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Enjoy the flavors of perfectly crunchy Oven Baked Turkey Tacos with this delicious and easy-to-make recipe. The tacos feature everything you love like tomatoes, chiles, cheese, and onion!
The most delicious ground turkey tacos
Chicken tacos, beef tacos, chorizo tacos… if it has “tacos” in the name, it’s likely a winner in my book! But sometimes, I want tacos in a healthier style made with all of the delicious flavor but fewer unnecessary additions. That’s where these come in!
These oven baked turkey tacos are a delicious, healthy meal option made with all of the toppings we love: onion, tomatoes, and cheese, to name a few. Ground turkey is used as a low-fat meat choice, and each individual taco is assembled and baked (shell included!) for a unique approach to the dinner classic.
Ingredients in oven baked turkey tacos
Each ingredient in ground turkey tacos is used to add flavor and great texture. In addition to these, I sometimes add lettuce (after baking) to include a bit of extra crunch!
- Taco shells: Start with 12 hard taco shells. We’ll be adding all of the fillings and assembling each one before baking!
- Avcado oil: 2 tbsp of avocado oil will be used to sauté the onion.
- Onion: Use 1/2 of a small yellow onion, and dice it into small pieces.
- Turkey: For the meat, 1 lb of ground turkey will be plenty for filling all 12 taco shells.
- Taco seasoning: Add flavor to the dish with 1 packet of taco seasoning.
- Diced tomatoes: 1 14oz can of drained diced tomatoes will add a delicious flavor.
- Green chiles: For added flavor and a dash of heat, include 1 4oz can of green chiles (drained).
- Refried beans: 1 14oz can of refried beans will add bulk and extra protein to the tacos.
- Cheddar: Add cheesienss with 1 cup of shredded cheddar.
- Cilantro: Last but not least, garnish the tacos with fresh cilantro before enjoying.
Kitchen tools required to make this recipe
You will need 5 main kitchen tools to prepare this turkey taco recipe. Before starting, grab a cutting board, chopping knife, baking dish, large pan, and a spatula. For measuring you will need 1 tablespoon and 1 cup.
How to make this turkey taco recipe
These are made a bit differently than regular tacos. Rather than preparing the fillings and assembling before enjoying, we’ll assemble each shell and pop them in the oven for added crunchiness and flavor!
To begin, preheat the oven to 400°F and grease a 9×13 baking dish.
Lay the taco shells upright in the baking dish and bake for 6 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large pan. Once hot, add the diced onions.
After about 2-3 minutes when the onions start to soften, add the ground turkey. Cook until no longer pink.
Reduce the heat to medium and add the taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, and green chiles. Stir until well combined. Cook for 4 more minutes, and then turn off the heat.
Add 2 tbsp of the refried beans to the bottom of each taco shell. Layer the meat mixture on top of the beans, using up all of the meat across the 12 shells.
Sit the shells upright in the baking dish and top with cheese.
Bake for 8 minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro before serving.
Additional taco toppings
The world of tacos is large, and there are so many toppings you can include! Try out some of these ideas, either baked into the tacos or sprinkled on top at the end.
- Diced jalapeno
- Diced green pepper
- Black beans
- Red onion (for a more potent flavor if preferred)
- Lime rice
- Cotija cheese (add after baking)
- Sour cream (add after baking)
Storing and reheating
Leftover turkey tacos can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for 1-2 days.
Because turkey tacos are pre-assembled they are best enjoyed immediately after preparing. However, the leftovers are certainly still delicious! I recommend reheating in an air fryer or oven. An air fryer is going to result in a crispier taco!
If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
If you’re like me, you can never have too many tacos! Try these tempeh tacos, or go for something similar yet different with taco dip, enchiladas, or salsa!
Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa
Oven Baked Turkey Tacos
Enjoy the flavors of perfectly crunchy Oven Baked Turkey Tacos with this delicious and easy-to-make recipe. The tacos feature everything you love, like tomatoes, chiles, cheese, and onion!
Ingredients
- 12 hard taco shells
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 1/2 small yellow onion, diced
- 1lb ground turkey
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 14oz can diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 4oz can green chiles, drained
- 1 14oz can refried beans
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- cilantro for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F and grease a 9×13 baking dish
- Lay 12 taco shells upright in baking dish and bake for 6 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, add diced onions.
- After about 2-3 minutes once onions start to soften, add in ground turkey. Cook until no longer pink.
- Reduce heat to medium and add in taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, and green chiles. Stir until well combined. Cook for 4 minutes then turn off heat.
- Add 2 tbsp of refried beans to the bottom of each taco shell. Then stuff the shells full with the meat mixture, using up all of the meat on the 12 shells.
- Sit the shells upright in the baking dish, then top with cheese.
- Bake for 8 minutes, and then sprinkle with cilantro for serving.
- Enjoy!
Notes
These are best eaten day of, but can be reheated in an airfryer or oven.
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Brett says
Is this on My Fitness Pal yet?
★★★★
Erin says
Hi Brett, I am not sure. I don’t use that app but feel free to add it if you’d like to!
Lauren says
A great twist on a classic meal! Such a yummy meal and fast/easy to make! Thanks Erin!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Lauren, so glad you loved them!!
Hannah N says
Delicious!!! So flavorful and we loved that these tacos were taken up a notch from our usual basic turkey tacos. Thanks Erin! Another 5 star recipe!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Hannah, so glad you loved them!!
Elizabeth says
Easy and delicious! Will make them again!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Elizabeth, so glad you loved them!!
Danielle says
As soon as I saw the recipe & pictures on Instagram I knew they had to be on the dinner menu ASAP. So easy & so delicious! Can’t wait to make them again!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Danielle, so happy you loved them!!
Olivia G says
So easy to make and so good ! I omitted the beans and it was still delicious!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Olivia, so happy you loved them!!
Haley says
Easy and fun twist on a classic! Super yummy.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Haley, so happy you loved them!!
Ali W. says
These tacos are out of this world! I’ve been a soft shell gal my whole life and now I’m questioning everything.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Ali, yay so glad you liked them!!
Alicia says
Wow, thank you so much for this recipe! I too forgot to drain my tomatoes (I used a can of Rotel and omitted the green chilis). Oops. I also used chicken instead of turkey (all I had). Then I threw in chopped red peppers into the filling. Thank you so much for this great recipe! My midwest husband even loved this!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Alicia, so glad you both liked them and made them your own!!
Beckie Maddox says
These were delicious and super easy! It really did elevate your standard taco dinner.
When my husband asked what’s for dinner, I mentioned a recipe from “the woman I follow on Instagram” and he was like, well, then I know it’ll be good!
Another 5 star winner!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Beckie, so happy you both loved them!!
Alejandra says
Love the bean & ground turkey combo with a hint of crunch! Made without cheese since I’m dairy free & they were still yummy 🙂
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Alejandra, so happy you loved them!!
Kathleen says
Wow- these baked tacos were delicious! Another 5 star recipe from Erin. These tacos were so easy to make, full of flavor, and the prep was simple. This recipe will definitely be a new staple in my weekly rotation.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kathleen, so happy you loved them so much!!
RACHELLE says
Hubby and I loved this idea. What a unique way to do tacos!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Rachelle, so glad you both loved them! 🙂
Lauren says
So simple but delicious! And definitely easy to sub in what you have lying around. A boyfriend approved ground turkey dish!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Lauren, so happy you both loved them!!
Maxine says
Simple delicious and easy! I typically have most of the fixings for tacos on hand so this was a quick and tasty dinner.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Maxine, so glad you loved them!!
Ally says
Easy and totally elevates tacos!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Ally, so glad you liked them!!
Megan says
I made these tonight.
They turned out perfectly and my husband ate 4 of them for dinner.
I just changed up the cheese to Mozzarella.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Megan, so happy you both loved them and great idea!!
Emily says
Your photo of these on Instagram looked so good, I just had to make them today. And they were delicious! But I have to ask, what brand shells do you use? Because mine did not stand up and they weren’t open enough to stuff very easily.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Emily, thank you so much and glad you loved them! I used Ortega which I think are best and even better, get the ones with the wide bottoms. Hope that helps next time you make yours!!
Ciara says
Leave it to Erin to ELEVATE a classic with a mind blowing, extra delicious and super fun twist.
Husband and I LOVED this recipe. We cannot wait to invite our friends over for a jazzed up Taco Tuesday.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Ciara, so happy you both loved them!!
Karen says
Really good . I forgot to drain my tomatoes. My shells got soggy . However it was delicious . We just used a fork.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Karen, ah oh no! Glad they were still good and hope even better next time!