A lighter version of Mexican Chorizo made with ground turkey and a smoky spice blend, perfect for adding to eggs, tacos, and more!
Ground Turkey Chorizo Recipe
I love eating chorizo in Mexican dishes, but since it’s so high in calories and fat, it’s not something I eat often. I was going to sub turkey chorizo for the classic, but I couldn’t find it in the supermarket. So, I decided to make my own lighter version. Ground turkey is so versatile, if you want more ideas see my Ground Turkey Recipes in the archives.
Chorizo is usually made from cuts of pork, vinegar, and spices. Using leaner turkey or even ground chicken cuts back on the fat but still has plenty of great flavors. Just be sure to use 93% turkey rather than 99%, which will be far too dry.
This healthy chorizo is so easy and versatile. It takes less than 15 minutes to cook and can be served with scrambled or fried eggs, added to breakfast bowls, huevos rancheros, tacos, or burritos. It’s also low-carb, keto, whole30 and gluten-free.
What’s the difference between Mexican and Spanish chorizo?
Chorizo consists of cuts of pork seasoned with smoky spices, like paprika, chili powder, and cumin. Mexican chorizo is generally raw and many times found in casings. It’s usually spicy. Spanish chorizo is cured pork that can be sliced and eaten without cooking. It can be sweet or spicy.
How To Serve Chorizo:
Some of my favorite ways to eat chorizo are in queso fundido and burritos. It’s also good as chorizo con huevos (chorizo with eggs), which is a popular and yummy breakfast dish made by mixing fried chorizo with scrambled eggs (I often do this with picadillo, too!). Of course, there are so many uses for chorizo from breakfast casseroles to tacos to basically anything you can think of!
More Mexican Recipes You Will Love
- Mexican Cauliflower “Rice”
- PicadilloQuesadillas
- Spiralized Mexican Sweet Potato and Chicken Casserole
- One-Skillet Mexican Shrimp Diablo Dinner
- Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
Easy Healthy Turkey Chorizo
Ingredients
- olive oil spray
- 1 pound 93% ground turkey
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons smoky paprika
- 2 teaspoons ancho chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat, spray with oil and cook the meat, breaking it up in small pieces.
- Season with vinegar and spices and cook until browned and no longer pink in the middle, 10 minutes.
- Serve with eggs, breakfast bowls, tacos, burritos and more!
This recipe is delicious and pretty easy.
So easy and delicious! I have made this numerous times. Tonight we had it on a bed of spinach (National Spinach Day) with some cumin rice, avocado, tomatoes, jalapeño, black beans, black olives, roasted sweet potatoes, and shredded cheese. Two days from now – turkey chorizo tacos!
This is the taco meat recipe I make on repeat. Only modification I made is adding 1/3 c cottage cheese while the meat is cooking for extra protein! So good!
I’m so glad I tried this recipe! It’s absolutely delicious! I will not be buying chorizo from the store ever again.
I make this weekly!
This recipe is stellar! I love chorizo but this is the first time I’ve tried making it myself and I’m so excited about what my breakfast future holds! And thanks in general for your recipes and thoughtful website – I stray sometimes but always come back to Skinny Taste.
Love It! I mixed all the ingredients together and put in a Ziplock back and let the flavors really blend. My new go to when I need chorizo.
My CDMX husband enjoyed this with tacos
Can’t wait to try it !! Have you tried freezing it in portions? Do you know if it freezes well?
Freezes great! Do it all the time; freeze in single serving portions for easy breakfast meat.
I freeze it in single portions all the time. It’s so handy to have on hand for quick breakfasts or lunch. Delicious!
This is delicious!! Tastes just like the “real” chorizo, but without the grease (or the guilt). Im sure I will make this again and again.
Wow we will definitely be making this recipe again. Mixing with ground turkey to make Green Chile Chorizo burgers. On its own the turkey chorizo is very tasty. Yum!
This is my FAVORITE recipe OF ALL TIME!!! Add it to taco salad, breakfast bowls, migas, tacos, burritos, stuffed peppers, or on top of rice. It is so versatile!! THANK YOU, GINA!!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I am trying to eat healthier, this fits the bill. I reduced the salt to 1/4 tsp , got to be low sodium for me thanks for the recipe.
I am trying to eat healthier, this fits the bill. I reduced the salt to 1/4 tsp , got to be low sodium for me thanks for the recipe.
I am making this right now – a double batch! This is great for meal prep – I can add to multiple types of meals as needed, especially when I’m short on time! I added all of the ingredients together and mixed it up in my Kitchenaid mixer and then added to the skillet to cook. Next time, I might just mix it all up and then freeze in meal size freezer bags until ready to cook. Either way, great recipe and fabulous flavor!
I made this a few months ago when I couldn’t find chorizo for a queso dip recipe. Let me tell you, GAME CHANGER!! This is my go to for any chorizo recipe now and I love how I can use it many ways. I have started doubling the recipe and freezing half to have ready for a quick meal. Thanks as always for the yummy recipes!
Thanks Donna!
I’ve been making this regularly for years now (ever since I discovered ST). About twice a month we will do a taco night with this chorizo and then have it in omelets the next day. My husband and I both think this is even better the next day when the flavors have had time to sit!
This is a great recipe. I followed it exactly and it came out delicious. My husband is a huge fan.
Absolutely scrumptious!!! I was looking for a new homemade recipe and now my old one is out! Thank you so much. My taste buds are in heaven!
this was amazing!!! 10/10 would recommend!
I never review recipes, but this one deserves it! All the flavor of chorizo without all the grease. I went ahead and premixed all the seasonings and put in a ziplock bag for the next batch I make. This will be a new go-to!
I love using chorizo in my chili. Last week I participated in a chili cook-off at church and couldn’t find chorizo anywhere in the stores. I wish I would have found this recipe then! I would have been all set!
So good!!
Gina you are my hero! I love chorizo but hate the calorie count. I used to be able to buy a very good Jennie-O turkey chorizo but can’t find it anymore, so I tried yours in a recipe for chorizo stuffed peppers. Wow!!! I can’t wait to use it in my chorizo omelets and even mix the spices in raw and use it for my chorizo burgers. Thank you! Keep the great recipes coming!
This was so good!! I liked it even better than the real stuff! Healthier and far less greasy. I did add some frozen diced potatoes to make it into a chorizo hash. Served it with eggs and toast for breakfast for dinner, and the whole family loved it! Thank you! Will be making again
So easy to make and just delicious! Using it to make the Chorizo breakfast bowls this week!
I love chorizo but always feel so guilty eating it and I always have stomach troubles afterwards I had defrosted turkey that I had to use and very little motivation to cook. This recipe was so fast and easy and so delicious! Even better than some that I’ve had at restaurants! My fiancé didn’t even question it until I told him to guess what it really was he cleaned the plate! Skinny taste for the win again and again!!
I have been buying chorizo at every different market I come across and was disappointed…..looking for THAT flavor! Made this and was so excited, I made a jar of the spices to keep on hand, add it to different dishes, tacos, breakfast enchiladas, yes, I am “hooked”. Thanks, Gina!!
This was an excellent spice blend and made for delicious tacos. The turkey meat worked well, and it was a great taco night. I actually sprinkled some Goya Sazon in the mix as well cause I had it lying around, and it worked well! Pretty happy to be eating healthy food!
This was so good and Whole30 complainant! I’m used to these flavors but my husband thought it was “strong” which next time I may just add a little more ground meat (I used ground chicken) to the pan. Overall, a REALLY good recipe.
This was perfect, the taste was delicious and it didn’t taste greasy at all
It’s perfect. I make it regularly. Thank you so much for the recipe!
This was delicious! I tossed the turkey into a tortilla with lettuce, tomato, avocado, black beans, cheese, and greek yogurt (could barely hold it together it was so full!) and it was soooo good. All said and done I had an amazing dinner for only 380 calories. Can’t wait to have it again for lunch today!
I made this I didn’t have the ancho chili powder and it still came out delicious. Will be making it again and again.
Gina you’ve out done yourself again! This is so good and healthy compared to the real thing. This is a great substitute. So glad I tried it.
ive made this a few times. Very easy and tastey. I put garlic inile cooking the meat. However I dont see it in directions and wonder when you add it?
This is a change of pace for tacos or other dishes. It will go with anything: I’m thinking stuffed peppers next time! Very soon! So easy and I used Stew Leonards ground turkey! It wasn’t all wet after cooking like the other popular brands. Thanks, ST.
I’ve always been very “meh” about ground turkey. I’ve cooked loads of recipes with it and always feel disappointed due to the bland flavor. This turkey chorizo recipe is the first one I can ever remember thinking was FANTASTIC! I love chorizo and this was absolutely delicious. The flavors are spot on and it’s so much healthier than pork chorizo. I will absolutely be making this again and again.
Will this still take ok without cloves?
Wow! I was skeptical but had all the ingredients in the pantry and was looking for a new use for ground turkey. This is amazing. Tastes just like the real deal but without all the grease! Tons of flavor and took 15-20 minutes to come together… I will definitely make again!
I was shocked at how much I loved this. You nailed it! Making tostadas with chorizo, refried beans, and avocado cremafor dinner. Thank you!
Forgot to rate
So very good. Made it for dinner with eggs and sautéd spinach. Had to double the recipe for my family. I’ll admit im a wimp with spice but man my tongue is on fire! I think next time ill tone down the spices.
I made this today for lunch and it was absolutely delicious! Thank you Gina!
This was so good my husband thought I had thawed and cooked a package of chorizo he noticed in the freezer earlier the same day, though I had told him the plan to make this recipe. Definitely a keeper!
I love all your recipes!! I do not have red wine vinegar at home but do have Rice vinegar, white vinegar and apple cider vinegar can i use any of these as a substitute?
Thank you for your time
The rice or the apple cider would work. 🙂
amazing!!!
I made this and loved it!! Yet when I put in required nutritional values into my WW calculator and it comes up with 12 pts.. I am a little confused. Can you explain?
Who would have thought a healthy chorizo recipe existed! Being Hispanic and growing up having chorizo in meals made me wary when seeing this. Since being on WW, I have missed out on having chorizo. Well, this recipe does not disappoint! I am forever grateful and will be making this regularly. Thank you, Gina, for this!
Same here!
Hi Gina, do you have a recipe for Italian chicken sausage like the Isernio’s band? I can’t find it anywhere near me so I was thinking of trying to make my own.
This was great! My husband and I can’t do spicy so buying ready-made chorizo is not an option. This had great chorizo flavor and lower in fat – Win-win! I did leave out the cayenne pepper for us. I have shared this recipe with many people, who have also loved it!
Great! So glad you enjoyed it!
How spicy is this? One of my daughters is not a fan of too much spice.
I’ve been looking at gluten-free paella recipes. Although it’s not a sausage you can slice, do you think making this and putting some of it in my paella would work?
Mixed with eggs and served with warm tortillas, and the kids even loved it. If you go easy on the ground cloves the taste is very similar to the traditional store bought Chorizo.
I just made this last night. I used extra lean ground turkey for 0 points and doubled the recipe. I saved half and stored in the freezer for later. The rest I keep in the fridge for quick breakfasts. I made a 3 point tostada with fat free refried beans, turkey chorizo, reduced fat Mexican Blend cheese, sunny side up egg and pico de gallo. It was so delicious. This will become a regular staple in my home. You can have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The possibilities are endless.
Love it !! Appreciate all your healthy recipes , thank you
Thank you soooo much for this healthy chorizo substitute. Living in Southern California creates a love for chorizo, especially for breakfast, but I rarely indulge due to the fat/calories. I made this today exactly as directed except I added some diced onions that I had leftover. I nibbled on it and it was delicious. Will never miss chorizo ever again and much better than the soy chorizo I tried recently (my hubby hated that)! I will be making up your breakfast burritos tomorrow for the week and will replace the bacon with this chorizo!!
So flavorful! I made them for tacos, using corn tortillas for my husband and cabbage leaves for myself. I felt the crispness of the cabbage offset the texture and heat of the meat quite nicely.
Made exact with the only exception being I halved the vinegar. Hubby and I loved it with eggs and a few diced sweet potatoes with cilantro. Yum!
I made this for breakfast this morning. Amazing! I did leave out the cayenne, because my hubby can’t do heat. But it was so delicious! I couldn’t ever tell it was turkey; it tasted just like the Spanish chorizo my daddy used to buy when I was a little girl. This will be a regular in our house!
This was a good, healthy alternative to chorizo. I threw it in breakfast bowls with eggs, sweet potatoes, beans, and avocado. The only flavor that didn’t work for me was the vinegar, it felt like too much or maybe not enough cooked off in the pan. I would probably just skip or half the vinegar for the next time.
Really happy with this healthier chorizo recipe. I was skeptical about all the vinegar but all the flavors worked so well.
SO SO SO DELICIOUS!!!!! I did actually use grnd turkey breast and it was fine. I am def keeping this in heavy rotation. thank you!!!!
The recipe has an excellent flavor profile. I felt the need after making it as written to double the salt, cumin, oregano, & smoky paprika also to add dry garlic 3/4 tsp.
Would this work with vegan ground meat?
Sure
Super easy to make and has a great chorizo flavor.
This is one of my new favorites. It was super easy and absolutely delicious! Thanks for sharing!
I love chorizo but rarely eat it because of fat content. Thanks for the recipe; will make and freeze in 1 pound packages. This would be delicious in my slow cooker chili beans recipe!
This recipe is awesome! I ended up making a breakfast bowl type dish. Roasted potatoes at the bottom, chorizo, fried egg, Mexican cheese, and avocado on top. My husband went back for seconds. Best thing I’ve had in a long time!
Awesome!!!
Love this! My family’s favorite appetizer over the holidays is bacon wrapped chorizo-stuffed dates. This with center cut bacon will bring the points way down! Can’t wait to try it!
Emily, can you share your recipe for this? My family would go absolutely nuts for these.
Thanks for another great & useful recipe! Next time I go to Costco and buy my 93% ground turkey, i am going to mix up half of it as this chorizo recipe, package and freeze raw in 1 lb packages. This would be great to pull out to add into chili, tacos, nachos, stuffings for chicken breasts or pork chops, and of course all the things you mentioned above! So much flavor!
This looks very yummy. thank you for sharing..
What would I do without you?? I lived in Texas for 10 years and need to recreate some of those great dishes, but with a lower calorie count. I am going to make this tomorrow for some breakfast tacos!
Thank you, Gina! I’m thinking that it may be even better if I mix up your chorizo the day or a few hours before Cooking to let the flavors meld together. What do you think?
Thank you for this! I came across a WW recipe the other day that called for chicken chorizo and I couldn’t find it anywhere! Not wanting to use regular chorizo and inflate the points, I just omitted it altogether. Thank you for this substitute!
I don’t know how you read my mind… I wanted to make queso with chorizo this weekend, but when I read the ingredient list on the chorizo I found at Walmart, I changed my mind. Then today here you are with a recipe for turkey chorizo. Thank you! I’ll be making this tomorrow for MNF!