Description
Tacos Al Pastor with Ground Turkey offer a lighter twist on the traditional Mexican favorite. This recipe infuses lean ground turkey with savory and sweet flavors from a vibrant Al Pastor marinade, enhanced by fresh pineapple and classic taco toppings. Perfect for a quick taco night, these tacos are flavorful, easy to prepare, and customizable with your favorite salsas and garnishes.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Marinade
- 1 lb. 94% lean ground turkey (You can also use ground beef or plant-based meat crumbles)
- 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup Al Pastor marinade
- 1/2 cup organic chicken stock (or beef/vegetable stock)
Tortillas
- 8 flour or corn tortillas
Toppings and Garnishes
- 1 1/2 cups fresh pineapples, chopped into chunks (grilled or roasted for extra flavor, optional)
- Pico de Gallo
- Salsa verde
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Guacamole (homemade or store-bought)
- Diced white onions
Instructions
- Prepare the turkey mixture: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the ground turkey, cooking until browned and fully cooked through, breaking it apart with a spatula.
- Add marinade and stock: Pour in the Al Pastor marinade and chicken stock, stirring to combine. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Warm the tortillas: While the turkey simmers, warm your flour or corn tortillas on a dry skillet over medium heat for about 30 seconds per side until pliable and slightly toasted.
- Prepare pineapple: If desired, grill or roast the pineapple chunks until caramelized and golden to enhance their sweetness and flavor. Otherwise, use fresh.
- Assemble the tacos: Spoon the cooked Al Pastor turkey mixture onto each warm tortilla. Top with grilled pineapple, pico de gallo, salsa verde, diced onions, fresh cilantro, and guacamole as desired.
- Serve and enjoy: Serve the tacos immediately while warm, accompanied by extra salsa or guacamole on the side for added flavor.
Notes
- This recipe uses ground turkey for a leaner protein option, but ground beef or plant-based crumbles can be substituted.
- Grilling or roasting the pineapple adds a smoky caramelized flavor that complements the savory meat.
- The recipe is naturally gluten-free if corn tortillas are used.
- You can prepare the turkey mixture ahead of time and reheat for an easy weeknight meal.
- For a traditional take, substitute the ground turkey with pork shoulder and marinate accordingly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taco
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
