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This Ground Turkey Taco Skillet is a one-pan dinner recipe that combines lean ground turkey, tons of veggies, and melty cheese into a high-protein, low-carb meal that is ready in just about 30 minutes.
Looking for more delicious family-approved low-carb recipes? Check out Baked Pesto Chicken, Chicken Cordon Bleu, and Gluten-Free Eggplant Parmesan.
Turkey Taco Skillet at a Glance
When it comes to quick, flavorful, and family-approved dinners, it's hard to beat anything taco-inspired. From classic beef tacos and shredded chicken tacos to taco-inspired dishes like taco pizza, taco casserole, and this ground turkey skillet, there is a taco recipe for everyone!
And this Ground Turkey Taco Skillet is a must-make for so many good reasons.
- Flavorful Ground Turkey Recipe. Ground turkey often has a reputation for being dry and bland, but this taco skillet is anything but! The turkey is sautéed with zucchini, peppers, and onions, which add moisture to the lean meat, while taco seasoning and salsa add bold, irresistible flavor.
- Low-Carb & Gluten-Free. This taco skillet is made with protein, veggies, and cheese, proving you don't need carbs to enjoy taco flavor.
- Ready in 30 Minutes. This simple turkey taco skillet comes together in one pan in under 30 minutes, making it the ultimate healthy weeknight family dinner.
Happy Cooking! xo Kristen
Notes on Ingredients
You will find the full list of ingredients, along with quantities in the recipe card. Below is a quick glance at what you need and tips to help you make the right selection.
- Ground Turkey: Feel free to swap the ground turkey out for ground chicken or ground beef.
- Zucchini: I recommend using a small, vibrantly green zucchini. Larger zucchini tends to be a bit more bitter and has quite a few seeds, which can water down the dish.
- Bell Peppers: Use red, yellow, or orange bell peppers rather than green, as they enhance the taco skillet more than green peppers.
- Jalapeño Pepper: The addition of a jalapeño pepper is optional but adds a subtle heat and flavor.
- Aromatics: Diced yellow onion and minced garlic pack immense flavor for minimal cost.
- Taco Seasoning: Use store-bought or homemade taco seasoning.
- Salsa: Using salsa instead of diced tomatoes helps this skillet develop deep flavor FAST! Use your favorite jarred or homemade blender salsa, keeping in mind that the spice level impacts how spicy your taco skillet turns out.
- Cheese: For the smoothest melt, grate the cheese yourself rather than using bagged shredded cheese. Colby, cheddar, or Monterey are all good options.
- Lime: Another secret to adding more dimension to this skillet 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
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the ingredient quantities and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Brown the Turkey. In a large skillet, sauté the ground turkey (or ground meat of your choice) in a bit of oil until it is nearly cooked through, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks.
- Add the Vegetables. Add the peppers, onions, jalapeño, and zucchini, and sauté until the vegetables begin to tenderize. Add in the garlic and cook for just 30-60 seconds to lightly toast.
- Season. Add the salsa and taco seasoning to the skillet and stir well. Continue to simmer until the vegetables are tender.
- Finish with Lime and Cheese. Stir the juice of a fresh lime into the skillet to add a bright, slightly acidic flavor to the taco skillet. Then top with cheese and let it melt.
Serving Suggestions
Turkey Taco Skillet can stand alone as a satisfying one-pan meal. That said, I have a few other suggestions for serving this taco skillet.
- Make a Taco or Burrito. Stuff the taco skillet into your favorite corn or flour tortillas and serve with your favorite toppings.
- Add Toppings: Top with any toppings you would on tacos--lettuce, tomatoes, sliced avocado, cilantro, guacamole with tomatoes, sour cream, etc.
- Serve over Rice: Stretch this meal to feed more mouths by serving over rice or cauliflower rice to keep dinner low in carbs. I personally love serving over Instant Pot cilantro lime rice.
Recipe Modifications
- Dairy-Free: Omit the cheese and serve with a scoop of homemade guacamole with tomatoes to replicate the creamy, rich finish that cheese adds.
- Lower-Sodium: Omit the salt from the taco seasoning and/or use low-sodium salsa.
- Add Corn: If you are not following a low-carb diet, feel free to add 1 cup of corn to the skillet with the salsa and taco seasoning. The corn will add a nice sweetness to the dish.
- Adjust the Spice. To increase the heat, leave the seeds intact in the jalapeño and/or use salsa with a hot spice level. Alternatively, if you would like mild results, omit the jalapeño and use mild salsa.
More Easy Tex-Mex Recipes
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If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Easy Ground Turkey Taco Skillet
Lean ground turkey and vegetables cook up fast with taco seasoning and salsa to create a delicious, low-carb taco skillet.
Video
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground turkey, or lean ground beef or ground chicken
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 large red bell pepper, diced
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 small zucchini, cut into ½" chunks
- ½ small jalapeño, seeded and finely minced, optional
- 1 cup salsa
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 large lime, juiced
- 1 ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- cilantro to garnish, optional
Instructions
- Heat the oil extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Once the oil is heated, add the ground turkey and cook until no longer pink, breaking into small pieces while cooking. Once the turkey has fully cooked, drain off any excess grease if needed (which it rarely is with lean ground turkey).
- To the same skillet, add in minced onion, diced zucchini, diced bell pepper, and minced jalapeño. Sauté for 3-5 minutes or until the onion begins to become translucent. Add minced garlic, if using, and sauté for 30-60 seconds, just to lightly toast.
- Add salsa and taco seasoning to the skillet and stir well to incorporated. Bring to a gentle simmer and then reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer for 10 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened.
- Turn off the heat and add in the juice of a lime, stirring to incorporate.
- Generously sprinkle cheese over the mixture and let it sit for a few minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Serve warm with cilantro, sour cream, and/or avocado as desired.
Notes
Taco Seasoning: In place of a prepared blend, use: 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, ¾ teaspoon salt, ¾ teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon oregano, and ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes.
Zucchini: 2 small zucchini equate to about 2½ cups of diced zucchini. When using larger squash, cut away any large seeds before dicing, as they can be rather bitter.
Jalapeño: Omit to reduce heat; add to increase heat.
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This dish does not freeze well. Reheat individual servings in the microwave or in a dry skillet until warmed through.
Salsa: Use your favorite brand of salsa; smooth or chunky; mild, medium, or hot. Keep in mind the level of heat in salsa impacts the overall dish.
Nutrition
Calories: 232kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 32gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 77mgSodium: 707mgPotassium: 661mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1558IUVitamin C: 49mgCalcium: 140mgIron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Mention @amindfullmom or tag #amindfullmom!
This recipe was originally shared in 2023 and updated in 2025.
sooo...we grow zucchini and i have loads extra but mine are always much.larger than stores...about how many cups is 2 small? or some sort of measurement. .thanks!
Hi Sarah! Great question and I will clarify in the recipe notes. 2 small zucchini equates out to about 2-1/2 cups diced zucchini. When using larger squash, I would suggest removing some of the seeds if they are on the large side. I hope you enjoy!
Simple, flavorful, everyday ingredients!
I wanted to pass on this trick, most all ground meats come in a package that looks like strings running the length of the package. If you slice across the grain of the strings (in whatever size you want), you eliminate standing and chopping the meat while it is browning. So much easier, uniform size, just stir to prevent clumping.
Hey Nich! Thank you for sharing this tip! I will have to give it a try next time I am making anything with ground beef. Appreciate you sharing.
So easy and so good! Served it over rice for my family. Everyone loved it! Will go into our weeknight dinner rotation!
Love hearing this, Kim! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and review.
Excellent. A great way to enjoy late summer produce. Love sneaking extra veggies into meals. I melt the cheese on tortillas, spoon the mix over the cheesy tortillas, and toast in a pan for an unbeatable soft shell taco.
What a great way to serve this skillet meal! Thanks for sharing!
This was delicious and easy! The lime juice really made the flavors pop. I didn’t have any cilantro for garnish but it didn’t matter (although I’m sure it would make it even more tasty). My husband and I enjoyed it and I’ll definitely make it again. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing, Amanda! This is one of our favorites (especially with so much garden zucchini right now!) The lime juice is really key.