When you have leftover turkey to use up but are looking for a different flavor profile: Leftover Turkey Tacos to the rescue! This easy Thanksgiving leftovers dinner can be on your table in just 20 minutes.
Who wants to cook something complicated and time consuming right after Thanksgiving? No, of course you don’t: This is exactly when we need quick & easy dinner ideas, such as today’s 20 Minute Leftover Turkey Tacos. Warm up a flavorful taco filling using leftover cooked turkey, then just serve with your own favorite taco fixings.
You can also enjoy these throughout the year with leftover chicken, when you don’t have turkey at hand — I actually make something like this all the time with cooked chicken, but just decided to do it with turkey today. (‘Tis the season…)
I mean: Yes, you could of course just chop up some leftover turkey, throw it in tortillas, and call it a day. But your life (and your dinner) will be so much better if you take just an extra few minutes to spice things up into a more cheesy-delicious presentation. Doing so doesn’t add too much time, and these family-pleasing leftover turkey tacos can still be on your table in just 20 minutes.
Browning the tortillas and melting on the cheese while you warm up that taco filling also kicks up the flavor and comfort food nature of this turkey taco dinner; it’s definitely worth the extra bit of effort.
20 Minute Leftover Turkey Tacos
Ingredients
– for the tortillas
12 medium flour tortillas
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
– for the filling
3 cups chopped cooked turkey
1 cup salsa verde
2 oz cream cheese, slightly softened and cut into small chunks
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cayenne
Sea salt, to taste
– to top
Any favorite taco toppings, such as: Avocado, guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo, chopped tomatoes, chopped onion, shredded lettuce, etc.
Directions
Take the cream cheese out to soften a bit. Chop the turkey.
In a large skillet, start browning the tortillas three at a time over medium heat (it’s OK if they overlap slightly). Brown one side, flip, top with shredded cheese, and brown the other side just until the cheese is melted — remembering that residual heat will keep that cheese melting a bit after you remove these from the pan.
Remove each set of three cheesy tortillas to a separate plate, and repeat this process until all tortillas are browned.
While the tortillas are browning, add the chopped turkey and salsa to a second medium skillet. Warm up this mixture over medium heat until warmed through, stirring frequently.
Chop the cream cheese. Stir the cream cheese and spices into the skillet with the turkey, then continue to heat and stir over medium heat until the cream cheese is melted and incorporated and everything is heated through.
Taste, and spice up a bit further if desired.
Assemble your leftover turkey tacos using your spiced up creamy turkey filling and the prepared tortillas. Add taco toppings of choice, fold up, and enjoy!
Note: You can also make these tacos with leftover cooked chicken and they’ll turn out great. I used a mixture of dark and white meat turkey here; either or both will work.
Hearty, filling, and different
Why not keep using your leftover turkey (or chicken!), but enjoy it somewhat differently as spiced-up tacos? These are just so good, you guys: Adding the salsa verde and spices imparts all of the taco flavor you want, while the cheddar and cream cheeses add a touch of cooling creaminess.
Not feeling tacos tonight, or have additional turkey to use up? Why not throw together some easy leftover turkey chili, cook up a batch of turkey broccoli cheddar hand pies, or simmer up a pot full of leftover turkey soup with rice and spinach.
Leftover Turkey Soft Tacos, printable recipe
20 Minute Leftover Turkey Tacos
Equipment
Ingredients
– for the tortillas
- 12 medium flour tortillas
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
– for the filling
- 3 cups chopped cooked turkey
- 1 cup salsa verde
- 2 oz cream cheese slightly softened and cut into small chunks
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne
- Sea salt to taste
– to top
- Any favorite taco toppings such as: Avocado, guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo, chopped tomatoes, chopped onion, shredded lettuce, etc.
Instructions
- Take the cream cheese out to soften a bit. Chop the turkey.
- In a large skillet, start browning the tortillas three at a time over medium heat (it’s OK if they overlap slightly). Brown one side, flip, top with shredded cheese, and brown the other side just until the cheese is melted — remembering that residual heat will keep that cheese melting a bit after you remove these from the pan.
- Remove each set of three cheesy tortillas to a separate plate, and repeat this process until all tortillas are browned.
- While the tortillas are browning, add the chopped turkey and salsa to a second medium skillet. Warm up this mixture over medium heat until warmed through, stirring frequently.
- Chop the cream cheese. Stir the cream cheese and spices into the skillet with the turkey, then continue to heat and stir over medium heat until the cream cheese is melted and incorporated and everything is heated through.
- Taste, and spice up a bit further if desired.
- Assemble your leftover turkey tacos using your spiced up creamy turkey filling and the prepared tortillas. Add taco toppings of choice, fold up, and enjoy!
Notes
Recipes in the real world
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