Turkey taco lettuce bowls

Spiced ground turkey over chopped lettuce with tomato, avocado, cheddar and a spoon of yogurt.

  • Have some energy
  • Gluten-free
  • Mexican
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Turkey
  • Keto
  • Low carb
  • High protein
  • One pan
  • Superfood
Hands-on
20 min
Total time
27 min, show breakdown
  • Prep 10 min
  • Cook 12 min
  • Clean up 5 min
Pans
1
Ingredients
16
Cost/serving
$5.15

Per serving

Calories
498
Protein
46 g
Fiber
6.7 g
Net carbs
7.3 g
Fat
30 g

High in (% Daily Value per serving): Vitamin B12 112%, Vitamin K 98%, Selenium 87%, Niacin (B3) 83%, Vitamin B6 70%, Vitamin A 63%, Zinc 55%, Riboflavin (B2) 54%, Folate 46%, Iron 28%, Potassium 25%, Vitamin E 24%, Thiamin (B1) 24%, Magnesium 21%, Vitamin C 20%

Full nutrition facts, vitamins and minerals. All nutrition is estimated; check your own labels.

Already egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free.

Ingredients for 2

Tap an ingredient for other units and forms.

  • 400 g ground turkey, 93% lean

    Same amount as: 14 oz.

  • 1 tsp vegetable oil (canola) (4.7 g)

    Same amount as: 5 mL.

  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed (6 g)

    Same amount as: 2 tsp fresh minced garlic, 1 tsp jarred minced garlic, ¼ tsp garlic powder.

  • 2 tsp chili powder (5.4 g)

    Same amount as: 10 mL.

  • 1 tsp ground cumin (2.1 g)

    Same amount as: 5 mL.

  • 1 tsp paprika (2.3 g)

    Same amount as: 5 mL.

  • ½ tsp dried oregano (0.5 g)

    Same amount as: 2 mL.

  • 1 tbsp tomato paste (16 g)

    Same amount as: 15 mL.

  • ¼ cup water (60 g)

    Same amount as: 60 mL.

  • 4 cups lettuce leaves (188 g), romaine or iceberg, chopped

    Same amount as: 960 mL, about 19 large.

  • ½ cup cherry tomatoes (75 g)

    Same amount as: 120 mL.

  • ½ medium avocado (68 g)
  • 30 g cheddar, grated

    Same amount as: 1 oz, about ¼ cup.

  • 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt, 2% (30 g)

    Same amount as: 30 mL.

  • 1 tbsp lime juice (15 g)

    Same amount as: 15 mL, ½ lime squeezed from fresh limes.

  • 2 tbsp fresh cilantro (2 g)

    Same amount as: 30 mL.

  • salt, to taste
  • black pepper, to taste

Find alternative ingredients

Quantities are for 2 servings. The turkey keeps 4 days in the fridge. Double it in a 30 cm pan, or cook in two rounds.

Nutrition Facts

2 servings per recipe

Serving size 1 plate (453 g raw)

NutrientPer serving% DV*Whole recipe
Calories498
Total fat30 g39%
Saturated fat8.5 g42%
Cholesterol164 mg55%
Sodium493 mg21%
Total carbohydrate14 g5%
Dietary fiber6.7 g24%
Total sugars4.4 g
Net carbs†7.3 g
Protein46 g92%
Vitamin D0.69 mcg3%
Calcium239 mg18%
Iron5.1 mg28%
Potassium1,168 mg25%
Vitamin A570 mcg63%
Vitamin C18 mg20%
Vitamin E3.6 mg24%
Vitamin K118 mcg98%
Thiamin (B1)0.28 mg24%
Riboflavin (B2)0.7 mg54%
Niacin (B3)13 mg83%
Vitamin B61.2 mg70%
Folate185 mcg46%
Vitamin B122.7 mcg112%
Magnesium89 mg21%
Zinc6 mg55%
Selenium48 mcg87%

Estimated, not verified. These numbers are calculated from typical ingredient data and haven't been checked against a lab or your brands. Check the labels of what you buy and confirm anything that matters to you, especially sodium, sugar and allergens.

* % Daily Value shows how much one serving adds to a 2,000-calorie day. † Net carbs is not on US labels; it is total carbs minus fiber, allulose, erythritol and half of other sugar alcohols. "To taste" amounts are counted as written. Counted items (eggs, cloves, spoons) use the rounded amount shown in the ingredient list. Vitamins and minerals are from raw ingredients; cooking lowers some, especially vitamin C and folate. How this is calculated.

Steps

  1. Mince the garlic. Halve the tomatoes, dice the avocado, grate the cheddar and chop the cilantro.

  2. Heat the oil in the pan on medium-high. Add the turkey and break it up with the spatula. Cook 6–7 minutes, stirring now and then.

    Done looks like: No pink left and some browned bits on the pan.
  3. Push the turkey to one side. Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano and tomato paste to the clear spot and stir 30–60 seconds.

    Done looks like: Spices darken and smell strong. Paste turns brick red.
  4. Add the water, salt and pepper and stir everything together. Cook 2 minutes until it thickens. Check a thick clump with a thermometer.

    Done looks like: Saucy, not wet. Thermometer reads 74 °C / 165 °F or higher.
  5. Split the lettuce between two bowls. Spoon on the turkey. Top with the tomatoes, avocado, cheddar, yogurt and cilantro, and squeeze over the lime.

Equipment

Large frying pan or skillet, 30 cm (12 in) $25–60

What to look for

  • Wide flat base so food cooks in one layer
  • Stainless steel or cast iron for high heat

Skip: Woks on flat electric stoves; they do not heat evenly there.

Silicone spatula $5–12

What to look for

  • One-piece (no seam where the head meets the handle)
  • Stiff enough to scrape, safe on non-stick

Skip: Wooden spatulas for non-stick pans; they work but do not scrape as cleanly.

Instant-read digital thermometer $10–30

What to look for

  • Reads in 5 seconds or less
  • Thin probe tip
  • Shows °C and °F

Skip: Dial thermometers that take 20+ seconds.

Chef's knife, 20 cm (8 in) $15–50

What to look for

  • Comfortable handle that does not slip when wet
  • Blade you can sharpen, or a cheap one you replace every few years

Skip: Knife blocks with 12 knives. A chef's knife and a small paring knife cover almost everything.

Cutting board $10–30

What to look for

  • At least 30 × 40 cm (12 × 16 in), so food stays on it
  • Wood or plastic; plastic goes in the dishwasher

Skip: Glass or stone boards. They dull knives fast.

Box grater $10–20

What to look for

  • Four sides, including a coarse side for cheese and vegetables
  • Stable base that does not slide

Skip: Rotary graters. A box grater does more.

What goes wrong

WhatCauseFix
Grey, steamed turkeyPan too small or not hot enough.Use a wide pan, heat it well first, and leave the meat alone for a minute before stirring.
Burnt, bitter spicesPan too hot or spices left too long.Add the water within a minute. Turn the heat down if the pan smokes.
Wilted lettuceHot turkey piled on too early.Assemble right before eating, or let the turkey cool a few minutes.

Versions

VersionChangesPer serving
OriginalAs written. Hands-on 20 min, total 27 min.498 kcal
46 g protein
6.7 g fiber
7.3 g net carbs
30 g fat
Dairy-freeNo cheddar, no yogurt. Hands-on 20 min, total 27 min.427 kcal
41 g protein
6.7 g fiber
6.6 g net carbs
25 g fat

Notes

Allergies: removing an allergen from the recipe does not remove it from your kitchen or from other products. Check labels for "may contain" warnings.

Pregnancy: Cook ground turkey to at least 74 °C / 165 °F, with no pink left.