This Turkey Walnut Taco Meat is made with ground turkey, chopped cauliflower and walnuts. It’s an easy way to reduce your meat consumption without going completely vegetarian! Use it in tacos, burritos, nachos and more.
*Originally published 2/2020. Updated 3/2024*
Hi friends!
Get ready for this Turkey Walnut Taco Meat to become a staple at your next taco night. If you’re looking to add more plant-based meals to your diet but aren’t quite ready to give up meat completely, recipes like this are a great place to start.
By focusing on adding more plant protein, you can stretch your meat and hopefully even reduce your grocery bill a little bit because we know meat can be expensive.
I did something similar in these Red Lentil Chicken Nuggets and also in this Chicken and Chickpea Noodle Soup.
If you’re not sure what kind of tortillas to get for your taco night, here are the Best Healthy Store Bought Tortillas.
Healthy Turkey Walnut Tacos
Taco meat is something I make pretty much every Sunday. My husband loves to have it prepped and ready for tacos, salads and rice bowls. For a while now, I’ve been adding veggies to the ground turkey when I prep it. I usually just throw in whatever I have on hand: shredded zucchini or carrots, chopped mushrooms, cauliflower rice, chopped peppers etc.
Recently, I aimed to double the amount of taco meat I made while still only using a pound of ground turkey. I chose to add chopped cauliflower and walnuts and it turned out so well I made it two nights in a row!
Walnut Taco Meat with Turkey
Walnuts are perfect because they’re a softer nut (not super crunchy like an almond) so they add some texture without a huge crunch. Same thing with cauliflower. I prefer to chop mine by hand so I can choose what size to leave it.
After you saute it with the turkey, it cooks and softens, but still retains some of its texture…ie it doesn’t get mushy. You could also easily use cauliflower rice or pulse the cauliflower florets in a food processor!
Best Taco Night Recipes
If you’re looking for more recipes for your next taco night, try one of these:
- Ultimate Hot Taco Layer Dip
- Crockpot Cilantro Lime Chicken
- Slow Cooker Creamy Mexican Chicken
- Baked Ranch Chicken Taquitos
Can I use store-bought taco seasoning instead of homemade?
To season, you can use your favorite store-bought taco seasoning (I always look for a low-sodium version) or check the recipe below for a quick homemade version I whipped up that turned out great.
If you’re trying to transition from store-bought to homemade, try doing half-and-half as you adjust to less sodium than you may be used to!
How can I make this turkey walnut taco meat spicier?
To make it spicier, try adding more chili powder or some cayenne pepper to the spice mix!
Turkey Walnut Taco Meat Recipe
Here’s the recipe:
PrintTurkey Walnut Taco Meat
Print RecipeThis Turkey Walnut Taco Meat is made with ground turkey, chopped cauliflower and walnuts. It’s an easy way to reduce your meat consumption without going completely vegetarian! Use it in tacos, burritos, nachos and more.
- Yield: approx 4 cups
Ingredients
1 pound ground turkey
2 cups finely chopped cauliflower (or cauliflower rice)
1.5 cups chopped walnuts
Homemade taco seasoning (1 tsp each of paprika, garlic powder, chili powder and cumin, plus a little salt)
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium heat.
- Add turkey, cauliflower and walnuts.
- Cook until turkey is no longer pink (drain if necessary).
- Add taco seasoning, mixing well. Taste and add another half teaspoon of each seasoning if desired.
- Use taco meat as desired – in tacos, burritos or enchiladas, on nachos or taco salads etc!
Notes
You can sub a packet of store-bought taco seasoning for the homemade spice mixture.
This taco meat is super versatile and full of flavor. Use it however you normally use your taco meat!
Turkey Walnut Taco Meat FAQs
Can I use another meat besides turkey?
Yes! You could easily sub ground beef in this recipe if you prefer.
What can I substitute for walnuts if I have an allergy? How can I make this recipe without nuts?
If you have a nut allergy, try replacing the walnuts with 1.5 cups of cooked green lentils.
Can I make this taco recipe vegan?
I would recommend trying my Instant Pot Lentil Taco Meat if you’re looking for a vegan option, or you could try replacing the ground turkey with a plant-based meat substitute or crumbled tempeh.
How long does the taco turkey meat last in the fridge?
Leftover turkey taco meat is good in the fridge for 3-4 days after cooking.
Can this taco recipe be frozen for later use?
Yes! Cool the taco meat completely and then freeze as desired. You could freeze the whole batch or portion into smaller serving sizes before freezing.
What are some serving suggestions for this turkey walnut taco meat?
Use this just like you would use any taco meat. You could use it as filling in enchiladas or tacos, serve it over chips for nachos, put it in a burrito with rice or serve over lettuce as a taco salad.
Can I use frozen cauliflower instead of fresh?
Yes! Feel free to sub a bag of frozen cauliflower rice vs making your own from fresh cauliflower.
Looking for some vegetarian taco meat recipes? Try one of these:
Enjoy!
–Lindsay–