Taco Salad

Name: Easy Taco Salad with Ground Turkey
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup jarred mild salsa; 4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil; juice of 1/2 lime; 1 lb 93% ground turkey (or lean ground beef or ground chicken); 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon cumin; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; 1/2 teaspoon oregano; 1/2 small onion (minced); 2 tablespoons bell pepper (minced); 1/2 cup water; 4 ounces canned tomato sauce (1/2 can); 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce; 1 cup pico de gallo; 1/2 cup shredded cheddar; 4 lime wedges (for serving); greek yogurt or sour cream (optional for topping); guacamole (optional for topping)

This taco salad combines seasoned ground turkey over crisp lettuce with fresh toppings and a homemade lime-salsa dressing. It's a quick, protein-packed meal that comes together in under 20 minutes.

🌍American 🏷️Breakfast burrito meal prep 🏷️Ground turkey 🏷️Low carb 🏷️Taco salad 🏷️Turkey taco salad

Total

30 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Hard

Est. Cost

$35–$58

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From Skinnytaste

Ingredients

1/2 cup jarred mild salsa
4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
juice of 1/2 lime
1 lb 93% ground turkey (or lean ground beef or ground chicken)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 small onion (minced)
2 tablespoons bell pepper (minced)
1/2 cup water
4 ounces canned tomato sauce (1/2 can)
6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 cup pico de gallo
1/2 cup shredded cheddar
4 lime wedges (for serving)
greek yogurt or sour cream (optional for topping)optional
guacamole (optional for topping)optional

20 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
Brown the turkey in a large skillet breaking it into smaller pieces as it cooks.
2
When no longer pink add dry seasoning and mix well.
3
Add the onion, pepper, water and tomato sauce and cover. Simmer on low for about 20 minutes, until the flavors meld and the sauce thickens.
4
Divide the meat equally between the 4 meal prep containers.
5
Meanwhile, while the meat is cooking, make the dressing: combine the salsa, olive oil and lime juice.
6
Divide the lettuce in 4 bowls, then divide the remaining ingredients on top. Finish with dressing and enjoy.
7
Divide the lettuce in 4 ziplock bags. Transfer dressing to 4 small containers.
8
Divide pico de gallo, sour cream or yogurt, if using and cheese in small containers. Cover and refrigerate.
9
To serve, remove the lettuce and containers, heat the meat then make a salad by placing the lettuce in a bowl or plate.
10
Top with the meat, pico de gallo, cheese and finish with dressing.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Brown the meat over medium-high heat without stirring for the first minute to develop color, then break apart and cook until no pink remains.
Toast the cumin and oregano briefly in the pan with the garlic powder before adding meat for deeper spice flavor.
Dress the salad just before serving; wet lettuce will wilt quickly under the lime dressing.
Taste the seasoned meat before plating — adjust salt and chili powder to your heat preference, as jarred salsa varies in spice level.

Substitutions

Jarred mild salsa → fresh pico de gallo or homemade salsa (use 1/2 cup total)
Extra virgin olive oil → avocado oil or regular olive oil (flavor will be slightly less fruity)
Ground turkey → ground chicken or 93% lean ground beef (cook times remain the same)

Storage & make-ahead

Refrigerate cooked meat and dressing separately in airtight containers for up to 3 days. Assemble salads fresh; do not store dressed salad as lettuce will wilt.