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These crispy ground turkey tacos are an easy, family-friendly dinner made on a sheet pan—no frying required! Seasoned ground turkey, crunchy corn tortillas, and fresh toppings come together for a delicious, lighter take on classic crispy tacos.
Looking for easy sheet pan meals? Try our Baked Chicken Quesadillas, Sheet Pan Nachos, or our No Yeast Pizza Dough next!
Oven-Baked Crispy Turkey Tacos (No Frying Needed!)
Crispy ground turkey tacos—AKA the easiest way to get taco night on the table for the whole family without standing over a skillet, flipping tortillas one by one. Instead, we’re using the sheet pan to crisp up the tortillas all at once, because efficiency is key when you’re feeding a crowd.
The ground turkey is perfectly seasoned to be savory and satisfying while keeping things on the lean side. And the toppings? A dream. Cool and creamy sour cream, a punchy green sauce made with avocado and jalapeño, crisp lettuce, and juicy tomatoes—every bite is crunchy, flavorful, and ridiculously good.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
✔ Sheet Pan Simplicity – No frying, no flipping, just pop them in the oven for crispy, golden perfection.
✔ Family-Friendly – Makes a big batch at once, so everyone eats hot, crunchy tacos at the same time.
✔ Flavor-Packed & Lean – The ground turkey is seasoned to be savory and satisfying while staying on the lighter side.
✔ Topping Heaven – Cool sour cream, zesty avocado-jalapeño sauce, crisp lettuce, and juicy tomatoes—every bite is loaded with flavor.
✔ Customizable – Swap in your favorite protein, add extra toppings, or make it spicier for a little kick.
✔ Minimal Cleanup – One pan does most of the work, so you’re not left with a mountain of dishes.
Ingredients Needed
- Ground Turkey – Lean but flavorful! You can swap it for ground beef, chicken, or even a plant-based alternative.
- Homemade Taco Seasoning – A simple mix of spices for bold flavor. Store-bought taco seasoning works too if you’re short on time.
- Tomato Paste – Adds richness and depth to the turkey taco meat. If you don’t have it, try a splash of salsa or canned tomato sauce.
- Corn Tortillas – Crisp up beautifully in the oven! Flour tortillas can work, but they’ll be softer and less crunchy.
- Avocado Oil – Helps the tortillas crisp up without being greasy. Olive oil is a great alternative.
How to Make Crispy Turkey Tacos
Find the complete recipe card below with measurements and full instructions.
- Add the ground turkey to a medium size skillet and cook over medium heat, breaking apart the meat while it cooks. Once the meat is cooked and browned, no longer pink, add the seasonings and stir to combine. Stir in the tomato paste and water. Let this cook for an additional minute.
- Prepare the tacos by warming the tortillas in a microwave or on a skillet.
- Drizzle oil on a large baking sheet. Then one by one add tortillas to the baking sheet coating both sides in the oil. Once you have 10 tortillas on the baking sheet, then layer with a sprinkling of grated cheese, 2-3 tablespoons of turkey meat, and then more grated cheese. Gently fold the tortillas over to create the taco.
- Continue until all the tortillas are filled.
- Bake the tacos for 8-10 minutes, if you have a tortilla that opens back up, gently fold it back over after a brief moment, allowing the tortilla to reheat in the oven to make it soft again.
Prevent Your Tortillas From Breaking: Having the corn tortillas nice and warm when forming the tacos prevents them from cracking when you fold them.
Serving & Topping Ideas
- These crispy tacos are perfect as-is, but the toppings take them to the next level! Some basic toppings include: cool sour cream, crisp shredded lettuce, juicy diced tomatoes, and a creamy avocado-jalapeño sauce (recipe included below!) for the ultimate bite.
- Want to mix it up? Try adding crumbled queso fresco, pickled red onions, sliced jalapeños, or a drizzle of hot sauce for extra flavor.
- Serve alongside Mexican rice, refried beans, or a simple corn salad to round out the meal.
- And if you’re feeling extra, a side of chips and guacamole is always a good idea!
Recipe Tips
- Make-Ahead Tips: Cook the seasoned ground turkey up to 3 days in advance and store it in the fridge. When ready to bake, simply warm it up and assemble the tacos for a quick and easy meal. You can also assemble the tacos ahead of time, refrigerate them for a few hours, and bake just before serving.
- Spice Level Adjustments: The creamy avocado-jalapeño sauce has a mild kick, but can easily be omitted. If you’re concerned about the chili powder amount, start with less and add more to taste as desired. Want even more heat? Mix in chipotle powder, cayenne, or diced serrano peppers to the turkey filling.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftover tacos in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To bring back the crunch, skip the microwave and reheat them in a skillet over medium heat with a little oil, flipping until the tortillas are crispy again. This method keeps them golden and delicious—almost like fresh-baked! Add your favorite toppings and enjoy.
More Taco Recipes
Crispy Ground Turkey Tacos
Ingredients
Creamy Jalapeno Sauce
Turkey Taco Meat
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1½ teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons water
Crispy Tacos
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil
- 10 white corn tortillas
- 8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese grated
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- ½ cup diced tomato
- ¼ cup sour cream
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce by adding all of the ingredients to a blender or food processor and blending until smooth and creamy. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
- Drizzle avocado oil in a large baking sheet and set aside.
- Add the ground turkey to a medium size skillet and cook over medium heat, breaking apart the meat while it cooks. Once the meat is cooked and browned, no longer pink, add the seasonings and stir to combine.
- Stir in the tomato paste and water. Let this cook for an additional minute.
- Prepare the tacos by warming the tortillas in a microwave or on a skillet (having them warm helps to prevent breaking).
- Then one by one add tortillas to the baking sheet coating both sides in the oil. Once you have 10 tortillas on the baking sheet, then layer with a sprinkling of grated cheese, 2-3 tablespoons of turkey meat, and then more grated cheese. Gently fold the tortillas over to create the taco.
- Continue until all the tortillas are filled.
- Bake the tacos for 8-10 minutes, if you have a tortilla that opens back up, gently fold it back over after a brief moment, allowing the tortilla to reheat in the oven to make it soft again.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Photography by @KJandCompany.co
