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    Published: May 27, 2022 · Modified: May 11, 2022 · By Susan

    Slow Cooker Ground Turkey Tacos

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    two crunchy taco shells filled with ground slow cooker turkey taco
    Pinterest pin of an open soft tortilla laying on a bed of lettuce topped with ground turkey taco meat
    Jump to Recipe

    Slow cooker turkey tacos made with ground turkey are a must-try dish. Delicious, tender, and juicy ground turkey slow cooked together with all the traditional, mouth-watering flavors of yummy tacos. The perfect healthy treat!

    Turkey taco ingredients laying on a soft taco shell out of slow cooker

    Do you love tacos? We do! Any shape or form of taco night always seems to be struggle-free in my house. We have turned taco Tuesday into taco-everyday!

    This crock pot recipe is a great way to put a different protein on the table without arguments. Ground turkey is lighter and healthier than ground red meat. PLUS, by using lean turkey meat, you won't need to brown it first (like you do with ground beef)! A winner among dinner recipes for sure.  

    Ground turkey crockpot taco filling will quickly become one of your favorite slow cooker recipes. So many different, easy dinners can be made from this simple recipe. It is great in everything from lettuce wraps to taco bowls.

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    🚀Jump to recipe card for exact quantities and other details

    Slow cooker turkey taco ingredients with labels

    To make this amazing ground turkey taco meat, you will need:

    • Lean ground turkey
    • Salsa - prepared or homemade
    • Taco seasoning - you can use your own taco seasoning (recipe below) or store bought
    • Tomato paste
    • Garlic salt

    🥣How to make slow cooker turkey taco meat

    As mentioned, one of my favorite things about ground turkey tacos is that you don't have to cook anything in advance. Ground beef tacos require cooking the meat first. A step I always wish I could skip!

    Start your crockpot turkey tacos by spraying your slow cooker with a non-stick cooking spray. Next, add in your ground beef and all remaining ingredients. Stir to combine, cover, and cook. That's it!

    All turkey taco ingredients in the slow cooker before cooking
    All turkey taco ingredients before cooking

    🍽Serving suggestions

    There are many mouth-watering ways to serve this delicious turkey tacos recipe! Stuffing traditional soft or crunchy taco shells is always a favorite place to start.

    Wrapping your meat mixture up in corn tortillas is also delicious. Especially when you include some beans, cheese, veggies, and a dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream.

    However, don't feel like you need to limit yourself to just these traditional taco options. This lean meat dish is wonderful wrapped up in a large romaine lettuce leaf. This makes for an awesome light dinner that also happens to be gluten free.

    Turkey taco ingredients in crockpot after cooking
    And after cooking!

    You can also serve it in a large bowl on top of salad. Add some pinto beans, pico de Gallo, sliced black olives, and bell pepper for a complete one-bowl taco salad meal.

    Are you a fan of nachos (uh - who isn't??)? This is one of our favorite recipes to add to a loaded nacho plate. Just slip some on top of tortilla chips with a bunch of fixins. And WHAM - a new favorite the whole family will love!

    Close up of turkey taco meat held on a spoon in front of crockpot

    Some additional ideas for taco toppings include:

    • sour cream
    • shredded cheddar cheese
    • shredded lettuce
    • diced tomatoes
    • black beans
    • chopped chipotle peppers
    • green chiles
    • hot sauce

    I always serve this taco recipe with some lime wedges so we can squeeze fresh lime juice on top.

    Close up of ground slow cooker turkey taco meat in a crunch taco shell

    Storing leftovers

    Leftovers of your ground turkey tacos can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. An airtight container or freezer-safe bag will work best. This will keep your leftovers fresh for 3-4 day when refrigerated and 3-4 months in the freezer.

    A hand holding a crunch ground turkey taco

    😉Hints & hacks

    1. Freezing leftovers in meal-sized portions makes for easy reheat-and-eat weeknight meals
    2. I always recommend the use of a slow cooker liner. Of course, this is an optional step. I like to purchase my liners in bulk for a less expensive per-piece price.
    3. In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
    4. This recipe is for mild tacos. Turn up the heat by adding hot chili peppers into the slow cooker along with the listed ingredients.
    5. Prefer your tacos shredded rather than ground? Try shredded chicken tacos or shredded beef tacos
    Why did my turkey tacos come out a little mushy?

    There are two main reasons why slow cooked ground turkey may seem a bit mushy. The first is overhandling. This dish needs to be stirred just until combined. Mixing with your hands is also a great option.

    The second is fattier turkey meat. Ground turkey with a higher fat content can become mushier as it slow cooks. To avoid this, buy the leanest ground turkey you can find (less expensive ground turkey tends to include a higher fat percentage).

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    📖 Recipe

    Close up of ground slow cooker turkey taco meat in a crunch taco shell

    Slow Cooker Turkey Tacos (Ground Turkey)

    Slow cooker turkey tacos made with ground turkey are a must-try dish. Delicious, tender, and juicy ground turkey slow cooked together with all the traditional, mouthwatering flavors of yummy tacos. The perfect healthy treat!
    4.75 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 4 hours hours
    Total Time: 4 hours hours 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 164kcal
    Author: The Lazy slow cooker
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    Equipment

    • 3.5 quart slow cooker or larger
    • measuring spoons and cups
    • slow cooker liner (optional)

    Ingredients

    • 2 lbs lean ground turkey
    • 1 cup salsa
    • ⅓ cup taco seasoning recipe below
    • ⅓ cup tomato paste
    • 1 teaspoon garlic salt

    Instructions

    • add raw ground turkey to slow cooker and use a spoon to break it up
      2 lbs lean ground turkey
    • add remaining ingredients to slow cooker
      1 cup salsa, ⅓ cup taco seasoning, ⅓ cup tomato paste, 1 teaspoon garlic salt
    • stir to combine
    • cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours
    • enjoy

    Notes

    Notes:
    This is a great recipe to double or even triple.  Leftovers freeze really well and reheat easily for future grab-and-go meals!  
    If you prefer spicy tacos, add a 7oz can of hot diced chili peppers along with other ingredients before cooking  
    Homemade taco seasoning (makes more than you need for just these tacos):
    • 4 tablespoon chili powder
    • 1.5 tablespoon cumin
    • 1.5 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon pepper
    • 1 teaspoon dried cilantro
    Add all ingredients and stir.  Store in a cool, dry, air-tight container. 
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 164kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 1443mg | Potassium: 529mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1276IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 2mg

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    Do you love this recipe? We would love to hear from you in the comments section below!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. M says

      October 23, 2022 at 4:08 pm

      Only making this for 2 people, how would I cut this recipe in half using only 1 lb of ground turkey??

      Reply
      • The Lazy Slow Cooker says

        October 25, 2022 at 2:55 pm

        Yes, I would suggest cutting all of the ingredients in half. I hope you love it as much as we do!
        Susan

    2. Megan says

      January 14, 2023 at 3:48 pm

      I'm obsessed with the turkey recipe - I love the smell while it's cooking and am happy to eat it each week. Soo tasty!
      However, I tried making the seasoning mix using your recipe and it was way too spicy. 4 tablespoons of chili powder doesn't seem like the right amount.

      Reply
      • The Lazy Slow Cooker says

        January 15, 2023 at 11:29 am

        Hi Megan,
        Thanks for checking in on this. You are right! The taco seasoning recipe at the bottom of the recipe with 4 tablespoons chili powder would make this super spicy. I don't use all of the homemade taco seasoning for this recipe. Just 1/3 cup (and you can use even less if you want it milder).
        The taco seasoning recipe shown makes more than you would need for just this recipe. (I actually like to double that taco seasoning recipe and store it in my pantry so that I always have it on hand for easy toss and go meals).
        Thank you for pointing out that this is confusing! I am going to update the recipe now to state that the taco seasoning makes more than is needed for just this turkey taco recipe.
        So glad to hear that you like the recipe and I agree - it smells AMAZING when it is cooking!!!
        Susan

    3. Shane says

      May 21, 2023 at 6:39 pm

      If cutting the ingredients in half, would you suggest cutting the cooking time in half to?

      Reply
      • The Lazy Slow Cooker says

        May 22, 2023 at 10:07 am

        4 stars
        Hi Shane, Thanks for asking! It's actually a tricky question. In general, cutting a recipe in half will not decrease the cooking time fully in half, (but it might decrease it some). If you use a smaller slow cooker, it probably won't cut it down much at all. One great thing about slow cookers (as compared to faster cooking methods) is that the finish time is flexible. So, if you leave it on half an hour to an hour after it is "done" it won't be ruined. The most important things to keep in mind with this dish are:
        1. The temperature of the turkey must reach 165℉ to be considered safe to eat
        2. You don't want to leave it on "cook" for several hours after it is done because turkey can start to taste overcooked.
        3. Each crockpot is slightly different.
        This dish is generally ready to go in about 4 hours in my 6 quart slow cooker (and I have left it on the "warm setting" for a couple of hours after that with delicious results).
        Sorry for the long winded response! I hope it helps. If you half the recipe, I would love to hear how it goes!
        Thanks!!
        Susan

      • Shane says

        May 26, 2023 at 6:17 pm

        So I cut the ingredients in half and still cooked it for about 4hours, but I believe I may have mixed it too much because the meat came out kind of mushy (I have a smaller circle sized slow cooker, not sure the exact qt size of it, I think 3.5 maybe?), so I don’t know if I cooked too long or stirred too much, any tips for next time so the meat isn’t too mushy?

        Regardless, it was a gold medal recipe and I will be making it again! I just want to make the meat not so mushy this time!

      • The Lazy Slow Cooker says

        May 27, 2023 at 9:37 am

        Hi Shane, Thanks for sharing!
        There are two reasons ground turkey can become a little mushy in the slow cooker. The first is overhandling. You may want to try stirring less. Some even suggest mixing it with your hands. The second is fattier turkey meat. Ground turkey with a higher fat content can become mushier as it slow cooks. I usually recommend buying the leanest ground turkey you can find (less expensive ground turkey tends to include a higher fat percentage). I am so glad you like the flavor, though and plan to try it again!

    4. Christa Johnson says

      September 24, 2023 at 8:33 pm

      5 stars
      Umm! WOW! This recipe was AMAZING! I ate mine in a bowl, my fiancé made his into a burrito & nachos. He doesn’t even know it’s ground Turkey and absolutely loves it. Definitely making this recipe again. I also added bell pepper & onion. No tomato paste & garlic.

      Reply
      • The Lazy Slow Cooker says

        September 25, 2023 at 7:57 am

        Thank you for sharing!!! So glad to hear you enjoyed it. Bell pepper and onion are perfect additions!! YUM!

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    Welcome to The Lazy Slow Cooker. I am so happy you are here! My name is Susan (yep - I am Lazy Susan!) and I am the recipe developer/blogger behind these posts. I am the mom of three amazing but super busy kids and the wife of one awesome and also super busy guy. All 5 of us have very different schedules and I would not survive mealtime without my crockpot. Read More…

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