Easy Ground Turkey Taco Skillet (2024)

Made with lean ground turkey, zucchini, peppers, salsa, and cheese, this easy Turkey Taco Skillet is low in carbs, but big on flavor!

When it comes to flavorful, family-favorite meals. Tacos reign supreme. From classic beef tacos to shredded chicken tacos to sweet potato tacos, there is a taco recipe for everyone!

And this super simple taco skillet is the perfect recipe if you are looking for a low-carb taco recipe OR a super fast, super flavorful skillet dinner.

Notes on Ingredients

• Ground Turkey: This taco skillet is a great time to use lean ground turkey. It is inexpensive and benefits from the bold flavors in this skillet meal. However, you can swap out the turkey for ground chicken or ground beef if desired.
• Zucchini: I recommend using a small zucchini that is vibrantly green. Larger zucchini tends to be a bit more bitter and has quite a few seeds which can water down the flavors in this taco skillet.
• Peppers: Use red, yellow, or orange bell peppers rather than green bell peppers, as they work to flavor the taco skillet better than the green pepper variety.
• Jalapeno: The addition of jalapeno is optional but adds a subtle heat which helps to add flavor to this taco skillet. By all means, omit the jalapeno if you are sensitive to spice.
• Aromatics: Diced yellow onion and minced garlic pack immense flavor for minimal cost.
• Seasonings: I use my homemade taco seasoning to really pack in a ton of flavor while controlling the sodium and additives. If you don't have the taco seasoning on hand, simply use a combination of chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt.
• Salsa: Using salsa instead of diced tomatoes, helps this skillet to develop deep flavor FAST! Use your favorite jarred or homemade salsa, keeping in mind that the spice level of your salsa, will impact how spicy your taco skillet turns out.
• Cheese: Use shredded cheddar or a Mexican blend of cheese. If you are dairy-free, simply omit the cheese.
• Lime: Another secret to giving this fast skillet recipe a lot of dimension, is to add the juice of a fresh lime at the end of cooking. The acidity will really brighten up the flavors.

How to Make Turkey Taco Skillet

This recipe for taco skillet is a super easy recipe. And while you can find detailed directions in the recipe card, follow the tips and photos below for the best results.

1. Brown the Turkey. In order for the vegetables to not overcook, it is best to sauté the ground turkey (or ground meat of your choice) until it is nearly cooked through.

2. Partially Sauté the Vegetables. Before adding the salsa, you want to add the peppers, onions, jalapeno, and zucchini and sauté until the vegetables are beginning to become tender. This will allow the vegetables to slightly caramelize and develop additional flavor, rather than simply steaming in the salsa.

3. Add Salsa and Seasonings. Add in the salsa, and taco seasoning to the skillet and stir well and then simmer until the vegetables are tender.
4. Finish with Lime and Cheese. Adding fresh lime juice adds a bright, slightly acidic flavor to the taco skillet. This simple addition makes a good dish, a great dish! And of course, adding cheese make this low-carb meal feel incredibly decadent.

How to Serve this Turkey Taco Skillet

This taco skillet is an easy, one-pot wholesome 30-minute meal. You can dish it up and serve it as is, for a simple low-carb dinner. But if you aren't low carb, you may enjoy serving the taco skillet over rice or serving the mixture in warmed flour tortillas or taco shells, as a delicious taco filling.

Storage Instructions

• Refrigerate: If you happen to have any leftover taco skillet, allow it to cool slightly. Then transfer the leftovers to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Freeze: Due to the zucchini and peppers, I don't recommend freezing leftover turkey taco skillet. It will become watered down after thawing.
• Reheat: You can reheat the leftovers in a dry skillet over medium-low heat or in the microwave in 30-second intervals until warmed through.

More Easy Tex-Mex Recipes

• Tex-Mex Chicken Sweet Potato Skillet
• Crockpot Salsa Chicken
• Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
• Vegetarian Fajitas
• Taco Salad
• Salsa Verde Enchiladas

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If you enjoyed this low-carb ground turkey recipe, please be sure to leave a review and comment below.