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The Best Healthy & Easy Turkey Taco Salad

A beautiful bowl of homemade, healthy Turkey Taco Salad being enjoyed for a fun and casual family dinner.

A quick and healthy recipe for a classic Turkey Taco Salad. This easy weeknight meal features a warm and savory topping made by cooking lean ground turkey with chopped bell peppers, onions, and garlic in a single skillet. The mixture is seasoned with chili powder and cumin, and brought together with salsa and kidney beans. This hearty topping is then served over a bed of fresh, crisp torn romaine lettuce and garnished with fresh cilantro.

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces ground turkey
  • 1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
  • 1 small sweet yellow pepper, chopped
  • 1/3 cup chopped onion
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 1/2 cups salsa
  • 1/2 cup canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 8 cups torn romaine
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves
  • Optional toppings: chopped tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, crushed tortilla chips

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet, cook the ground turkey, chopped peppers, onion, and garlic over medium heat for 6-8 minutes, breaking up the turkey into crumbles, until the turkey is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender.
  2. Drain off any excess fat from the skillet.
  3. Stir in the salsa, rinsed kidney beans, chili powder, and cumin. Continue to cook until the mixture is heated through.
  4. Divide the torn romaine lettuce among four plates.
  5. Top the lettuce with the warm turkey mixture.
  6. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro and any other desired toppings, such as cheese or tortilla chips.
  7. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • This is a very fast one-pan meal (for the topping), making it perfect for a busy weeknight.
  • The contrast between the warm, savory turkey mixture and the cool, crisp romaine lettuce is a key feature of this salad.
  • The recipe is highly customizable with a variety of optional toppings.