Air Fryer Turkey Enchiladas

These Air Fryer Turkey Enchiladas are a great way to enjoy your favorite Mexican restaurant dish at home. The filling is made with ground turkey and black beans for a meal packed with fiber and protein. These are healthy turkey enchiladas you can feel good about feeding the whole family!

❤️ Why you'll love it

Simple ingredients: this easy enchilada recipe is made with pantry staples you probably already have on hand, no specialty product is required!

Healthier option: these healthy turkey black bean enchiladas are have 10 grams of fiber and 31 grams of protein per serving!

Make ahead: this recipe is perfect for meal prep and can be made ahead to serve on any busy weeknight.

🥘 Ingredients

Olive oil: I always use extra virgin olive oil as it is the least processed and retains the antioxidants and vitamins normally lost during processing.

Onion: I chose yellow onion for this recipe, but a white or red onion can be used in its place.

Fresh garlic: adds more flavor to the meat than jarred garlic.

Ground turkey: choose lean ground turkey, not all ground turkey is the same so be sure to read the label.

Ground cumin: one of my favorite mexican spices, it is super flavorful without heat and compliments the chili flavors.

Chili powder: I use a regular chili powder, but feel free to use chipotle chili powder if desired, just use about half the amount of chipotle. 

Black pepper: use freshly ground black pepper if at all possible.

Tomato paste: added to the meat for flavor.

Canned black beans: some brands are mushier than others, I prefer Bush's or Goya.

Chicken bouillon granules: I used Knorr Caldo de Pollo in this recipe.

Limes: adds flavor and acid

Yellow corn tortillas: go with your favorite store-bought brand

Cheddar cheese: this is not a strict adherence, you can use what you have. A Mexican blend cheese or monterey jack cheese is a good substitute.

Green enchilada sauce: I love to make my own homemade enchilada sauce, but you can also buy canned.

🔪 Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot.
2. Add the diced onion and garlic and sauté for 6 minutes, until the onion is translucent. 
3. Add the ground turkey to the onion mixture and break it up using a meat masher.
4. Stir in the cumin, chili powder, and black pepper. Add tomato paste and lime juice; stir to combine.
5. Add the beans and bouillon granules, and mix to combine. 
6. Lightly coat the baking dish with green enchilada sauce, set aside.
7. Microwave corn tortillas for 1 minute. They will be hot but as they cool, they will be pliable enough to roll and not break. 
8. Add a heaping tablespoon of turkey mixture to the center of each tortilla and roll tightly. 
9. After rolling, place seam side down in the prepared dish, then add more enchilada sauce to the tops of the enchiladas.  
10. Air fry at 375°f for 8 minutes, add cheese to tops of the enchiladas, and then cook for 3 minutes longer. 
11. Let cool 10 minutes before serving, then enjoy topped with sour cream, chives, and or cilantro.  

🥄 Equipment

Air Fryer: to cook the enchiladas

Large skillet: to prepare the ground turkey and black bean filling

Chef knife: for cutting and chopping

Cutting board: for cutting and chopping

Flat head wooden spoon: to stir the turkey mixture

Meat chopper: helps chop the meat

Baking dish: you will need a dish made for the air fryer

🥫Storage

Refrigerate: store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 5 days.

Freeze: leftovers can be stored in an airtight freezer safe container up to 1 month.

Reheat: reheat thawed leftovers in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 7-10 minutes, or in the microwave until warm.

📖 Variations

• Substitute ground beef or chicken for the ground turkey
• If preferred, you can use flour tortillas in place of corn tortillas.
• Substitute red enchilada sauce for the green enchilada sauce.
• Use monterey jack cheese in place of cheddar cheese.
• Add a small can of green chiles to the meat mixture.
• Kidney beans or pinto beans can be substituted for the black beans.
• Use leftover turkey instead of ground turkey and mix all of the filling ingredients together in as directed without having to cook the turkey.

💭 Tips

• Dab a little enchilada sauce on the inside lip of the tortilla so as you roll over the outside lip, the sauce keeps it rolled close

🙋 Oven Instructions

To bake these in the oven, use a 9x13 casserole baking dish and assemble as instructed. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until warmed through and cheese has melted and begun to brown.

📚 Related Recipes

This easy homemade recipe for Spanish Rice is a great side dish to any meal.

Grilled Stuffed Burritos are a great lunch or make ahead recipe for fast meals.

Another great ground turkey recipe, try this Turkey Meatloaf with Tomato Chutney.

Turkey Cranberry Sliders are a great way to use leftover turkey and make great game day sandwiches.

🍽 Serve with...

Serve these ground turkey enchiladas garnished with sour cream, cilantro and/ or green onions. Finish them off with an extra squeeze of lime juice with a side of homemade refried beans.

📖 Recipe