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Home » Lunch

Published: Nov 13, 2021 · Modified: Mar 19, 2023 by Tino Marie · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

Turkey Leftover Tacos

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Thanksgiving turkey leftovers get a lightened lift when you turn them into Leftover Turkey Tacos accompanied with lettuce or other greens.

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Leftover turkey. I know you’ve got a mess of leftover turkey (or you’re about to!). And I KNOW you’re tired of eating it (or you’re about to be!). It’s uninspiring, and the sheer volume is daunting.

Turkey sandwiches are an obvious choice for leftover turkey, but that gets old real quick. But a leftover turkey taco? Now that’s something that can get me moderately excited about eating leftover turkey.

Plus, if you’re feeling the bloat you can reach for a low-carb tortilla for a lightened-up meal that repurposes Thanksgiving leftovers. 

turkey leftover tacos

To make these Turkey Leftover Tacos (aka Thanksgiving Tacos), I specifically used leftovers from these two recipes:

  • Instant Pot Turkey Breast (that was seasoned with Iron Range Porchetta Seasoning)
  • Cruciferous Crunch Salad (with a homemade Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette)
cruciferous crunch salad

Let’s break this Leftover Turkey Taco recipe down a bit, with serving suggestions and substitutions.

Jump to:
  • The Turkey
  • The Greens
  • The Dressed Greens
  • The Toppings
  • How do you make Turkey Leftover Tacos (aka Thanksgiving Tacos)?
  • Leftover Turkey Tacos - Ingredients Needed
  • Leftover Turkey Tacos - Instructions
  • Leftover Turkey Tacos

The Turkey

I opted to cook a turkey breast in the Instant Pot (Instant Pot Turkey Breast). Since turkey is often not aggressively seasoned for Thanksgiving, it’s a good blank slate for a taco. You can sprinkle on some taco seasoning, add a few dashes of hot sauce, or top with salsa to give it that Mexican flair. 

The Greens

Bagged salad anyone? Convenient and comes in a variety of options, reach for whatever greens you’d like for this Leftover Turkey Taco. I opted for Trader Joe’s Cruciferous Crunch Salad, which contains shredded Brussels sprouts, kale, broccoli, and green and red cabbage. 

The Dressed Greens

I’m a fan of using an oil and vinegar type vinaigrette here. You can use a store-purchased option or consider dressing your greens with a homemade vinaigrette, like this Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette. It’s zesty, bright, and acidic. 

leftover turkey tacos

The Toppings

Once you’ve got the turkey and the greens, everything else is gravy (see what I did there!? Ha.). Try dressing up your Leftover Turkey Tacos with these toppings:

  • Fresh or pickled jalapeno slices
  • Shredded cheese, or a crumbly cheese like cotija or feta
  • Hot sauce or salsa
  • Guacamole
  • Pico de gallo
  • Sour cream or crema

For the pictures in this recipe, I took a few tablespoons of crema and added in several dashes of Tabasco sauce. The result is a slightly spicy yet cool crema.

turkey leftover tacos

How do you make Turkey Leftover Tacos (aka Thanksgiving Tacos)?

To make these super easy Leftover Turkey Tacos you will need the following ingredients. Since this is a leftovers recipe, you can expect more of a loose set of instructions with many paths to a successful (tasty) outcome. The *exact* amounts of each ingredient used I leave to your personal preference, but I find that using 1 - 1.5 ounces of turkey per taco is a perfect starting point when using the smaller corn tortillas.

Leftover Turkey Tacos - Ingredients Needed

  • Leftover turkey, seasoned (or not) as you'd like (try this homemade Taco Seasoning)
  • Cruciferous Crunch Salad (with Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette)
  • Hot sauce or salsa
  • Pickled jalapenos
  • Shredded cheese or crumbly cotija or feta cheese 
  • Corn or flour tortillas (small taco ones)

Leftover Turkey Tacos - Instructions

Reheat leftover turkey however you’d prefer, and season however you'd like. To reheat on the stovetop, add shredded pieces of turkey to a covered pan over medium heat. Add a tablespoon of water to help keep things moist as the turkey reheats. Reheating will take around 5 or so minutes.

Dress your greens, if not using leftover Cruciferous Crunch Salad, while the turkey reheats. 

Warm up or char your tortillas to make them pliable. 

Assemble! Add 1 - 1.5 ounces of turkey to each tortilla.

Top with a generous amount of dressed greens. 

Finish off with garnishes of your choosing - try topping with pickled jalapenos and shredded cheese.

leftover turkey tacos

If you dig these Turkey Leftover Tacos...

Try these other outstanding recipes!

  • Ground Turkey Quesadilla
  • Roasted Green Tomato Salsa
  • Mashed with Sweet Potatoes (with Chipotle Honey Butter)
  • Ground Venison Tacos
  • Instant Pot Spanish Rice
  • Quick Sauteed Tex-Mex Beef
  • Instant Pot Pozole
  • Turkey Lentil Soup

As you know, using leftovers is a great way to save money. For more money-saving ideas, check out Practical Ways to Stretch Your Food Budget.

leftover turkey thanksgiving tacos

Leftover Turkey Tacos

Thanksgiving leftovers get new life when you turn them into Leftover Turkey Tacos; reach for a low-carb tortilla for an even lighter bite.
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 5 mins
Total Time 10 mins
Course Main Course

Ingredients
  

  • Leftover turkey (seasoned (or not) as you'd like)
  • Cruciferous Crunch Salad (with Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette)
  • Hot sauce or salsa
  • Pickled jalapenos
  • Shredded cheese or crumbly cotija or feta cheese 
  • Corn or flour tortillas (small taco ones)

Instructions
 

  • Reheat leftover turkey however you’d prefer, and season however you'd like. To reheat on the stovetop, add shredded pieces of turkey to a covered pan over medium heat. Add in a tablespoon of water to help keep things moist as the turkey reheats. Reheating will take around 5 or so minutes.
  • Dress your greens, if not using leftover Cruciferous Crunch Salad, while the turkey reheats. 
  • Warm up or char your tortillas to make them pliable. 
  • Assemble! Add 1 - 1.5 ounces of turkey to each tortilla.
  • Top with a generous amount of dressed greens. 
  • Finish off with garnishes of your choosing - try topping with pickled jalapenos and shredded cheese.

Notes

For the pictures in this recipe, I took a few tablespoons of crema and added in several dashes of Tabasco sauce. The result is a slightly spicy yet cool crema.
Keyword leftover turkey tacos, thanksgiving tacos
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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Christina from Midwexican

About Christina

I'm a Minnesota native who can't get enough of south-of-the-border flavors. My recipes combine comforting Midwestern eats with bold Mexican and Tex-Mex flavors. If you love comforting food, bold flavors, and - most importantly - tacos! then you'll love what I'm cooking!

Learn more about me →

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