18-20 grams of protein.

• Turkey taco salad is customizable. Add any toppings you love on tacos! Cheese, beans, corn, avocado, salsa and more make great mix-ins.

• It’s a lighter alternative to beef tacos since ground turkey is lower in fat and calories compared to ground beef

• Taco salad provides a serving of greens, giving you vitamins, minerals and fiber.

• Kids love tacos, so this salad is an easy way to get picky eaters to eat their veggies. Just add crunchy tortilla chips on top!

• Preparing turkey taco meat in advance makes this weeknight-friendly. Quickly assemble the salads anytime.

• Taco salad travels well for work lunches. The crispy lettuce won’t wilt, and the toppings hold up.

• It’s lower carb without the taco shell or tortilla since it’s served over a salad base.

With so many benefits, turkey taco salad deserves a spot in your regular dinner rotation. Keep reading for simple recipes, ingredient ideas and serving suggestions.

Choose Turkey Over Beef for a Healthier Version

Ground turkey makes a nutritious substitute for ground beef in Tex-Mex dishes like tacos, nachos and taco salad. Here’s how turkey compares to beef when it comes to nutritional value:

• Turkey is lower in calories and fat. An 85% lean turkey patty contains around 160 calories and 7 grams of fat, while 85% lean ground beef has 180 calories and 11 grams of fat.

• Turkey provides more protein per calorie compared to beef. You can get around 18-20 grams of protein from a turkey taco salad.

• Ground turkey is a good source of niacin, vitamin B6, zinc, selenium and phosphorus.

• Turkey doesn’t have as much saturated fat as beef. Diets high in saturated fat are linked to increased LDL cholesterol levels.

• Lean ground turkey is lower in sodium compared to most types of store-bought ground beef. Excess sodium intake can contribute to high blood pressure.

So by using ground turkey instead of ground beef, you can make a healthier taco salad that still packs plenty of flavor. Just be sure to drain any excess grease after cooking the turkey to cut back on fat and calories.

Sensational Seasonings For Turkey Taco Meat

The key to making flavorful turkey taco meat is to add bold spices and seasonings. Here are some sensational options:

• Taco seasoning – Pick up a packet of pre-made taco seasoning mix or make your own blend at home. Common spices include chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and red pepper flakes.

• Cumin – This earthy spice is essential for adding authentic taco flavor. Add up to 2 teaspoons per pound of ground turkey.

• Chili powder – For a touch of heat and smokiness, add 1-2 tablespoons of ancho or chipotle chili powder.

• Garlic – Sauteeing minced fresh garlic adds aromatic flavor to the meat. You can also use garlic powder.

• Onion – Cook diced onion or onion powder along with the meat to enhance flavor.

• Smoked paprika – A dash of this sweet and smoky spice brings extra depth.

• Cayenne pepper – Add just a pinch for a spicy kick.

• Fresh lime juice – Brighten up the flavors by squeezing lime juice over the finished meat mixture.

Once you’ve cooked the seasoned turkey meat, it’s ready to add to your taco salad!

How To Cook Flavorful Ground Turkey For Taco Salad

Cooking ground turkey for taco salad is simple. Here are step-by-step instructions:

1. Heat oil in a skillet – Add 1-2 Tbsp olive oil, avocado oil or vegetable oil to coat the pan. Heat over medium high.

2. Crumble in ground turkey – Add 1 lb lean ground turkey to the hot oil. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon as it cooks.

3. Add spices and seasonings – Sprinkle on taco seasoning, chili powder, cumin, garlic, onion and any other desired spices. Stir to incorporate.

4. Cook until no longer pink – Keep cooking and stirring the turkey until fully browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.

5. Drain excess grease – Remove turkey from the skillet and drain on paper towels if needed.

6. Return to skillet and add extras (optional) – For extra flavor, return the cooked ground turkey to the skillet and add a splash of chicken broth to deglaze the pan. You can also add black beans, corn, chopped tomatoes or other veggies to the mixture.

And that’s it – you now have a tasty taco meat ready for your salad. The cooked turkey keeps well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days so you can prep it in advance.

10 Delicious Mix-Ins For Turkey Taco Salad

One of the best parts of taco salad is customizing each bite with tasty toppings. Here are 10 sensational options for your turkey taco salad:

• Shredded cheese – Cheddar, pepper jack, Mexican blend. The more cheese the better!

• Salsa – Fresh pico de gallo or your favorite jarred salsa adds a flavor punch.

• Beans – Black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans provide protein and fiber.

• Corn – For sweetness and texture contrast, add corn kernels.

• Avocado – Cubed or sliced avocado provides creaminess.

• Sour cream – Drizzle on this creamy, cooling condiment.

• Olives – Sliced black olives provide briny bites.

• Jalapenos – Diced jalapenos bring heat.

• Cilantro – Fresh, chopped cilantro leaves give authentic flavor.

• Tortilla chips – Crush them on top for irresistible crunch.

The possibilities are endless for customizing your perfect turkey taco salad! Play around with different add-ins to find your favorites.

Build the Base With Fresh Greens

While iceberg lettuce was once the go-to for taco salads, today there are lots of fresh greens to use as the base:

• Romaine lettuce – This crisp variety stands up well to hefty toppings.

• Kale – For extra nutrition, use chopped kale leaves.

• Spinach – Baby spinach leaves offer texture and vitamin K.

• Mixed greens – Spring mix or mesclun mix adds variety.

• Cabbage – Shredded green or red cabbage adds vibrant color.

• Arugula – Peppery arugula gives a tangy bite.

When prepping the greens, chop into bite-size pieces and wash and dry thoroughly. This keeps them crisp. To save time, pick up pre-washed and chopped salad mixes.

Dress It Up With Homemade Catalina Salad Dressing

While you can certainly eat taco salad with salsa as the dressing, for something different, whip up this restaurant-style homemade Catalina salad dressing. It only takes 5 minutes to make:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup olive oil

• 1/4 cup ketchup

• 1/4 cup honey

• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar

• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1/2 tsp each salt, ground pepper, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder

Instructions:

1. Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl or shake well in a jar to emulsify.

2. Drizzle over turkey taco salad just before serving and toss to coat.

The honey sweetness and vinegar tang complements the Tex-Mex flavors perfectly. You’ll want to pour it on everything!

More Fun Ways to Use Turkey Taco Meat

Leftover turkey taco meat can do a lot more than just salad. Some tasty ways to use it up:

• Stuff it into warmed corn tortillas for tacos or taco wraps.

• Make nachos by piling it on tortilla chips with melted cheese.

• Serve it in stuffed peppers, either bell peppers or poblano peppers.

• Wrap in a quesadilla with cheese for an easy Tex-Mex meal.