Tacos Al Pastor with Ground Turkey

This Tacos Al Pastor with Ground Turkey recipe is a game-changer for taco night! These tacos bring that iconic, savory-sweet flavor using ground turkey, making them a lighter, but still irresistibly delicious option. Packed with spices, pineapple, and a touch of smoky goodness, they’re perfect for a fun taco Tuesday or any day of the week! Gluten-free, Make Ahead, Plant-based + Traditional Pork Option.

I recently whipped up an All-Purpose Al Pastor Marinade, and you know what that means—taco time! Enter: Tacos Al Pastor with Ground Turkey --- I have to admit, Tacos Al Pastor have only recently become a favorite of mine, and I’m wondering how I ever lived without them. These tacos are juicy, smoky, tangy, sweet, a bit spicy + insanely delicious.

They’re a nice light option thanks to using ground turkey, but still packed with flavor. The beauty of these tacos is their versatility. You can swap the turkey for beef or pork, and they’re easy to make gluten-free. Plus, you can prep some elements in advance for convenience. The result is a super tasty + texturally exciting dish that you’ll want to make again and again. Craving more taco recipe inspiration? Check out my Birria Tacos, Bang Bang Shrimp Street Tacos, Crispy BBQ Pinto Bean Tacos, or Spicy Sofritas Quinoa Tacos next!

Why You Will LOVE Tacos Al Pastor with Ground Turkey

• Flavor-packed with a healthy twist—ground turkey makes them lighter.
• Perfect balance of spicy, tangy, and sweet.
• The marinade soaks in perfectly, making each bite a burst of deliciousness.
• Ideal for meal prepping—freeze extras for a quick + tasty future meal.
• An easy weeknight dinner that’s so delicious.
• A crowd-pleasing combination that will have everyone coming back for seconds.

How To Make Tacos Al Pastor with Ground Turkey

Start by preparing your Al Pastor marinade. Once it’s ready, cook the ground turkey to perfection. While the turkey is cooking, get your toppings prepped and ready to go. Warm or char your tortillas to enhance their flavor and texture. Finally, bring it all together by assembling your delicious tacos.

Ingredients

GROUND TURKEY:

• Lean ground turkey. You can also do this with ground beef or plant-based meat crumbles, if desired.
• Extra virgin olive oil. Feel free to use your favorite high-quality EVOO. My fave tried and trusted brand is California Olive Ranch.
• Garlic cloves. Minced.
• Al Pastor Marinade. See the recipe HERE!
• Chicken stock. You can also use beef stock or vegetable stock, if needed.

TACOS:

• Flour or corn tortillas. You can also make your own tortillas or use hard taco shells.
• Fresh pineapples. Chopped into chunks (I love to grill or roast them for added flavor)
• Pico de Gallo. Make your own using my Pico de Gallo recipe.
• Salsa Verde. Homemade or store-bought!
• Cilantro. Chopped fresh.
• Guacamole. Make your own using my Guacamole recipe.
• White onions. Diced.

SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR COOKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS TOMATO SOUP!

Here, I've curated a list of cooking + baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods or cooked meals, especially with this Tacos Al Pastor with Ground Turkey. Everything from my fave baking sheet, dutch ovens, immersion hand-blender, mixing bowls, and more. SEE THEM HERE!

Can I Use Another Type Of Meat Or Plant-based Option?

Absolutely! You can get creative with your Tacos Al Pastor by using different types of meat. Beef, pork, chicken, or even goat (Which is actually the traditional meat used) can be excellent substitutes for turkey.

If you're looking for a meatless option, plant-based crumbles or jackfruit is a fantastic alternative that mimics the texture of meat. Check out my Jackfruit Birria Tacos recipe for some inspo!

Tacos Al Pastor Topping Ideas

With this easy Tacos Al Pastor with Ground Turkey recipe all set and ready to go, it's time to assemble. When it comes to toppings, I enjoy the vibrant, fresh, and sweet medley of ingredients. If you make these more than once and want to switch it up my favorite taco topping ideas in general include:

• Shredded red cabbage
• Grape tomatoes, fresh or roasted
• Avocado or fresh guacamole
• Spicy salsa or Pico de Gallo
• Vegan queso
• Roasted corn
• Jalapeños (pickled or fresh)
• Yogurt or sour cream
• Jalapeno Ranch Sauce
• Dairy-free Creamy Chipotle Sauce
• Candied Bacon
• Mango chunks
• Hot sauce
• Lime or lemon juice
• Cilantro or parsley, chopped!

Best Tortilla for Tacos Al Pastor?

You can choose either corn or flour tortillas for this taco recipe. If you’re looking for a gluten-free option, corn is your best bet. Whichever option you choose, I recommend the small street taco-size. They’re easy to fill, hold and eat by the dozen! Of course, in a pinch, larger tortillas will work too. Heat the tortillas before filling them! This makes them more pliable so they’re less likely to break. If you want to try making your own see my tortilla recipe!

How to Best Char or Warm Tortillas

To lightly toast taco tortillas, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and place the tortillas directly on the rack. Turn off the oven once heated and let tortillas warm for 2 minutes. Remove from oven. For char on a stovetop, pop one of the tortillas onto a gas burner until you begin to see a little smoke. Remove the tortilla to rotate it onto the opposite side until it’s lightly charred. Repeat until all tortillas are charred.

Tacos Al Pastor with Ground Turkey Recipe Q + A's

More Delicious + Flavorful Taco Recipes To Try

If you are a fan of this recipe, you will also love these other drool-worthy tacos!

• Vegan Jamaican Jerk Walnut Tacos
• Vegan Gochujang Cauliflower Tacos
• Easy Vegan Black Bean Tacos
• Chipotle BBQ Butternut Squash Tacos
• BBQ Cauliflower Tacos
• Gochujang Shrimp Tacos 

MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?

If you tried this Tacos Al Pastor with Ground Turkey recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram  and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!

Tacos Al Pastor with Ground Turkey

August 25, 2024 •

By Shanika

No ratings yet

This Tacos Al Pastor with Ground Turkey recipe is a game-changer for taco night! These tacos bring that iconic, savory-sweet flavor using ground turkey, making them a lighter, but still irresistibly delicious option. Packed with spices, pineapple, and a touch of smoky goodness, they’re perfect for a fun taco Tuesday or any day of the week! Gluten-free, Make Ahead + Traditional Pork Option

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 35 minutes mins

Serves: 8 tacos

Units:

US Customary|Metric

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Ingredients

GROUND TURKEY:

• 1 lb. 94% lean ground turkey (You can also do this with ground beef or plant-based meat crumbles, if desired)
• 1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup Al Pastor Marinade
• ½ cup organic chicken stock (You can also use beef stock or vegetable stock, if needed)

TACOS:

• 8 flour or corn tortillas (You can also make your own tortillas or use hard taco shells)
• 1 ½ cups fresh pineapples, chopped into chunks (I love to grill or roast them for added flavor)
• Pico de Gallo (Make your own using my Pico de Gallo recipe)
• Salsa verde
• Chopped fresh cilantro
• Guacamole (Make your own using my Guacamole recipe)
• Diced white onions

Instructions

TO MAKE THE AL PASTOR WITH GROUND TURKEY:

• To start, be sure to make the Al Pastor Marinade following my recipe.
• In a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil until heated. Add the minced garlic cloves and sautee until fragrant, about 1 minute or so. Add the ground turkey and stir while breaking up the meat using a wooden spoon. Continue to stir until it turns brown. NOTE: If there is excess fat liquid, be sure to wipe it out with a paper towel or drain.
• Add the Al pastor marinade and chicken stock, stirring to combine. Bring everything to a boil and then reduce heat to medium-low for the meat to cook in the sauce. Stir occasionally and continue to cook until meat is fully cooked through, about 15-20 minutes. NOTE: Reduce the heat further if you notice the liquid drying out fast or add additional stock (¼ cup at a time) if needed. You can the meat to be moist but not saucy.
• Once cooked through, remove from heat.

CHAR OR WARM TORTILLAS:

• To lightly toast tortillas, preheat oven on 350 degrees Fahrenheit and place tortillas directly on rack. Turn off oven once heated and let tortillas warm for 2 minutes. Remove from oven. For char on a stovetop, pop one of the tortillas unto a gas burner until you begin to see a little smoke. Remove tortilla to rotate it onto opposite side until it’s lightly charred. Repeat until all tortillas are charred.

TO ASSEMBLE THE TACOS:

• To assemble tacos, add Al Pastor ground turkey atop a charred/warmed tortilla followed by: pineapple chunks, diced white onions, chopped cilantro, salsa verde, Pico de Gallo, Guac, etc------depending on the ingredients used. Repeat until desired amount of tacos are made.
• Bon Appetit!

Tips & Tricks

• STORAGE: Place any leftover ingredients (individually stored) in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, place Al Pastor turkey meat in a skillet over the stovetop until heated through. Assemble per usual to serve.
• MAKE AHEAD: All ingredients can be made and individually stored as meal prep (excluding tortillas) and assembled when ready to serve.
• TRADITIONAL AL PASTOR: Traditionally, Al Pastor is made with pork shoulder which is marinated + braised or slowly coked. Feel free to keep things authentic with the meat, if desired. You can also use shredded chicken as option. 

Nutrition

Calories: 22kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 0.5mg | Sodium: 22mg | Potassium: 19mg | Fiber: 0.02g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.1mg

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