• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
An Edible Mosaic™
  • about
    • contact
    • accessibility
    • privacy policy
    • terms and conditions
  • cookbooks
  • recipes
  • world cuisine
    • arabic and middle eastern
    • asian
    • british
    • buffalo foods
    • czech
    • dutch
    • ethiopian
    • french
    • german
    • greek
    • indian
    • irish
    • italian
    • jamaican
    • jewish
    • latin
    • polish
    • russian and ukrainian
    • swedish
    • tex mex
    • thai
    • west african
  • Nav Social Menu

menu icon
go to homepage
  • cookies!
  • about
  • recipes
  • cookbooks
  • subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • cookies!
    • about
    • recipes
    • cookbooks
    • subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Cuisine » Tex Mex

    Turkey Taco Bowl Recipe with Rice - Great For Leftovers

    Published: Mar 18, 2022 · Modified: Jun 20, 2023 by Faith · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe

    This Turkey Taco Bowl Recipe is a well-balanced, easy lunch or dinner that's perfect for meal prep! These bowls are good for picky eaters too; you can set up a "taco bowl bar" so everyone can add their favorite toppings.

    taco rice bowl

    Who doesn’t love a good salad bowl, right? Part of the appeal of a salad bowl is being able to pick and choose the components that go into it, which is why salad chains are becoming increasingly popular.

    But it's also very easy to make a salad bowl topping bar at home!

    The fun thing about putting together a taco bowl bar at home is that you can get the whole family involved. It’s basically a form of tacos, and we all know tacos have nearly endless variations. Maybe one kid’s favorite topping is guacamole, and maybe it’s shredded cheese for another. The real beauty of this lies in the fact that a) they’re eating healthy foods, and b) they’re getting involved in making it.

    Another great thing about this recipe is that the different components can all be made in advance and kept in the fridge for a few days. This makes it perfect for meal prep!

    With spiced taco meat, rice, salad, and an easy homemade dressing, these bowls are sure to be a new family favorite.

    turkey taco bowl

    In This Article

    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • The Best Taco Rice Bowl Recipe
    • Tips
    • Taco Bowl FAQs
    • More Salad Bowls to Make
    • Turkey Taco Bowl Recipe

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • It's a good choice for meal prep. This dish only takes about 40 minutes to make from start-to-finish, and it makes 6 servings. Use the leftovers for lunches during the week!
    • Taco bowls are easy to customize. This is why it's a good choice for picky eaters - they can top their bowl with whatever fixings they like.
    • Full meal in one bowl. There's no need to worry about side dishes; this is already a balanced meal!
    taco bowl recipe with description

    The Best Taco Rice Bowl Recipe

    Ingredients

    Rice:

    • Rice
    • Clarified butter (ghee) or avocado oil
    • Salt
    • Water

    Turkey Taco Meat:

    • Olive oil
    • Ground turkey
    • Onion
    • Garlic
    • Taco spice mix
    • Ground cumin
    • Salt
    • Tomato paste
    • Apple cider vinegar

    Creamy Tex-Mex Dressing:

    • Mayo
    • Heavy cream
    • Salsa
    • Fresh cilantro
    • Taco spice mix
    • Onion powder
    • Garlic powder

    Salad:

    • Mixed baby greens
    • Cherry tomatoes
    • Red onion
    • Cheddar or your favorite cheese
    taco bowl recipe

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Step 1: Make the Rice

    Rinse the rice and drain well.

    Toast the rice in ghee, and then add the salt and boiling water.

    Cook until the liquid is absorbed, and then let it sit (covered) for 10 minutes before fluffing the rice.

    Step 2: Make the Turkey Taco Meat

    Add the oil, turkey, and onion to a medium-large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until the meat is browned, about 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Add the garlic, taco spice mix, cumin, salt, and tomato paste and cook 2 to 3 minutes more, stirring constantly.

    Turn off the heat and stir in the vinegar.

    Step 3: For the Creamy Tex-Mex Dressing

    Whisk together all ingredients and refrigerate until using.

    Step 4: To Make the Taco Bowls

    Divide the baby greens between 4 bowls. Top each with rice, taco meat, tomatoes, onion, and cheddar.

    Serve along with the dressing to spoon on top.

    homemade salad bowl with taco meat and rice

    How to Store Taco Rice Bowls

    Store each component separately in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

    Tips

    • Use store-bought dressing instead of homemade if you prefer.
    • If turkey isn't your thing, swap it out for lean ground beef or ground chicken.
    • Serve this with cauliflower rice to keep the carbs down.
    turkey taco bowls graphic

    Taco Bowl FAQs

    What Can You Put in a Taco Bowl?

    The sky is the limit when it comes to ingredients you can add to a taco bowl! Here are a few delicious ideas to help you make it a balanced meal:

    • Taco Meat: Here we use turkey to make our taco meat, but you can go with any kind of ground meat you like.
    • Rice: Rice is delicious in a taco bowl! Alternatively, to keep the carbs down, use cauliflower rice instead.
    • Tortilla Chips: These are perfect for a little crunch.
    • Beans: Black beans are a fantastic addition to these bowls.
    • Vegetables: Feel free to add any vegetables you like; lettuce, tomato, onion, and bell pepper are all good options.
    • Cheese: Go with what you love; Monterey, pepper jack, cheddar, queso fresco, etc. You can't go wrong!
    • Condiments: Here we make a Creamy Tex-Mex Dressing, but you could go with salsa, sour cream, and/or guacamole.
    • Fresh Herbs: Cilantro and scallion are my favorite herbs for this dish.

    How Do You Set Up a Topping Bar?

    It's very easy to set up a topping bar for taco bowls! Just prepare everything and instead of compiling the bowls, let everyone fill their own bowl with whatever components they like.

    taco bowl

    More Salad Bowls to Make

    • Greek Salad Bowls with Spiced Lamb Burgers
    • Mango Turkey Sloppy Joe Salad Bowls
    • Chicken Salad Bowls with Avocado, Strawberry, and Walnut
    turkey taco meat with salad and rice

    Let's Connect

    an edible mosaic stamp logo 1200 square

    Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below. You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media.

    To stay up-to-date, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!

    Turkey Taco Bowl Recipe

    By: Faith Gorsky
    This Turkey Taco Bowl Recipe is a well-balanced, easy lunch or dinner that's perfect for meal prep! These bowls are good for picky eaters too; you can set up a "taco bowl bar" so everyone can add their favorite toppings.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 25 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Main Course, Salad
    Cuisine Tex-Mex
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 494 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    Rice:

    • 1 cup white rice
    • 2 tablespoons clarified butter ghee, or an oil with a high smoke point like avocado oil
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 ¾ cups boiling water

    Turkey Taco Meat:

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 pound ground turkey or beef
    • 1 medium onion diced
    • 4 large cloves garlic crushed
    • 1 teaspoon taco spice mix see Note
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
    • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

    Creamy Tex-Mex Dressing:

    • ¼ cup mayo
    • ¼ cup heavy cream
    • 1 tablespoon salsa
    • 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro
    • ¼ teaspoon taco spice mix see Note
    • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
    • ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder

    Salad:

    • 8 cups mixed baby greens
    • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
    • 1 small red onion thinly sliced
    • 4 ounces cheddar shredded or cubed (or your cheese of choice)

    Optional Topping Ideas:

    • Salsa
    • Guacamole
    • Chopped olives
    • Fresh chopped cilantro

    Instructions
     

    For the Rice:

    • Put the rice in a fine mesh sieve and rinse it under cool running water for about 30 seconds; drain well.
    • Add the ghee to a 3-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the rice and cook until it starts to smell nutty, about 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
    • Add the salt and boiling water. Cover the saucepan, turn the heat down to low, and cook until the liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes (don’t open the pot during this time).
    • After cooking, let the rice sit covered in the saucepan for 10 minutes before fluffing with a fork.

    For the Turkey Taco Meat:

    • While the rice cooks, make the taco meat.
    • Add the oil, turkey, and onion to a medium-large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until the meat is browned, about 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    • Add the garlic, taco spice mix, cumin, salt, and tomato paste and cook 2 to 3 minutes more, stirring constantly.
    • Turn off the heat and stir in the vinegar.

    For the Creamy Tex-Mex Dressing:

    • Whisk together all ingredients and refrigerate until using.

    To Make the Taco Bowls:

    • Divide the baby greens between 4 bowls. Top each with rice, taco meat, tomatoes, onion, and cheddar.
    • Serve along with the dressing to spoon on top.

    Faith's Tips

    • Nutritional Information: Information for this recipe was calculated without the optional topping ideas.
    • Taco Spice Mix: You can use store-bought or make your own blend (my blend has ancho chili powder, chipotle chili powder, cumin, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper).

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Turkey Taco Bowl Recipe
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 494 Calories from Fat 252
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 28g43%
    Saturated Fat 12g75%
    Trans Fat 1g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 6g
    Monounsaturated Fat 10g
    Cholesterol 92mg31%
    Sodium 693mg30%
    Potassium 564mg16%
    Carbohydrates 33g11%
    Fiber 2g8%
    Sugar 3g3%
    Protein 27g54%
    Vitamin A 1193IU24%
    Vitamin C 23mg28%
    Calcium 185mg19%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Keyword Taco Bowl, Taco Bowl Recipe, Taco Rice Bowl, Turkey Taco Bowl
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
    taco bowl recipe pin

    This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on March 21, 2018. It was updated with more information on March 18, 2022.

    More Tex Mex

    • easy taco pie recipe featured image
      Kid-Friendly Veggie-Heavy Taco Pie Recipe
    • slow cooker enchiladas featured image
      Really Easy Crockpot Enchiladas (Ground Beef Slow Cooker Enchilada Casserole)
    • pulled chicken tacos recipe featured image
      Easy 10 Minute Creamy Chipotle Shredded (Pulled) Chicken Tacos Recipe
    • blender restaurant style salsa featured image
      BEST Easy Blender Restaurant Style Salsa Recipe - Less Than 10 Minutes!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Dean says

      March 03, 2022 at 12:03 pm

      5 stars
      The key to Taco Tuesdays!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    faith photo with welcome

    Hi, I'm Faith!

    I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind An Edible Mosaic. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had. Welcome to An Edible Mosaic!

    More About Faith →
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • RSS Feed

    Popular Recipes

    • boba milk tea featured image
      How to Make Bubble Tea (Easy Boba Tea Recipe)
    • mini victoria sponge cakes featured image
      Mini Victoria Sponge Cake Recipe - Fit for Royalty & Easy to Make as Cupcakes! {video}
    • canned chicken salad featured image
      Canned Chicken Salad Recipe
    • borscht recipe featured image
      Classic Borscht Recipe (Beet Soup)

    Seasonal Recipes

    • sausage stuffed acorn squash featured image
      Beautiful Sausage Stuffed Acorn Squash Served in Squash Bowls {video}
    • small thanksgiving sheet pan dinner for 4 featured image
      Small Thanksgiving Dinner for 4 (Made on a Sheet Pan!)
    • fall harvest sweet potato salad recipe featured image
      Fall Harvest Sweet Potato Salad Recipe {video}
    • butternut squash casserole featured image
      Cheddar and Thyme Butternut Gratin Recipe - An Easy Casserole That's Perfect if You Need a New Idea For Winter Squash

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Contact
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    an edible mosaic stamp logo 1200 square

    SEE RECIPE INDEX

    Social

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • RSS Feed

    My Other Blogs

    • Daily Desserting
    • The Keto Queens

    An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I use and love.

    Copyright © 2023 An Edible Mosaic