When you have a big batch of leftover taco meat from Taco night or even when hosting a taco bar, sometimes it can be really handy to use it in other dishes or dinner ideas instead of throwing it away!
Here is a great list of different ways and great recipes to use a lot of leftover taco meat! Or even a little taco meat if that’s what you have on hand!
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Chicken Street Tacos (don’t forget that you can use leftover shredded chicken in the slow cooker for something like these too!)
- Beef and Cheese Burritos
- Easy Chicken Tacos
30+ Ways on What to do with Leftover Taco Meat
Never throw out leftover taco meat again! Here are 30+ great delicious recipes and leftover taco meat ideas on how to use it up in recipes for easy meals or to store it for later!
Taco soup is an easy way to use leftover seasoned meat and you can keep most of the ingredients in the pantry at all-times so you don't have to worry about the ingredients going bad! (Items like canned black beans, kidney beans, chili beans, tomato sauce, etc.)
This recipe calls for cooked ground beef, and I can't think of a better way to add some extra flavor to this crock pot goulash recipe!
Bake it in a Pasta
If you have a favorite pasta recipe, say, mostacolli or even a Taco Skillet Dish, just toss the already cooked taco meat in for a pasta dish!
Make Taco Avocado Toast
We're huge fans of avocado toast recipes because a lot of times we can use leftover meats and top our toast with it the next morning. We've rarely found something that's not delicious on avocado toast!
Nachos
Using leftover meat for nachos is a fantastic way to use it! We use leftover roast, steak, chicken and so much more on top of tortilla chips with this bbq nachos recipe!
Baked Potato Topping
Whip up a quick "potato bar" to allow everyone to add whatever toppings they want on their potatoes, with leftover taco meat being an option! Make sure to set out your favorite toppings like sour cream, cheddar cheese, (or your favorite mexican cheese blend) green onions, and fresh salsa! Feel free to even use sweet potatoes for a fun twist too!
Taco Casserole
Simply put meat on the bottom of a casserole dish, add some canned corn on top, then add a layer of tater tots and finally cover with queso cheese! Bake at 350 degrees until heated through (and the tots are cooked/golden brown) for a great dinner idea!
Or, switch out the chicken for taco meat in this taco casserole.
Totchos
Cook tater tots as directed on the package and simply top like you would nachos, with queso, taco meat, and your other favorite toppings for nachos! You can even make tachos in the air fryer!
Stuffed Jumbo Pasta Shells
Cook jumbo pasta shells as directed, fill with taco meat, shredded cheese, and crushed Doritos and baked at 350 degrees until cheese is melted!
Quesadillas
Grab those flour tortillas and make quesadillas with the leftover taco meat. You can also fill with shredded cheese, beans, rotel, rice and other fillings that you love!
Stuffed Peppers
When we made stuffed peppers, we used meatballs! However when we have leftover taco meat, we love using it in this recipe with spanish rice, too!
Taco Spaghetti
Although it's a regular spaghetti recipe, using taco meat can add a little flair and give it a kick that just may have you making taco spaghetti from now on, instead of traditional spaghetti!
Taco Crescent Rolls
Using crescent rolls, fill the flat roll with taco meat and shredded cheese, roll it up (completely covering the meat and cheese) and bake according to crescent roll package directions.
Chimichangas
If you love chimichangas, this chimichanga recipe would be perfect to add the leftover taco meat too instead of the chicken.
Taco Salad
Much like nachos, a taco salad is a great way to use up leftover meat, and you can pile on your favorite toppings! Or, make this salad and simply warm up the meat and top the salad with it!
Taco Sloppy Joes
Love sloppy joes? What a great way to use the meat with added flavor! Or, make the queso joes from my "Fabulously Fast Dinners Cookbook" cookbook for a twist on the regular sloppy joe.
Taco Omelette
What a hearty breakfast idea - using taco meat in an omelette for some mexican flair!
Quiche
Using this quiche recipe, add in taco meat or replace the sausage for a mexican spin!
Queso Dip
Add the cooked taco meat in to a bowl of queso for dipping as a fun appetizer or snack the next day! Great to put in the slow cooker on game day too for easy snacking!
Enchiladas
If you love enchiladas, this is an easy enchilada recipe to use up that leftover meat, and it's even in the slow cooker!
Hot Dog Topping
Place it on a hot dog as a fun topping idea for a taco dog, instead of this pizza dog recipe!
Chili
Taco chili (or just your regular chili recipe, using leftover taco meat) is another great way to use it up! If you don't have a favorite chili recipe you'll love this easy chili!
Mexican Lasagna
Mexican lasagna is a great way to use up that leftover taco meat with the flavors already in the meat!
Tostadas
Tostadas are an easy recipe to make! Just use your favorite toppings like refried beans, avocado, queso fresca and more!
Taco Pizza
Making pizzas at home can be so fun and versatile! Using leftover meat to top a pizza crust gives it a fantastic flavor and great way to get something delicious on the dinner table!
Taco Mac & Cheese
For a kid-friendly meal, add in the leftover meat in to mac and cheese and create a cheesy taco pasta that the whole family will love!
Taco Breakfast Burrito
Load a tortilla with scrambled eggs, peppers and your favorite fillings, along with the taco meat.
Shepherds Pie
If you love shepherds pie, then think about adding taco meat to it, for a flavor twist on the classic!
Taco Grilled Cheese
Just like your favorite grilled cheese but better! Top the cheese slice with taco meat and cook as your normally would! Or, you garlic cheese bread instead of regular bread for a taco grilled cheese you'll never forget!
Crunch Wrap
Like from your favorite Mexican fast food joint, make a crunch wrap at home!
Taco Fries
Grab seasoned french fries (or your favorite fries) and top with taco meat, cheese and green onion! Bake until the fries are golden brown!
Frito Pies
Top Fritos (or corn chips) with taco meat, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, taco sauce, and more, for an easy Frito pie!
Taco Meatloaf
Have a LOT of taco meat leaftover? Make a meatloaf, knowing that the meat is already cooked so the cooktime may not take as long as it does for your regular meatloaf recipe.
Freeze It
If you find that you won't use the taco meat in the next couple of days, you can always freeze it and save the frozen taco meat for one of the above recipes for a quick and easy dinner!
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