Turkey Taco Bowls are a tried & true family dinner recipe where everyone can make their own taco bowl. Ground turkey, beans, and corn simmer in a perfectly seasoned beef broth and tomato sauce base. Serve over rice and top with all your favorite taco toppings.
Be sure to also try my Slow Cooker Fritos Taco Bowls.
Taco Bowls Recipe
This recipe for turkey taco bowls is one of the very first recipes that I ever shared! They continue to be visited millions of times each year and made by thousands. They've been repined on Pinterest over 1 million times! Ground turkey taco bowls are a tried & true, very well tested recipe, that's perfect for the entire family.
I love making taco bowls because I can just lay out all the toppings, rice, and turkey taco mixture and everyone can make their own and top it how they like.
I've got some kids that like to make nachos out of this. Another kid likes to just eat the ground turkey mixture (he hates rice) topped with his favorite toppings. It's a super adaptable recipe that you can spice up, substitute ingredients, and really make it your own each time.
What You'll Need
These turkey taco bowls are made with simple, normal ingredients like some canned ingredients, seasonings, ground turkey, and of course whatever toppings you want.
- Ground Turkey - I like to use the 7% fat ground turkey. They have even lighter ground turkey at the store so feel free to use what one you prefer. The really low fat ground turkey won't have as much flavor and it's lighter in color so your mixture may look slightly different if you use it.
- Dried Seasonings - Lots of seasonings! Salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, onion powder, cumin, oregano, and paprika.
- All-Purpose Flour - This is to help thicken the ground turkey mixture. You can use gluten-free flour if needed as well.
- Tomato Sauce - One 8 ounce can of tomato sauce.
- Beef Broth - You can use regular beef broth or 50% reduced-sodium beef broth.
- Black Beans - Be sure to drain & rinse the black beans before using.
- Frozen Corn - I like to use frozen gold n' white corn. You can also use yellow corn or white corn.
How to Make Turkey Taco Bowls
Making taco bowls is very simple and it requires only one skillet pan!
Cook the Ground Turkey : Add the ground turkey, salt, and pepper into a skillet pan. Cook over medium-high heat until the ground turkey is no longer pink. Crumble the meat as it cooks to get small pieces.
Add the Flour & Dried Seasonings : Coat the browned ground turkey in the flour and seasonings. Let it cook for about a minute to cook off any flour flavor. This helps thicken everything up so it's a very important step.
Add the Liquid : Stir in the beef broth and tomato sauce. Mix to combine.
Add Beans and Vegetables : Add drained & rinsed black beans and frozen corn.
Simmer : Simmer the mixture for at least 20 minutes so it has time to thicken up. If you try to rush it then you will end up with a more loose/liquid ground turkey mixture.
Tips For Success
There are a few extra tips that will hopefully help you make this recipe!
- Let it Simmer For at Least 20 Minutes : One of the biggest complaints I hear about this recipe is that the mixture is "soupy" and never thickens up. The reason your mixture may be "soupy" and not thicken is because you are not letting it simmer long enough. It may seem like it takes forever, but I promise within that 20 minute simmer time it will just magically thicken up perfectly towards the end.
- Make it Ahead of Time : If you are serving this for a crowd, at a party/gathering, or just want dinner prepared ahead of time try making the ground turkey taco bowl mixture and letting it sit on warm (or low heat depending on the length of time) in the slow cooker.
- Serve these Taco Bowls Buffet Style : I lay out everything in bowls, or pans that it cooked in, on my kitchen counter island. When it's time to eat everyone just comes and creates their own taco bowl. I also lay out some tortilla chips because lots of people like to make nachos out of it or scoop it up with the chips.
Variation Ideas
Don't feel like you have to make these taco bowls the same every time! You can switch up the meat, beans, seasonings, etc. Here are a few variations that you can try.
- Use Different Beans : Switch up the beans and use whatever you want. Other good options are pinto beans, navy beans, or even some kidney beans.
- Use Another Kind of Meat : I love using the ground turkey, and that's all I've ever used when I make this recipe, but you could also use ground chicken or even ground beef.
- Make it Spicy! : I feed 4 littles so my goal is not to cook spicy food. I love flavorful food but not spicy. But don't worry because this recipe can easily be made as spicy as you want. Add cayenne pepper in with the other seasonings. Add extra chili powder. Add a can of diced green chilies or a can of diced jalapeños. Top your taco bowl with Pepper Jack cheese and jalapeños.
Serving Suggestions for Ground Turkey Taco Bowls
Taco Bowls can be topped with anything you like! Traditionally you have a rice base, topped with some of the ground turkey mixture, and then the final step is to top it off with all your favorite taco toppings. I also like lay out all the toppings buffet style and let everyone create their own.
Here are some recipes that I like to make when I make these taco bowls.
- Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice OR Cilantro Lime Rice : I love to serve these with cilantro lime rice. The flavors compliment each other perfectly.
- You could also try this Easy Mexican Rice as the base.
- Make some guacamole
- Top with shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, and pico de gallo or chopped tomatoes
- Olives
- Chopped Cilantro
- Jalapeños
How to Store and Reheat Taco Bowl Leftovers?
You can store the ground turkey taco bowl mixture in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days.
Leftovers reheat really well in the microwave or you can throw it into a pot and warm it over medium heat on the stove top.
Can I Freeze Taco Bowls?
Sure! Make the recipe according to instructions and then freeze in airtight containers, or a freezer safe Ziplock bag, for up to 2 months.
When you're ready to use it simply let it thaw in the fridge overnight for best results. Add additional liquid (water or broth) as needed.
More Ground Turkey Dinner Recipes
One Pot Turkey Chili Mac and Cheese
Turkey Taco Burrito Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 can (14.5 oz) beef broth
- 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans drained & rinsed
- 1 cup frozen corn
To Serve
- Cooked Rice
- Taco Toppings : shredded lettuce, cheese, pico de gallo, chopped tomatoes, avocado slices, guacamole, olives, lime, jalapenos, etc.
Instructions
- In a large nonstick skillet, over medium high heat, cook the ground turkey with the salt & pepper until cooked through and no longer pink, breaking the meat into small pieces as it cooks. Drain.* If you are not using a nonstick pan, like a cast iron type pan, then you will want to add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil to cook the ground turkey in.
- Add the cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, onion powder, oregano, paprika, and flour. Stir the mixture constantly for 1 minute while it cooks. It will be crumbly (that's ok).
- Slowly add the beef broth, a little bit at a time, while whisking to let it thicken up. Add in tomato sauce and stir to combine.
- Bring to a boil. Once boiling add the black beans and corn.
- Turn heat to medium and let simmer for at least 20 minutes or until thickened.
- Serve over rice and top with all your favorite taco toppings.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
These were delicious. Thank you!
So glad you loved them! Thanks for coming back to let me know 🙂
Is there something you could use instead of beef broth my daughter is allergic to beef
Sub the beef meat and broth for a turkey meat and chicken broth
Around how many calories would you say are in one serving? I'm trying to track my calories and I was just wondering if you knew
Hi Lexi. I don't know the calorie count. I would say the only thing that would make the calories higher would be the rice and some of the toppings. You could always use quinoa and leave off the cheese and sour cream. That's my best guess as far as calories go. The recipe makes enough for about 6 servings. Wish I could be of more help.....
Hello, is it possible to still successfully make this recipe without flour? Is there a substitute for flour or a different way to create the mixture?
Hi! You can make it without the flour. I've never done it this way but I do know that combining cold water + cornstarch will thicken it as well. I would omit the flour and just add the spices in with the ground turkey. After your turkey mixture has simmered (according to the recipe) combine 1/4 cup cold water + 1/4 cup cornstarch. Stir and then add to the mixture. It should thicken up after a few minutes. I know that this method works with soups so it should work just fine with this 🙂 Hope that helps!
I made this without the flour by also eliminating the beef broth. By letting the mixture simmer a bit more, it turned out thick and flavorful! I also cut many calories by using cauliflower rice (flavored with lime zest and juice) instead of regular rice. Definitely a keeper! Easy, healthy, and delicious - what more can you ask for!?!?
That's a great idea to eliminate the broth and flour by letting it simmer longer. Thanks so much for coming back to share. Cauliflower rice sounds like a great, low carb, and healthier swap.
Arrowroot is a vegetable natural thickener like flour or cornstarch.. Mix with cold water to make a slurry.
These are so good, thank you for sharing!
Thanks Amy. So glad you like these. Thank you for commenting and visiting 🙂
I loved this! I paired it with some homemade salsa and tried the cilantro rice with it. Perfect!
SO good to hear! Homemade salsa sounds wonderful with these bowls. And, I am addicted to that cilantro lime rice! Thanks so much for coming back to let me know 🙂
This has quickly become one of my husband and I's favorite meals!! The spices just make this fantastic! We pair it with avocado, salsa, lettuce, and cheese and then the next day put the leftovers on top of a salad! So happy I found this recipe 🙂
I'm so happy you love this recipe! Your toppings sound delicious and now you're making me hungry 🙂 My family loves this one too. Thank you for coming back to let me know!
Why the flour?
You're adding the beef broth and the flour just helps to thicken up the meat mixture. You could always use cornstarch mixed with cold water, or don't add the flour and just reduce the beef broth down to maybe 3/4 cup (not exactly sure because I have never tried it). Simmer the mixture until some of the liquid is gone.
Just made these and I'm in love!!! They are definitely going in my favorites list!!!!
Yay! SO happy to hear that 🙂
Hi, my name is Marjorie and I live in Canada. We don't have much Mexican food opportunities up here (Taco Bell is it). Your recipe on Pinterest caught my attention. However I do not know how this would be eaten. Do you just stir everything together in a bowl? Do you pile portions on a tortilla? It says this serves six, so do you just divide it all up in six bowls? It really looks so good and I am eager to try it. Thanks for your input.
P.S. I only use email, no other social media.
Hi Marjorie. Thanks for being here. It's a burrito bowl so you basically layer it in a bowl, like a burrito but without the tortilla. When I serve this I layer rice, the taco mixture and then put all different taco toppings in bowls, and then everyone can top theirs with what they want. The meat mixture makes a serving size of 6. Prepare the toppings and rice to however much you want. There really is no one way to eat this. You could wrap it up in a tortilla and have a burrito if that's what you want, or use on top of nachos, quesadillas, tacos, etc. Hope this helps ☺️
Thank you for the wuick reply. Now I know what to do . I would have never thought to do this, so thanks. I can hardly wait to make this now. Like I said Mexican food is not a big thing here, however I love the spices in it and that it uses ground turkey.
No problem! I could never survive in Canada if there's no Mexican food, haha. Enjoy!
My husband won't eat ground turkey so I used ground Beef and kept everything else the same. It was fantastic!!
So great to hear! Yes, ground beef is a perfect substitute. So glad it was a hit 🙂
Hello,
How did you freeze your corn? And did you add the entire 14.5 oz can of beef broth? I did and it was too watery. Also I had difficulty with my frozen corn =/ I've never cooked in my life and this is the reason why I'm getting "help" through pinterest ideas. But didn't seem to help... Please advise.
Not exactly sure what you mean by "freeze your corn"? But, the recipe calls for frozen corn so I just measure it out from the bag of corn in the freezer. They sell bags of frozen corn at the grocery store. You could also just use a can of corn (drain the liquid) instead of frozen corn. As far as the beef broth, yes it's the entire can. It will be watery at first but the directions say to let it cook/simmer (medium heat) for about 10-15 minutes. It will thicken up during this cook time. Hope that helps!
This was delicious!!! My kids loved it and son actually requested I make this often. Thank you!!!
So good to hear Leslie! Don't you just love dinners that the kids actually request?!? It's the best thing ever. So happy that it was a hit. My kids love these too because they can create their own with whatever toppings they want 🙂 Thanks for visiting.
I made this tonight! My boyfriend & I LOVED IT! So many great flavors & super easy. I agree it makes it easier to do some prep work & combine spices+flour before adding.
Great meal for a busy weeknight. Definitely adding this one to my favorite recipe list!
Awesome! So glad to hear you guys loved it. This is one of our favorites so I am so happy others are loving it too.
Can you just use taco seasoning instead of adding all the other spices? I have taco seasoning and I'd love to use that versus going to the store and buying the spices I'm missing lol
Yes, for sure! 🙂 Probably easier than measuring everything out, haha.
I am usually a horrible cook but I tried this and wowwww it was amazing gave me confidence to cook again thank you!
You're welcome! Comments like these are the reason I spend so much time on this blog. I am SO happy to hear that it worked for you and gave you confidence to keep cooking 🙂
I made these today and they are delicious!!! I divided into 5 servings with 1/2 cup brown rice each. Without cheese and avocado, I calculate them to be 490 calories. A lot cheaper, healthier and more tasty than a frozen option!!
So yummy! And yes, cheaper and healthier. So glad you love these. They're a favorite around here.
Amazing!
This was great! Making it for the second time tonight.
SO GOOD! I am always making taco bowls (but without a recipe) and they've always been lackluster. Followed your directions, just subbed the spices for a taco mix pack, and it was AMAZING. Definitely adding this to my normal routine!
Great idea to sub the taco seasoning packet! Less measuring, haha 🙂 So happy to hear that you love these. Thanks for coming back to let me know.
My sons favorite foods are beans and rice. He always wants beans and rice so I’ll have to try this! And as a lover of ground turkey vs. ground beef this is right up our alley. Can’t wait to give it a try!
Enjoy! Beans & rice is actually my favorite too. I know you all will love these.
Absolutely delicious! My entire family really enjoyed this dish. I let it simmer for closer to 40 minutes, and it was the perfect consistency. Thanks for posting 🙂
I am so glad you simmered it that long. I always try to simmer it at least 30 minutes because the flavor develops and it's so good and thick. So happy to hear your family loved this dish.
I have made a similar dish for years. I use ground beef or turkey, brown and put on the taco seasoning and some water, then simmer. Then, put out all the ingredients you have. We call it "Mexican Pile It On." We layer the rice, meat, and any toppings one wants. Serve with tortilla chips. It is great for a crowd.
I love the name, haha 🙂 Yes, it is so delicious. I love your idea of tortilla chips! Thanks for coming by.
These were delicious thank you for sharing
You're welcome! So happy to hear you love these.
Made the turkey taco burrito bowl. Turned out really good. Even the hubby went back for seconds and this rarely happens! Thanks for sharing!
Awesome! Seconds are always a good sign ?Thanks for coming back to leave your comment. So glad these burrito bowls were a hit.
Made it as per your recipe . Family loved it..... Thanks
Is the calories per serving for 1 cup or how much?
Served it with brown rice and everyone in my family became a fan. Thanks for the awesome share. I hope it doesn't have too many calories.
So good to hear! I am still doing calorie count for all my recipes. Takes lots of time! I am sure it's not too bad, besides it's all real/whole food so that's good.
It's unfortunate that online recipes are constantly stating calories are less than they are. This recipe without rice or toppings is 199 CAL per serving for 8 servings which is almost double what is stated. Bowls were good but high in calories with both rice and toppings. Definitely NOT a low cal choice.
Everyone has different ideas of healthy and not healthy, low calorie and high calorie. I have never once claimed to be a diet or nutrition site. The nutrition information is calculated with the recipe plugin I use so obviously there will be a bit of wiggle room as far as the calorie amount. I will go double check and see if the nutrition info is possibly missing an ingredient. Personally, I think 199 cal + calories for toppings is pretty good. It's real, wholesome food which is always a win in my book. Toppings can be as high or low calorie as you want. Choose lettuce, tomato, reduced fat cheese or add sour cream for a higher calorie topping. Thanks for leaving your feedback 🙂
Just made them-everyone loved it. Followed everything exactly. Just added lime and cilantro to the rice. Couldn't believe how easy and fast it was. Very filling and delecious
SO good to hear this! I always serve this with the cilantro lime rice too 🙂
Just made this superyummy TTBB recipe with a few tweeks to reduce the calorie count for my needs. LIke your stated eariler, you never claimed this dish to low calorie, however one can make substitutions to fit their needs. Used unsalted vegtable stock, arrowroot instead of flour . Switched 1 cup medium heat salsa for tomato sauce and added the juice of 1 lime to the meat mixture right before serving. Served over cilantro lime quinoa with chopped romaine and cherry tomatoes. Thank you so much for your recipe, it delis:)
I love it! These are so adaptable to suit any dietary or calorie needs. Thank you for commenting with your changes because I know it's so helpful for others to read them. And your cilantro lime quinoa sounds delicious!
Has anyone ever tried making this in a crock pot?
Hi Jess,
My name is Amy and I make this recipe litterely once a week!! My family and me too love, love, love this! It so easy, convenient and delicious!! You can also tweek to your liking. I add some cayenne pepper and pepper flakes too. We're so spicy! Thank you for this recipe it's so great!!
This makes me so happy! So glad these are a hit and yes I love how you can tweak the recipe each time with something different or to your liking. Plus, all those toppings are my favorite part 🙂
This was so delicious! It was a hit with the whole family (which is super rare with a toddler!) THANK YOU!
You are very welcome! Thank YOU for trying them and coming back to leave your review.
Have you tried freezing the meat mixture?
I have not. I don't like freezing things (well, most things) because it tends to make the texture a bit odd for me after thawing. That's just my personal preference. I bet it would be just fine freezing it. Maybe add some additional water or broth when you reheat it.
Was delicious, my husband enjoyed especially with the rice.
So yummy! I don’t use flour anymore so I subbed almond flour and it worked great! Thxs for the recipe!
Oh good! I am so glad the almond flour worked cause I have had others ask about a substitute for the flour. Thanks for coming back and leaving your feedback. So happy you loved these 🙂
can you make this with ground chicken??
I think that would be fine. I've never tried it but I see no reason why ground chicken would not work. Let me know if you try it.
Turned out great! Love to hear my fiancé say “this recipe is a keeper.”
Made this and added a drained can of rotel to the meat mixture. I used it as a topping to cooked spaghetti squash - it’s awesome. Thanks!!
This is honestly the Best Recipe. I’ve made it several times and never left a review, but it deserves it! Thanks so much for sharing it with the world! Lol
Thanks for leaving a review! So happy you love it.
Can you freeze the mixture for later use? Making 8 servings for one person is too much and some of it usually goes to waste. I absolutely love this recipe!! after everything is cooked/simmered/mixed can some of it be frozen for later use?
Yes I would say it could definitely be frozen. I would place some inside a freezer Ziploc bag, seal it tight, and freeze it that way. When you go to cook it from frozen, maybe add just a touch of water to the pot.... I am thinking it will be thickened from freezing so the water will help. Let me know how it goes. I've never frozen it but I know it would work just fine.
I’ve made this recipe a few times with spaghetti squash but now that I live with my boyfriend I know he prefers rice over squash. I made this with the cilantro lime rice tonight and it was to die for!! I love me some squash, but I love me some cilantro lime rice even more now. I already can’t wait to eat my leftovers tomorrow!
This so AMAZING! This is a dish that I would totally make for myself and probably keep for myself. My grandmother used to make something similar when I was a little girl.
This has become my family favourite meal....thank you for sharing.
I have made this recipe several times because it is relatively healthy, easy, and my husband and I both love it. . I usually put it on top of rice (if I have the ingredients I will make cilantro lime rice). I usually put a bunch of cheese and salsa on top. With the rice and everything we can make about 6 servings so it is nice to portion it out and save some to take for lunches for the week.
Easy and delish! Ages 18 mo - 37 loved it.
OMG! This recipe was delicious! It is going in my list of FAVES. I used Jasmine rice instead of regular rice. My toppings were cilantro, avocado, sour cream, cheese and red onion. Yummy-licious!
This was really good! My husband wants this on rotation!
Yum! I just made this recipe and my entire family enjoyed it! It’s a great way to spice up ground Turkey. Thank you for posting!
This was so yummy, I tried for the first time last night. I didn't have a lot of the seasonings so I substituted those for taco seasoning lightly and came out very good.
Thank you for sharing.
So glad the substitutions worked! Thank you for your comment!