Easy Leftover Turkey Tacos Recipe

Transform leftover Thanksgiving turkey into these flavor-packed and juicy Leftover Turkey Tacos! These leftover turkey carnitas are perfectly seasoned with a balance of smoky, sweet, citrusy, and savory ingredients. It’s the perfect way to enjoy leftover turkey!

Perhaps your family has its own Thanksgiving dinner leftover traditions. Well, be prepared for this one to blow all the rest out of the water! A leftover turkey taco is like a fiesta in your mouth!

Then, there are even more great ways to use all that delicious turkey. I know you will also enjoy these other uses for leftover turkey; Turkey Divan Recipe, Turkey and Wild Rice Casserole, or my Easy Oven Baked Turkey and Cheese Sliders. And if you need more leftovers, make my Air Fryer Turkey Legs, nom!

And if you aren’t a leftover fan, these tasty tacos are a great way to change your mind — get ready for an all-new meal.

By the way, make sure you check out these Healthy Leftover Turkey Recipes for more great ways to use extra Thanksgiving turkey.

Simple Ingredients for the Best Leftover Turkey Taco

• Leftover turkey | Use whatever turkey leftovers you have from the holiday. However, the recipe is best when you combine light and dark meat, need more leftover turkey breast, be sure to make my Air Fryer Turkey Breast.
• Orange and lime | Freshly squeezed lime and orange juice give the turkey a bright citrus flavor to compliment some of the smokier notes, I created this recipe based on a Yucatan pork carnitas that are amazing!
• Chicken broth | You’ll want some chicken broth or stock nearby if your leftover turkey dries out while reheating. This ingredient isn’t always necessary, but it’s a good idea to have it just in case.
• Green chilies | Use hot or mild canned green chilies to bring some heat to the taco meat.
• Spices | Garlic powder, cumin and smoked paprika bring authentic flavor into this great meal.
• Honey | Enhance the citrusy and savory notes in this leftover smoked turkey recipe with a touch of honey.
• Oil | Use a high-heat oil with a mild flavor to sauté the onions and seasoned turkey. For example, avocados, sesame, canola, even olive oil will work great.
• Red Onion & Garlic | Caramelize a diced red onion and a little garlic, adds just the punch you need.
• Kosher Salt and pepper | Classic flavor boosters.

How to Make Leftover Turkey Tacos

Step 1 | Prepare the Ingredients

Put those delicious Thanksgiving leftovers to use by first tearing the turkey with clean hands or shredding it with kitchen utensils.

Now, before continuing with this recipe, you may want to prep the other ingredients. For instance, juice the lime and orange into a small cup or container and set them aside for when you need them. Also, thinly slice or finely dice the red onion and mince the garlic cloves. Now, you’re ready to get rolling!

Step 2 | Season the Turkey Meat

Next, take out a medium mixing bowl. Add the orange juice, lime juice, green chiles, cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and sweet honey, and stir the ingredients to combine. Then, add the turkey pieces and toss them in the spices until all the turkey is thoroughly coated. Be sure not to miss any pieces—you want each bite packed with flavor!

Now, pour the oil and seasoned turkey mixture into a medium pot or small Dutch oven. Set the heat to medium-low and simmer for about half an hour until the leftover turkey is tender. If the turkey begins to dry out, add a dash of chicken broth, water or a a little orange juice to keep it juicy and moist.

Next, shred the turkey a little more while it’s still in the pot. At this point, the seasoned turkey should be tender and pull apart almost effortlessly.

Step 3 | Saute to crisp

In the meantime, heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat and add some oil as it warms. Next, sauté the diced red onions until soft and caramelized. Caramelizing the red onions should take around five minutes. 

During the last minute of cooking the onions, sprinkle in the minced garlic and stir until fragrant.

Next, increase the temperature to medium-high heat and add the tender seasoned turkey. You may need to add more oil so the turkey doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Sauté the meat, turning it about every five minutes. After about 15 minutes, your leftover turkey should be slightly crisp, giving it a carnitas flavor.

Step 4 | Final Seasoning

Finally, finish this simple recipe by squeezing half a lime over the meat and sprinkling some salt and pepper to taste.

Are you ready to dive into this tasty and practical dish? Just divide the turkey taco meat into warm tortillas or hard taco shells and dress them with your favorite taco toppings. Enjoy! 

Turkey Taco Toppings

Say that three times fast! Perhaps the best part of this simple recipe is dressing up the tacos with all your favorite toppings! Here are some tasty ideas to get you started:

• Corn or flour tortilla, soft or hard shells
• Minced cilantro
• Diced red onion
• Shredded Cheese, try Cotija or your favorite Mexican cheese
• Diced avocados or guacamole
• Chopped green onions
• Your favorite salsa
• Chopped tomatoes
• Sour Cream
• Lime Wedges
• Cranberry Relish (keeping with traditional leftovers)

Variations & Substitutions

• You may use this same process with leftover chicken as well.
• If you don’t have leftover Thanksgiving turkey but still want to try this tasty taco recipe, use about a pound of ground turkey and adjust the seasonings as needed.
• Leave the green chilies out for a milder spice. You can also replace them with ½ – 1 teaspoon chili powder.
• Add a tablespoon of adobo sauce to the turkey mixture for a more authentic taco flavor.
• Take a shortcut using taco seasoning instead of paprika, cumin, and garlic powder – or make homemade taco seasoning for your next Taco Tuesday!

Storage Tips

• Freeze | Store the completed leftover Thanksgiving turkey taco mixture in the freezer for up to six months, but keep in mind that the longer it sits in the freezer, the more flavor will be lost.
• Meal Prep | Store the leftover turkey carnitas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days.

More Easy Recipes to Serve with Leftover Turkey Carnitas

1. Cilantro Lime Rice {A Chipotle Copycat}Super Simple Guacamole
2. White Mexican Cheese Dip
3. The Best Spanish Rice Recipe (Vegetarian)
4. Easy Homemade Blender Salsa
5. Wash it all down with this 4-ingredient margarita.

I hope you loved these easy Leftover Turkey Taco recipe — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest? And be sure to comment below!