Turkey Santa Fe Lettuce Wraps
When I’m eating low-carb, I love using lettuce leaves in place of bread for everything from Steak Lettuce Taco Wraps, Chicken Club Lettuce Wrap Sandwich, and BLT Lettuce Wraps. These turkey santa fe wraps made with turkey, corn, black beans, spinach and veggies are loaded with flavor! You can see all my lettuce wrap recipes here!
Have you ever had the Spinach Santa Fe Egg Rolls with the Cilantro Ranch Dipping Sauce from Chili’s? They’re dangerously good – I don’t even want to know how many calories they are. That’s where the inspiration for these lighter lettuce wraps came from. The lighting in these photos don’t even do them justice.
I actually made my turkey breast in the crock pot last week just so I could have leftovers to create this recipe. I had one for lunch (only 4 WW pp) but since they are so light I think two would be perfect for dinner. If you want to make them Paleo, leave out the beans and add more spinach. I used my Avocado Cilantro Ranch Dressing as my sauce and it was perfect. If you’re lazy, you can mash 1/4 avocado into 1/2 cup light ranch dressing instead.
This time of the year is so challenging to eat good. Holiday parties, staying over at relatives, Christmas cookies – I really need will power. So I wanted to create a leftover recipe for turkey that’s not just delicious, but also light after a day of indulging on mashed potatoes, gravy, and pumpkin pie.
How To Make Lettuce Wraps
Lettuce wraps are low-carb, keto, gluten-free and low calorie, and don’t interfere with the flavors of the filling. A few tips when making lettuce wraps:
- Look for lettuce leaves that are large enough to hold the filling. I like to use iceberg lettuce for larger cups. Romaine lettuce and baby romaine are also great.
- The leaves of butter or boston lettuce are smaller, but also wonderful.
- If you prefer, you can turn this into a big chopped salad by simply serving this over a bowl over chopped lettuce.
Try These Leftover Turkey Recipes:
- Leftover Turkey and Sweet Potato Frittata
- Leftover Turkey Tacos with Brussels Sprout Slaw
- Leftover Turkey Harvest Cobb Salad
- Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup
- Leftover Turkey Pot Pie Soup
Turkey Santa Fe Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup minced red bell peppers
- 1/4 cup minced scallions
- 12 oz leftover turkey breast, diced small
- 2/3 cup frozen corn
- 1/2 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup frozen spinach, thawed and drained
- 2 tbsp diced jarred jalapeno peppers
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup reduced fat shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 8 large Iceburg lettuce leaves
- 12 tbsp Avocado Cilantro Ranch Dressing
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the red bell pepper and scallions to the pan and sauté for 2 minutes until tender.
- Add the diced turkey, corn, black beans, spinach, jalapeno peppers, cumin, chili powder, salt, and cayenne pepper to the pan. Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, stirring well so the spinach gets mixed in with everything.
- Place about 1/3 cup of turkey mixture in the center of each lettuce leaf.
- Top each wrap with 2 tbsp cheese and 1 1/2 tbsp avocado sauce if desired.
The directions say to add cayenne pepper, but that’s not listed in the ingredients. I added just a pinch since my kids don’t like spicey
Hi! Can you make this with ground turkey? (If you don’t have any leftover turkey breast)
Is there a recipe for the Avocado Ranch Dressing?
Link is in the narrative https://www.skinnytaste.com/zesty-avocado-cilantro-buttermilk/
Every thing looks great!
I combined this recipe with the turkey taco wrap recipe. Made the taco meat then added in the corn, spinach, and beans. Was great.
So these were great I made a few changes. Used some chip lite in adobe and tomato sauce to thicken the turkey. Added Zuchinni rather than spinach. For my family I made wonton cups In mini muffin tins cooked then first then put the mixture in them and added shredded cheese and drizzled the dressing. I had them as lettuce wraps. Greta way to use up leftover turkey from holidays.
Wonderful for leftover turkey -I had a tenderloin and wanted to do something different with it for round two and this was fast and great. Did some delicata roasted squash rings on with it and that complemented it well. Great!
I did this over a bed of lettuce but otherwise followed recipe–loved it. I make a turkey tenderloin and then like leftovers to try other recipes. This is a great dinner. Roasted some delicata squash (I love all sqush) to go with it as well.
These are so good! Also great the next day over rice!
Pingback: Super-Fast Christmas Meal Ideas | Sold By Silva
Thank you for sharing such a great recipe! I tried it with great success.
The combination of ingredients is delicious. I agree with the comment that nothing should be named “Sante Fe” if it doesn’t have New Mexico’s signature Hatch chilis represented somewhere! Maybe just a matter of pride.. Both the taco combination and the dressing are actually better the next day.
Pingback: Spicy Avocado Dressing | The Bewitchin' Kitchen
Pingback: 63 Recipes to Use Up Your Thanksgiving Leftovers
These look delicious, but soooo high in salt. Besides leaving out the 1/2t called for in the recipe, where is all that coming from, and how can I reduce it? I really want to use up my turkey in this recipe for lunches next week for work!
I’m going to look into this, doesn’t sound right….
I could live without the “lazy” description
Pingback: Leftover Turkey Recipes: 20+ Ways to Use Up That Bird - Shasher's Life
How many smart points is this?
What in this recipe is making the sodium so high? What can I substitute to get the sodium county down significantly? Thanks!
Is there an easier way to print the recipes you post rather than clicking the Print Friendly button. That option always includes all the text as well???
Made this for dinner tonight and it was a big hit!! I used fresh spinach and used a shortcut for the dressing and combined light ranch with Trader Joe's cilantro dressing (I couldn't find buttermilk and I'm allergic to avocado). I served it with Spanish rice on the side. The family loved it!
These look fantastic. We go camping every year with a group of friends. Among the 13 of us, we have several dietary restrictions. These will work perfectly for most of us and I can make some vegetarian for the rest.
Hi there, I just recently posted a blog post about different ways to use Thanksgiving leftovers and this recipe was one of them! I was sure to link your post to it, but if you would like me to un-link please let me know! You can find the post here: http://seekingthesouthblog.blogspot.com/2014/11/18-ways-to-use-your-thanksgiving.html
Few salads and few receipes helps us in fitness.
I made these today, but I used chicken instead…so good! The dressing is to dye for..love it..thanks for this recipe.
This was excellent, thank you for another terrific recipe! In the directions you mention adding in Cayenne Pepper but I do not see it in the ingredient list, how much should be added?
Just finished making this for lunch. The dressing is the BOMB! I'm doing mine up as a salad, so instead of wraps, filling & dressing over lettuce in a bowl.
My son had a bowl of the filling for lunch with salsa & sour cream. My husband will have the filling for dinner with enchilada sauce.
I keep avocado slices in my freezer to use in smoothies (keeps the foam down), so I just used those. Made my own buttermilk with milk & white vinegar. No pickled jalapeños, so chopped up a fresh one and tossed in with the pepper. I pulled some cooked turkey leftover from Thanksgiving out of the freezer the other day and was looking for ways to use it up. This fits the bill perfectly!
I used two pounds of ground turkey breast, which I browned first. Then, I doubled the remaining ingredients – added the peppers and onions first to the cooked meat to wilt – and added them to the pan.
I think I'll keep this on hand for my growing son to make for a snack. He's going to love it on a tortilla with a healthy dollop of guacamole and salsa.
Thanks for sharing.
Fantastic.
what is the points plus without the dressing?
Is the sodium accurate on this? Per serving? I'm having trouble adding up that much for the whole recipe based on the ingredients.
I just made this with chicken and it was AMAZINGGGG. I'm excited to finally have another meal I can make! I did put it on actual wraps but good to know I can use lettuce wraps for less calories. Thank you!!
This was an awesome way to use up some leftover turkey – thank you! And thank you for writing about Erin Stutland — I'm impressed with her approach to working out, overall fitness, mind/body/soul — very cool.
Not sure, I'm guessing yes or you can use the rest and put them in peppers to make stuffed peppers for a second meal.
Any idea if this leftovers would freeze well? With the amount of certain ingredients called for (black beans and spinach) I would have trouble finding other recipes to put these in. Therefore I would just double the recipe to accommodate the entire amount of the can/package. But that would create too much food for my small family so I'm wondering about freezing it. What do you think?
I used the leftovers over a salad the next day! Maybe a good idea to use up the rest.
Made these tonight with some shredded cooked chicken breast (turkey all gone). Amazing! The dressing was incredible! Thanks for posting such wonderful recipes — and yours are always so much better than the recipes on the WW site.
So happy you liked it!
These look delicious! I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy reading your blog and seeing the recipes you come up with. I have a blog myself that focuses on clean eating, so I know it's not always easy to be innovative, but you do a fantastic job, so keep up the good work! If you ever get a chance, stop by and check out mine 🙂 http://theleancleaneatingmachine.com
Thanks Danielle!
This recipe looks delicious! I love that it is all wrapped up in lettuce!
Wow need to do this! Beach season is here lol 😉
Big recieved document! mum really enjoyed scaning the great article! Thank you loads
Jeux de beauté
Very nice, love it..
I made this last night with ground turkey and cilantro lime sour cream (based on what I had in the fridge) and it was delicious! I'll be making these often. Thanks!
So glad you liked them!
Agreed. They were delicious with ground turkey. 🙂
I love how so many of your recipes are naturally gluten free or easy to convert to gluten free. Its hard coming up with new ideas for lunches and dinners but you make it easy! Thanks again for a great one!
You're welcome!
No green chiles? How can something be "Santa Fe" without any green chiles? Looks good but I'll def add some roasted chiles!
Go for it!
Hi, I was wondering if you knew how many calories you'd save without the dressing? Thanks and have a great Thanksgiving!
Can fresh spinach be used and if so what amount?
Sure
I bought all the ingredients I didn't have and am going to give your recipe a go on the weekend. Thanks!
These look fantastic! I can't wait to try them!!
Looks wonderful. In your email intro to this you said if you want to make it Paleo, leave out the beans. Corn and cheese would also not be allowed on Paleo.
Ah, it's hard to think in Paleo for me. Thank you for clarifying!
These look really good, can't wait to try them! Another good app is calorie count .com, I've been logging my food since March and I've lost 49 pounds. The best part of the app is the community feedback, and it's free! I have used many of your recipes, so thank you, thank you, thank you! One more pound to reach my goal, and then I plan on continuing with my new lifestyle!
Good for you! Yes, use whatever works for you : )
Ooo great idea for leftover turkey (I'm thinking ahead to Christmas!). After a few days of rich food I start craving lettuce!!
P x
I love lettuce wraps! I will try these for sure. Even chicken would be good.
I stay motivated with a WW buddy, we cheer each other on!
Chicken would be great!
Those look incredibly delicious! I'm hoping for lots of leftover turkey now!
Do the calories on this include the Dressing?
Yes!
My family is gathering 12/27/13 for our Christmas celebration. We've decided on serving tapas style finger food. This could well be my contribution. May even leave the meat out of some of it for the vegetarian/vegans in the crowd. Thanks. Looking forward to making this.
Fun! Yes, this would be perfect!