Skip the fast food drive-thru for these delicious Healthy Tacos.
Let’s face it: everyone loves a good taco. However, many of us equate tacos with fast food loaded with calories and undesirable ingredients, many of which we can’t pronounce. Well, what if I said you could make healthy tacos at home in approximately the same amount of time it takes you to drive through that takeout lane?
I’m not much of a fast-food person; however, I do have a deep love affair with Taco Bell. But since I discovered and started making this recipe, I’ve saved not only money, but also feel 100 times better about what ingredients are going in my body. Thanks to this recipe, I have “Taco Tuesday” almost every week with my family, and it beats going to the drive-thru any day. So long, Taco Bell!
Sometimes, the healthiest meals taste the best, which is the case with these healthy tacos. This particular recipe contains plenty of whole grains, low-fat protein, and nutritious vegetables. Most of all, it delivers in the taste category. And because tacos are one of the easiest foods to customize, you can add all your favorite toppings! Boost the flavor by customizing your tacos with additional toppings, such as avocado slices, guacamole, fresh lime juice, cilantro, chopped green onions (scallions), sliced black olives, corn kernels, black beans, jalapeño slices, and your favorite salsa. After making this recipe, I hope you can start having your “Taco Tuesdays” every week, too.
Are These Tacos Healthy?
These tacos include nutritious vegetables like red onion, bell pepper, lettuce, and tomatoes. Heart-healthy olive oil is used to sauté the veggies. Lean ground turkey is lower in calories and fat than ground beef, providing plenty of protein and vitamin B6.
This recipe uses whole-wheat tortillas, which have more fiber than plain white flour tortillas. You can also substitute whole-grain corn tortillas for a gluten-free version. Low-fat cheese and Greek yogurt, rather than whole-fat cheese and sour cream, provide additional nutrients, including protein, calcium, and vitamin A.
To make these vegetarian, you can substitute the meat with portobello mushrooms, eggplant, zucchini, or any other vegetable you like. Cooked or canned (drained and rinsed) black, kidney, and pinto beans are other terrific options, as are cooked lentils, tofu crumbles, and pea protein.
What’s Better: Store-Bought Or DIY Taco Seasoning?
If convenience is a factor, you can use store-bought taco seasoning. I recommend reading the labels to ensure no unwanted additives are in the mix. Some brands, including organic ones, may add sugar, potato starch, gums, rice concentrate, cornmeal, anti-caking agents, silicon dioxide, or other ingredients to their mixes.
A better option is to prepare this Whole30 Taco Seasoning recipe in advance and store it in a spice container so you have it available whenever you need it. You probably have all the ingredients on hand right now, as it only requires chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt, and black pepper—no unwanted chemicals.
Can I Prep This Ahead?
There are several ways to make these healthy tacos ahead of time, beginning with preparing your vegetables. You can dice the onion and red bell peppers up to 48 hours in advance and store them in Ziploc bags in your refrigerator. That way, they are ready to use when you want to prepare your meal. You can also make the filling in advance, as it stores well in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat the filling in a skillet or oven until warm, and then serve with your tortillas and toppings.
Serving Suggestions
If you want to skip the taco shell/tortilla part of this recipe, you can use the filling over any salad greens to make a scrumptious taco salad. A couple of options include topping the Mexican Grilled Corn Salad or Southwest Quinoa Salad (this one ups the protein power of the meal) with the onions, pepper, and turkey filling.
You can also make amazing Gluten-Free Tortillas With Sun-Dried Tomatoes for your healthy tacos. They’re vegan-friendly and loaded with beneficial flaxseeds. If you want to turn your tacos into nachos, try this recipe for Air-Fryer Tortilla Chips. No matter how you serve your tacos, they will be a surefire hit. Trust me!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup finely diced red onion
- 1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper
- 16 ounces lean ground turkey
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1/3 cup water
- 4 whole-wheat tortillas
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup low-fat shredded cheese
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt optional
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add red onion and bell pepper, sautéing until softened.
- Add ground turkey to the skillet. Break it up with a spatula and cook until no longer pink.
- Stir in taco seasoning and water. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes.
- Warm the whole-wheat tortillas according to package instructions.
- Assemble the tacos: Spoon the turkey mixture onto each tortilla, top with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and a dollop of Greek yogurt, if using.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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