Got leftover roast turkey? Want to turn it into a quick and easy meal that is a bit more interesting than turkey sandwiches? Then make my Leftover Turkey Chilli Con Carne! (No leftover turkey? No problem! This can also be made with leftover roast chicken too. Alternatively, this can be made from scratch using fresh turkey or chicken.)
Got leftover turkey? Make chilli con carne!
It’s the same every year. The day after Christmas and the fridge is heaving with leftovers! But what to do with them? Of course, you could keep it super simple and just make a sandwich or have cold meat with potatoes and vegetables… but if you want to be more adventurous this year, why not try my Leftover Turkey Chilli Con Carne?
Turkey Chilli is such an easy peasy recipe, and takes just 30 minutes, but it tastes fabulous.
No leftovers? No problem!
If it’s not Christmas time when you are reading this, and you don’t have any turkey leftovers, the good news is this delicious Chilli Con Carne can be made using roast chicken leftovers too!
Alternatively, if you don’t have any leftover meat, simply brown some diced or ground turkey (or chicken) first and then continue with the rest of the recipe.
How to make Leftover Turkey Chilli Con Carne
This Leftover Turkey Chilli Con Carne is so simple to make!
All you need to do is fry onions, garlic, cumin, paprika and chilli flakes. Then add diced (bell) peppers, tomatoes, beans, oregano, salt and pepper and give everything a good stir. Bring to the boil, then turn down to a gentle bubble for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.
After 15 minutes, add in the cooked turkey, sweetcorn and lime juice and cook for 5 more minutes, until the turkey is piping hot all the way through.
When the chilli is ready, stir in the chopped coriander and serve. Easy peasy!
(Full recipe given in the recipe card below.)
What to serve with Turkey Chilli Con Carne
Serve Leftover Turkey Chilli Con Carne with rice and/or tortillas and all your favourite Mexican and Tex-Mex sides. For example: salsa, guacamole, refried beans, grated cheese, extra chillies, extra lime, coriander, sour cream etc.
What to drink with Turkey Chilli Con Carne
This delicious Turkey Chilli Con Carne goes well with both red and white wines.
If white’s your preference, then I recommend a bright and zingy Sauvignon Blanc from somewhere like Chile, New Zealand or South Africa.
If red’s more your thing, then this would go well with fruit-forward, medium bodied reds like a Grenache from the South of France, a Garnacha from Spain, a Chilean Merlot or a fruity Italian red.
More leftover turkey recipes…
Want more ideas for your roast turkey leftovers?
Try these delicious recipes:
- Leftover Turkey Tikka Masala
- Leftover Turkey and Lentil Soup
- Leftover Turkey Biryani
- Leftover Turkey Fajitas
- Leftover Turkey Tacos
- Leftover Turkey Fried Rice
For more great ways to use up leftover roast turkey check out my roundup of Easy Ideas for your Turkey leftovers.
Leftover Turkey and Lentil Soup
Can you reheat Leftover Turkey Chilli Con Carne?
Since this recipe is made with cooked turkey, I do not recommend reheating it. This is because, according to government food safety guidelines, you should not re-heat food more than once.
Can you freeze Leftover Turkey Chilli Con Carne?
Since this recipe is made with cooked turkey, I do not recommend freezing it. This is because, according to government food safety guidelines, you should not re-heat food more than once.
If you like this recipe…
…you might also like:
- Leftover Turkey Risotto
- Leftover Turkey Paella
- Creamy Leftover Turkey Pasta
- Leftover Turkey Thai Green Curry
Leftover Turkey Thai Green Curry
Leftover Turkey Chilli Con Carne
Ingredients
- 1 onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic crushed or grated
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 3 teaspoons smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon chilli flakes more if you like it hotter! (or fresh chilli to taste)
- 1 red or yellow (bell) pepper diced
- 400 g tin chopped tomatoes
- 400 g tin kidney beans (or black beans, or pinto beans)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 400 g leftover roast turkey shredded (see Note 1)
- 100 g sweetcorn (optional)
- Juice of ½ a lime (optional)
- 2 tablespoons coriander (AKA cilantro) (optional)
- Rice or tortillas to serve
- All your favourite extras: salsa, guacamole, refried beans, grated cheese, extra chillies, extra lime, coriander, sour cream etc.
Instructions
- Place the olive oil and diced onion in a wide, deep pan and fry on a gentle heat for 3 minutes until the onion is softened.
- Add the garlic, cumin, paprika and chilli flakes and cook for a further 2 minutes.
- Add the diced (bell) peppers, tomatoes, beans, oregano, salt and pepper and give everything a good stir. Bring to the boil, then turn down to a gentle bubble for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- While the chilli is cooking, make the rice according to packet instructions / your own preferences (or heat the tortillas).
- After 15 minutes, add in the cooked turkey, sweetcorn and lime juice and cook for 5 more minutes.
- When the chilli is ready, stir in the chopped coriander (AKA cilantro) and serve with rice and/or tortillas, and all your favourite extras.
Notes
- If don’t have any turkey leftovers, use 400g (14oz) leftover roast chicken instead. Alternatively brown 400g (14oz) diced or ground turkey (or chicken) while the sauce is simmering, then add the freshly cooked meat into the recipe along with the sweetcorn and lime juice.
- Suitable for freezing.
- Nutrition information is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
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Corina Blum says
I think a chilli con carne is a great recipe to make with leftover turkey and the great thing is you can make a huge batch and then freeze some of it for later in January too! Thanks so much for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice x
Eb Gargano says
Exactly! I think often people are a bit turkeyed out after Christmas, or else away visiting friends and family…it’s so easy to whip up a quick turkey chilli, stash it in the freezer and then come back to it later on in January as a lovely reminder of Christmas – and not forgetting it’s pretty healthy too, so perfect January food! Eb x
Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food says
I’m ALWAYS in search of inventive new things to do with the piles of turkey leftovers, so this is very timely! I especially love that it freezes well, because I am often, as you suggest, turkeyed out after the big event.
Eb Gargano says
Exactly! It’s so quick and easy to make a big batch of this and then freeze…for delicious, healthy and above all EASY meals later in January…and who doesn’t want that – whoop, whoop!! So pleased you like the recipe. Eb x