When I worked as a nanny, one of the moms whom I helped years ago taught me two quick and easy meals using just ground turkey and a taco pack seasoning. She used this base to create two completely different meals — tacos naturally and Shepherd’s pie. Now that I’m a mom, I love that I can buy the same ingredients and make 2 separate dishes from them that require about the same work. For both meals I cook the ground turkey and add the taco seasoning pack. For tacos the meal is done. We add lettuce, shredded cheese, tomatoes, sour cream and wrap it up in tortillas. Right now Drake likes his deconstructed — he eats the turkey with sour cream and cheese in a bowl and eats the tortilla separately.

For Sheperd’s Pie I cook the ground meat the same as I did previously with the taco seasoning. I also make mashed potatoes to go on top. For mashed potatoes I peel and then boil 4-5 potatoes. Once they are soft I smash them adding milk, butter, and salt to taste, mixing it all together until it’s nice and creamy. Then the mashed potatoes go on top of the ground turkey. Sometimes I will also add in celery and carrots, cooking them separately and then tossing them in with the turkey and seasoning so they absorb the flavors. This meal is Juliet’s favorite as she loves mashed potatoes. Drake is hit or miss on mashed potatoes and will sometimes just ask to eat the ground turkey with sour cream and cheese, which is his taco meal so it’s easy to accommodate.

blogger / pomelo / 5361 posts
I use ground turkey more and more lately. I love quick and easy ideas for busy days. Thanks!
blogger / pomegranate / 3201 posts
Yum! We use one package of ground turkey for two meals: turkey tacos, just like you make them, and pasta with “meat” sauce. That gets us two dinners and leftovers for lunch the next day from one package of meat!
guest
I wrote you a comment on your “ups and downs” post about our experiences with gluten, garlic and egg intolerances. Your story sounds very familiar to mine (except we figured out the big problem around 3-4 months and started to see a resolution of symptoms by about 9 months). She is 6 now and we still do not eat gluten or many grains. My second nurses fine and we did not have any of the problems I had the first time (I don’t eat any grains now). Just thought I’d share that in case you hadn’t explored that avenue yet.
guest
These look super yummy. Hubby and I just started eating quinoa, and we get the quinoa/brown rice combos, and cook that up with some ground turkey in taco seasoning and mix it all together. Healthy rice and beans taco version!
grapefruit / 4923 posts
always looking for yummy quick recipe ideas–thank you!
blogger / pomegranate / 3491 posts
Never thought of mixing tacos with mashed potatoes. Interesting!
pomegranate / 3779 posts
I always forget about shepards pie, even though I love it. I also use this combo to make tamale pie – instead of mashed potatoes, top the mixture with cornbread and throw it in the oven to bake. Yummy!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts
Yum!
blogger / clementine / 998 posts
ooh i’ll have to try the shepherd’s pie! i bought some ground turkey once and was not a fan of the taste, but my mom always buys some brand from the store near our house and it tastes just like beef
blogger / pear / 1563 posts
I never would have thought to have made Shepherd’s Pie with taco seasoning! Good idea!
blogger / eggplant / 11551 posts
Shepherd’s Pie is a great idea – thanks!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
Yum! I never would have thought of making taco turkey for shepherds pie. I want to try it. Juliet has good taste- mashed potatoes are amazing.
blogger / kiwi / 675 posts
thats awesome that juliet will eat mashed potatoes my girls are finicky about texture so they’re not really into them.I love mashed potatoes… also love ground turkey but absolutely hate the smell of it cooking!
kiwi / 511 posts
@Mrs. Chipmunk: For ground turkey I find the texture is good but it doesn’t have a lot of flavor. Spices are the key in our house for a good taste. I have used ground turkey for burgers, chili, meat sauces, etc if you do the spices right (I tend to use more with ground turkey) I have had people that wouldn’t believe me when I said it was ground turkey and not ground beef.
blogger / cherry / 192 posts
Ground turkey is a staple in our house – my husband loves it! Turkey chili is our go-to
blogger / nectarine / 2010 posts
I love corn in my shepherds pie. I’ve never thought to use taco seasoning, how interesting – and easy! Little M doesn’t like potatoes, but his dad certainly does!
blogger / pomegranate / 3300 posts
Great ideas we use ground turkey all the time.
blogger / nectarine / 2687 posts
i’ve never thought about using ground turkey with taco seasoning in shepherd’s pie — will have to try!