Turkey Taco Bowl (Printable)

Seasoned ground turkey over fluffy rice with fresh vegetables, cheese, and zesty toppings for a satisfying meal.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Protein

01 - 1 pound lean ground turkey

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 small onion, finely diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
07 - 1 avocado, diced
08 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Rice

09 - 2 cups cooked white or brown rice

→ Taco Seasoning

10 - 1 tablespoon chili powder
11 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
12 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
16 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional

→ Toppings

17 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
18 - 1/4 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
19 - 1/4 cup salsa
20 - 1 lime, cut into wedges

# How-To Steps:

01 - Cook rice according to package instructions or use precooked rice to expedite preparation.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground turkey and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until browned and nearly cooked through, approximately 5 to 6 minutes.
03 - Add diced onion and red bell pepper to the skillet. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 additional minute.
04 - Sprinkle taco seasoning blend over turkey and vegetables. Mix thoroughly and cook for 2 minutes. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons water if needed to distribute seasoning evenly.
05 - Divide cooked rice evenly among four serving bowls. Top each with seasoned turkey mixture.
06 - Arrange lettuce, cherry tomatoes, avocado, shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa, and cilantro over each bowl according to preference.
07 - Serve immediately with lime wedges alongside each bowl.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in just 35 minutes flat, which means you can have a restaurant-quality meal on the table before anyone gets hangry.
  • Each person customizes their own bowl, so you're not stuck cooking separate meals for different preferences.
  • It's naturally gluten-free if you're careful about seasoning choices, and endlessly adaptable to whatever vegetables you have lurking in your crisper.
02 -
  • If your turkey tastes bland even after seasoning, you probably cooked it on too low heat and missed the browning stage—turn up the heat next time and listen for that sizzle.
  • Don't skip the 2-minute cooking time for the spices after you add them; that's what transforms ground seasoning into cohesive flavor rather than gritty particles.
  • Assemble your bowls right before eating so fresh elements like lettuce and avocado don't get soggy from the warm turkey and rice sitting on them.
03 -
  • Use smoked paprika instead of regular paprika—it adds depth and complexity that regular paprika just can't match.
  • If you want to lighten this up, substitute cauliflower rice for regular rice and the bowl suddenly feels much fresher and less heavy while still being satisfying.
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