This delicious Cheesy Turkey Taco Skillet is loaded with ground turkey, spices, tomatoes, black beans, corn, and cheddar cheese. It will be a quick and easy one pot dinner recipe that you can make in 30 minutes with different ways of how you can serve it!
If you are bored of the same Taco Tuesday nights, I have a fun recipe for you that is full of flavor! You can make a Taco skillet, loaded with lots of nutritious ingredients, like ground turkey, crushed tomatoes, black beans, corn, aromatic spices, and melted sharp cheddar cheese!
The best part is you can make it all in one skillet in just 30 minutes. I’ll provide you with many ideas for how you can serve it!
Similar to my other 30-minute meals, Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe, Easy Lemon Chicken Recipe, Tortellini in Tomato Sauce, Hawaiian Chicken, or Easy Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe, this Turkey Taco Skillet will be easy to prep on a busy weeknight or a lazy weekend.
Table of contents
Why you will like this recipe
- Quick and Easy. You can make the whole dinner in just 30 minutes in one skillet! It’s really easy to assemble and serve!
- Healthy. If you are on a low-carb diet, this recipe will be right for you. Also, it’s loaded with nutritious ingredients.
- Fun to serve. There are many different ways you can serve this dish. You can get more ideas in FAQ section bellow.
How to make it
Preheat a large skillet over medium heat, add 2 tbsp olive oil and 1 finely chopped onion. Cook for about 8-10 minutes, until it’s softened and caramelized. Add 2 cloves of minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds to release the aroma.
Add the seasoning (1 tbsp chili powder, ½ tsp paprika, ½ tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp onion powder, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper). Stir it for 1 minute.
When ready, add 1 pound ground turkey, break it into smaller pieces and cook for about 10 minutes until the meat is cooked through.
Lower the heat to medium/low, stir in 15 oz crushed tomatoes and cook for about 5 minutes until it’s warmed up. The meat will absorb some of the liquid.
Add 15 oz black beans and 1 cup frozen corn. Stir and cook for another 5 minutes.
Turn off the heat. Add 1 ½ cups grated sharp cheddar cheese and fold it in until it’s combined and melted.
Top with chopped fresh onions, cilantro, avocado, and freshly squeezed lime juice to serve.
Tips for Best Results
- This recipe is pretty quick to make, so I like to prep all the ingredients ahead of time to have it on hands.
- If you like to spice it up, you can add ¼ tsp red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
- I prefer to use freshly grated cheddar cheese. It will be much creamier when melted.
- Don’t skip the toppings! Lime juice will provide a lot of fresh zesty tang, and green onion and avocado will add more flavor and texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
I always like to top with fresh green onions, cilantro, avocado, and freshly squeezed lime juice. There are a few different ways you can serve it.
In a bowl. My favorite way to eat it is over quinoa, white or brown rice (Check out my recipe for How to cook White Rice in Instant Pot).
Taco. Serve it as a taco and top with more cheddar cheese and sour cream. Or use it as a filling for Taco Zucchini Boats.
Lettuce Wraps. If you are watching your carbs, you can scoop some filling into butter lettuce leaves and serve as lettuce wraps (like my Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps).
Chips. It also will be great as a dip with your favorite tortilla chips.
When it’s cooled off, transfer to an air-tight container. It will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
If you are making this recipe as a meal prep and planning to freeze, I would suggest to make everything according to the recipe but skip adding the cheese. Cool everything off and transfer to an air-tight container or a zip-lock bag and freeze up to 3 months. You can defrost it overnight in the fridge. To reheat, transfer everything to a skillet and add 1-2 tbsp of water to loosen it up. When it’s warm, add grated cheese and stir to melt.
Yes. While this recipe is particular for ground turkey, you also can use ground chicken and beef. It will have slightly different flavor, but will be as delicious!
Ground Turkey Cheesy Taco Skillet
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 15 oz crushed tomatoes
- 15 oz black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese grated
Instructions
- Preheat a large skillet over medium heat, add 2 tbsp olive oil and 1 finely chopped onion. Cook for about 8-10 minutes, until it’s softened and caramelized. Add 2 cloves of minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds to release the aroma.
- Add the seasoning (1 tbsp chili powder, ½ tsp paprika, ½ tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp onion powder, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper). Stir it for 30 seconds.
- When ready, add 1 pound ground turkey, break it into smaller pieces and cook for about 10 minutes until the meat is cooked through.
- Lower the heat to medium/low, stir in 15 oz crushed tomatoes and cook for about 5 minutes until it’s warmed up. The meat will absorb some of the liquid.
- Add 15 oz black beans and 1 cup frozen corn. Stir and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Turm off the heat. Add 1 ½ cups grated sharp cheddar cheese and fold it in until it’s combined and melted.
- Top with chopped fresh onions, cilantro, avocado, and freshly squeezed lime juice to serve.
Notes
- In a bowl. My favorite way to eat it is over quinoa, white or brown rice.
- Taco. Serve it as a taco and top with more cheddar cheese and sour cream.
- Lettuce Wraps. If you are watching your carbs, you can scoop some filling into butter lettuce leaves and serve as lettuce wraps.
- Chips. It also will be great as a dip with your favorite tortilla chips.
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I love hearty bowl recipes like this! Especially a taco flavored dish! There’s just nothing better for a nice, comforting meal!
Fantastic option to enjoy turkey. In fact, turkey skillet is one dish that I haven’t tried making myself yet, so this will be a great new experience for me!
This is a perfect weeknight meal…it’s so easy and wholesome! Love the flavors of this dish!
Thank you so much for this recipe! I made it earlier this week, and my whole family really loved it! I’ve had some leftovers and they tasted even better the following day!
I love quick and easy meals. This Bowl look delicious and cheesy and definitely a comfort and healthy meal too.
I love meals make in a skillet and this was delicious! Made this recipe instead of regular tacos and we loved it! Loved all of the flavors in the turkey meat, great recipe!
A warm and easy recipe! This looks flavorful and mouth-watering! I need to give this a try, and I’m sure this will turn out to be delicious!
The perfect bowl of goodness, turkey is one of my favorite proteins made this and tuned out amazing.
One easy and healthy one pan dinner ready for Taco Tuesday…check! Love all the great flavours you’ve added to this bowl.