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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Turkey

    Leftover BBQ Turkey Quesadilla

    Published: Dec 27, 2019 · Modified: Sep 24, 2021 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 10 Comments

    123 shares
    • 67
    Jump to Recipe
    Leftover Turkey Quesadillas with a text title overlay.
    Leftover Turkey Quesadillas with a text title overlay.

    Got more leftover turkey than you know what to do with? Try something different this year and instead of turkey sandwiches, make this Leftover Turkey Quesadilla recipe. Shredded turkey, an easy homemade BBQ sauce, leftover veggies and some cheese. A really easy snack or lunch, and easy to feed a crowd.

    Leftover BBQ Turkey Quesadilla on a blue plate next to a bowl of salsa.

    A quesadilla is always our go-to quick and easy lunch that can be made with whatever we have in the fridge. An added bonus is that kids love eating and making them.

    This is our festive twist on a quesadilla and it's a fun way to use up leftovers. There are lots of ways to adapt them, so everyone gets a quesadilla they like.

    If you are looking for some other recipes with leftover turkey, then why not try our Leftover Turkey Soup, Leftover Turkey Curry, Leftover Turkey Sandwich and Leftover Turkey Pie?

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love it
    • Ingredients needed
    • Step by step
    • Variations
    • Serving suggestions
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Extra tips
    • More leftover turkey recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love it

    • Quick - These turkey quesadillas are ready in just 5 minutes.
    • A new way to use leftovers - Forget boring sandwiches, quesadillas are the way to go!
    • Adaptable - There are lots of different sauce and cheese options, so everyone can have something they like.
    • Kids love them - Not only will kids love eating them, but they will love making them too.

    Ingredients needed

    A blue plate with shredded turkey and chopped roast vegetables.
    • Turkey - We used leftover turkey from our Christmas dinner to make this, however you could use up leftover roast chicken or even grill some chicken fresh to put in this. You could use meat from our Roast Turkey Breast or Slow Cooker Turkey Crown.
    • BBQ Sauce - This is what makes these turkey quesadillas really special I think. Our Homemade BBQ has a really tangy flavour that goes perfectly. You could use a store bought BBQ sauce if you prefer.
    • Tortilla - We used large soft wholemeal tortillas for this. You could make mini ones for kids by using small soft tacos.
    • Vegetables - Make the most of those Christmas or Thanksgiving leftovers by chopping up leftover roast vegetables and adding it in.
    • Cheese - We used a mature cheddar as it has a strong flavour so you can get away with using less of it.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    Step by step

    One: Mix the turkey and BBQ sauce together.

    A small bowl of shredded turkey in a barbecue sauce.

    Two: Spread on half of each of the tortillas.

    A flour tortilla in a frying pan with barbecue chicken on half of it.

    Three: Top with chopped vegetables.

    A flour tortilla in a frying pan with barbecue chicken and chopped vegetables on half of it.

    Four: Sprinkle with cheese.

    A flour tortilla in a frying pan with barbecue chicken, chopped vegetables and grated cheese on half of it.

    Five: Repeat with the second. Fold them over and then put them in a dry pan.

    a frying pan with two folded quesadillas.

    Six: Gently cook for 2 minutes each side and carefully flip.

    a frying pan with two cooked quesadillas.

    Variations

    There are so many options when it comes to these leftovers turkey quesadillas. Keep it simple with the sauce, turkey and cheese, or you can add leftover vegetables like roasted carrot and parsnips and some broccoli too. You can give them a green boost by adding some shredded spinach.

    When it comes to cheese, a cheddar is always a good idea, but you could use a mixture of cheeses and then it makes it a good recipe to use the leftovers from a cheese board.

    Leftover turkey can sometimes be a little dry, so you need some kind of sauce with it. You have a few options here - you could go for a traditional salsa, or use BBQ sauce like we have. We have used our Healthier Homemade BBQ Sauce too. You could also use a Pizza Sauce.

    If you have loads of hummus leftover from Christmas, spread that on the tortillas instead - it gives it a bit of a protein boost too. Want to make it even MORE festive? Use some cranberry sauce and put some brie in there too. This is a favourite variation of ours.

    A slice of quesadilla on a blue plate.

    Serving suggestions

    We love these as a quick and simple lunch, so there is no need to serve them with anything if you want something light. However, if you are making these for a few people, the you might want to serve up some sides. Here are some that so really well:

    • Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli
    • Hasselback Potatoes
    • Celeriac Chips
    • Garlic Smashed Potatoes
    • Grilled Little Gem Salad
    • Baked Parsnip Fries
    • Parmesan Truffle Fries
    • Oven Baked Onion Rings
    Sliced up turkey quesadillas in front of some Christmas decorations.

    Frequently asked questions

    How to store leftover turkey quesadillas.

    Because this recipe uses leftover turkey, these should be eaten straight after making and not stored.

    What cheese is best for turkey quesadillas?

    You want to use a cheese that melts really well, so we go for a strong cheddar. Using a mature cheddar means that you can use less as it has such a strong flour. You basically want a hard cheese that melts well.

    Best tortillas to use for turkey quesadillas.

    Whilst we love using corn tortilla in Mexican dishes, mainly tacos, they just won't work for quesadillas. You need to use flour tortillas, as they are much more pliable, they won't crack when cooked and they hold the cheese and filling together really well. You can also find flour tortillas in a range of sizes which is a bonus.

    Are turkey quesadillas gluten free?

    Yes, if you use gluten free tortillas and gluten free BBQ sauce, then this recipe can be gluten free.

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • Swap the BBQ sauce for some salsa or cranberry sauce for even more of a festive twist.
    • You can use cheddar, or add some other cheeses leftover from the cheeseboard.
    • Give these a green veggie boost by adding some shredded spinach.
    • Don't have turkey? You can use leftover shredded chicken instead.

    More leftover turkey recipes

    • Turkey pie in a baking diash and some on a blue plate
      Turkey Pie
    • A bowl of leftover turkey soup with two sprigs of thyme on top.
      Leftover Turkey Soup
    • Clementine and leftover turkey salad in a bowl topped with pine nuts and pomegranate seeds.
      Leftover Turkey Salad
    • Leftover turkey pasta in a bowl with a fork.
      Leftover Turkey Pasta

    If you’ve tried this turkey quesadilla recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Leftover BBQ Turkey Quesadilla surrounded by nachos and Christmas decorations.

    Leftover BBQ Turkey Quesadillas

    By: Dannii
    Try something different with leftover turkey and instead of boring sandwiches, make these healthy Leftover Turkey Quesadillas.
    5 from 14 votes
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Lunch, Snack
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep: 1 minute min
    Cook: 4 minutes mins
    Total: 5 minutes mins
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 344kcal
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a carton of milk.
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    Gluten
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    Meat
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    Ingredients

    • 2 Soft flour tortillas
    • 100 g (0.5 cups) Shredded turkey
    • 4 tablespoon Homemade BBQ sauce
    • 40 g (0.33 cups) Cheddar cheese - grated
    • 150 g (1 cups) Leftover vegetables - chopped

    Instructions

    • Mix 100 g Shredded turkey and 4 tablespoon Homemade BBQ sauce together.
    • Spread on half of each of 2 Soft flour tortillas.
    • Top with 150 g Leftover vegetables.
    • Sprinkle with 40 g Cheddar cheese.
    • Fold them over and then put them in a dry pan.
    • Gently cook for 2 minutes each side and carefully flip.

    Notes

    • Swap the BBQ sauce for some salsa or cranberry sauce for even more of a festive twist.
    • You can use cheddar, or add some other cheeses leftover from the cheeseboard.
    • Give these a green veggie boost by adding some shredded spinach.
    • Don't have turkey? You can use leftover shredded chicken instead.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1quesadilla | Calories: 344kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 776mg | Potassium: 425mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 4087IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 213mg | Iron: 3mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Whitney

      December 28, 2019 at 4:16 pm

      5 stars
      Great idea for leftover turkey! The cranberry sauce sounds amazing and I am also going to checkout your leftover turkey curry. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    2. Traci

      December 28, 2019 at 3:42 pm

      5 stars
      This is the perfect use for leftover turkey! So easy, quick, and delicious. Thanks for sharing :)

      Reply
    3. Lisa | Garlic & Zest

      December 28, 2019 at 3:37 pm

      5 stars
      Quesadillas are a secret guilty pleasure of mine -- and you've taken it over the top with the leftover turkey and brie! Cranberry sauce sounds even better than the typical salsa, too!

      Reply
    4. David

      December 28, 2019 at 3:16 pm

      5 stars
      Always like to find new recipes for leftover turkey, plus I haven't made quesidillas in awhile so this is perfct timing for me! And I need to check out your BBQ sauce recipe, too.

      Reply
    5. Veena Azmanov

      December 28, 2019 at 3:04 pm

      5 stars
      This is definitely a yummy snack and a mini meal option. Delicious and flavorful and crunchy and cheesy too.

      Reply
    6. thisiswholesome

      December 27, 2019 at 6:04 pm

      5 stars
      I love the ideas of turning leftovers into a yummy recipe. I can't wait to make these.

      Reply
    7. Laura

      December 27, 2019 at 3:02 pm

      5 stars
      This does look like a great recipe to make before the year ends. Great alternative to sandwiches and a wonderful way to save those leftovers.

      Reply
    8. Alison

      December 27, 2019 at 2:20 pm

      5 stars
      The BBQ sauce in these quesadillas are awesome! It's not something I think to add when making a quesadilla but it was amazing.

      Reply
    9. kim

      December 27, 2019 at 12:07 pm

      5 stars
      Love this recipe! This was super tasty and so easy! Will definitely make again!

      Reply
    10. Tonje

      December 27, 2019 at 11:56 am

      5 stars
      Yum! This looks amazing. Definitely trying this recipe after our New Year's turkey dinner.

      Reply

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    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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