This ground turkey taco skillet has so much going for it! It’s incredibly tasty – we’ve got classic taco flavors, a healthy dose of cheese, and even a few veggies thrown in there. It’s a 15-minute meal, making this easy taco skillet dinner a great option for busy weeknights. AND! It is a nutritious meal that is a great source of protein, fiber, and veggies.
You can read more about my nutrition philosophy here, but to sum it up – I love adding nutrition INTO meals, but it has to be in a delicious way. This meal does just that with a hefty dose of protein, fiber, and vegetables – all in a delicious, cheesy way. If you find yourself with any leftovers, stuff them into crispy baked quesadillas for a delicious meal with a double dose of cheese.
Ground turkey is a healthy, versatile meat that can be used in everything from tacos to casseroles But what do you do when you have cooked ground turkey leftover? Luckily, there are endless possibilities for transforming those leftovers into tasty new dishes
Here are 17 delicious ideas for using up leftover ground turkey:
1. Turkey Tacos
Warm up the ground turkey and pile it into tortillas with all your favorite taco toppings. Quick, easy, and delicious!
2. Turkey Chili
Simmer the turkey with beans, tomatoes, onions, peppers and spices for an easy weeknight chili. Top with cheese, avocado or sour cream.
3. Turkey Meatballs
Mix the cooked turkey with breadcrumbs, egg, and seasonings to create bakeable meatballs Serve over pasta with marinara sauce.
4. Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Layer the turkey with vegetables in a baking dish, top with mashed potatoes and bake until bubbly and golden.
5. Turkey Pizza
Top prepared pizza crust with turkey, cheese, veggies and sauce for a protein-packed pizza night.
6. Turkey Fried Rice
Stir-fry the turkey with rice, soy sauce, eggs and vegetables for a fast and easy turkey fried rice.
7. Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Spoon the turkey into lettuce leaves along with veggies and sauce for a light, low-carb lunch or dinner.
8. Turkey Egg Scramble
Cook the turkey with eggs, cheese and veggies for a hearty scramble wrap.
9. Turkey Pasta Salad
Toss cooked turkey and pasta with your favorite dressing and vegetables to create pasta salad for lunches.
10. Sloppy Joes
Combine the turkey with ketchup, Worcestershire, and spices to make saucy sloppy joe sandwiches.
11. Turkey Casserole
Mix turkey with cream of mushroom soup, veggies, and seasonings then bake until hot and bubbly.
12. Turkey Stuffed Peppers
Fill halved bell peppers with the turkey, rice, marinara and cheese then bake until peppers are tender.
13. Turkey Noodle Soup
Simmer turkey with veggies and noodles in broth for a comforting bowl of soup.
14. Turkey Quesadillas
Fill tortillas with turkey and cheese then cook until cheese melts for easy quesadillas.
15. Turkey Burritos
Warm turkey and roll in tortillas with beans, rice, salsa and cheese for hand-held burritos.
16. Turkey Sliders
Shape leftover turkey into mini patties and serve as appetizer sliders with cheese and fixings.
17. Turkey Hash
Fry the turkey with potatoes, peppers, onions and spices for a tasty turkey hash.
With a little creativity, leftover cooked ground turkey can be used in endless quick, healthy and delicious ways. No more boring sandwiches day after day!
What to Serve with Healthy Taco Skillet
I love scooping this skillet meal up as a hearty dip with extra veggies, but you can also stuff it into quesadillas or taco shells (also delicious!):
- Tortilla chips
- Mini bell peppers
- Celery sticks
- Cucumber slices
- White rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice
- Warm tortillas
- Cheese quesadillas
How to Make Ground Turkey Taco Skillet
This is an overview, the detailed instructions can be found below in the recipe card.
- Saute veggies and meat. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions, pepper, ground turkey, and taco seasoning to skillet and cook to brown ground turkey. Stir occasionally, for a few minutes.
- Add remaining skillet ingredients. Stir garlic, beans, and corn into the turkey mixture. Cover and simmer for another few minutes.
- Finish skillet. Remove from heat and stir cheese into turkey mixture until it has melted.
- Serve. Serve the taco skillet with plenty of toppings along with tortilla chips and mini bell peppers for serving.
Yes, you can make this taco skillet recipe with virtually any ground meat. I’ve tried it with ground beef and confirm it’s delicious. You could also try it with ground chicken, ground pork, and even your favorite ground meat alternative for a vegetarian option.
Store any leftover taco turkey skillet in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Reheat the turkey mixture in the microwave or a hot skillet until warmed through.
Ground Turkey and Sweet Potato Bowls
What can I make with leftover turkey cutlets?
We use fresh mushrooms, make a creamy, cheesy mornay sauce from scratch and top off the hearty casserole with buttery bread crumbs. “This classic casserole is so easy to make and works well with either leftover turkey or fresh turkey cutlets.
Can one have turkey and carrots?
Eating turkey and carrots is part of healthy habits. The turkey has meat like chicken and is another healthy poultry option. Carrots are rich in carotenoids, it is a source of vitamin A, fiber, potassium and vitamin B3.
What can I do with leftover turkey bones?
You can even incorporate leftover Thanksgiving sides into the next day’s dishes. The turkey carcass gets some love, too—repurpose the bones to enrich broth or make a homemade turkey stock. Pack this hearty, cheesy, saucy casserole with extra mushrooms by using both cream of mushroom soup and jarred sliced mushrooms.
What can I do with leftover turkey carcass?
Don’t throw out your leftover turkey carcass! Repurpose those bones by enriching store-bought chicken broth for this Thanksgiving-flavored soup. If you haven’t already used the giblets and neck for a giblet gravy, throw them in with the bones for additional, mineral-rich flavor and to thicken the broth.
What can you do with leftover Turkey pie crust?
Transform your leftover turkey into casseroles like turkey tetrazzini, jazzed up turkey sandwiches, and one of Ree Drummond’s all-time favorites, turkey pot pie. “The wonderfulness of this leftover recipe is made even greater if you have a leftover pie crust laying around!” she says.
What can I do with leftover Thanksgiving Leftovers?
All the savory Thanksgiving leftovers you have left in your fridge go into this crowd-pleasing dish. Pop it into the oven and voila—you have dinner. Open-faced and light, this turkey salad sandwich has fresh, green apples, lemon, and golden raisins. Go ahead and make a batch of turkey stock.