Ground Turkey Tostadas

Ground Turkey Tostadas are easy to make, loaded with healthy ingredients, and bursting with bold flavors. Ready in under 20 minutes, this flavorful dish makes the ultimate lunch or dinner for any day of the week.

With so many incredible dishes constantly calling my name, I truly don’t think I could ever get tired of Tex Mex. Whether I’m enjoying nachos, enchiladas, fajitas, or tostadas; there will always be one thought running through my mind: how many more can I eat before I explode? Kidding. Kind of.

Living in Southern California, there is certainly no shortage of mouthwatering Mexican and Tex Mex food all around me. However, in an effort to save money and cut back on calories, I have taught myself how to make my favorite Mexican-inspired dishes at home. While it may not be ~quite~ the same as dining out at your favorite hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint, these Ground Turkey Tostadas are still darn good.

This is already a pretty quick meal to make, but there are plenty of ways to make it even quicker. You can prep your veggies the night before, use store-bought salsa instead of making your own, and buy crispy tostada shells instead of baking them yourself.

If I know I’m going to be busy before dinner, sometimes I will cook my turkey meat and prep my veggies a few hours beforehand. A little bit of prep work goes a long way in making your life easier at dinnertime, trust me!

Whether you’re serving lunch for the family or hosting a dinner party for friends, these Ground Turkey Tostadas make the ideal main course. Serve them up alongside a green salad and Cilantro Lime Rice for a complete meal that is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser on any occasion.

What You’ll Need For Turkey Tostadas

To bring this vibrant recipe to life, you will need the following key ingredients:

• Corn tortillas: We are going to bake these to perfection to make our crispy tostada shells.
• Ground turkey: I like to use the 93% lean kind, but you can use any kind you like.
• Veggies: For this recipe, you will need onions, green bell peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado. Technically tomatoes and avocados are fruits, but we’re going to lump them in with the veggies anyway!
• Taco seasoning: You can use a packet of your favorite taco seasoning or make your own from scratch; whichever you prefer.
• Salsa: Homemade or store-bought will work. I tend to opt for store-bought salsa to keep this recipe nice and quick.
• Fresh herbs: I like to use fresh cilantro to give the tostadas an extra pop of vibrant and refreshing flavor. If you don’t like cilantro, you can use parsley instead.

Tostada Variations

This delicious dish is super versatile, so there are a ton of different changes you can make depending on what you have at home and what you’re in the mood for. Here are some easy swaps you can make if you’re looking to switch up this recipe:

• Swap out the meat: Instead of ground turkey, you can try ground chicken or lean ground beef.
• Swap out the avocado: To add more flavor, try using guacamole instead of fresh avocado. You can make your own or use a pre-packaged version from the store.
• Change up the beans: Not a fan of refried beans? Try using black or pinto beans instead. For added flavor, you can toss them with some of your taco seasoning.
• Use a different herb: While this recipe calls for fresh cilantro, you can easily swap this out for another bright herb like parsley if you don’t like cilantro.
• Add some acidity: For a touch of acidity, squeeze some lime juice over the tostadas or sprinkle fresh lime zest on top of them.
• Switch up the veggies: You can toss in any veggies you have laying around for this recipe. Some good options include zucchini, mushrooms, and cauliflower.
• Make it vegetarian: Looking for a new Meatless Monday recipe? No problem. Try swapping out the ground turkey for lentils, quinoa, or tempeh.
• Change up the cheese: Instead of using shredded cheese, you can switch this out for a different cheese like cotija, feta, or queso.
• Make it a salad: Double up on the lettuce and leave out the tostada shells for a delicious taco salad.

How to Store Tostadas

Because there are so many components to this dish, it can be a bit tricky to store. I highly recommend packing the tostada shells, tostada turkey meat, and veggies separately before storing them. The veggies will keep well for up to 2 days, I typically toss them into a taco salad the next day and eat it for lunch.

To store the tostada shells, seal them up in an airtight bag or container and keep them in the pantry for up to 3 days. I’ve found that this is the best way to keep them crispy. As for the turkey meat, you can keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 4-6 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about this dish:

What should I serve with this dish?

I like to serve this dish with a side of rice or quinoa and a refreshing beverage, like one of my Skinny Margaritas.

How long can you store tostada meat?

The cooked ground turkey mixture can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 4-6 months.

How should you cook tostadas?

You can cook tostada shells by frying them on the stove, baking them in the oven, or crisping them up in the microwave. There’s no one cooking method that’s necessarily better than the others, but my personal favorite way to cook tostadas is in the oven. It produces healthier results than fried tostadas and crispier results than microwaved tostadas. It’s also great for cooking large batches of tostada shells.

More Healthy Tostada Recipes:

Like this recipe? Try these next:

• Ceviche Tostadas
• Shrimp Tostadas
• Grilled Vegetable Tostadas
• Blackened Salmon Tostadas
• Greek Tostadas with Turkey