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    Home » One Pot Recipes

    Shredded Turkey Tacos (With Thanksgiving Leftovers)

    Published: Nov 11, 2019 · Modified: Feb 3, 2025 by Abeer Rizvi · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    Quick and easy shredded turkey tacos recipe, homemade with simple ingredients in one pot over stovetop in 20 minutes. Great way to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey.

    Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Tacos on Rustic Gray Background.

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    At some point, everyone gets a little sick of plain turkey or the classic Shredded Chicken Tacos (One Pot). So, re-inventing tacos with a different flavor profile, such as today's recipe, allows you to make an unexpectedly delicious meal! This recipe is different than ground turkey tacos. That's because it utilizes leftover turkey and the meat is shredded instead of ground. Use one of my turkey recipes to start, such as this Easy Thanksgiving Turkey (One Pan) or this Roast Turkey Breast (One Pan).

    Jump to:
    • Key ingredients
    • Variations
    • How to make easy one pot turkey tacos recipe with Thanksgiving leftovers?
    • What sides to serve with tacos?
    • Taco toppings
    • Tips and techniques
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Storage
    • More Thanksgiving recipes
    • Recipe

    Key ingredients

    • Oil- Paired with butter to saute.
    • Butter- Use unsalted for best results.
    • Onions- Finely chopped up.
    • Jalepenos- Be sure to remove the seeds or just use diced green chilis.
    • Leftover turkey- Shred it before adding in.
    • Spices- You will need cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper to make up the right flavor profile.
    • Cranberry sauce- A perfect Thanksgiving compliment.
    • Taco shells- Get your favorite kind and enjoy!

    Variations

    • Make it spicy- Add fresh chili peppers, cayenne pepper, hot sauce, or crushed red chili flakes.
    • Add beans- Black beans are my first choice, followed by red beans. Remember to drain and rinse them, if using canned ones.
    • Make is Asian- Use broccoli slaw as a topping with cilantro and sesame seeds. Use ginger, garlic, pepper, salt, soy sauce, sesame oil as the meat seasoning.
    • Add vegetables- Such as corn, bell peppers, onions and perhaps even zucchini.
    • Add cheese- Such as shredded Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, cheddar or even mozzarella cheese.
    • Turkey taco salad- Fill a salad bowl with lettuce, spinach, green peppers, cucumbers, onions, celery, tomatoes, shredded or diced turkey taco meat, shredded cheese, dried cranberries with a simple lemon lime vinaigrette and a crunchy topping of fried tortilla chips.
    • Make lettuce wraps- Replace hard shells with lettuce for a healthy, low carb option.
    • Use this recipe for different meat- Such as pulled pork or chicken.
    Easy Thanksgiving Tacos With Cranberry Sauce Topping.

    How to make easy one pot turkey tacos recipe with Thanksgiving leftovers?

    1. Saute vegetables- Saute onions, jalapeno in oil and butter and cook until soft and translucent.
    2. Add spices and turkey- Add shredded turkey, cumin powder, chili powder, paprika, salt, pepper and mix everything together.
    3. Cook- Cook for a few minutes until turkey is heated through.
    4. Enjoy!- Spoon some of this mixture in a tortilla shell, along with toppings of your choice and dig in.

    What sides to serve with tacos?

    • Serve them with a wide range of toppings such as salsa, guacamole, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions. My favorite Thanksgiving time is cranberry sauce or Cranberry Relish (One Bowl).
    • These tacos pair perfectly with any corn side. Try one of these: Grilled Corn On The Cobb or Mexican Corn On The Cobb (One Pan) or Mexican Corn Salad Recipe (One Bowl).
    • Rice will also accompany them perfectly, such as this Cilantro Lime Rice (One Pot).
    • Soup is another great pairing option. Try one of these soups: Instant Pot Mexican Soup or Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup or Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup (One Pot).

    Taco toppings

    There are many different options. However, don’t use all the toppings at once. Pick and choose a few from the list to develop different flavor profiles.

    • Sour cream– Full fat is best.
    • Greek Yogurt- Plain Greek yogurt is a great sour cream substitute with more protein and less fat.
    • Lettuce– Roughly chopped.
    • Guacamole– Homemade or store-bought.
    • Sliced avocados– Use ripe ones.
    • Tomatoes– Finely chopped.
    • Onions- Finely chopped red onions are great.
    • Salsa– Such as Corn Salsa (One Bowl) or Mango Salsa (One Bowl) or Pineapple Salsa (One Bowl) or Pico De Gallo Salsa (One Bowl) or even Strawberry Salsa (One Bowl)
    Hands Holding Tacos- Closeup Shot.

    Tips and techniques

    • Soft taco shells vs. Hard taco shells- You can use either. I like the crunch of hard taco shells. It also holds the filling more securely than a soft corn or flour tortilla. I highly recommend using taco shells with a flat base because they don’t wobble around your plate, making it easier to fill more than one at a time.
    • Adjust seasoning- Add more or less seasoning according to your personal preference.
    • Use a non-stick pot or pan- Because this prevents the meat from sticking and burning on the bottom of the pan.
    • Use unsalted butter- That way the recipe won't get too salty.
    • Use high quality ingredients- For the best flavor, especially the turkey.

    Recipe FAQs

    Is ground turkey better for you than ground beef? Do they taste the same?

    Ground turkey is better for you because it is lower in calories and saturated fat than ground beef. They taste slightly different due to the fat contents. Beef will be juicier and softer, while some people feel that turkey can be a little drier since it has less fat.

    How can I make my own taco seasoning?

    Homemade or store-bought seasoning can be used in this meal. To make a DIY homemade taco seasoning, mix together 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Any of the spice quantities can be adjusted to your liking.

    What is the best way to shred turkey?

    There are two main ways. One is to use two forks to tear the meat apart. You can also use your favorite mixer to do the job.

    Storage

    • Make ahead- You cannot make the entire taco a head of time, but you can prepare the meat beforehand and keep it in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer up to 1 month. Reheat, fill the tacos and enjoy.
    • Refrigerate- Place in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
    • Freeze- You can freeze the seasoned meat for up to 1 month in a sealed container. Thaw, reheat, and serve. You cannot freeze prepared tacos, though, since they don't thaw well.
    • Reheat- Place in a pan and heat over the stove or in an appropriate bowl heated in the microwave. You may need to add a little broth as you reheat so that the meat doesn't dry out.

    More Thanksgiving recipes

    • Thanksgiving Turkey Stuffing (One Pot)
    • Hasselback Sweet Potatoes (One Pan)
    • Candied Sweet Potatoes (One Pot)
    • Honey Glazed Carrots (One Pot)
    • Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes (One Pan)

    Recipe

    Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Tacos Recipe

    One Pot Shredded Turkey Tacos

    Abeer
    Quick and easy shredded turkey tacos recipe, homemade with simple ingredients in one pot over stovetop in 20 minutes. Great use of leftover Thanksgiving turkey.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, Mexican
    Servings 8 Tacos
    Calories 231 kcal

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    Ingredients
      

    • 1 tablespoon Oil
    • 1 tablespoon Butter Unsalted
    • 1 cup Onions Finely chopped
    • 1 Jalapeno Seeds removed, Finely chopped, Or use 1 can (4 oz) diced green chilis that's been drained
    • 2.5 cups Leftover turkey Shredded
    • 1 teaspoon Cumin powder
    • 1 teaspoon Chili powder
    • ¼ teaspoon Paprika
    • Salt To taste
    • Pepper To taste
    • 1 cup Cranberry sauce
    • 8 Taco Shells

    Instructions
     

    • Heat oil and butter in a nonstick pot or pan over medium-high heat.
    • Add onions, jalapeno and saute until becomes soft and translucent.
    • Add turkey, cumin powder, chili powder, paprika, salt, pepper and mix everything together.
    • Cook for a few minutes until turkey is heated through.
    • To serve, spoon some of this turkey mixture in a tortilla shell, along with some lettuce, cranberry sauce and other toppings of your choice. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • Read all my tips above.
    • Tastes best when served immediately. Leftover tacos cannot be stored for later because the shells will become soggy. However, you can store this prepared shredded turkey mixture and all the toppings separately in a sealed container in the fridge and assemble tacos together when you are ready to enjoy them. 
       

    Nutrition

    Calories: 231kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 14gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 52mgSodium: 104mgPotassium: 182mgFiber: 2gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 230IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 26mgIron: 1mg

    An automated tool is used to calculate the nutritional information. As such, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information provided for any recipe on this site.

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    Recipe developer. Photographer. Mommy & Foodie. Welcome to OnePot Recipes, a place where I share my love for cooking using One Pot, Instant Pot and Stock Pot!

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