Leftover Turkey Taquitos
on Dec 22, 2014, Updated Jun 11, 2024
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Shredded turkey, cream cheese, green onions, spices and cheese are rolled up and fried until crispy to make these leftover turkey taquitos! These taquitos are the perfect way to use up that leftover turkey sitting in your fridge.
If you are like me, it can be tough to figure out what to do with a bunch of leftover turkey meat from the holidays! Luckily, this recipe is the perfect solution, creating a dish that will use up your turkey and give it a whole new flavor. These taquitos are super easy to make and are full of warm and tasty spices that keep you coming back for more.
I love that I can serve the taquitos as an appetizer or a main dish with a variety of dips or sauces. You can also fill your taquitos with other ingredients like beans, corn, tomato, and onion. Thanks to this recipe, my family now looks forward to leftover turkey!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It is easy to make with a few simple ingredients, helping you use up any leftover meat!
- This dish can be ready in less than 15 minutes, perfect for a busy night.
- The taquitos are bursting with savory, warm, and bold flavors.
Recipe Ingredients
- Cooked Turkey—Shredded. You can also use leftover chicken.
- Green Onion—Chopped. A simple, flavorful and colorful ingredient.
- Cream Cheese—For a creamy texture and to hold everything together.
- Sour Cream—To add a subtle tangy flavor to the taquitos.
- Spices—A savory, earthy blend of chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and salt.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese—Shredded. Feel free to switch up what kind of cheese you use!
- Corn Tortillas—You can use white or yellow corn tortillas.
- Vegetable Oil—For frying your taquitos.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Leftover Turkey Taquitos
Step #1. In a medium bowl, add the turkey, onion, cream cheese, sour cream, and all your spices. Combine the ingredients well.
Step #2. Place the corn tortillas on a plate and microwave for about a minute. While the tortillas are still hot, place some of the turkey mixture and cheese in the center of each tortilla and spread it from end to end.
Step #3. Roll up the tortilla tightly and place 2 toothpicks through the center to keep it in place. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Heat the oil in a large skillet and fry the taquitos until golden brown, turning once.
Step #4. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
Corn tortillas are most commonly used for taquitos, but they can be tricky to work with. You need to warm up and soften the tortillas before using them or else they will fall apart easily. When you are getting the tortillas ready for the microwave, it is best to get a napkin or paper towel damp, then cover the tortillas. This will help retain moisture, making it much easier for the tortillas to roll without breaking. Depending on how many taquitos you are making, you might need to repeat the process if your tortillas cool down before you get to roll them.
One of the best parts of a taquito is how crispy they become! There are a few ways to ensure that your taquitos turn out great. First, make sure your oil is hot enough. If you try to fry the taquitos in oil that is not ready, the tortillas will not crisp up and can become soggy.
Next, do not overcrowd the pan. It can be tempting to cook a bunch at a time, but stick to 2-3 in the pan. This will ensure they have space to cook properly and so that you can watch them carefully. Lastly, make sure to cook them long enough, and only flip one time. Cook for about 3 minutes on each side for the perfect amount of crispiness!
How to Serve and Store Turkey Taquitos
Turkey taquitos can be served as a snack, appetizer, or the main course! You can create a whole meal by serving these with a side of cilantro-lime rice, refried or black beans, a garden salad, or some fresh fruit. These yummy taquitos also taste wonderful topped with an extra dollop of sour cream, salsa, guacamole, or fresh lime juice.
If you have extra turkey taquitos, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can reheat them in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, covered with a damp paper towel. Alternatively, you can keep your taquitos in the freezer to save them for even longer! Once they are cooked and cooled, place the taquitos in a Ziploc bag, and store for up to 3 months. You can either reheat them in the microwave until warm throughout, or place them on a baking sheet while still frozen and reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes.
Expert Tips
- You will want your cream cheese to be at room temperature so that it can be easily mixed with the other ingredients while still holding everything together.
- Use a fork to mix all of your ingredients together, this will help break the turkey up into smaller pieces and make it easier to eat.
- Make sure your oil reaches a temperature of 375°F before frying. You can use a meat or candy thermometer to check this.
- Any type of cheese will taste great in your taquitos, you can use Colby Jack or Pepper Jack if you have that instead. For best results, use freshly grated cheese as it will melt better!
More Easy Recipes To Consider
Seafood Recipes
Butterfly Shrimp
Easy Appetizers
Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Easy Appetizers
Bosco Sticks Recipe
Easy Appetizers
Carne Asada Fries
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Leftover Turkey Taquitos
Ingredients
- 2 cups left over cooked turkey, chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped green onion
- 2 ounces cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
- 6-8 corn tortillas
- 2 cups vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- In a medium bowl add the turkey through the salt. Use a fork to combine all of the ingredients well. This will also help to break the turkey into little pieces.
- Place the corn tortillas on a plate and cover with a very damp napkin or paper towel. Microwave on high for about a minute. This will moisten and soften the tortillas so that they won’t break when being rolled.
- Working quickly, while the tortillas are still hot, place about 2 tablespoons of the turkey mixture in the center of each tortilla and spread it from end to end. Sprinkle on a bit of the cheese. Roll the tortilla up tightly and place 2 toothpicks through the center to keep it in place. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
- Heat the oil in a large cast iron skillet or dutch oven until it reaches 375 degrees. Fry the taquitos until golden brown, turning once (2 to 3 minutes per side). Enjoy hot.
Notes
- You will want your cream cheese to be at room temperature so that it can be easily mixed with the other ingredients while still holding everything together.
- Use a fork to mix all of your ingredients together, this will help break the turkey up into smaller pieces and make it easier to eat.
- Make sure your oil reaches a temperature of 375°F before frying. You can use a meat or candy thermometer to check this.
- Any type of cheese will taste great in your taquitos, you can use Colby Jack or Pepper Jack if you have that instead. For best results, use freshly grated cheese as it will melt better!
Yum! Those look delicious!
Oooo, I’m so hungry and those look so good!
These look so yummy! I am always looking for recipes to use up our leftover turkey.