Turkey Tango Tacos—Lunch for 4
Turkey Tango Tacos are a delightful lunch recipe that transforms Thanksgiving leftovers into a fresh American-style meal. Succulent turkey, paired with your favorite fixings, is served in a crispy taco shell. It’s a creative and delicious way to enjoy the holiday’s bounty in a new light.
Do This With That Stuff
- ‘Gather all your ingredients and cookware
- Use the chef’s knife and cutting board to dice the tomatoes and red onion, then set aside
- Shred the lettuce using the chef’s knife and cutting board, then set aside
- Grate the cheddar cheese using the cheese grater, then set aside
- In a large skillet, add the shredded turkey
- Season with cumin powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper to taste using your measuring spoons
- Cook over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until heated through, stirring occasionally with a spatula
- While the turkey is cooking, combine sour cream and cranberry sauce in a small bowl using a spoon until well mixed
- Warm up taco shells as per package instructions
- To assemble tacos: spread a layer of cranberry sour cream mixture on each taco shell using a spoon
- Add cooked turkey evenly among taco shells using a spoon or your hands if cooled enough
- Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced red onion, and shredded cheddar cheese evenly among each taco shell using your hands or a spoon
- Serve immediately for best taste’
Obvious and Not So Obvious Variations and Pairings
☕ Bitter
- ‘Add 1 tsp of unsweetened cocoa powder to the turkey
- Add 1/2 cup of chopped radicchio to the toppings
- Replace red onion with 1/2 cup diced endive
- Add 1 tbsp of lemon zest to the cranberry sour cream mixture
- Include 1/4 cup of unsweetened dark chocolate shavings as a topping’
🧂 Salty
- Increase the salt to 1.5 tsp
- Add 1/2 cup of sliced black olives
- Add 1/2 cup of crumbled feta cheese
- Replace cheddar cheese with 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
🍋 Sour
- Increase the cranberry sauce to 1/2 cup
- Add 1/4 cup of lime juice
- Add 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar to the turkey while cooking
- Replace sour cream with Greek yogurt
🌶️ Spicy
- Increase the chili powder to 1 tsp
- Add 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- Add 2 diced jalapeno peppers
- Add 1 tbsp hot sauce to the cranberry sour cream mixture
- Replace cheddar cheese with pepper jack cheese
🍬 Sweet
- Increase the cranberry sauce to 1/2 cup
- Add 1/4 cup of honey to the turkey while cooking
- Add 1/2 cup of diced pineapple as a topping
- Add 1/4 cup of sweet corn as a topping
- Replace red onion with sweet onion
🍄 Umami
- Add 1 tbsp soy sauce to turkey
- Add 1/2 tsp garlic powder to turkey seasoning
- Add 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms to toppings
- Replace cheddar cheese with 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- Add 1/2 tsp fish sauce to cranberry sour cream mixture
🍸 Alcoholic
- ‘Chardonnay: Its buttery notes and slight acidity will complement the turkey and balance the spiciness from the chili powder
- Pale Ale: The bitterness of this beer can cut through the richness of the cheese and sour cream, while its carbonation can refresh the palate after each bite of taco
- Tequila Reposado: The smooth, slightly sweet flavor profile of this spirit will pair well with the cranberry sauce and cumin in the dish’
🥤 Non Alcoholic
- ‘Homemade Lemonade: The acidity and sweetness of the lemonade will complement the savory flavors of the turkey and cheese, while also balancing out the heat from the chili powder
- Iced Tea: The slight bitterness of the tea will pair well with the sweet and tangy cranberry sour cream mixture, providing a refreshing contrast
- Virgin Mojito: The mint and lime in this drink will provide a refreshing palate cleanser between bites, enhancing each flavor in the tacos’
🥓 Keto
- Remove taco shells
- Replace cranberry sauce with 1/4 cup of sugar-free cranberry sauce
- Replace cheddar cheese with 1 cup of full-fat cheddar cheese
- Replace sour cream with 1/2 cup of full-fat sour cream
🍆 Mediterranean
- Replace turkey with 2 cups cooked lamb, shredded
- Replace taco shells with 4 pita breads
- Replace cheddar cheese with 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- Replace sour cream with 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- Remove cranberry sauce
- Add 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
- Add 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- Replace cumin powder with 1 tsp dried oregano
- Remove chili powder
- Add 1 tsp lemon zest
🥑 Paleo
- Remove taco shells
- Replace cheddar cheese with 1 cup of diced avocado
- Remove sour cream
- Replace cranberry sauce with 1/4 cup of fresh cranberries, chopped
- Add 1 tsp of olive oil for cooking turkey
🐟 Pescatarian
- ‘Replace 2 cups cooked turkey with 2 cups cooked shrimp, shredded’
🌱 Vegan
- Replace the cooked turkey with 2 cups of shredded jackfruit
- Replace the cheddar cheese with 1 cup of vegan cheese, shredded
- Replace the sour cream with 1/2 cup of vegan sour cream
🥦 Vegetarian
- ‘Remove 2 cups cooked turkey
- Add 2 cups shredded jackfruit’
🥩 Whole30
- Remove taco shells
- Replace cheddar cheese with nutritional yeast to taste
- Remove sour cream
- Replace cranberry sauce with fresh cranberries, chopped
- Add 1 tbsp olive oil for cooking turkey
🧠 Brain Health
- Replace taco shells with whole grain tortillas
- Replace cheddar cheese with 1/2 cup of feta cheese
- Add 1/2 cup of walnuts, chopped
- Add 1/4 cup of flaxseeds
- Replace sour cream with Greek yogurt
- Increase cooked turkey to 3 cups
- Add 1/2 cup of blueberries, fresh or frozen
🌾 Celiac Disease
- Replace taco shells with gluten-free taco shells
💩 Crohns Disease
- ‘Remove taco shells
- Replace with gluten-free taco shells
- Remove red onion
- Decrease chili powder to 1/4 tsp
- Remove sour cream
- Replace with lactose-free yogurt
- Decrease cheddar cheese to 1/2 cup
- Replace with lactose-free cheese’
🩸 Diabetes
- ‘Replace taco shells with whole grain tortillas
- Replace cheddar cheese with low-fat cheese
- Replace sour cream with Greek yogurt
- Remove cranberry sauce
- Add 1/2 cup of diced avocado
- Decrease the cooked turkey to 1.5 cups’
🍞 Gluten Intolerance
- Replace the taco shells with gluten-free taco shells
🫀 Heart Disease
- ‘Replace the cheddar cheese with 1 cup of low-fat cheese
- Replace the sour cream with 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt
- Decrease the salt to 1/2 teaspoon
- Replace the taco shells with 8 whole grain tortillas
- Replace cooked turkey with 2 cups of skinless turkey breast, cooked and shredded’
❤️ Heart Health
- ‘Replace cheddar cheese with 1 cup low-fat cheese
- Replace sour cream with 1/2 cup non-fat Greek yogurt
- Decrease the cooked turkey to 1.5 cups
- Increase lettuce to 1.5 cups
- Add 1/2 cup diced avocado
- Remove salt’
🧂 High Blood Pressure
- Remove Salt to taste
- Replace cheddar cheese with 1 cup low-sodium mozzarella cheese, shredded
- Replace sour cream with 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- Add 1/2 cup diced avocado
- Add 1 tsp olive oil to cook the turkey in the skillet instead of using salt and pepper
🍔 High Cholesterol
- ‘Replace 2 cups cooked turkey with 2 cups cooked skinless turkey breast
- Replace 1 cup cheddar cheese with 1 cup low-fat cheddar cheese
- Replace 1/2 cup sour cream with 1/2 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
- Remove salt’
🦠 Immune System
- Replace sour cream with 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- Add 1 clove of minced garlic to the turkey while cooking
- Add 1/2 cup diced bell peppers for topping
- Replace cheddar cheese with 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Add 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro for topping
- Add 1 tsp turmeric powder to the turkey while cooking
- Replace taco shells with whole grain tortillas
🚽 Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Remove red onion
- Replace taco shells with gluten-free taco shells
- Replace sour cream with lactose-free sour cream
- Decrease chili powder to 1/4 tsp
- Replace cheddar cheese with lactose-free cheese
💧 Kidney Disease
- Remove salt
- Decrease the cheddar cheese to 1/2 cup
- Replace taco shells with whole wheat tortillas
- Remove sour cream
- Add 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt, unsweetened
- Decrease the red onion to 1/4 cup
🐄 Lactose Intolerance
- ‘Replace 1 cup cheddar cheese with 1 cup lactose-free cheese
- Replace 1/2 cup sour cream with 1/2 cup lactose-free sour cream’
🍺 Liver Disease
- Remove cheddar cheese
- Replace sour cream with Greek yogurt
- Decrease the salt to 1/4 tsp
- Remove chili powder
- Add 1/2 cup diced cucumber
- Add 1/2 cup diced bell pepper
🤰 Pregnancy
- Remove chili powder
- Replace sour cream with Greek yogurt
- Decrease salt to 1/2 tsp
Beti’s Reflections
As a passionate foodie, I’m always on the hunt for innovative ways to transform leftovers into something extraordinary. On one such culinary adventure, I stumbled upon this delightful American-style meal – Turkey Tango Tacos. This recipe is a beautiful dance of flavors that takes your Thanksgiving turkey from traditional to tantalizing.
The Turkey Tango Tacos recipe is an easy taco recipe with cooked turkey that serves four people. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy the holiday’s bounty in a new light, but do keep in mind that it’s not suitable for those following vegan or gluten-free diets.
The ingredients for our Turkey Tango Tacos are simple yet flavorful. We start with 2 cups of succulent, cooked turkey, shredded to perfection. This forms the base of our shredded turkey tacos and is complemented by the crunch of 8 crispy taco shells and 1 cup of fresh, shredded lettuce. The tangy bite of 1/2 cup diced tomatoes and red onions adds freshness while 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese brings a comforting creaminess to these cheesy turkey tacos. A unique twist comes from combining 1/2 cup sour cream with 1/4 cup cranberry sauce – an unexpected pairing that works beautifully in these cranberry sauce tacos. Finally, we season our turkey with cumin and chili powder for a hint of spice.
Making these American turkey tacos is as easy as doing the tango! Start by prepping your veggies and cheese – dice your tomatoes and red onion, shred your lettuce, and grate your cheese. Next up is heating up your leftover turkey in a skillet seasoned with cumin powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper until it’s heated through – this forms the heart of our spicy shredded turkey tacos. While that’s cooking away, mix together sour cream and cranberry sauce for an exciting twist on traditional taco sauce! Warm up your taco shells, then it’s time to assemble your tacos. Spread a layer of the cranberry sour cream mixture on each shell, add your cooked turkey, and top with lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and cheese. Voila! You’ve just made homemade turkey tacos with cranberry sauce.
And there you have it – Turkey Tango Tacos! This quick and easy turkey taco recipe is a fun and delicious way to use up leftover turkey. It’s an American cuisine recipe that brings a fresh twist to your table. So next time you’re wondering how to make turkey tango tacos or what to do with leftover turkey, remember this recipe. It’s not just a meal; it’s an experience – a dance of flavors that will make your taste buds tango!
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