Leftover Turkey Tacos

This Leftover Turkey Taco recipe is one of my favorite ways to repurpose leftover turkey after the holidays! The leftover turkey meat is seasoned with cumin and garlic, stuffed into soft tortillas, and topped with your favorite toppings.

The key to making the perfect leftover turkey tacos is the zesty cranberry jalapeño relish! It's a fun twist on cranberry sauce and adds a sweet flavor to the savory meat. Whether you have leftover turkey meat or made some Crockpot Boneless Turkey Breast or Baked Turkey Tenderloin, you can make these easy turkey tacos! They are also delicious with ground turkey, rotisserie chicken, or any other protein you like.

Not a taco person? Make these Leftover Turkey Quesadillas instead!

Why We Love This Turkey Tacos Recipe

Here’s why this turkey taco recipe will win your heart:

• Quick and Easy: Let's be real—nobody wants to spend hours cooking after a big holiday meal. Turkey tacos are quick and easy to throw together, making them perfect for a satisfying dinner on busy nights!
• No Waste: No need to toss those leftovers out! With this recipe, you can repurpose leftovers in a delicious way.
• Jazzes Up Leftovers: Adding seasonings and pairing leftover turkey meat with a cranberry jalapeño relish incorporates holiday flavors in a new, unique way!

Turkey Taco Recipe Ingredients

Here’s a simple list of must-have ingredients for whipping up these delicious turkey tacos:

• Leftover shredded turkey: Use whatever leftover turkey meat you have! If it's not shredded, warm up the meat in the microwave with a splash of broth and shred it with a fork. If you don’t have leftover turkey, this recipe would also work with rotisserie chicken!
• Spices: I add a little cumin and garlic powder for flavor. If you’re not a fan of these spices, you can use poultry seasoning, taco seasoning, or even cajun seasoning to dress up the turkey meat. However, if your turkey is already super flavorful, you can skip the seasoning.
• Corn or flour tortillas: Use whatever kind you like! You can also use lettuce wraps, or make bowls or salads with the leftover turkey meat.
• Cranberry jalapeño relish: This homemade relish is a fun twist on Thanksgiving cranberry sauce! It's totally optional but highly recommended!
• Queso fresco: Slightly salty and tangy. If you can't find it, you can use Oaxaca cheese, Mexican blend cheese, cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, goat cheese, feta cheese, or any other type of cheese you like!
• Optional toppings: Add some shredded lettuce, sour cream, avocado, and fresh cilantro.

How to Make Turkey Tacos

Making leftover turkey tacos is a tasty way to use up your Thanksgiving turkey! Here's how to do it:

1. Prep

Start by heating some olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Just enough oil will give your turkey a nice sear when it hits the pan.

2. Cook Turkey

Next, add your shredded turkey along with some cumin and garlic powder. These spices really amp up the flavor! Don't forget to sprinkle in a bit of salt and pepper to taste. Cook everything together for a couple of minutes until the turkey is warmed through.

Tip: Only cook the turkey until it’s warmed through so it doesn’t get tough!

3. Make the Cranberry Relish

If you have cranberry jalapeño relish, great! If not, you can quickly mix together canned cranberry sauce with a diced jalapeño, chopped cilantro, a squeeze of lime juice, and a pinch of cumin for a simple substitute. This adds a nice kick to your tacos!

4. Warm Up Tortillas

Once your turkey is heated and the relish is ready, warm up your tortillas. Fill each tortilla with the turkey mixture, add the relish, and sprinkle on some queso fresco. If you like, you can also add your favorite taco toppings like shredded lettuce, sour cream, or avocado!

Delicious Toppings to Add to These Tacos

Here are some other delicious toppings for this taco recipe:

• Hot sauce
• Red or green salsa
• Pico de gallo
• Guacamole
• Pickled onions
• Diced avocado
• Chopped and roasted butternut squash
• Sauteéd brussels sprouts
• A thin layer of stuffing

Turkey Taco Recipe Variations & Substitutions

Get creative with your turkey tacos by trying out these fun variations and substitutions:

• Seasonings: Add different seasonings like chili powder or smoked paprika for extra flavor!
• Change it up: Ditch the tortillas and make a taco salad, nachos, loaded fries, or anything else you like!
• Add sweetness: Give the turkey meat a sweeter flavor profile by adding a splash of orange juice.
• Use chicken: This recipe will also work with leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken.