Taco Lettuce Wraps with Ground Turkey - Evolving Table (2024)

TheseGround Turkey Lettuce Wrapsare a great low-carb and keto alternative to tacos. Fresh romaine lettuce leaves are stuffed with taco-seasoned ground turkey and veggies. Meal prep this quick and easy recipe for a simple and healthy lunch or dinner to enjoy all week!

Ground Turkey Lettuce Wraps Recipe

Something shifted in me these last few years and now I cannot seem to get enough Mexican food!

Healthy Mexican Breakfast Casserolefor breakfast.

Instant Pot al Pastor Tacosfor lunch.

And then dinner… why, these ground turkey taco lettuce wraps, of course! It’s taco night sans taco shells and flour tortillas.

While most Mexican food is often laden with cheese and dripping with unhealthy grease, that doesn’t always have to be the case!

The seasonings and spices give most dishes in this cuisine TONS of flavor, so it is really simple to come up with a variety of easy variations to fit any dietary needs.

However, you do have to remember that corn is NOT allowed on a keto diet. (So, unfortunately, corn tortillas are out of the question.)

Instead, you can wrap your favorite ground turkey taco filling in a cozy lettuce wrap and munch away with your favorite taco fixings! It’s a low-carb Taco Tuesday kind of recipe. Healthy eating never tasted so good…

(And if you LOVE lettuce wraps then you’ll definitely want to check out thesePeanut Asian Chicken LettuceWrapsand theseGround Chicken Thai Lettuce Wraps!)

Ingredients

The ingredients you need to make these healthy turkey taco lettuce wraps are:

• Lettuce. Romaine lettuce leaves have a nice size and crispy texture while offering nutrients. Iceberg lettuce and butter leaf lettuce may also be used in this low carb dish.
• Ground Turkey. This lean protein keeps this recipe healthy. Ground or shredded chicken, lean ground beef, shrimp, or veggies would also make great fillings.
• Bell Peppers. Red bell pepper offers a nice flavor and color. You may also use green, yellow, or orange peppers.
• Onion. Red onion is used in this recipe for its pop of flavor. Sweet and yellow onions are slightly milder and may be used instead. Be sure todice the onionand peppers into small pieces.
• Taco Seasoning Mix. Store-bought taco seasoning can be used. Or, make your ownTaco Seasoningfor the Mexican flavors.
• Salsa. This is where the lettuce wraps get a lot of their flavor. Make sure to use a salsa you really love! You can easily make your ownRoasted Tomato Salsa,Fresh Tomato Salsa, or​Tomatillo Salsa.
• Oil. Mildly flavored oils like olive oil or avocado oil are best to use.
• Toppings. Fresh tomatoes, avocado, and cilantro really put the flavors and texture over the top!

How to Make Taco Lettuce Wraps

Here are the steps to follow for making these Mexican-style lettuce wraps:

Make the Filling

Cook the bell pepper and onion in oil over medium heat in a large skillet until the onions begin to turn translucent.

Push the veggies to the side of the pan and place the turkey in the middle. Cook while stirring for 5 to 7 minutes. Once browned, mix the veggies and turkey together.

Sprinkle in the taco seasoning and salsa. Stir until combined. Then, reduce the heat to medium low, and simmer for 5-10 minutes. This allows the flavors to really marry.

Assemble the Wraps

Make the lettuce wraps by filling each of the romaine lettuce leaves with turkey filling, then garnish with your favorite taco toppings.

You can use anything you’d put on traditional tacos, like sour cream, fresh salsa, avocado, a little cheese,chopped green onions, and even black olives.

Be sure not to add too much filling to each piece of lettuce, otherwise they may fall apart. If you prefer, you can double up the lettuce for added stability.

Meal Prep and Storage

• To Prep-Ahead:Cook taco meat and clean and cut the toppings. Store the meat and toppings separately. Wait to prep the avocado until just before serving.
• To Store:Keep the cooked meat and prepared toppings in individual airtight containers for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• To Freeze:Leftover taco meat can be frozen in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to 3-4 months. The lettuce and toppings will not freeze well so you will need to prep these just before serving.
• To Reheat:Add the taco meat to a skillet over medium heat for 4-5 minutes. Once warmed, assemble the wraps with the toppings.

What lettuce to use for lettuce wraps?

Romaine lettuce is best for lettuce wraps due to its large size and crisp texture. Butter leaf and iceberg are also good options as their leaves are also large enough to fit a lot of fillings and make excellent low-carb tacos.

How to roll a lettuce wrap?

To roll a lettuce wrap, simply scoop some filling into the middle and fold the edges around it.Be careful not to overfill it, or the lettuce will rip and the filling will fall out! Don’t forget your favorite toppings, too.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Gotta love it.The salsa gives the ground turkey a ton of its flavor, so make sure you really like the one you’re using!
• DIY.Homemade taco seasoningis the best to use since you can control the spice level and how much sodium goes into it.
• Let it sit.Be sure to let the meat, veggies, and seasonings simmer to get the most flavor.
• Wait a bit.Since they turn brown pretty quickly, wait tocut the avocadountil very last minute.
• Switch it up.Different lettuces will have a softer bite or more of a crunch, so switch them up until you find one you like!

What to Serve with Lettuce Wraps?

These healthy lettuce wraps are a healthy dinner idea for the whole family, especially when you add any of these delicious sides.

You can’t go wrong withHomemade GuacamoleorHomemade Pico de Gallo. Or, try a fruit salsa likeMango Salsa,Mango Avocado Salsa, orPineapple Pico de Gallowith these healthy tacos. Whip up your ownHomemade Tortilla Chips, too.

Of course,Mexican Street Corn Salad,Instant Pot Mexican Rice,Cilantro Lime Rice, andInstant Pot Black Beansgo with any Mexican dish.