Turkey Walnut Taco Meat

This Turkey Walnut Taco Meat is made with ground turkey, chopped cauliflower and walnuts. It’s an easy way to reduce your meat consumption without going completely vegetarian! Use it in tacos, burritos, nachos and more.

Hi friends!

Get ready for this Turkey Walnut Taco Meat to become a staple at your next taco night. I’ve mentioned that I’m working to reduce my meat consumption but that I’m not ready to commit to going fully vegetarian or vegan. Instead, I’m doing my best to stretch the meat I do buy into more meals by mixing it with more plant protein. I did something similar in these Red Lentil Chicken Nuggets and also in this Chicken and Chickpea Noodle Soup. 

Taco meat is something I make pretty much every Sunday. My husband loves to have it prepped and ready for tacos, salads and rice bowls. For a while now, I’ve been adding veggies to the ground turkey when I prep it. I usually just throw in whatever I have on hand: shredded zucchini or carrots, chopped mushrooms, cauliflower rice, chopped peppers etc. But this week I decided to step it up and basically aim to double the amount of taco meat I made while still only using a pound of ground turkey. I chose to add chopped cauliflower and walnuts and it turned out so well I made it two nights in a row!

Walnuts are perfect because they’re a softer nut (not super crunchy like an almond) so they add some texture without a huge crunch. Same thing with cauliflower. I prefer to chop mine by hand so I can choose what size to leave it. After you saute it with the turkey, it cooks and softens, but still retains some of its texture…ie it doesn’t get mushy. You could also easily use cauliflower rice or pulse the cauliflower florets in a food processor!

Turkey Walnut Taco Meat

To season, you can use your favorite storebought taco seasoning (I always look for a low-sodium version) or check the recipe below for a quick homemade version I whipped up tht turned out great. If you’re trying to transition from store-bought to homemade, try doing half and half as you adjust to less sodium than you may be used to!

This recipe is so easy! Watch my 5 year old make it and then give it a try!

I used mine to make nachos and a taco salad with roasted sweet potatoes, salsa, cheese and avocado.

Here’s the recipe:

Turkey Walnut Taco Meat

This Turkey Walnut Taco Meat is made with ground turkey, chopped cauliflower and walnuts. It’s an easy way to reduce your meat consumption without going completely vegetarian! Use it in tacos, burritos, nachos and more.

• Author: Lindsay
• Yield: approx 4 cups 1x

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

1 pound ground turkey
2 cups finely chopped cauliflower (or cauliflower rice)
1.5 cups chopped walnuts
1–2 Tablespoons taco seasoning (or to taste)

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium heat.
2. Add turkey, cauliflower and walnuts.
3. Cook until turkey is no longer pink (drain if necessary).
4. Add taco seasoning, mixing well.
5. Use taco meat as desired – in tacos, burritos or enchiladas, on nachos or taco salads etc!

Notes

For a simple taco seasoning I use 1 tsp each of paprika, garlic powder, chili powder and cumin, plus a little salt!

This taco meat is super versatile and full of flavor. Use it however you normally use your taco meat!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–