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    Home » Recipes » 30 Minute Meals

    Leftover Turkey Quesadillas

    Published: Aug 17, 2022 · Modified: Dec 15, 2022 by Jo Keohane · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

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    Leftover Turkey Quesadillas combine leftover turkey meat with gooey melted cheese for a molten taste explosion. So easy to make and utterly addictive.

    Top down image of leftover turkey and cheese quesadillas garnished with red chili, pickled red onions and a bowl of cranberry sauce

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    With a few simple ingredients these delicious quesadillas with turkey and cheese can be yours in minutes.

    They're always a huge hit with my family and perfect for using up turkey leftovers. Definitely more exciting than a limp turkey sandwich!

    Start with turkey and cheese quesadillas then get creative on the toppings to serve alongside. I like to serve a selection, that way everyone can load them their favorite way. I've given you some ideas later in the post.

    This recipe can be easily adapted for celiacs or anyone following a gluten free diet by using either gluten free tortillas or 100% corn tortillas.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love These Leftover Turkey Quesadillas
    • Leftover Turkey Quesadillas Ingredients
    • How to Make Leftover Turkey Quesadillas - Step-By-Step
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Variations & Substitutions for Turkey & Cheese Quesadillas
    • Tips & Tricks For Making Leftover Turkey Quesadillas
    • Pin This Leftover Turkey Quesadillas Recipe For Later
    • What Do You Think?!
    • More Easy Under 30 Minute Recipe Ideas
    • Printable Recipe
    • Leftover Turkey Quesadillas
    • Reader Comments & Ratings

    Why You'll Love These Leftover Turkey Quesadillas

    • I hate waste. Leftover quesadillas work just as well with leftover chicken from the Sunday roast too.
    • We all need Turkey leftover ideas! Save this recipe for leftover Thanksgiving turkey and/or leftover Christmas turkey when you can't think of anything to make.
    • This recipe is easily doubled or trebled, so ideal to serve when you have a houseful of hungry mouths to feed.
    • My kids love any food that's wrapped up in a tortilla and this is a great alternative to a turkey and cheese sandwich.
    • The recipe is totally flexible, start with the turkey and cheese as a base then add in some chopped veggies for added crunch.
    • Try some of my other quick and easy Mexican inspired dishes, like my oven baked Black Bean & Sweet Potato Quesadillas , Fish Stick Tacos, Leftover Pulled Pork Tacos, or my Grilled Corn & Black Bean Tacos.
    Close up image of a plate of leftover turkey and cheese quesadillas piled high and garnished with red chili and pickled red onions

    Leftover Turkey Quesadillas Ingredients

    Find the full list and quantities in the recipe below.

    Leftover Turkey - I use leftover turkey from the Thanksgiving or Christmas roast. However, you could also use any other leftover meat from the weekend's roast. Chicken, beef, lamb and pork would all work.

    Tortillas - I like to use large flour tortillas as they fold up easily and crisp up well. If you are celiac, use gluten free tortillas, or 100% corn tortillas which should be gluten free too. Corn tortillas tend to be smaller so I only cut them in half when serving.

    Cheese - I use shredded cheddar cheese at it has the best flavor. But you can use any other shredded cheese, like Monterey Jack or pepperjack cheese. Mozzarella is a great option too as it melts really well.

    Cooking Oil - I use avocado oil but you can use any vegetable oil with a high smoke point. Regular olive oil will work too.

    How to Make Leftover Turkey Quesadillas - Step-By-Step

    Find the full printable recipe below.

    Prepare the quesadillas by first assembling the tortilla and the fillings. You will need around ¼ cup of shredded cheese and ⅓ cup shredded turkey per tortilla.

    Leftover turkey quesadillas ingredients
    Shredded leftover turkey in a white bowl

    Lay a tortilla flat on your work surface. Sprinkle half the shredded cheese over one half of the tortilla. Then layer with the turkey and more cheese.

    Fold the tortilla in half to cover the filling. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and fillings.

    To cook the quesadillas, heat oil in a large non stick pan. Carefully slide the folded tortillas into the pan in a single layer. You will likely need to work in batches - I can cook 2 at a time in my pan.

    Top down image of a non-stick skillet with a cooked quesadilla and a metal spatula
    Top down image of leftover turkey and cheese quesadillas garnished with red chili, pickled red onions set on a wooden board

    Cook until golden brown underneath and the cheese is melted - around 2 to 3 minutes. Then flip over and cook on the other side for 2 minutes.

    Repeat until all the quesadillas are cooked. You can keep them warm by wrapping in foil while the following batches are cooked.

    Slice each quesadilla into quarters and serve with your favorite toppings.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What to Serve with Turkey Quesadillas

    I like to serve quesadillas with a variety of different toppings, that way everyone can help themselves. Here are some of my favorite toppings:

    • black beans
    • sour cream
    • lime wedges
    • fresh cilantro/ fresh coriander
    • try my Quick Pickled Red Jalapeño Peppers, Pickled Serrano Peppers and/or my Quick Pickled Shallots
    • leftover cranberry sauce
    • believe it or not these are also delicious with ranch dressing!

    Can I make air fryer quesadillas?

    Yes, you can use your air fryer. Set it to 350ºF/180ºC, lay the quesadilla in the basket and cook for 8-10 minutes until crisp and golden.

    Can quesadillas be eaten cold?

    Yes you can eat leftover quesadillas cold the next day. However, I do prefer them served hot, straight from the pan when the cheese is deliciously molten.

    Top down image of leftover turkey and cheese quesadillas garnished with red chili, pickled red onions and a bowl of sour cream.

    Variations & Substitutions for Turkey & Cheese Quesadillas

    • Turn these into turkey and cranberry quesadillas by adding some leftover cranberry sauce or cranberry relish.
    • If you don't have leftover turkey you could always make ground turkey quesadillas. Just pan fry the ground turkey according to packet instructions first.
    • You could also use deli turkey slices in a pinch.
    • I left these quesadillas plain but they are also delicious with some taco seasoning.
    • You could also add some veggies such as red pepper and red onion.
    • Add some (drained) canned black beans to the turkey and cheese.
    • I used cheddar cheese, but Monterey Jack or pepperjack cheese would also be delicious.
    • You can also use corn tortillas if you wish - these have the added advantage of being gluten free.

    Tips & Tricks For Making Leftover Turkey Quesadillas

    To speed up the process you can have 2 large pans heating quesadillas at once, allowing you to cook double the amount at the same time.

    You can also make multiple oven baked quesadillas on large baking sheets. Preheat the oven to 425ºF/210ºC, line a sheet pan with parchment paper and brush it with olive oil. Bake for 8 minutes, then flip over and bake for a further 8 minutes on the second side.

    You can keep the cooked quesadillas warm by wrapping them in aluminium foil.

    How To Reheat Leftover Quesadillas?

    You can bring crispy tortillas back to life by warming them in a skillet or frying pan on the stove top over a low heat. Ideally with a little bit of melted butter.

    Pin This Leftover Turkey Quesadillas Recipe For Later

    Pinnable image with recipe title and top down image of leftover turkey and cheese quesadillas garnished with red chili, pickled red onions and a bowl of cranberry sauce

    What Do You Think?!

    I'd love to know what you think about this recipe! I'd be so grateful if you scroll down to the bottom of the page and leave a star rating and comment.

    Don't forget to go over to Facebook and Instagram and make sure you're following me so you can join in the chat. And remember to save this recipe to your Pinterest too!

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    Printable Recipe

    Leftover Turkey Quesadillas

    Leftover Turkey Quesadillas combine leftover turkey meat with gooey melted cheese for a molten taste explosion. So easy to make and utterly addictive.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Share Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, Mexican
    Servings 8 quesadillas
    Calories 248 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 3 cups Cooked Turkey - shredded, light and/or dark meat
    • 8 Wheat Tortillas - 8 inch
    • 2 cups Cheddar Cheese - shredded
    • 1 tbsp Vegetable Oil - see note below

    Instructions
     

    Prepare the Quesadillas

    • Note - For each tortilla you will need around ¼ cup of shredded cheese and ⅓ cup shredded turkey.
    • Lay a tortilla flat on your work surface. Sprinkle half the shredded cheese over one half of the tortilla.
    • Lay the shredded turkey on top of the cheese and then sprinkle over the remaining cheese.
    • Fold the tortilla in half to cover the filling. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and fillings.

    Cook the Quesadillas

    • Heat the oil in a large non stick pan over a medium-high heat.
    • Carefully transfer the tortillas to the pan in a single layer (I can usually make 2 at once)
    • Cook on a medium heat for around 2 to 3 minutes until the underside is golden brown and the cheese is melted. Flip and cook a further 2 minutes.
    • Carefully transfer to a cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut each quesadilla into four triangles.
    • Repeat until all the quesadillas are cooked. You may need to add a little extra oil to the pan with each batch.
    • Tip - Wrap the cooked quesadillas in aluminum foil to keep them warm while you make the rest.
    • Serve with your favorite toppings!

    Notes

    Vegetable Oil - I use avocado oil but you can use any vegetable oil with a high smoke point. Olive oil will work too.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1quesadillaCalories: 248kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 11gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 471mgPotassium: 22mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 283IUCalcium: 282mgIron: 1mg
    Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be taken as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and the Family Food Kitchen can't guarantee the accuracy of this information.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Carrie says

      September 06, 2022 at 4:05 pm

      5 stars
      Love any kind of quesadilla, especially if there is a good selection of dips on the side. Such a great idea for using up leftovers from a roast.

      Reply
      • Jo Keohane says

        September 07, 2022 at 9:56 pm

        Me too Carrie, love a good dip also. Hope you make and enjoy these! Thanks for commenting.

        Reply
    2. Midge @ Peachicks' Bakery says

      September 12, 2022 at 4:12 pm

      5 stars
      Any recipe that uses up leftovers is a winner for me! The Peas are on a bit of a quesadillas discovery at the moment so any and all filling combinations will be pinned for later 🙂

      Reply
      • Jo Keohane says

        September 13, 2022 at 10:26 am

        oooh we love quesadillas over here, so easy, a great last minute dinner. Hope you enjoy these! Thanks for commenting.

        Reply
    5 from 2 votes

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    I'm Jo. As a recipe developer and busy mum of 3, I can help you eat well when time is short! This blog contains loads of delicious, fast and easy-to-achieve recipes. Follow along and feed your family with less stress.

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