baked turkey taquitos

 i was born and raised in san antonio, so it's no surprise that i'm up for some good mexican food pretty much all the time. this isn't the healthiest habit, however, so i'm always looking for ways to lighten things up without sacrificing any flavor. i think these taquitos are just the ticket.

here's what you'll need:
2 tblspn. olive oil
1 small red onion, diced
1 lb. ground turkey
2 cups baby spinach
1 can fat-free refried black beans (if you can't find these, just get a can of black beans and mash them with a fork)
1 8 oz. package fat-free cream cheese or neufchatel cheese, softened
1 tblspn. cumin
salt & pepper to taste
12-15 corn tortillas
1 cup shredded cheese for sprinkling on top (i used chihuahua, but you could also use cheddar, monterey jack, pepper jack, whatever you have on hand) - optional

preheat your oven to 400. meanwhile, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. add the onion and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. add the turkey and cumin. cook until turkey is cooked through, about 5-6 minutes. add the spinach and cook until wilted down.

take the skillet off the heat and add in the black beans, stirring through evenly. add the softened cream cheese and stir until all is combined. at this point it will not look pretty at all, but just trust me. take a taste and add salt & pepper as needed.

soften your tortillas by heating them between paper towels in the microwave for about 30 seconds (put them in stacks of no more than five with paper towels in between. it helps to sprinkle a little water on the paper towels).

to fill, spoon about 1/4 cup of the filling into each tortilla, rolling tightly into little cigar shapes. place them on a foil or parchment paper lined baking sheet with the seam side down. spray the top with a little cooking spray or olive oil spray (or if you're like me and have neither on hand, just drizzle a bit of olive oil over the top. this is just to make sure the taquitos brown nicely in the oven). if using, sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top.

bake in the oven for 18-20 minutes, or until tortillas have crisped and cheese is melty and bubbly. remove from the oven and allow to cool about 5 minutes. serve with salsa, guacamole, sour cream, or whatever your heart desires. enjoy!

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