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This Leftover Turkey Fajitas recipe is a quick and easy meal that comes together in just 15 minutes and it’s a great way to repurpose leftover Thanksgiving turkey!
These turkey fajitas are so tasty and so simple to make! While we love to use our leftover turkey for turkey sandwiches or a turkey pot pie, sometimes we just want to lighten things up after days of heavy meals.
That’s why these turkey fajitas are so perfect. They’re packed with veggies, perfect for lunch or dinner, and a great way to use up the last of the leftover holiday turkey.
Also, after days of prepping recipes for Thanksgiving or Christmas, you finally get a break because this recipe requires very little prep time. You can even slice your peppers and onions in advance to save yourself even more time!
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If you don’t have leftover turkey, no problem! You can just cook up some sous vide turkey breast, sous vide turkey thighs or buttery roasted turkey thighs and shred it for this recipe.
OR...you can make these Instant Pot chicken fajitas which are pretty fire too.
After making these fajitas, if you still have turkey leftovers, check out this collection of 20+ leftover turkey recipes.
Why this recipe works
- Using leftover turkey means these fajitas are ready in just 15 minutes. There’s no marinating required!
- It’s a lighter meal option after Thanksgiving, and a great way to change things up from turkey sandwiches, soups and pot pies.
- It’s a versatile recipe. Once the shredded turkey, peppers and onions are seasoned and cooked, you can add them to tortillas or serve them on top of salads or rice bowls.
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Ingredients
The following is an overview of some of the ingredients needed for this recipe. For the full list of ingredients and quantities, please see the recipe card below.
You’ll need 1 pound of shredded turkey for this recipe. White or dark meat or a mix of both works. It depends on your preference and what you have leftover.
What are fajitas without peppers and onions? This recipe calls for a mix of red and green peppers, but you can also use yellow and orange.
For the onion, I like to use yellow onion but you can use red onion if you prefer.
The fajita seasoning is a simple mix of cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. For the best flavor, I like to use whole cumin seeds, then toast and grind them. You can use store-bought ground cumin if you prefer.
Two teaspoons of lime juice are also added for a pop of citrusy flavor. Be sure to use freshly squeezed lime juice and not bottled juice which usually has additives.
For serving, you’ll need ½ cup cilantro, flour or corn tortillas, sour cream, salsa, jalapenos and cheese.
Step by step instructions
STEP 1: Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium high heat and add the oil.
STEP 2: Add the onions and peppers and cook for 1 minute.
STEP 3: Add the turkey and seasonings and cook for 2-3 minutes, until crisped on the outside.
STEP 4: Serve on tortillas with sour cream, salsa, cilantro and jalapeños.
Expert tips
- You can serve these turkey fajitas on tortillas or over rice as a fajita bowl.
- If you don’t have leftover turkey, you can cook some turkey breasts or thighs or buy pre-cooked turkey.
- You can use white or dark meat or a mix of both. Whatever you prefer!
- When reheating the turkey, make sure it’s reheated to a safe internal temperature of 165F degrees. Be careful not to overheat it as it will dry out.
- If you don’t have cumin or chili powder, you can use store-bought fajita seasoning or even taco seasoning in a pinch.
- If you like your fajitas spicier, just add more seasoning or even a dash of cayenne pepper.
Common questions
Leftover turkey should be stored in the fridge and used within 3-4 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.
Absolutely! If you have leftover chicken, you can definitely use it in place of turkey in this recipe. You can also cook chicken (like this air fryer whole chicken or sous vide chicken thighs) and shred it for this recipe.
As these turkey fajitas use leftover turkey, they only take 15 minutes from start to finish, so I don’t recommend making them in advance. If you want to save some more time, you can slice your peppers and onions ahead of time. If you don’t have leftover turkey, you can also cook turkey breasts or thighs in advance for this recipe.
The seasoning for these fajitas is made with cumin and chili powder, so they’re not overly spicy. If you top them with raw, sliced jalapeños they will have an extra kick. If you’re sensitive to spice, just cut back on the chili powder and leave the jalapeños out.
Aside from the usual toppings of jalapeños, cilantro, cheese, sour cream and traditional salsa, you can also use mango peach salsa, tomatillo salsa or avocado dip. As a side, we love to serve it with Instant Pot Spanish rice or Instant Pot cilantro lime rice.
More leftover turkey recipes
- Turkey Lentil Soup
- Leftover Turkey Hand Pies
- Creamy Turkey Lasagna
- Leftover Turkey Ramen
- Instant Pot Turkey Bone Broth
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Recipe
Leftover Turkey Fajitas
Ingredients
- 1 pound shredded turkey
- 1 red pepper sliced
- 1 green pepper sliced
- 1 onion sliced
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin toasted and ground
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
- ½ cup cilantro
- Flour or corn tortillas
- Sour cream
- Salsa
- Jalapeños
- Cheese
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium high heat and add the oil.
- Add the onions and peppers and cook 1 minute.
- Add the turkey and seasonings and cook 2-3 minutes, until crisped on the outside.
- Serve on tortillas with sour cream, salsa, cilantro and jalapenos.
Expert Tips:
- You can serve these turkey fajitas on tortillas or over rice as a fajita bowl.
- If you don’t have leftover turkey, you can cook some turkey breasts or thighs or buy pre-cooked turkey.
- You can use white or dark meat or a mix of both. Whatever you prefer!
- When reheating the turkey, make sure it’s reheated to a safe internal temperature of 165F degrees. Be careful not to overheat it as it will dry out.
- If you don’t have cumin or chili powder, you can use store-bought fajita seasoning or even taco seasoning in a pinch.
- If you like your fajitas spicier, just add more seasoning or even a dash of cayenne pepper.
Nutrition
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