Quick and easy turkey fajitas can be ready to eat in less than quarter of an hour. Colourful and delicious, this leftover turkey fajita recipe makes a quick and cheerful relaxed meal and leaves you free to spend time with friends and family.
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Leftover Roast Turkey Fajitas
Fajitas are quick and easy to make and fun to share, so this leftover roast turkey fajita recipe is a great way to turn leftovers into something different over the holidays. The spice makes a great contrast with the festive roast, so there’s no boredom and very little effort. Just spread out an assortment of trimmings so everyone can dig in.
Nothing beats the reaction to that sizzling cast iron dish of fajitas as it is placed on the table – as good as bringing out a flaming Christmas pud! So get the serving dish warming and make the most of your turkey.
Why You Will Love Leftover Turkey Fajitas
- These cooked turkey fajitas are very easy yet always impress.
- A great use of holiday roast turkey leftovers, and using cooked turkey makes them really quick.
- It is largely make ahead – then five minutes hands on time.
- They’re easy to adapt, so you can make use of whatever vegetables you have to hand.
Pro Tip
A pizza stone holds heat well and will warm warm your wraps without drying them out. I find it by far the best way to heatflatbreads and wraps.
If you don’t have a pizza stone, I strongly recommend getting one. Not only is it great for pizzas, but a hot stone will restore a take-away pizza to fresh perfection. We also bake on ours and use it to keep other food warm.
Fajita Ingredients
- Leftover turkey – Cut the meat into strips if possible. When I strip the carcass, I pack slices and cubes into separate containers before freezing.
- Onion – Cut into strips.
- Bell Peppers – I like the sweeter red, yellow and orange peppers, but use whatever you like – again cut into strips.
- Spices – Ground cumin and a really smoky chipotle.
- Lime – Roll around on the work top under your hand BEFORE you cut it in half, to free up the juice.
- Tortilla wraps – I like soft wheat tacos.
The secret to sizzling fajitas every time
Pro Tip
You need to serve the fajitas in a different pan to the one you cook in! Simple!
Cook your turkey fajitas in a large, heavy non-stick frying pan that gives you space to stir the ingredients and slightly char them without burning.
Then transfer the filling to a smaller pre-heated sizzling hot cast iron dish to serve. These are inexpensive from catering supply stores, and if you look after them, they last for years. The cast iron holds its heat for 15 minutes, keeping the turkey warm.
Simply pop the empty serving dish on to the stove top on the highest heat while you cook the fajitas. Turn the heat off when you are ready to serve.
Pro Tip
Cast iron is HOT – use a double mat or trivet to protect your table. I usually wrap a tea towel or napkin round the handles of the dish so you can easily pick it up without burning yourself
How to Make Leftover Roast Turkey Fajitas
Before you start
Assemble all your toppings and sides before you start to cook the fajitas (ideas below).
Prepare all the ingredients, cutting them into narrow strips – try to make them all about the same size. If you are going to warm your tortillas on a pizza stone, turn on the oven and put the stone in to heat up.
Step One Put the turkey, peppers, onions and spices into a bowl. Add half the olive oil and season with salt and pepper, squeeze over the lime and give it all a good stir.
Pro Tip
If you want to prep ahead, prepare to this point. Then cover and put the mixture in the fridge, up to a day ahead.
At this point, turn off the oven and put the tortilla wraps onto the hot stone to warm through (or defrost and warm).
Step two – Heat your serving pan on a high heat.
Add the rest of the oil to a large frying pan and fry the turkey mixture over a high heat, stirring all the time until lightly charred.
Step three – Transfer to the preheated serving dish to serve.
Serve with warmed fajita wraps, and a selection of toppings.
What Topping Can I Serve with Leftover Roast Turkey Fajitas?
- Guacamole
- Grated cheese
- Sliced or chopped avocado – quick and easy!
- Diced tomato and raw red onion relish
- Sour cream – add a pinch of chilli powder for extra heat, or cool chopped herbs, such as coriander or parsley
- Serve with an extra wedge of lime.
Hints, Tips & Variations
It’s easy to add extra veg to this turkey fajita recipe. Mix it up and it will be different every time. Try any of the following:
- strips of courgette
- strips of aubergine
- sliced mushrooms
- baby corn
- mange tout / sugar snap peas
- chayote
More Leftover Roast Turkey Recipe Ideas
If you are looking for more recipes to make the most of your leftover roast turkey, why not explore these suggestions?
- Turkey pasta bake – comfort food at its best
- Leftover turkey curry – easy peasy classic British style curry
- Turkey tagine – lightly spiced and warming turkey tagine
- Leftover turkey frittata – simple and easy
- Turkey tacos – fuss free quick and easy and perfect for feeding a crowd!
- Turkey biryani – one pot, easy to make spiced rice dish
- Leftover turkey and ham filo pie – cooked turkey and ham pie is a classic leftover recipe in the UK and this filo version is light and easy to make.
- Turkey muffins – anyone who reads this site regularly knows I love a savoury muffin for brunch. Impress your family with this easy bake.
Leftover Roast Turkey Fajitas
Ingredients
- 1 bell pepper (deseeded and cut into strips)
- 1 cup leftover roast turkey (100 g – cut into strips)
- ½ onion (peeled and cut into strips)
- ½ tsp smoked chipotle (or more to taste)
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ lime (juice)
- pepper and salt
- 2 dsp olive oil
- 4–6 tortilla wraps
Instructions
- Assemble all you toppings and sides before you start to cook the fajitas. Prepare all the ingredients cutting into narrow strips – try to make them all about the same size. If you warm your tortillas on a pizza stone, turn on the oven and put the stone in.
- Put the meat, peppers, onions and spices into a bowl. Add half the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Squeeze over the lime and give it all a good stir.
- Turn off the oven and put the tortillas onto the hot stone to warm through or defrost and warm.
- Heat your serving skillet or pan on the stovetop on a high heat, until it's sizzling hot.
- Add the rest of the oil to a large frying pan and fry the turkey mixture over a high heat, stirring all the time until lightly charred.
- Transfer the turkey mixture to the preheated serving dish to serve.
- Serve the turkey filling, the warmed fajita wraps and your selection of toppings.
Notes
- Grated cheese
- Guacamole
- Sliced or chopped avocado – quick and easy!
- Diced tomato and raw red onion relish.
- Sour cream – add a pinch of chilli powder for extra heat, or cool chopped herbs such as coriander or parsley
- Serve with an extra wedge of lime
- courgette strips – cut with a vegetable peeler
- strips of aubergine
- sliced mushrooms
- baby corn
- mange tout / sugar snap peas
- chayote
More Roast Turkey Recipe Ideas
If you are looking for more recipes to make the most of your leftover roast turkey, why not explore these suggestions?
Turkey, ham and mushroom pasta bake – comfort food at its best
Creamed pea soup with leftover turkey – a seasonal spin on a classic soup
Leftover turkey frittata – simple and easy
Leftover turkey and ham filo pie – cooked turkey and ham pie is a classic leftover recipe in the UK and this filo version is light and easy to make.
Christmas turkey muffins – anyone who reads this site regularly knows I love a savoury muffin for brunch. Impress your family with this easy bake.
Last of the leftovers turkey pies with stuffing crust
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