Name: Crispy Baked Ground Turkey Tacos with Avocado Sauce Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: Mexican-inspired
Ingredients: 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); 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; 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); Cooking / Baking Spray (or Avocado Oil, for brushing the tortillas); 6 Fajita-Sized Flour Tortillas (6″); 1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

Jump to Recipe

Introduction

Crispy Baked Ground Turkey Tacos with Avocado Sauce offer a delicious twist on classic tacos, combining lean turkey and black beans with a creamy, zesty avocado sauce. These baked tacos are golden, crispy, and perfect for a flavorful weeknight dinner.

A close-up image shows a woman's hand holding a taco with a golden-brown toasted shell, filled with a dark brown spiced meat layer topped with small black beans and green herbs. The taco is being dipped into a small white bowl filled with a light green creamy sauce. The bowl is on a white plate with more tacos in the background, placed on a white marbled surface. The scene has a soft natural light highlighting the textures of the taco shell and sauce. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

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)
2 tsp. Avocado Oil (or Olive Oil)
8 oz. Lean Ground Turkey
2 1/2 tsp. Homemade Taco Seasoning
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
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)
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

Step 1: Make the creamy avocado sauce by blending half of a ripe avocado, 1/4 cup sour cream, 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, 1/4 cup packed cilantro leaves, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 2 tablespoons water in a mini food processor. Blend until smooth, adding more water if needed for desired consistency. Taste and adjust salt or lime juice, then refrigerate until ready.
Step 2: Heat 2 teaspoons of avocado oil in a large non-stick pan over medium heat. Add 8 ounces ground turkey, half of the taco seasoning (about 1 1/4 teaspoons), and 1/3 cup chopped onion. Cook, breaking the turkey into small pieces, until browned and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes.
Step 3: Stir in 3/4 cup black beans, 4 ounces green chiles, the remaining taco seasoning, 2 tablespoons water, and 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro. Mix well, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, allowing flavors to meld.
Step 4: Stir the mixture again; if there’s excess liquid, increase heat to medium and cook, stirring frequently, until most liquid evaporates. Remove from heat.
Step 5: Preheat oven to 425°F. Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray or brush with avocado oil. Arrange six tortillas on the sheet with minimal overlap. Spread about 1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese over each tortilla.
Step 6: Spoon 1/4 to 1/3 cup of the turkey and bean filling onto one half of each tortilla.
Step 7: Bake for 1-2 minutes until cheese melts. Carefully fold tortillas in half and brush or spray the tops with avocado oil.
Step 8: Bake folded tacos for 10-12 minutes, until tortillas are golden brown and crispy.
Step 9: Serve the tacos warm, accompanied by the creamy avocado sauce on the side. Enjoy!

Tips & Variations

Use whole wheat tortillas for a healthier option or corn tortillas for gluten-free variation.
Add diced jalapeños to the filling for extra heat.
For extra crispiness, brush the tortillas with oil on both sides before baking.
Swap Monterey Jack for cheddar or pepper jack cheese to change the flavor profile.
If fresh cilantro isn’t available, substitute with fresh parsley or reduce quantity.

Storage

Store leftover baked tacos and avocado sauce separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat tacos in a toaster oven or conventional oven to maintain crispiness. The avocado sauce may darken slightly but will still taste delicious; stir before serving.

How to Serve

The image shows a white round plate on a white marbled surface, holding four folded tacos arranged in a semi-circle. Each taco has warm, golden-brown soft corn tortillas filled with dark cooked meat that looks juicy and slightly charred. On top of the tacos, there are dollops and drizzles of a pale green creamy sauce, with one cilantro leaf as garnish on the plate near the tacos. To the right side of the plate, there is a small white bowl filled with more of the same light green sauce, with a silver spoon resting inside it. In the top left corner of the image, a glass with a light beige drink is partially visible, and a woman's hand is seen gently touching one of the tacos. The whole scene is bright and inviting with clear, natural light. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use ground chicken instead of ground turkey?

Yes, ground chicken works well as a substitute and will provide a similar lean protein base for the tacos.

How do I make homemade taco seasoning?

Combine chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika, Mexican oregano, salt, and cayenne pepper to taste. Adjust proportions based on your preference for spice and flavor.