Prep: 15 If I had to pick one salad to make for lunch, this easy Ground Turkey Taco Salad would be it! I’ve been making it for years and I love that it comes together in under 30 minutes, with minimal ingredients, and still has the best flavor. It’s fresh, hearty, crunchy, and all topped off with a creamy dressing! This is truly the BEST salad for weeknight dinners or busy lunches.
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 (opens in a new tab) 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 (opens in a new tab)
- 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, (opens in a new tab) brown the ground turkey and add the taco seasoning.
2. Blend the Dressing
Blend all of the dressing ingredients in a blender (opens in a new tab) 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!
You’ll Also Love: Taco Bowl Recipe
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 (opens in a new tab), hot sauce, lime juice, salsa, and pico de Gallo.
- Crunchy Toppings – Tortilla strips, crushed tortilla chips, corn chips, crunchy chickpeas (opens in a new tab), 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)
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 1.3-ounce packet taco seasoning (opens in a new tab) (about 4 Tablespoons)
- 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 15-ounce can black beans (opens in a new tab) (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.
Watch Me Make This
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 (opens in a new tab), hot sauce, lime juice, salsa, and pico de Gallo
-
- Crunchy Things – Tortilla strips, crushed tortilla chips, corn chips, crunchy chickpeas (opens in a new tab), or pepitas
Nutrition
Did you make this? I’d love to see!
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This ground turkey taco salad is so yummy and delicious I like the flavor and crunch it gives.
I crave this salad. It has so many yummy flavors and textures going on.
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!
Ground turkey was such an incredible addition to this salad. It was seasoned to perfection and a great combination of flavors.
I love this recipe so much. I always love healthier versions of my favorites.