Salsa Verde Turkey Tacos

Before You Get Started

Here are a few tips to help your tacos turn out just right:

• Choose a flavorful salsa verde. Whether you go mild or spicy, pick a green salsa you love the taste of. You can also look for a roasted salsa verde if you want something with a bit of a deeper flavor. My go-to brand for store-bought salsa is Herdez, but you can buy any brand of salsa you like. You can also make your own salsa verde!
• Use the right turkey. For juicier taco meat, go with 93% lean ground turkey instead of the super-lean 99% version.
• Have toppings ready. These cook fast! Prep your taco toppings while the meat simmers so you're ready to build tacos the moment it's done.
• Make extra. This turkey filling gets even better after a night in the fridge and works in so many meals, and is perfect for leftovers!

How to Make Salsa Verde Turkey Tacos

Here's a simple breakdown of how to pull together these flavorful, fuss-free tacos using just a few pantry staples.

1. Sauté Aromatics

Start by heating a little olive oil in a skillet, then add diced onion and garlic. Let them cook until soft and fragrant. If you like spice, this is a great time to toss in a chopped jalapeño or some crushed red pepper flakes.

2. Brown the Protein

Add ground turkey (or any protein you're using) and break it up with a spatula. Season with your favorite taco spices, like cumin, salt, pepper, maybe a little chili powder or smoked paprika if you like. Cook until the meat is fully browned.

3. Add the Salsa Verde

Pour in your salsa verde and give everything a good stir. Let it simmer for a few minutes so the flavors meld together and the mixture gets nice and saucy.

4. Assemble the Tacos

Warm your tortillas, spoon in the turkey mixture, and add all your favorite toppings. Think cheese, avocado, tomatoes, cabbage, cilantro, or extra salsa. You can also turn it into bowls, quesadillas, or burritos. Whatever works for your meal!

Tips and Variations

Want to mix things up or make this recipe your own? These easy swaps and creative ideas make it super flexible and fun to customize!

• Add veggies: Bulk it up with chopped spinach, zucchini, or bell peppers stirred in during the last few minutes of cooking.
• Make it saucier: Want it extra juicy? Stir in an extra ¼ cup of salsa verde or a splash of broth before simmering.
• Turn it into bowls: Serve the taco meat over rice or greens with beans, avocado, and all the toppings for an easy taco bowl.
• Amp up the flavor: If your salsa is a little flat, brighten it up with fresh lime juice, chopped cilantro, or a pinch of smoked paprika.
• Make it creamy: Stir a spoonful of Greek yogurt or sour cream into the turkey mixture for a creamy, tangy twist.

Ways to Serve Salsa Verde Tacos

These tacos are so easy to throw together! Here’s how to do it:

• Choose your tortillas: Grab some corn or flour tortillas and warm them directly on the burner. Or consider baking up some crispy baked taco shells. For a low-carb option, you can use low-carb tortillas or make taco lettuce wraps.
• Prepare your toppings: When we have tacos, I love having a million toppings. Consider cilantro, diced onions, tomatoes, avocado, queso fresco or shredded cheese, jalapenos, cabbage, or some corn or black beans. This pico de Gallo and guacamole are favorites in our house and sneak in some extra veggies.
• Optional heat: If you are serving this to kids, I like to make it with mild salsa. Then I buy some spicier green salsa to serve on the side so we can add extra heat to our meal.
• On the side, consider serving regular or refried beans, corn, or some roasted veggies. A green salad with a Southwest salad dressing is another great option, or this Tomato, Corn, Cucumber, and Avocado Salad.

Ways to Use Leftover Salsa Verde Turkey Meat

The leftovers from this recipe are so good! You will definitely want to make a double or triple batch. They are a favorite in our house for meal prep.

• Ground turkey taco bowls: Grab some brown rice or quinoa, add ground turkey meat, and some canned black beans or corn. Then add fresh veggies like chopped Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro. Top with cheese, avocado, and some extra green salsa.
• Quesadillas: This turkey with some melted cheese grilled between a couple of flour or low-carb tortillas is pretty magical.
• Burritos: Wrap this up with some cooked rice (or cauliflower rice), beans, cilantro, onion, and salsa for a quick and easy burrito.
• Scrambles: You will want to try this with some scrambled eggs. Start by scrambling your eggs in a hot pan and add them right before they finish cooking. Top with cheese. It's also great as an omelet filling.
• Soup: For an easy dinner, grab some of your favorite canned black bean soup and stir in the ground turkey. Top with baked tortilla chips and avocado.
• Stuffed peppers: Toss with some rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice. Then add some extra salsa verde. Baked in the oven with tomato sauce and topped with cheese.