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Home » Recipes » Nourishing Dinner Recipes

Quinoa Taco Bowls with Ground Turkey (20-Minute Recipe!)

Modified: Feb 19, 2026 · Published: Mar 6, 2018 by Tera Gigot · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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These 20-minute quinoa taco bowls with ground turkey are exactly what you need to make when you're short on time, or just don't feel like cooking. They're a complete meal that's packed with protein and flavor!

Quinoa bowls with turkey taco meat, greens, and toppings. this recipe

Okay, picture this. It's getting to be 4-5pm on a weeknight, everyone in the house is getting done with school and work (including you, probably!), and the last thing you want to do is spend a ton of time cooking.

That's when these quinoa bowls with turkey taco meat LEGIT save the day! In just 20 minutes, you've got a high-protein, flavor-packed meal that's as satisfying as it is simple.

The seasoned ground turkey taco meat pairs perfectly with fluffy quinoa and all your favorite toppings, like avocado, salsa, and cheese (feta is sublime in this recipe).

We make some variation of these weekly at house, typically rotating between this and taco chicken sweet potato bowls. If we have leftovers, they're perfect for lunch the next day, whether at home or in an office. YUM!

Jump to:
  • Key Ingredients + Notes
  • Quinoa Bowls Step-by-Step
  • Pairing Recommendations
  • 📖 Recipe

Key Ingredients + Notes

Ingredients needed to make quinoa bowls with turkey taco meat.
  • Ground turkey - For the juiciest turkey taco meat, I highly recommend 93% lean ground turkey. Any leaner than that, and I think you'll run the risk of the meat drying out quickly. Feel free to substitute ground chicken as well (I make this exact taco meat with ground chicken in my ground chicken tacos recipe!).
  • Salsa - I love a thicker, tomato-based salsa for this recipe because I love the texture and flavor it adds. My favorite to use is the pepita salsa from Trader Joe's, but any tomato-y salsa you like will work.

Please see recipe card for full ingredients list and quantities.

This recipe is a complete meal on its own, but when I have time, I add in some cozy oven roasted sweet potato cubes as well. Yum!

Quinoa Bowls Step-by-Step

Quinoa toasting in pot.
  1. Step 1: We'll get quinoa started first. Heat olive oil in a medium-large pot over medium heat. Add quinoa and toast, stirring occasionally, until fragrant (toasting enhances flavor!). Add water and salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and let cook for 15 minutes.
Turkey taco meat being sautéed with taco seasoning in pan.
  1. Step 2: Meanwhile, make the turkey taco meat. Heat olive oil in a medium-large pan over medium heat. Add diced onions and sauté for 2-3 minutes, then add the ground turkey and taco seasoning. Turn heat to medium-low, and continue to break up the taco meat as you cook for 2-3 more minutes.
Fully cooked turkey taco meat in pan.
  1. Step 3: Once the turkey is almost cooked through (but still a little pink in some parts), add salsa and black beans. Stir and sauté until everything is well combined and meat is fully cooked through. Turn heat to low until quinoa is done.
Quinoa bowls with turkey taco meat, greens, and toppings.
  1. Step 4: Once quinoa is done, remove lid and fluff the quinoa with a fork. Assemble bowls with greens, quinoa, turkey taco meat, avocado, cilantro, and squeezes of fresh lime juice. Top with desired toppings (feta, pepitas, tortilla chips, and pickled red onions or pickled jalapeños). Healthy street corn would also be amazing!

Pairing Recommendations

Want to make things interesting? I love adding in the following ingredients into the bowls when we have more time (or leftovers in the fridge!).

  • 20-minute healthy street corn in a clear glass bowl with silver spoon on blue and white surface with two lime wedges
    Zesty 20-Minute Street Corn Salad (Esquites)
  • Roasted sweet potatoes on sheet pan with bamboo serving spoon.
    Comforting Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes (Easy Recipe!)
  • Healthy coleslaw made with oil and vinegar as an alternative to mayo, in a bowl.
    Bright + Crunchy Healthy Vinegar Coleslaw (Meal Prep Friendly!)
  • Roasted butternut squash half on sheet pan.
    Roasted Butternut Squash Made Easy (Cubes or Halves!)

Did you try these quinoa taco bowls with ground turkey? Don't forget to leave a star rating 🌟 and comment below, and tag me on Instagram and Pinterest so I can see what you made!

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📖 Recipe

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Quinoa bowls with turkey taco meat, greens, and toppings.

Quinoa Taco Bowls with Ground Turkey (20-Minute Dinner!)


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  • Author: Tera
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
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Description

These quinoa bowls with turkey taco meat are a complete meal done in just 20 minutes! Packed with protein, flavor, and nutrients, these wholesome bowls are satisfying and perfect for busy weeknights.


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Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup quinoa, uncooked
  • 2 cups water
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ yellow onion, diced
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • ½ cup salsa (I like a thicker salsa)
  • 1 tablespoon taco seasoning (Use your fave! I love Spice Islands)
  • 2 limes
  • 1 avocado
  • Fresh cilantro, finely chopped
  • Spinach, for serving (or your fave greens)
  • Topping Ideas: fresh cilantro, avocado, sour cream, feta, tortilla chips, pepitas, pickled red onions, pickled or fresh jalapeños
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Instructions

  1. Make quinoa. Heat ½ tablespoon of the olive oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add dry quinoa and toast, stirring occasionally, until fragrant (2-3 minutes). Add water and salt, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer over low heat. Cover and cook quinoa for 15 minutes.
  2. Make turkey taco meat. While quinoa cooks, heat remaining olive oil (more if needed) over medium heat in a medium-large sauté pan. Add onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes, then add meat and taco seasoning. Reduce heat to medium-low, then stir and sauté, breaking meat up as it cooks. Once the ground turkey is almost cooked through (a little pink left in some parts), add salsa and black beans. Stir to fully incorporate and cook until turkey is completely cooked through. Turn heat to low until quinoa is ready.
  3. Fluff quinoa & assemble. Once quinoa is ready, remove lid and fluff with a spoon or fork. To each bowl, add greens, quinoa, and taco meat. Top with avocado, cilantro, and fresh lime juice, plus any other toppings! Highly recommend feta, pickled red onions or pickled jalapeños, Greek yogurt or sour cream, and tortilla chips. YUM.

Equipment

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Caraway Sauté Pan

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Image of Spice Islands Taco Seasoning

Spice Islands Taco Seasoning

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Notes

  1. Storage +freezing instructions: Store ingredients separately, then reheat taco meat on its own before reassembling bowls. You can freeze the taco meat and quinoa (separately) in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
  2. Substitutions: Feel free to sub ground beef or ground chicken for the ground turkey. I actually use the same recipe for ground chicken taco meat in my ground chicken taco bowls. You could also use brown rice instead of quinoa, or any grain you need to use up at home.
  3. Salsa: I prefer a thicker salsa for this recipe. My favorite is the pepita salsa from Trader Joe's!
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Dinner; Bowl Recipe
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Mexican-inspired

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 quinoa bowl
  • Calories: 566
  • Sugar: 4.5 g
  • Sodium: 1034.4 mg
  • Fat: 20.8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 63.2 g
  • Fiber: 14.8 g
  • Protein: 37.3 g
  • Cholesterol: 78.2 mg

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Tera Gigot, the author, photographer, and recipe developer of Roots and Radishes.

Hi, I'm Tera! I'm passionate about making seasonal, sustainable eating accessible. If you're seeking nourishing or aspiring to eat more mindfully, you're in the right place!

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Turkey taco quinoa bowl with toppings and a fork.