Name: That ’70s Taco
Yield: Serves 4 (makes 8 tacos)
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1½ teaspoons granulated garlic powder; 1 pound ground turkey (preferably a mix of dark and breast meat), or lean ground beef; 2 teaspoons ground cumin; 8 crunchy corn tortilla taco shells; 2 teaspoons brown sugar; 1½ teaspoons onion powder; 3 cups finely shredded iceberg lettuce; 2 tablespoons mild chili powder (such as Gebhardt’s); ½ cup chopped tomatoes; ½ cup water; 4 slices American cheese (4 ounces); 2 tablespoons tomato paste; ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper; ½ teaspoon MSG (optional); ½ teaspoon oregano (preferably Mexican oregano); ½ teaspoon pepper; 1 teaspoon salt; ¼ cup pickled jalapeno slices; 2 cups frozen tater tots; ½ cup heavy whipping cream; 1 tablespoon pickled jalapeno juice, or lemon juice; Salt to taste; ½ cup grated Colby Jack cheese; 1 tablespoon safflower oil

Preparation info

Serves
4
(makes 8 tacos)

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

Tacos A-Z

By Ivy Manning

Published 2023

About

A nostalgic throwback—these tacos are stuffed with ground turkey sautéed with homemade taco seasoning, iceberg lettuce, crispy Tater Tots, and drizzles of nacho cheese sauce spiked with pickled jalapeno juice. Easy, economical, and divinely comforting, here’s an American taco that will take you back to the days of bell-bottoms and The Brady Bunch (Google it).

Making your own taco seasoning is very rewarding and it keeps for months, though it won’t last that long—you’ll be usi