Turkey Chorizo Recipe (2024)

By: Sarah NevinsPosted: 7/6/21

A leaner, lightened up version of a highly seasoned and delicious Mexican-style chorizo! Made with ground turkey, a blend of herbs and spices and a punch of vinegar – this Turkey Chorizo is as easy as it is delicious. It’s perfect for adding to eggs, tacos, burritos, bowls and more! | Naturally low carb, keto friendly and dairy free

Turkey Chorizo Recipe (1)

Smokey, spicy and generously seasoned – this turkey chorizo makes up in flavour what it lacks in added calories! While Mexican chorizo is typically made with various cuts of pork or ground beef, this chorizo uses ground turkey for a lighter and healthier option that’s perfect for everyday cooking.

FYI: Spanish Chorzio vs Mexican Chorizo

Spanish Chorizo is typically a smokey, cured meat that does not need to be cooked before serving. Mexican Chorizo sausage is a much spicier, uncured meat that needs to be cooked before eating.

How to Make This Turkey Chorizo

Altogether this recipe is entirely simple and straightforward. Summed up:

  1. Blend herbs & spices. Mixing the spices together before adding it to the turkey ensures that you are able to evenly mix and distribute the spices all over the meat.
  2. Mix it all up. Use your hands to thoroughly mix the meat, spices and vinegar together.
  3. Marinate (optional). This step is totally optional. When time permits, I like to let my mince marinate in the fridge for at least an hour to a full day. Prepping this meat ahead of time makes the cooking process go by even fast since most of the work is already done. That extra time also helps to infuse a little extra flavour into the chorizo
  4. Cook. Place turkey in large skillet with a little bit of olive oil and brown all over. Cook time will take about 7-10 minutes over a medium-high heat. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Alternatively, you could form the meat into patty or sausage shapes before cooking.
Turkey Chorizo Recipe (2)

Tips, Questions & Substitutions

Substitutions

  • Swap out the turkey for ground chicken.
  • Instead of white vinegar you can use red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar or lime juice.
  • Use 2-3 fat cloves of garlic in place of the garlic powder for an extra punch of flavour.
  • When it comes to paprika – use whatever you have. Hot, smoked, sweet or regular paprika all work. Keep in mind that the overall flavours of this turkey chorizo will be influenced by the type of paprika you use so choose what you enjoy.

What type of chili powder is best?

  • Typically Mexican style chorizo is made using ancho chili powder which is made with 100% ancho chili flakes. Most chili powders that you find in store is actually made up of a blend of spices as opposed to just one spice. If you have ancho chili powder on hand – use that. If don’t you can use a standard chili powder instead. It might not be the most authentic recipe, but then we’re already making a turkey chorizo recipe so why not?

Freeze for Later

If you don’t want to use this right away, you can pack up the seasoned raw-meat in a freezer safe bag or container and store in the freeze for up to four months. Technically you could safely keep this in the freezer for up to a year, but after about four months the meat is more likely to come out a little dry.

Turkey Chorizo Recipe (3)

Serving Suggestions

  • Chorizo con huevos: AKA – scrambled eggs with chrozio.
  • Tacos, Tostadas Burritos: Use as a filling inside tacos and burritos or serve on top of crispy tostada shells along with your favourite taco toppings. Start the day off with some protein packed egg tacos or turkey chorizo breakfast burritos coming up so keep an eye out. This would also be a great time to make your own homemade corn tortillas!
  • Nachos: Pile some chorizo over a bed of tortilla chips along with some fresh herbs and queso. Keep it dairy free with my vegan nacho cheese and whole30 compliant with sweet potato nachos.You can also easily make a queso fundido (chorizo cheese dip) by mixing this cooked chorizo in with melted cheese.
  • Chilis & Stews: Swap out your typical, unseasoned ground meat with this turkey chorizo to make soups, chilis and stews even an more flavour packed dish!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Yield:4 servingsPrep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 25 minutes

Rate

Made with ground turkey, a blend of herbs and spices and a punch of vinegar - this Turkey Chorizo is as easy as it is delicious. It's perfect for adding to tacos, burritos, bowls and more!

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons paprika
  • 2 tablespoons ancho chili powder (or regular chili powder)
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt + more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • pinch of ground cloves
  • 2 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1 pound turkey mince, aim for about 7% fat
  • 1-2 tablespoons olive oil (or a neutral flavoured cooking oil)

Need help converting to weights? Check out my cups to grams Conversion Guide.

Instructions

  1. Spices: In a small bowl combine all the spices: paprika, chili powder, cumin, oregano, coriander, garlic powder, salt, cinnamon and cloves. Mix together until evenly combined.
  2. Turkey: In a large mixing bowl add the turkey, vinegar and the combined spices. Use your hands to mix everything together well.
  3. (Optional) Marinate: Cover the bowl and let rest/marinate for up to 24 hours.
  4. Cook: Add the oil to a large skillet and warm over a medium-high heat. Add the turkey and cook for about 7-10 minutes, stirring and breaking up the meat. Cook until browned, crumbly and fully cooked. Taste and season with more salt as needed.
  5. Use or Store: Use right away or store for later. If storing, let the meat cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Notes

  • You can freeze the raw, seasoned turkey mince for 3-4 months until ready to use. Defrost fully in the fridge over night before cooking.
  • Ground chicken can be used in place of turkey.

Nutrition Information

Yield: 4

Serving Size:

1/2 cupCalories: 224Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 1gCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 22g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© A Saucy Kitchen, Sarah Nevins

Course: MainsCuisine:Mexican & Tex Mex

More Turkey Recipes

  • One Pot Ground Turkey Pasta
  • Roasted Eggplant Lasagna With Turkey
  • Turkey Chorizo Breakfast Burritos
  • Gluten Free Leftover Turkey Pot Pie
  • Sweet Potato Paleo Chili With Turkey
  • Paleo Turkey Burgers With Spinach – Low FODMAP
  • Honey Sriracha Turkey Meatballs

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About Sarah Nevins

Hi, I'm Sarah! Welcome to my little gluten free corner of the internet. I like eating vegetables, but sometimes I get distracted by cookies...

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Reader Interactions

Leave a Review!

  1. Brian says

    Used ground venison, worked out very well

    Reply

    • Sarah Nevins says

      Oh, excellent! Thanks, Brian – so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  2. Nanette says

    Ohhh… This was so good. I was making a Mediterranean fish stew with chorizo. My husband doesn’t do pork so I found your recipe. Soooo good!!! I used 2 tbl of paprika & 1 of smoked paprika & let it sit for 3 hours. Very very good. Thank you!!

    Reply

    • Sarah Nevins says

      Yay! So glad to hear you guys enjoyed this! Thanks for taking the time to come back and let me know what you thought 🙂

      Reply

Turkey Chorizo Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is turkey chorizo made of? ›

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.

What's the best way to cook chorizo? ›

Cook through: How long should you cook chorizo? Grill the chorizo links until they reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit, which typically takes about 15-20 minutes. Use tongs to rotate the sausages every few minutes, so they become an appealing golden brown shade on all sides.

Is there a healthier chorizo? ›

Plant-based variety of chorizo is beneficial for vegetarians and vegans, and are available in different types like mushroom, tofu, etc. These are the best alternatives for chorizos made of pork and other meat, also, they can even provide more health benefits.

What is the best meat for chorizo? ›

Mexican Chorizo Ingredients

Pork is more traditionally used in most chorizo recipes. With Mexican chorizo, you can use other meats, like ground beef, chicken, turkey, even tofu, though pork remains the most popular. Paprika. I like smoked paprika or hot paprika, though any paprika will work.

What organs are in chorizo? ›

In the US, Mexican chorizo is typically the most widely available. Less expensive brands of Mexican chorizo are often made from finely ground and seasoned organ meat (spleen is a popular choice) and put into plastic casings from which you squeeze out the filling before cooking.

What is the main ingredient in chorizo? ›

Generally, Spanish chorizo is made from coarsely chopped pork and pork fat, seasoned with garlic, pimentón – a smoked paprika – and salt. It can be classed as either picante (spicy) or dulce (sweet), depending upon the type of pimentón used.

What makes chorizo taste so good? ›

It's Spicy

Mexican chorizo is typically seasoned with vinegar and chile peppers, while Spanish chorizo is made with garlic and pimentón (Spanish smoked paprika, either sweet or hot), which gives it its deep brick-red color and smoky flavor.

Can you pan fry chorizo? ›

Traditional Spanish chorizo is a dry-cured sausage and doesn't require cooking before eating. However, if you're after a crispy, crunchy outside and soft but firm inside, pan frying is the way to go.

Do you cook chorizo with oil or butter? ›

For the Spanish version, chop the sausage and brown it in vegetable oil. If using Mexican chorizo, remove the meat from its casing and cook in its own fat.

Can I eat chorizo and lose weight? ›

A: Chorizos can be a rich source of nutrients. It contains high-quality protein and animal fat. If you're on a low-carb diet or the keto diet for weight loss, chorizo will be fine to go on your weekly meal list. Chorizos are also loaded with vitamin B12, thiamine, and selenium.

Is chorizo a highly processed food? ›

Processed meats include bacon, ham, devon, frankfurts, chorizo, cabanossi and kransky. Cutting down on red and processed meats will reduce your cancer risk. Find out more about red meat, processed meat and cancer prevention.

What does chorizo do for your body? ›

Essential amino acids that help to repair tissue and aid digestion. Vitamin B-1, which helps the body use certain amino acids more efficiently and turn food into energy. Vitamin B-12, a positive influence on nerve function, and aids the use of iron in our body.

What is the best pair for chorizo? ›

I love pairing chorizo with clams, bell peppers and, surprisingly, pears, which balance out the smoky heat of the chorizo with a fresh, sweet flavor. All of these types can be used interchangeably, but don't forget to cook the fresh Mexican variety before eating!

What do you eat chorizo with? ›

Chorizo holds up well when simmered in a flavorful liquid. Chorizo stewed in Spanish red wine is delicious and traditional, but cooking the sausage in apple cider is just as tasty, and adds a mellow sweetness that pairs well with the smoky, spice. Serve the stewed links with rice or potatoes as a hearty dinner.

What's the difference between Mexican chorizo and chorizo? ›

Mexican chorizo is generally a fresh sausage and is usually cooked like ground meat or other sausage links. Spanish chorizo, on the other hand, is a dried cured sausage with a completely different texture.

What parts of cow are in chorizo? ›

The bife de chorizo cut is entrecôte (which in French means between the ribs) and comes from the dorsal part of the cow, specifically the back part of the loin. After cutting it from the cow, bife de chorizo has a rib which the butcher or chef separates from the meat before cooking.

What meat is chorizo made of? ›

It's Made of Pork

Chorizo is a highly seasoned chopped or ground pork sausage used in Spanish and Mexican cuisine. Mexican chorizo is made with fresh (raw, uncooked) pork, while the Spanish version is usually smoked.

Is chorizo made from lymph nodes? ›

SALIVARY GLANDS AND LYMPH NODES. That's what you'll find in the list of ingredients of a lot of store-bought chorizo.

Is turkey chorizo halal? ›

Ready to eat. Halal. Keep refrigerated between 0°C-5°C. Once opened, consume within 2 days.

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