Skip the fast food drive-thru for these delicious and healthy tacos.
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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. 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 take-out lane?
I knew you’d be interested in learning more.
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 salsa.
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 low in calories and fat, providing plenty of protein and vitamin B6. It is a better alternative to ground beef for tacos.
This recipe uses whole wheat tortillas, which are healthier 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.
Store-Bought or Make Your Own 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, corn meal, anti-caking agents, silicon dioxide, or other ingredients to their mixes.
A better option is to prepare this Whole 30 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.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup finely diced red onion
- 1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper
- 16 oz. 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
Sauté
Cook onions, bell peppers, and turkey.
Season
Add taco seasoning and simmer.
Assemble
Fill tortillas with mixture and toppings.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
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 zipper 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.
Yes, you can use any soft tortilla, including corn, almond flour, cassava, chickpea, etc. You can use corn or other grain-free taco shells if you want crispy tacos. I rarely make product recommendations here, but I like to use Siete grain-free taco shells made from cassava, avocado oil, pumpkin, and psyllium husk. Their almond flour tortillas are my favorite for burritos, wraps, quesadillas, and soft tacos.
This recipe is perfect for healthy vegetarian tacos. You can substitute with portobello mushrooms, eggplant, zucchini, tofu crumbles, pea protein, 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.
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 healthy taco salad. A couple of options from our website include topping the Mexican Grilled Corn Salad or Southwest Quinoa Salad (this one ups the protein power of the meal) with the onion, 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 flax seeds. 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 sure-fire hit.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup finely diced red onion
- 1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper
- 16 oz. 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:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
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