Turkey Taco Salad

When you’re looking for something fresh, yet filling, a Turkey Taco Salad is just the thing! Almost like a taco in a bowl, it’s a great dish, featuring seasoned ground turkey, shredded romaine lettuce, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, and tortilla strips. 

This healthy taco salad recipe is a great one for shopping your kitchen as you can add all kinds of bits and bobs you’ve got leftover. The taco salad ingredients are also very make-ahead, so you can use it as a Lunchtime Meal Prep.

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Ground turkey taco meat is one of the things I make most often since I can find ground turkey for a fairly cheap price, even in these days of shrinkflation.

While we might enjoy Baked Tacos or a DIY Nacho Bar, one of my favorite uses for taco meat is this Turkey Taco Salad, a perfect salad for summer.

Why Make This

It’s affordable. With meat prices what they are these days, you can almost always count on lean ground turkey as a frugal option. 

It’s delicious! This Turkey Taco Salad is full of flavor and can be customized with whatever toppings you most enjoy. I love it with a drizzle of sour cream and some Pico de Gallo.

It’s easy to make. All the elements of this easy taco salad recipe can be prepped in advance so that you can pack it for lunch or just have an easy make-ahead meal.

Looking for more great salad options? Check out our guide to salad toppings.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make Turkey Taco Salad:

ground turkey – This is a lean ground meat. For best flavor, look for packages that are just ground turkey and rosemary extract. 

Taco Seasoning Mix – I like to make a homemade taco seasoning, but you can use the packaged variety if that’s what you prefer. You can also use chili powder, salt, and pepper to taste.

tortilla chips – crushed tortilla strips are nice to add crunch, but you can also use leftover taco shells, too. Either way, if you use corn tortilla products, this salad will be naturally gluten free.

shredded lettuce – I like to use romaine, but you can also use shredded cabbage or another type of lettuce, such as iceberg.

shredded cheese – Shredded cheese is great for this dish. We’ve used cheddar cheese here, but you can use Monterey Jack or pepper jack as well as cotija cheese crumbles. 

tomato – Chopped tomatoes add a great touch here. It’s best if you core, seed, and chop tomatoes for salads.

sauce or dressing for serving – You can use sour cream, salsa, and/or hot sauce for serving. If you have a creamy avocado dressing you like, use that. Cilantro Lime Dressing or Creamy Garlic Dressing with Cilantro are both delicious on top!

optional taco toppings – chopped onion, sliced black olives, chopped avocado, fajita vegetables, corn kernels, black beans, pinto beans, sliced jalapenos.

Variation

To use leftover roast turkey: Skip the sauté step. Instead, chop the turkey leftovers into cubes and toss lightly with taco seasoning. 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s how to make Turkey Taco Salad:

• In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground turkey and season with the taco seasoning mix, about 7 to 10 minutes.
• Divide the crushed chips among four bowls. Top with equal amounts of meat, lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes. If you prefer you can combine it all in one large serving bowl.
• Serve the sauces and any optional toppings on the side.

Turkey Taco Salads can be prepped in advance, however for best texture, store the chips in an airtight container and add them just before serving.

FAQs

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