Skinny Spicy Turkey Lettuce Tacos (Printable)

Spicy turkey filling in crisp lettuce leaves topped with refreshing mango slaw for a light, satisfying meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ Turkey Filling

01 - 1 pound lean ground turkey
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
06 - 1 tablespoon chili powder
07 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
08 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
13 - 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
14 - Juice of 1/2 lime

→ Mango Slaw

15 - 1 large ripe mango, peeled and julienned
16 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
17 - 1/2 cup shredded carrots
18 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
19 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
20 - Juice of 1 lime
21 - 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
22 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
23 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Serving

24 - 12 large butter or romaine lettuce leaves, washed and patted dry
25 - Lime wedges for garnish
26 - Fresh cilantro for garnish

# Steps:

01 - In a large bowl, combine mango, red cabbage, carrots, cilantro, and green onions. In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, honey, rice vinegar, and salt. Pour dressing over the slaw and toss well. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add red onion and cook until softened, approximately 2 minutes. Add minced garlic and jalapeño, and sauté for 1 minute more.
03 - Add ground turkey to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Continue cooking until no longer pink, about 5 to 6 minutes.
04 - Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, coriander, salt, and pepper. Add tomato paste and mix thoroughly to combine all flavors.
05 - Pour in chicken broth and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, allowing the mixture to thicken and flavors to meld. Squeeze in lime juice, stir well, and remove from heat.
06 - Spoon the spiced turkey mixture into the center of each lettuce leaf. Top generously with the prepared mango slaw.
07 - Garnish with extra fresh cilantro and lime wedges if desired. Serve immediately while the turkey filling is warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's ready in 35 minutes and feels like you actually cooked something impressive.
  • The mango slaw brings a tropical sweetness that makes lean turkey taste absolutely vibrant.
  • No guilt, no carb crash—just pure flavor that leaves you feeling energized instead of sluggish.
  • Lettuce leaves beat taco shells every time when you want crisp texture without the heaviness.
02 -
  • Don't skip patting the lettuce leaves dry—wet leaves will wilt and tear, and your taco will fall apart mid-bite.
  • The slaw absolutely needs time in the fridge to develop flavor and texture; made and eaten immediately, it tastes flat and raw.
  • Brown the turkey properly over medium heat rather than cranking the heat to high—rushing it creates steam instead of color, and you lose half the flavor.
03 -
  • Cook the turkey filling ahead and reheat it gently just before serving—it actually tastes better the next day when the spices have settled in.
  • Keep your ingredients at different temperatures: warm turkey, chilled slaw, cool lettuce leaves—the contrast is what makes each bite interesting.
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