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Dinners | Trader Joe's Meals
Elote Inspired Turkey Skillet
PREP TIME: 10 | COOK TIME: 20
It’s officially corn season, so what better way to celebrate than with an elote-inspired one pan meal?!
As with all of my 30-Minute High-Protein Trader Joe’s Meals, this Elote Turkey Skillet is easy, fast, and healthy. But this one also has the added bonus of being a one-skillet meal, too, which means fewer steps and less dishes. Honestly, what’s not to love?
Elote is a traditional Mexican style street corn with charred corn on the cob lathered with crema, lime, cheese, and spices. It always hits! So I wanted to translate those flavors into a complete meal that could be made entirely with Trader Joe’s ingredients. There are tons of ways to substitute and customize and still make it just as easy and delicious. Enjoy!
Table of Contents
What is Elote?
Ingredients and Substitutions
How to Make It
Storing and Reheating
Tips
Reasons to Love It
Elote Skillet Recipe
What is Elote?
Elote is a Mexican preparation of grilled corn on the cob that is slathered with mayo, sour cream, or crema and topped with chili powder, crumbly cheese (like Cotija), lime, spices, and sometimes cilantro. In Mexico, elote is usually served as a snack from street vendors. It has inspired adaptations by different cultures and restaurants into dips, side dishes, and main meals like this one. It’s the perfect dish for corn season!
Elote Skillet Ingredients and Substitutions
Ground Turkey
I used 93% lean ground turkey because the slightly higher fat content adds a lot more flavor to the skillet. You could use 93% lean ground chicken instead.
Onion, Bell Pepper, and Scallions
The first thing you do when making this Elote Turkey Skillet is brown the diced onion, bell peppers, and scallions in the pan. I use yellow onion, but you could use white. I also use a red bell pepper because I like the sweetness and the color, but you can use any color bell pepper you want. For the scallion, I use both the green and white parts.
Black Beans
There’s no easier way to add healthy protein to a meal than opening up a can of beans. Just be sure to drain and rinse before adding to the skillet. If you prefer making your own beans from dry, have at it!
Frozen Fire-roasted Corn
Trader Joe’s has bags of frozen fire-roasted corn in the freezer section, so they take care of the charring part for you. If all you have is fresh corn on the cob or plain frozen corn, just char the kernels in the skillet first, then set aside. Or skip the charring! This skillet will still be delicious.
Brown Rice
I also love Trader Joe’s frozen, pre-cooked bags of brown rice. It makes dinner prep so much quicker and easier! Otherwise, just cook up a pot of brown or white rice using your preferred method.
Taco Seasoning
Trader Joe’s has a great Taco Seasoning Mix, but you could also try their Everything but the Elote Seasoning (so perfect!) or their Chile Lime Seasoning Blend.
Sauce Ingredients: Mayo, Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream, Lime
The creamy sauce uses equal amounts of mayo and either Greek yogurt or sour cream, but you could use any combination of those three for a total of 1/2 cup. For more protein, sometimes I even blend up some cottage cheese as a yogurt or sour cream substitute, but that does require more work and more dishes. I recommend a range of 1/2 to 1 lime’s worth of juice, so adjust to taste. I like mine super limey! You can adjust the amount of salt to suit your tastes, too.
Toppings: Cilantro, Feta Cheese, Spices
For the cotija-like cheese of a traditional elote, I use feta cheese crumbles, but goat cheese or, of course, cotija, would be great instead. You can also sprinkle whatever fun seasoning you want on the top when serving. Try TajÃn, Trader Joe’s Chile Lime Seasoning Blend, mild chili powder, or the same taco seasoning you used in the skillet.
How to Make Elote Inspired Turkey Skillet
Step 1
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the diced onion, pepper, and scallions. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes until browned.
Step 2
Add the ground turkey to the skillet and break it up with a wooden spoon. Add the taco seasoning and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cooked through and starting to get brown.
Step 3
Add the beans, corn, rice, and water to the skillet and stir it all together. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, covered, for 5 minutes until everything is heated through. Taste and add more salt if desired. Turn off the heat and let cool while you make the sauce.
Step 4
Make the sauce: In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt (or sour cream), lime juice, and salt. Add more lime juice until the sauce is drizzle-able but still thick.
Step 5
Drizzle the sauce all over the skillet and top with the crumbled feta cheese, cilantro, and a generous sprinkle of TajÃn. Dive in!
Storing and Reheating Elote Turkey Skillet
Let the skillet cool completely, then refrigerate in an airtight container. It should keep for 3-5 days.
To reheat, transfer your portion to a warm skillet with a splash of water. Cover and reheat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until hot. You can alternatively microwave it with a splash of water.
Tips for Making the Best Elote Turkey Skillet
- When browning the onion, bell peppers, and scallions, stir them occasionally, but not too often. You want them to have enough time in contact with the pan to brown up a bit like the charred corn.
- Same thing with the turkey. You don’t have to stir constantly. Let it sit and brown a little between occasional stirs.
- Definitely drain and rinse your canned black beans before adding them to the skillet. We don’t want that canned flavor in our yummy Elote Turkey Skillet!
- After adding the water (or broth) and covering to heat everything through, make sure not to overcook it. You still want the vegetables to have some texture to them.
Why You’ll Love This Elote Turkey Skillet
- Everyone loves a one-pan meal! From start to finish, this Elote Turkey Skillet can be made in one skillet, so there’s hardly any cleanup and you only have one pan to manage while putting your quick 30-minute dinner together at the end of a hectic day.
- There’s nothing better than a quick and easy high-protein dinner. My 30-minute High-protein Trader Joe’s series is all about getting you the nutrients you need with as little effort as possible — without skimping on flavor!
- Trader Joe’s meals are my favorite because I love knowing I can get everything I need at one store, which also happens to be super affordable. So many of Trader Joe’s products, like the fire-roasted frozen corn and pre-cooked brown rice are such huge time savers that I always have them stocked in my freezer.
