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Crispy Baked Ground Turkey Tacos with Avocado Sauce Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 144 reviews

These Crispy Baked Ground Turkey Tacos with Avocado Sauce are a flavorful twist on classic tacos, featuring lean ground turkey simmered with black beans and green chiles, baked inside crispy flour tortillas with melted Monterey Jack cheese. The tacos are complemented by a creamy, zesty avocado sauce that adds a fresh and tangy element, making this recipe perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a satisfying handheld meal.

Ingredients

Scale

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 (see below)
  • 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

  1. 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 desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or lime juice if desired. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  2. 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, 2 1/2 teaspoons of homemade or store-bought taco seasoning, and 1/3 cup chopped onions. Cook, breaking up the turkey into small pieces and mixing continuously, for 4-5 minutes until browned and fully cooked.
  3. Finish the Taco Filling: Stir in 3/4 cup of black beans (drained but not rinsed), 4 ounces of green chiles, the remaining taco seasoning, two tablespoons of water, and 2 tablespoons of finely chopped cilantro. Mix thoroughly. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld and liquid to reduce.
  4. Evaporate Excess Liquid: Stir the mixture again. If there is excess moisture, increase heat to medium and cook for a few more minutes, stirring frequently, until most liquid evaporates. Remove from heat.
  5. Build the Tacos: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Lightly grease a large rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray or avocado oil. Arrange six fajita-sized flour tortillas on the baking sheet, slightly overlapping if needed. Evenly sprinkle about 1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese on each tortilla.
  6. Assemble Filling on Tortillas: Spoon approximately 1/4 to 1/3 cup of the turkey and black bean mixture onto one half of each tortilla atop the cheese layer.
  7. Bake to Melt Cheese: Place the baking sheet in the oven for 1-2 minutes until cheese melts.
  8. Fold and Crisp the Tacos: Carefully fold each tortilla in half over the filling. Brush the tops with avocado oil or spray with cooking spray for extra crispiness.
  9. Bake Until Golden and Crispy: Return to oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until the tortillas are golden brown and crispy.
  10. Serve: Serve the crispy baked tacos hot with creamy avocado sauce on the side for dipping. Enjoy as a delicious, handheld meal!

Notes

  • Avocado Sauce Notes: Sour cream can be substituted with full-fat Greek yogurt. Use Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt for best results; if using another brand, start with 1/4 tsp and adjust to taste.
  • Turkey + Black Bean Filling Notes: Use lean ground turkey in the 85/15 or 90/10 fat range. Homemade taco seasoning can be swapped with 2 1/2 teaspoons of your preferred store-bought taco seasoning. Black beans should be drained but not rinsed to preserve flavor. Hatch green chiles are preferred but any small 4-ounce can of green chiles will do. Cilantro is optional and can be omitted if disliked, including from the avocado sauce.
  • Taco Notes: Flour tortillas are recommended for folding without breaking; corn tortillas can be used but are more fragile. Substitute Monterey Jack cheese with Pepper Jack, Cheddar, or Chihuahua cheese for a different flavor. If the filling spills out during baking, gently use a fork to tuck it back before the cheese cools.

Keywords: ground turkey tacos, baked tacos, crispy tacos, avocado sauce, healthy tacos, homemade taco seasoning, black bean turkey filling, weeknight dinner

Find it online: https://biteandenjoy.com/crispy-baked-ground-turkey-tacos-with-avocado-sauce-recipe/