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I love mixing things up on Mexican night, and these delicious turkey tacos are just the way I like to do it. Simple and easy to make, these tacos are made with seasoned ground turkey, then added to tortillas before being pan-fried to crispy perfection. I stuff them with all my favorite taco toppings for the perfect taco meal.
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“This recipe was some of the best tacos I have ever had. The crispy shell, beans, meat, and cheese all blended together perfectly when crisping the shell. 10/10 would recommend.” -Collin
Easy Turkey Tacos Recipe
Taco Tuesday is definitely a thing in my house—in fact, it doesn’t have to be Tuesday! Tacos are such a great go-to for a quick weeknight meal, and they are always a big hit.
These turkey tacos are packed full of all of my favorite Mexican flavors, and the tortillas are quickly fried to get them perfectly crispy. Taco night is one of my favorite times to cook with ground turkey—it’s a great way to mix things up. Of course, you can make this with ground chicken for crispy chicken tacos, or you can also use ground beef.
These turkey tacos are ready to serve in less than 30 minutes and a delicious option after a long day.
Crispy Turkey Tacos Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground turkey ground chicken also works
- ½ onion diced
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- ½ cup refried beans
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 10 corn tortillas
- vegetable oil for frying
- shredded lettuce, diced tomato, fresh lime juice, cilantro, sour cream, avocado, hot sauce optional fillings
Instructions
- Add turkey and onion to a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until meat is browned and onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Add taco seasoning following package directions. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.1 lb. ground turkey, ½ onion, 1 packet taco seasoning
- To make the tacos, spread about 1 tbsp of refried beans on half of a corn tortilla. On the other half, place a heaping spoonful of turkey mixture, and sprinkle with shredded cheese. DO NOT FOLD the tortilla in half at this time, or the tortilla will crack.½ cup refried beans, 10 corn tortillas, 1 cup shredded cheese
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add enough vegetable oil to coat the bottom of the pan. When the oil is hot, place the prepared tortilla flat into the pan. Allow to cook for about 30 seconds until the tortilla becomes pliable. Using tongs, carefully fold the tortilla in half.vegetable oil for frying
- Continue to cook for 2-4 minutes per side, until tacos are golden and crispy. Remove from pan and drain on a paper towel. Repeat with remaining tortillas, adding additional vegetable oil to the pan as necessary.
- While the tacos are still warm, carefully open each one and stuff with optional fillings.shredded lettuce, diced tomato, fresh lime juice, cilantro, sour cream, avocado, hot sauce
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make Turkey Tacos Step by Step
Gather all your ingredients: Gather all your ingredients together.
Cook the turkey: Place 1lb. ground turkey and ½ an onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until meat is browned and onion is soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
Add taco seasoning: Stir in 1 packet of taco seasoning, following package directions, and then reduce the heat and let the turkey and onion simmer for 10 minutes.
Build the taco: Spread about 1 tbsp of refried beans on half of a corn tortilla. On the other half, place a heaping spoonful of turkey mixture, and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Make sure not to fold the tortilla in half at this time, or the tortilla will crack.
Cook the tacos: Pour enough vegetable oil into a large skillet to coat the bottom of the pan and heat over medium heat. When the oil is hot, place the prepared tortilla flat into the pan and let it cook for about 30 seconds until the tortilla becomes pliable. Then, use tongs to gently fold the tortilla in half.
Cook for 2-4 minutes per side, until the tacos are golden and crispy. Remove from the pan and drain on a paper towel. Repeat with the rest of the tortillas. Add more oil to the pan as needed.
While the tacos are still warm, carefully open them and stuff them with optional fillings.
Serve: Serve immediately and enjoy.
How to Store
The fried crispy tortillas are best enjoyed as soon as you’ve made them, as they can start to get a little soft and chewy if they are left too long. You can easily make up the ground turkey filling ahead of time, and any leftovers will keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Serving Suggestions
These crispy ground turkey tacos are a great way to liven up taco night. I like to add all of my favorite toppings like an easy, creamy guacamole, some tart pickled red onions, or a batch of spicy and fresh salsa roja.
This recipe were some of the best tacos I have ever had. The crispy shell, beans , meat and cheese all blended together perfect when crisping the shell. 10/10 would recommend.
Thanks for sharing, Collin!