36 Leftover Taco Meat Recipes [Keto & More]

This recipe is like a box of Hamburger Helper, but better! 

I loved this taco salad because you can add any veggies that you would add to a taco. I served ours on top of a bed of iceberg lettuce. 

I am very in favor of mixing pasta dishes with mixed green salads. The addition of heaps of lettuce made this meal a healthy pleasure to eat. 

My favorite things about this pasta were the Mexican spices and the creaminess of the cheese. 

The flavors in this dish come from enchilada sauce with garlic and onions. Be sure to prepare this with your family’s favorite canned enchilada sauce to ensure this meal will be a hit!

One-pot meals and orzo pasta are two of my favorite things. I love orzo because of its rice shape and short prep time. 

Just like other taco dishes, you can sneak any veggies you happen to have on hand into this pasta. 

I loved the way the sauce and spices coated the orzo pasta. Each bite was filled with a little Latin-inspired kick to it.

This recipe calls for taco sauce. If you have a favorite taco sauce then toss it in. If you can’t find any taco sauce then swap it out for a can of your favorite enchilada sauce.

I loved this cheesy taco pasta! And the kids loved this meal too! 

The pasta shells and cheesy meaty taco sauce ate like a taco mac and cheese. I added zucchini because my son says they are his favorite vegetable. 

I served this taco pasta with a simple mixed green salad with ranch dressing and fresh sliced avocados. 

If you like 20-minute dinners then you will love this meal! My favorite thing about this meal was the use of macaroni shells. The shells created a space for the leftover ground beef taco meat to sit inside.

Another simple crowd pleaser! 

I really liked the tomatoes in this recipe because they added a moist and vitamin-rich boost to this pasta. If you want to add even more veggies I would recommend squash, bell peppers, and corn. 

The color of the added veggies will be a wonderful addition to this meal. 

This is the perfect leftover meal because you can use almost any creamy element you have on hand: cream cheese, half and half, or even a can of cream-based soup would all work well as the creamy element for this pasta.

Taco casserole is the perfect use of those taco night leftovers. 

I made taco casserole in individual-sized portions and served them for lunch.

I used all of the family leftovers in this meal, including the leftover beans, cheese, onions, and broken bits of leftover tortilla chips. Serve with your favorite salsa and a dollop of sour cream for a warm and melty taco casserole lunch!

I made this John Wayne Casserole with leftover turkey taco meat and the results are fantastic! 

The recipe calls for a bottom layer of Bisquick which gives this meal a hearty base layer. If you don’t have Bisquick this can be swapped out for a layer of cornbread mix.

Instead of salsa try serving this one with a side of barbeque sauce. The base layer of this casserole makes the dish, so be sure to use something for the hearty layer on the bottom. 

Classic taco flavors are served in a classic layers lasagna fashion. 

You should definitely get the kids involved in making this fun and easy dinner. When you bake the dish in the oven the cheese will melt the layers together to create a warm and satisfying taco lasagna. 

Serve with a mixed green salad for a perfectly balanced dinner. 

My favorite thing about this casserole was the use of refried beans. The beans in this casserole provide a warm and comforting base layer. 

Be sure to top this casserole with freshly chopped green onions and black olives for an extra fresh addition.

I loved this meal because it was low carb! I served this taco casserole on a summer night after a long bike ride around the lakes. 

I served this taco casserole with a side of fresh corn tortillas, crispy bell pepper sticks, and fresh slices of avocado.

I really enjoyed the spice and creaminess of this chicken dish. I used shredded chicken that was a bit dry and lacking flavor, so this recipe brought the heat. I also added a can of green chilis to increase the flavor and spice in this meal.

Mexican tater tot casserole is a filling way to use up that leftover taco meat! I really like this one because the recipe calls for heaps of vegetables but you can easily add more!

I loved the way the cheese and enchilada sauce provided a bed for the tater tots. The tot-topped casserole was crispy and filling. 

I would make this one again. The kids are able to help place the tots on top and everyone had a blast making dinner together! 

A dish like this one pair nicely with a side of boiled beans and a green salad.

Tamales are a holiday treat! I always use my leftover turkey to make turkey tamales. This year I cheated and made this yummy tamale pie instead!

The cornbread base provides a fluffy vessel to stead against the plump and juicy turkey (or chicken) meat in this recipe. 

If you are making this in the fall– try tossing in chunks of cooked sweet potato or pumpkin for an extra seasonal boost of vitamins and minerals! T

his dish gets its flavor from creamed corn and enchilada sauce. Try adding a dash of cinnamon to the mix to bring in the fall flavors. Cinnamon is a savory delight so do not be afraid to try cinnamon with savory flavors.

Baked Zucchini Boats are a brilliant healthy Keto meal. 

You can get creative and make boats out of bell peppers and jalapenos to spice things up and add a little variety to this meal. 

I served my zucchini boats with a spicy chipotle cream sauce to bring some heat into the meal.

 If you serve this with a side of beans and fresh corn tortillas you have a complete meal that is suitable for a healthy spin on Taco Tuesday.

I loved this use for leftover chicken taco meat. Use a large skillet to cook your veggies and blend in the Tex-Mex flavors! 

I loved the cheesy topping. You could absolutely add eggs and tortillas to make this a healthy and filling breakfast option that utilized that leftover chicken taco meat. 

Whether you serve this as an eggy scramble for breakfast or as a large veggie stir fry for lunch, you will enjoy this hearty veggie-packed skillet.

My husband prefers lettuce wraps over traditional tacos because he loves to eat healthily. 

If you are looking for ways to cut the carbs out of your diet then try swapping your tortillas for lettuce in this clever recipe. 

Serve your lettuce wraps with fresh salsa and a dollop of sour cream to balance each delicious bite. Any leftover cooked ground turkey that you have on hand can be spiced up and used for these turkey taco lettuce wraps. 

Cheese taco shells! If you like your food served warm then you will enjoy these keto tacos with a cheesy shell. 

You can use any leftover taco meats you have on hand inside of these tacos. Shred your lettuce and fill the tacos with all of your favorite tacos toppings. 

My favorite cheese for Keto taco shells is a pepper jack and cheddar cheese blend. If you want to add a kick of heat try sprinkling chipotle powder into the cheese mix while you melt the cheese in the pan for these taco shells. 

Lime Chicken Taco Bowls are the perfect use of leftover shredded chicken.

The heaping pile of veggies with a delightful cool lime sauce, and a sprinkle of freshly chopped cilantro made these the perfect lunch bowls. 

If you want to keep things light, then I recommend serving these bowls over a bed of shredded lettuce.

If you want to add a little crunch to the meal then serve with blue corn chips. Either way, these bowls are a healthy and delightful way to use up that leftover chicken taco meat!

Walnut taco meat is such a cool idea! If you don’t have walnut meat leftovers laying around, then you can toss in any leftover meats you have.

I wanted to keep it vegetarian so I used a blend of mashed sweet potatoes and black beans cooked with taco spices. 

These classic taco bowls are a vegetarian homerun! I would definitely recommend this salad recipe to a friend! 

The flavor in this dish comes in smokey and strong with a homemade chipotle aioli that will rock your world!

Mini sweet pepper nachos made a fun dinner for a girls’ night in. 

Be sure that you don’t overcook your sweet peppers so they can stand in place of the chips in this vegetarian nacho meal. 

For the taco meat, I used soy chorizo and the results are a spicy and guilt-free pleasure! Be sure to make these for your girlfriends the next time you want a healthy alternative to a junk food classic. 

I recommend serving these sweet pepper nachos with a side of guacamole and carrot sticks. The carrot sticks in place of chips will help keep this meal light and fun.

I love crockpot meals! 

The ranch seasonings and Rotel chili sauce blend together to make this soup Ill seasoned with a slight kick of spice.

 I served this soup with a big sprinkling of shredded cheese on top. The family loved this soup for its flavor and I love this soup for being such an easy use of leftovers.

Instant pot chicken Keto soup was another super simple recipe. 

This recipe has a lot of room for additions so go crazy and toss in any veggies that you happen to have on hand. 

I was craving greens so I added cilantro and spinach to the Keto soup. Serve with fresh cilantro, chopped white onions, a wedge of lime, and shredded cheese to make this simple soup into a meal that will fill you up without filling you out.

If you have leftover ground beef or turkey, then use this recipe tonight! 

I loved everything about this classic soup. I enjoyed the creamy avocado and the crunch of the tortilla chips on top. 

I added zucchini and a hint of dried chipotle powder to the soup because I love the heat, other than that I felt this recipe was perfect on its own. The taco seasoning in this soup shines through with a lot of flavors.

Don’t skip over this one! If you like taco seasoning and creamy soups then you will love this one too.

Stovetop taco soup is the perfect recipe for those nights when you are working with canned goods and frozen vegetables.

I loved the ease of this recipe. I taught my kids how to make this soup because it is the kind of thing anyone should be able to whip up with the ingredients on hand. 

I served this soup with a side of quesadillas to create a balanced and filling meal. 

This soup is flavored with taco seasoning so select your family’s favorite brand and blend of taco spices to make this soup a hit.

If you want to do something very creative with your leftover taco meat then make this quiche! Protein-packed and scrumptious to beat! 

I loved everything about this taco meat quiche. Serve this quiche with your favorite fresh salsa for a breakfast fit for kings. 

The protein in this quiche will keep you going down the trail from breakfast to lunch without the need for a snack. 

The flavor in this quiche comes from a blend of salsa and ranch dressing mix.

Kale is absolutely my favorite leafy green. 

I made this kale taco recipe with leftover turkey taco meat and it was a fantastic blend! Use a thick authentic corn tortilla as the perfect chewy and healthy vessel for these protein and veggie tacos. 

I served these with a side of black beans seasoned with fresh tomatoes and cotija cheese. I love this healthy meal and I know you will too!

Using your leftover taco meat to make a breakfast scramble is a simple and flavorful idea that is perfect for any school morning. 

To keep things fun I served this scramble with a side of chips and melted cheese. My son loves nachos and I love getting creative with egg dishes– anything to bring protein into the morning! 

For a hint of green, try sprinkling fresh chopped cilantro on top of this egg dish. Additional items that would go well in this scramble would be mushrooms, tomatoes, and sauteed onions.

Omelets are all about skill. Practice your perfect omelet flip with this leftover taco meat omelet! If things go wrong you can call it a scramble. I loved these leftover taco meat omelets. I served these omelets with fresh salsa, pickled jalapenos, and fresh corn tortillas for an authentic Mexican breakfast that was an absolute crowd pleaser!

I doubled the queso in this one– because, why not! I

 love queso dip and when you add heaps of cheese to this recipe you can easily serve this as a chicken queso dip. 

I served ours with a blend of corn and flour tortillas chips. If you want to add a little heat to this dip then top with pickled jalapenos for a treat worthy of game day!

Tinga is a blend of adobo chili pepper, garlic, and cumin. Chicken Tinga can be spicy but that is what makes it so good!

 If spice is something that you want to use in a balanced way to make it more approachable for families, then try adding a sweet element to this recipe. If you added a can of shredded pineapple, then the sweet will marry with the spice and tamper the heat level. 

Whether you try this recipe with its full spice or with a kick of sweetness, I know you will love this easy chicken Tinga recipe. 

Chicken tacos with classic taco flavors. This dish gets its flavor from cumin and chili powder. 

The romaine lettuce in this recipe adds a nice crunch while avocado brings a cool and creamy flavor.  

These classic tacos are the perfect type to serve with a side of grilled veggies, rice and beans. 

This recipe also calls for pico de gallo – if that is a little too spicy for you then cool your pico down with a dollop of sour cream.

Low-carb steak taco bowls are similar to a cheesesteak without the bread and with a Mexican flair!

I added tri-colored bell peppers and extra mushrooms to this recipe.

I enjoyed this meal bowl-style with some extra Romaine lettuce for a green crunch. You can enjoy it as is or turn it into a salad bowl the way I did. 

If you want to boost the protein without the extra simple carbs, then toss in a can of black beans! 

These taco bowls get their flavor from packages of taco seasoning so be sure you use your family’s favorite blend to make this meal a hit. 

Love the recipe– skip the wine! 

Look, you just don’t need to add any red wine to your leftover steak quesadillas! I suspect they added to wine to increase the moisture in their steak.

If you are worried about the steak being dry then finely chop your steak and blend it in with chopped vegetables. The cheese and vegetables in your leftover steak quesadilla will be moist enough to rescue any leftover steak taco you have. 

The flavor in these quesadillas comes from garlic and mushrooms – the perfect veggies to accompany your leftover steak.

Taco sliders are a fun and cheesy way to use that leftover taco meat. When you rehat taco meat with cheese and place it at the center of a sweet Hawaiian roll you have a comforting dinner that kids will love.

I served these taco sliders with a green salad to create a complete meal. Everyone loved this simple dinner.

Quick and easy Mexican pizza really was quick and easy to make! The author suggests using the end of your chip bags for this sheet pan dinner.

Taco seasoning and tomatoes bring flavors to this simple dinner. If you want to boost the nutrients try adding bell peppers and onions to the mix when cooking.

I topped this dinner with sliced avocado and sour cream for a composed meal that everyone enjoyed!

Taco empanadas are like a healthier version of a hot pocket. When you control the ingredients you can control the quality of the food.

This recipe didn’t need any additional ingredients and tasted great with the preparation suggested. I loved the cool sour cream and crispy green onion toppings and the taco meat empanada filling.

Serve with a green salad to make this recipe into the perfect lunch. 

Taco quesadillas are a fun and filling alternative to the traditional cheese quesadilla. Serve these taco quesadillas with all of the suggested toppings and sides for a fun and colorful snack. 

The author suggests gluten-free tortillas which are an optional component of this dish. If you eat gluten then were is no need to purchase special tortillas for this recipe. Go ahead and use whatever tortillas you happen to have on hand.

Stuff cooked shells with taco meat and fry using an air fryer. The results are the perfect finger food for kids or game day.

I served these fried taco pasta bites with a side of queso cheese and Verde salsa. These taco bites remind me of fried wonton appetizers with a Latin flair.

Here is another brilliant version of steak fajitas. 

I saw the picture included asparagus, so I added fresh asparagus to my steak fajitas for the first time and I was very pleasantly surprised by the outcome. 

I had a bunch of leftover London Broil with taco seasoning so I sliced it thin and made this recipe. 

I served these burrito-style with coconut oil refried beans and the whole family was happy. I recommend this to any family looking for a use for their leftover steak taco meat.