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Crispy baked turkey tacos arranged on a plate and drizzled with creamy avocado sauce.

Crispy Baked Ground Turkey Tacos with Avocado Sauce

Sara
A delicious baked taco recipe with ground turkey, black beans, and green chiles paired with a creamy avocado sauce. This is a small batch turkey taco recipe that makes six baked tacos.
4.95 from 20 votes
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Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 tacos
Calories 337 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

For the Creamy Avocado Sauce:

  • 1/2 medium Avocado
  • 1/4 cup Sour Cream
  • 1 tbsp. fresh Lemon or Lime Juice
  • 1/4 cup (packed) Cilantro Leaves
  • 1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt plus more to taste
  • 2 tbsp. Water plus more as needed

For the Ground Turkey + Black Bean Filling:

  • 2 tsp. Avocado Oil or Olive Oil
  • 8 oz. Lean Ground Turkey
  • 2 1/2 tsp. Homemade Taco Seasoning
  • 1/3 cup chopped Onion yellow or white
  • 3/4 cup canned Black Beans drained, not rinsed
  • 4 oz. Green Chiles
  • 2 tbsp. finely chopped Cilantro

Small Batch Homemade Taco Seasoning:

  • 1/2 tsp. Cumin
  • 1/2 tsp. Mexican Oregano or Italian Oregano
  • 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt
  • 1/4 tsp. Smoked Paprika
  • 1/4 tsp. Chili Powder
  • 1/8 tsp. Cayenne Pepper optional

For the Tacos:

  • Cooking / Baking Spray or Avocado Oil, for brushing the tortillas
  • 6 Fajita-Sized Flour Tortillas (6")
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

Instructions
 

  • Make the Creamy Avocado Sauce. Combine half of a ripe avocado, 1/4 cup sour cream, one tablespoon of fresh lime juice, 1/4 packed cup of cilantro leaves, 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt, and two tablespoons of water in a mini food processor. Blend until smooth, adding more water if needed to achieve the consistency you want. Taste and season with more salt or lime juice if desired, then cover the sauce and refrigerate until ready to use.
    A hand holding a spoon full of avocado sauce inside a small food processor full of creamy avocado sauce.
  • Cook the Turkey and Onions. Heat two teaspoons of avocado oil in a large non-stick pan over medium heat. Add 8 ounces of lean ground turkey, half of the seasoning blend from the ingredient list (or 2 1/2 tsp. of taco seasoning), and 1/3 cup of chopped onion. Cook the turkey, breaking it into small pieces and mixing it into the seasoning and onions as it cooks, for 4-5 minutes until browned and cooked through.
    A wooden spatula stirring cooked ground turkey, onions, and seasoning in a skillet.
  • Finish the Taco Filling. Stir half a can (3/4 cup) of black beans, four ounces of green chiles, the remaining taco seasoning blend, two tablespoons of water, and two tablespoons of finely chopped cilantro into the turkey mixture. Stir to thoroughly combine, then turn the heat beneath the pan to medium-low and allow the turkey taco mixture to simmer for fifteen minutes (uncovered).
    A skillet full of cooked ground turkey with black beans, green chiles, and fresh cilantro arranged on top to be mixed into it.
  • Stir everything together again, and if there seems to be excess liquid, turn the heat underneath the pan to medium and cook for a few minutes, stirring frequently, until most of the liquid has evaporated. Remove the pan from the heat.
    A skillet full of cooked ground turkey and black bean taco mixture being stirred with a wooden spatula.
  • Build the Tacos. Preheat the oven to 425 F. Spray a large rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray (or brush avocado oil over the baking sheet). Lay six fajita-sized flour tortillas onto the baking sheet, just barely overlapping the tortillas if necessary. Spread about 1/4 cup of shredded cheese across the surface of each tortilla.
    Six flour tortillas arranged on a rimmed baking sheet with a layer of shredded cheese on top of each tortilla.
  • Spoon about 1/4 – 1/3 cup of the turkey black bean mixture onto one half of each tortilla.
    Six flour tortillas arranged on a rimmed baking sheet with a layer of cheese and ground turkey taco filling nestled onto one half of each tortilla.
  • Bake the Tacos. Pop the baking sheet in the oven for 1-2 minutes until the cheese on the tortillas has melted. Carefully fold them in half, then brush the tops of the tortillas with avocado oil (or spray with cooking spray).
    A woman's hand folding a flour tortilla full of shredded cheese and a ground turkey taco meat in half.
  • Bake the tacos for another 10-12 minutes until the tortillas are golden brown and crispy.
    Six crispy baked tacos arranged on a baking sheet.
  • Serve! Spoon the creamy avocado sauce into small bowls, and serve alongside the crispy baked tacos. Enjoy!
    A woman's hand holding a crispy baked taco and dipping it into a small bowl of creamy avocado sauce.

Notes

Avocado Sauce Notes:
  • Sour Cream can be substituted with full-fat Greek Yogurt.
  • I use Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt for all of my recipes. If you're using a different brand of kosher salt or a sea salt, decrease the amount to 1/4 tsp. and adjust to fit your taste.
Turkey + Black Bean Filling Notes:
  • Lean Ground Turkey: 85/15, 90/10, or anything around that range will work.
  • Homemade Taco Seasoning can be substituted with 2 1/2 teaspoons of your favorite store-bought taco seasoning.
  • Black Beans need to be drained, but not rinsed.
  • Hatch Green Chiles are ideal, but any small four ounce can of green chiles will work.
  • Cilantro is always optional. If you hate it, leave it out. You can also leave it out of the avocado sauce.
Taco Notes:
  • Flour Tortillas are ideal because they are easy to fold in half without breaking. Corn tortillas can be substituted, but have a tendency to break easier.
  • Monterey Jack Cheese can be substituted with Pepper Jack or Cheddar cheese. Or a great quesadilla cheese like Chihuahua cheese.
  • If the filling comes out while baking, use a fork to gently push it back into the taco before the cheese cools!

Nutrition

Serving: 1tacoCalories: 337kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 19gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 996mgPotassium: 360mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1120IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 298mgIron: 3mg
Keyword baked tacos, ground turkey taco recipe, oven baked tacos
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