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    Home » Dinner

    Turkey Taco Rice Skillet

    Published: Apr 14, 2022 · Modified: Apr 27, 2022 by Kelli Avila · This post may contain affiliate links ·

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    Turkey taco rice skillet.
    Skillet turkey taco rice.

    This Turkey Taco Rice Skillet is a delicious, full-flavored one-pan meal. Ground turkey, beans, corn, and lightly spiced rice make this a wholesome meal that totally fits into the grind of weeknight dinner.

    Turkey taco rice skillet with cilantro on top.

    Taco Rice Skillet with Ground Turkey

    One-pan dinners are the ultimate weeknight dinner hack. When I was developing this Skillet Turkey Taco, I paid particular attention to the prep that needed to go into making this meal. Originally, I had thought about adding onions, bell peppers, and garlic for the flavor, but that meant more prep time in the form of chopping and dicing. Instead, this recipe calls for a chunky tomato salsa that easily provides onions, garlic, and diced tomatoes! This adds flavor without the need for a lot of knife work.

    The resulting dish is a hearty and comforting healthy-ish meal with lean ground meat, protein, and veggies with a lightly spiced (not spicy, but taco spice) taste.

    This recipe also means minimal cleanup and minimal hands-on cooking, but yields maximum flavor!

    So let's get to making it! The text below offers some tips for making it, or you can scroll down to the bottom for the complete recipe.

    A bowl of ground turkey and rice with taco seasoning.

    Ingredients Needed and Substitutions

    Here is a brief overview of the ingredients needed for this recipe. The full recipe with quantities is listed below this text in the recipe card. If substitutions are available for this recipe, they'll be listed here. If you don't see a substitution you are looking for, feel free to leave a comment below.

    • ground turkey (buy dark meat if you can)
    • chunky tomato salsa
    • spices: garlic powder, chili powder, dried oregano, cumin (or just substitute 1 tablespoon of your favorite taco seasoning)
    • long-grain white rice (this can be made with brown rice, but the amount of water and cook time will change and the rice package instructions should be followed for that)
    • pinto beans (this can easily be substituted with whatever beans you have on hand)
    • frozen corn (or fresh, or another veggie if you want!)
    • chicken broth or water (chicken broth will obviously produce a more full-flavored end result, so use it if you have it)
    • shredded cheese (use your favorite)
    • Ground turkey in a skillet.
    • Ground turkey in a skillet with taco seasoning and salsa.
    • Turkey taco rice skillet being made.
    • Turkey taco rice skillet fully cooked.
    • Putting cheese on ground turkey and rice with taco seasoning.
    • Melty cheese on top of ground turkey taco rice.

    Kitchen Tools Needed to Make Skillet Turkey Taco Rice

    This one-pan dish is as simple as adding ingredients to a large skillet and cooking them. No chopping or multiple dishes or pots are needed.

    Use a large skillet here (about 12 inches or so), preferably a heavy-bottomed one. But a non-stick one works too!

    Oh, and you'll need a strainer to rinse your uncooked rice before adding it to the pan. Rinsing the rice is essential to get rid of excess starch, and it's not recommended to skip it.

    Turkey Taco rice skillet.

    How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

    This rice dish reheats nicely, and I’ve even frozen leftovers successfully. To reheat, you can heat it in an oven-safe container. I love using Glass Pyrex Containers because they double as storage and baking dishes. Or, you can reheat briefly in the microwave until warmed through. It’s best to add a few tablespoons of water to the dish when reheating it.

    To freeze, place completely chilled rice in a freezer-safe container with a tight-fitting lid. It's best to use within 1-2 months after freezing.

    How to Make Turkey Taco Rice Skillet

    More Easy Dinner Recipes

    • Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
    • Weeknight Turkey Chili
    • Italian Turkey Meatballs
    A bowl of skillet turkey taco and rice.

    Making the recipe? Be sure to leave a comment with a star review on your experience! Have a question? Leave a comment below and I'll get back to you as quickly as I can!

    Print
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    Turkey taco rice in a bowl.

    Turkey Taco Rice Skillet

    ★★★★★ 5 from 3 reviews
    • Author: Kelli Avila
    • Prep Time: 00:05
    • Cook Time: 00:35
    • Total Time: 40 minutes
    • Yield: Serves 4-6 1x
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: One Pot
    Print Recipe
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    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 pound ground turkey
    • 1 cup chunky tomato salsa
    • 1-½ teaspoons kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • ½ teaspoon cumin
    • 1-½ cups long-grain white rice, rinsed well
    • 1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, drained
    • 1 cup frozen corn kernels
    • 3 cups chicken broth or water
    • 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese
    • Cilantro, for serving
    • Fresh lime, for serving
    • Additional salsa, for serving

    Instructions

    1. Heat oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add ground turkey. Cook until no pink remains, about 5-7 minutes.
    2. Add in salsa, salt, garlic powder, chili powder, oregano, and cumin, and cook for 1 minute, until the spices are fragrant.
    3. Add the rice, beans, corn and chicken broth to the skillet and stir together until combined.
    4. Increase the heat to bring the liquid up to a boil, then cover the skillet with a tight-fitting and lower the heat to low. Cook for 20 minutes.
    5. Shut off the heat, sprinkle the top of the rice with the cheese, and return the cover to the skillet and let it sit for 5 minutes.
    6. Serve with cilantro, fresh lime wedges and additional salsa, if desired.

    Keywords: Turkey Taco Rice Skillet

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    Comments

    1. Kate

      April 20, 2022 at 3:09 pm

      Talk about easy and delicious! Hubby was obsessed and I can't wait to have it again for lunch. Next time I'll add a little heat maybe in the salsa or with a bit of cayenne. Put this on your must-make list!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Sally

      April 21, 2022 at 11:55 pm

      Easy and delicious, this is a great meal made with pantry ingredients. A big hit at our house, highly recommended when you need to get dinner on the table in a hurry. Sure to be a crowd pleaser!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Calyn

      April 25, 2022 at 11:23 pm

      So easy and so delicious!!! This is going to be a go to recipe for sure. I added a can of black beans to it as well and topped with plain Greek yogurt. Loved it!

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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    I'm Kelli, the creator of Everyday Family Eats, this space where I share easy and quick recipes the whole family will love! I'm a former professional cook and baker, and full-time working mom, who is passionate about creating approachable dinner ideas that allow the whole family to gather at the table and enjoy a meal together.

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