Turkey Taco Quinoa Skillet

This Turkey Taco Quinoa Skillet is perfectly spicy, full of protein and a cheese lovers dream! The best part? It’s made in one skillet and takes only 30 minutes!

Y’all. I’m all up in my feels regarding this Turkey Taco Quinoa Skillet! I swear, it’s one of the favorite things I’ve ever made. 

Another thing I’m all about lately? Especially this Fall? One skillet meals! This Fall I am simply all about delicious, comfort food meals that can be done in ONE SKILLET. Less mess, less dishes. More time to spend with family and more time to eat dessert. Right?!

I like how the dish is subtly spicy. With how much time it has to simmer, the flavors meld together like nothing you’ve ever had. The black beans and the corn form an amazing alliance to add both juiciness and wonderful texture to the dish. I love how the onion and bell pepper get slightly softer in the skillet but still retain a subtle crunch. The quinoa becomes creamy and delicious, but still remains perfectly cooked. The ground turkey is a wonderful protein for this meal – it’s light, it’s spicy thanks to the taco seasoning and it’s just plain delicious. Lastly, the cheese melted is basically the cherry on top. It takes this super healthy dish and adds just a dash of indulgence.

You literally pour everything into a large cast iron skillet and let it simmer. Just plop a lid on top and go finish that episode of The X-Files episode you’re watching (and yes my husband are just now watching The X-Files and it’s amazing). 

Ingredients You Need for Turkey Taco Quinoa Skillet:

• ground turkey 
• onion and bell pepper (for those crunch vibes)
• corn
• black beans
• quinoa
• water
• cheese
• taco seasoning (homemade or store bought)
• cilantro + jalapeno for garnish!

That’s it! I don’t know about you, but I’m 100% about 7 ingredient one skillet meals that take 30 minutes.

How to Make Turkey Taco Quinoa Skillet:

Begin by preheating your skillet and adding a splash of olive oil. Next, chop up the onion and bell pepper. Add the onion to the skillet. Add a pinch of salt and let it cook for 1-2 minutes. To the skillet, add the ground turkey. Add about 2 tbsp of store-bought or homemade taco seasoning and mix to combine. Let cook until fully done!

Once it’s done cooking, add in the drained cans of black beans and corn. Also add the quinoa. Mix together. Add in 1/2-3/4 cup of water. Mix everything to combine. Let it come to a boil and then reduce the heat to simmer. Place a lid on it and let it simmer for about 20 minutes or until the quinoa is fluffy and cooked through.

Once the 20 minutes are up, remove the lid, taste and adjust for seasoning. Add another tbsp or so of the taco seasoning as well as extra salt if neccessary. Sprinkle a generous amount of cheese on top and replace the lid, letting the cheese melt on top for about 3-4 minutes.

Aaaaand that’s all, folks! Yup. You can garnish with jalapeno, cilantro, avocado or just dive straight in with a fork.

How to Serve Turkey Taco Quinoa Skillet:

I also love how many different ways you can serve the dish! You can eat it straight from the skillet with tortilla chips as an appetizer. You can pile it on top of a bed of greens to make a taco salad. Or, you can totally pile it into a taco shell and eat it that way!

Some variations for the dish? Add chicken instead of turkey! Or maybe double up on the beans and make it a vegetarian dish.

Bottom line, it doesn’t matter how you eat it – it’s going to be delicious! Cheers to minimal clean up, easy, delicious meals! Yay Fall comfort food!

Did you enjoy this recipe? Here are a few more you might like:

Loaded Turkey Taco Bowls 

Roasted Garlic Green Goddess Tacos 

One Skillet Taco Chili Mac and Cheese