Description
These Crispy Baked Ground Turkey Tacos are a delicious and healthier twist on classic tacos, featuring seasoned ground turkey, refried black beans, and melted cheese baked to a perfect crisp. Served with a refreshing cilantro lime ranch dressing and optional fresh toppings like pico de gallo and guacamole, they’re a crowd-pleasing meal perfect for any taco night.
Ingredients
Scale
Turkey Filling
- 1 pound 90/10 ground turkey
- 4 tablespoons avocado oil (divided)
- ½ small sweet onion (finely diced)
- 2 garlic cloves (finely minced)
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- ¼ cup chicken broth (or water)
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup refried black beans
- 2 ½ cups shredded cheese (divided)
Tortillas
- 12 corn tortillas
Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing
- ¼ cup ranch dressing
- 1 ½ tablespoons lime juice (from 1 lime)
- 1 ½ tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro (plus more for serving)
Optional Toppings
- Pico de Gallo
- Guacamole
- Fresh cilantro (chopped)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 425°F to prepare for baking the tacos to a crispy finish.
- Cook Turkey and Onion: Heat 2 tablespoons of avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground turkey and diced onion, cooking while breaking apart the meat for 7-8 minutes until no longer pink. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Simmer with Seasoning: Stir in taco seasoning, chicken broth, salt, and black pepper. Let the mixture simmer for 4-5 minutes until most of the liquid evaporates. Then stir in 1 cup of shredded cheese until melted and remove from heat.
- Prepare Tortillas: Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for 45-60 seconds to make them pliable and easier to fold.
- Assemble Tacos: Brush one side of each tortilla with 1 teaspoon avocado oil. Flip the tortilla over and spread 1 tablespoon of refried black beans onto half of the unbrushed side. Layer 2 tablespoons of the turkey mixture and 1 tablespoon shredded cheese on top of the beans. Fold the tortilla over the filling gently to seal without cracking. Repeat for all tortillas.
- Bake Tacos: Arrange the filled tortillas in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the tacos are crispy and golden.
- Prepare Cilantro Lime Ranch: While the tacos bake, whisk ranch dressing, lime juice, and chopped cilantro together in a medium bowl until smooth and well combined.
- Serve: Serve the crispy baked tacos hot with cilantro lime ranch dressing on the side. Garnish with additional cilantro, pico de gallo, and guacamole as desired.
Notes
- Use 90/10 ground turkey for a good balance of flavor and moisture without excessive fat.
- Microwaving tortillas wrapped in a damp paper towel helps prevent cracking when folding.
- Flipping the tacos halfway through baking ensures an even crisp on both sides.
- Customize the level of spice by adjusting the amount or brand of taco seasoning.
- For a vegetarian option, substitute ground turkey with sautéed mushrooms or plant-based crumbles and use vegetarian refried beans.
