Turkey Taco Salad Recipe
Taco salads are always my go-to, and the flavors in this one are truly next-level. And after tons of testing (plus years of making different variations of this recipe), I can honestly say it’s perfect!
Made with ground turkey and a creamy cilantro lime dressing, this salad is anything but boring. It’s even easy to meal prep some components ahead of time! If you’re looking for the best healthy taco salad, you’ll love this one.
You’ll Also Love: Mahi-Mahi Fish Taco Bowls
Healthy Taco Salad Ingredients
With minimal ingredients, we get BIG flavors in this salad! Here’s what you’ll need to get started:
Ground Turkey Taco Salad
- Lean Ground Turkey (or ground protein of your choice)
- Taco Seasoning – Use a packet or make your own homemade taco seasoning with the recipe below:
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon of both salt & black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, & oregano
- Romaine – You can use other chopped greens, but crunchy greens like romaine and iceberg are best for taco salads.
- Black Beans or Pinto Beans
- Corn
- Grape Tomatoes
Dairy-Free Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Soaked Raw Cashews
- Water
- Cilantro
- Lime Juice
- Garlic Powder
- Salt
How to Make Taco Salad with Ground Turkey
This hearty salad is incredibly easy to make and comes together in just 30 minutes! Here’s how to make a Ground Turkey Taco Salad:
1. Cook the Ground Turkey
In a non-stick skillet, brown the ground turkey and add the taco seasoning.
2. Blend the Dressing
Blend all of the dressing ingredients in a blender until smooth.
3. Put It All Together
Toss all of the salad ingredients together with as little or as much dressing as you want, serve, and enjoy!
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More Topping Ideas
Ground Turkey Taco Salads can be customized and jazzed up in so many ways! Especially if you’re serving to company or a crowd. Here are a few extra topping ideas:
- Veggies – Bell peppers, chopped red onions, green onions, jalapenos, radishes, jicama, and microgreens would all be great additions.
- Sauces – Sour cream, Greek yogurt, store-bought dressing, hot sauce, lime juice, salsa, and pico de Gallo.
- Crunchy Toppings – Tortilla strips, crushed tortilla chips, corn chips, crunchy chickpeas, or pepitas.
Storing Leftover Turkey Taco Salad
This Ground Turkey Taco Salad is best stored with all of the ingredients in separate containers. Place each component of the salad in airtight containers and keep in the fridge for 3-5 days. If you’ve already mixed all of the salad ingredients, they can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for about 1-2 days!
More Healthy Ground Turkey Recipes
- Turkey Sage Meatballs
- Paleo Turkey Meatballs Meal Prep Bowls
- Turkey Sage Meatballs
- Veggie-Loaded Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
- Spicy Southwest Whole30 Stuffed Peppers
Salad Recipes You’ll Love
- Crispy Chili Lime Chickpea Salad
- Chili Mango Zesty Quinoa Salad
- Roasted Sweet Potato Black Bean Salad
- Kale & Brussels Sprouts Curry Quinoa Salad
- Tandoori Paneer Salad
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Turkey Taco Salad Recipe (Healthy)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 1.3-ounce packet taco seasoning (about 4 Tablespoons)
- 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 15-ounce can black beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 cup halved grape tomatoes
- 1 cup corn
Dressing
- 3/4 cup cashews (soaked in hot water for 30 minutes)
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
- 2 Tablespoons lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Toppings
- 1 medium avocado (sliced)
- 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat.
- Brown the ground turkey until it is cooked through.
- Add the packet of taco seasoning to the ground turkey with 1/4 cup water.
- Stir well, turn to low, and let the turkey simmer for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
- Meanwhile, add the dressing ingredients to a blender.
- Blend in blender until smooth, adding more water as needed to thin to the consistency of a creamy dressing.
- To a large bowl, add the chopped romaine, beans, tomatoes, corn, and turkey.
- Drizzle the salad with as much or as little dressing as desired. Toss to mix.
- Serve in individual bowls and top with the avocado slices and fresh cilantro.
Video
Notes
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- Veggies – Bell peppers, red onions, green onions, jalapenos, radishes, jicama, and microgreens would all be great additions.
-
- Sauces – Sour cream, Greek yogurt, store-bought dressing, hot sauce, lime juice, salsa, and pico de Gallo
-
- Crunchy Things – Tortilla strips, crushed tortilla chips, corn chips, crunchy chickpeas, or pepitas
Swathi says:
This ground turkey taco salad is so yummy and delicious I like the flavor and crunch it gives.
Krystle says:
I crave this salad. It has so many yummy flavors and textures going on.
Nora says:
This taco salad sounds like the dream combo—quick, fresh, and full of bold flavor! That cilantro lime dressing is calling my name, and I love how it all comes together so easily. Definitely adding this to my weeknight dinner rotation!
Paula says:
Ground turkey was such an incredible addition to this salad. It was seasoned to perfection and a great combination of flavors.
Nicole says:
I love this recipe so much. I always love healthier versions of my favorites.
Sylvia Bednar says:
I tried the Ground Turkey Taco Salad recipe, and it was delicious! The flavors were fresh and vibrant, and I loved the creamy cilantro lime dressing. Perfect for a quick dinner!
Jenny says:
Love your recipes so much! Thank you for sharing them with all of us!:)
Jar Of Lemons replied:
Thanks for the feedback, Jenny! 🙂
Daphne doyne says:
I’m making this salad tomorrow for a client and noticed that the picture shows tomatoes in it, but tomatoes aren’t listed in the recipe ingredients.
Carsten says:
Thank you for all of these!
Christine McMichael replied:
Absolutely! Enjoy!
Rebecca says:
Yup! So excited to try this. Do you know what makes it have almost 28g of carbs each serving? Just curious
Christine McMichael replied:
Hi, Rebecca! I hope you enjoy the recipe! 🙂 Corn tends to have many many carbs! If you’re watching carbs, you may want to use less of the corn or cut it out. 🙂
VonneJ says:
We are trying to eat healthier and are finding new recipes hit or miss. This is definitely a hit!
Christine McMichael replied:
So glad that you found what you’re looking for! And great job on trying to eat healthier! 🙂 Enjoy!
Rachel says:
Just made this! So delicious!
Christine McMichael replied:
So glad you liked it, Rachel! 🙂
Kelsey replied:
Where can I find the nutritional info? Thanks for posting!
Christine McMichael replied:
Hi, Kelsey! At this time I only have calories on the recipe card.
Jamie replied:
Super easy and surprisingly good. Im excited to try the dressing on other things too. My only addition was adding some cumin, onion powder, and garlic powder along with the chili powder. Otherwise, next time I’d like to try adding some black beans too.
My wife was very skeptical of this recipe but just the 2 of us ate almost the whole thing in one sitting lol. This is going in the recipe book!
Lauren replied:
Wow, this is AMAZING! I am so impressed and will be making this often. I added black beans and baby tomatoes as well. Thank you so much for sharing!