Description
This Leftover Turkey Carnitas recipe transforms your cooked turkey into flavorful, crispy taco filling. By simmering turkey with orange and aromatics, then crisping it in a skillet, you’ll get tender, saucy meat with irresistible crunch, perfect for tacos, burritos, or salads.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Major Ingredients
- 1 pound (454 g) leftover cooked dark-meat turkey meat (thighs and drumsticks; see note)
- 1 orange, preferably sour, quartered
- 1 medium yellow onion (about 8 ounces; 225 g), quartered
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) vegetable oil, chicken fat, turkey fat, or duck fat
- Kosher salt
Instructions
- Combine Aromatics and Turkey: Place the turkey meat, orange quarters, onion, and bay leaves in a large pot just large enough to hold everything snugly. Cover with water halfway up the ingredients, then cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Simmer the Turkey: Reduce heat to low and let it simmer gently for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the turkey is fall-off-the-bone tender. Remove from heat, discard the orange, onion, and bay leaves, and drain the turkey thoroughly. Shred the meat, discarding any bones.
- Crisp the Turkey: Heat the oil or fat in a cast iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the shredded turkey in an even layer and cook without stirring for about 5 minutes, until the bottom is browned and crispy. Stir to incorporate the crispy bits and to expose softer bits to the pan. Continue cooking until the desired level of crispiness is achieved, seasoning with salt to taste.
Notes
- Use leftover cooked turkey for best flavor and texture.
- Adjust the level of crispiness by cooking longer or shorter.
- You can add spices like cumin, chili powder, or garlic powder for extra flavor during the crisping step.
- This recipe is perfect for quick tacos, burritos, or rice bowls.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe (~1 cup)
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
