With so many delicious ways to use turkey leftovers, you can have it all — from savory crepes to turkey chili to after-Thanksgiving pizza! In the wake of Thanksgiving Day, prepare to see containers of turkey leftovers all piled up in the fridge. No matter how many guests you have, it’s inevitable! So what do you do? Make sandwiches, of course! But there’s more to leftover turkey recipes than making different variations of turkey sandwiches. You can use the turkey meat to make a lighter soup or casserole. Or perhaps, layer it with other ingredients for an on-the-go meaty treat. These 30+ fantastic leftover turkey recipes prove that you can level up your day-after-Thanksgiving meal. Let’s get started!
1. Leftover Turkey Casserole
Making this turkey casserole may give everyone the impression that the holiday season is not yet over — it’s that delicious! Most casseroles start with a mixture of butter and flour (also called a roux), but this turkey casserole takes it up a notch by adding gravy and cheese. Making this turkey casserole is also a great way to use up leftover cornbread. Add in the peas, carrots, and green beans for a hearty and vibrant dish!
2. Turkey Tetrazzini
Baked tetrazzini combines tender turkey meat, pasta, and mushrooms in a creamy sauce. It’s definitely one of the most exciting leftover turkey recipes out there! This version of tetrazzini is SUPER easy to make, and you’ll get that extra richness by adding garlic-flavored cream cheese. Serve with some crusty bread because you won’t want the delicious sauce to go to waste.
3. Leftover Turkey Sandwich
The leftover turkey sandwich is so popular, you’ll find countless variations of it. But this recipe? It’s simply amazing! Imagine the moist turkey meat layered with gouda cheese, raspberry jam, and arugula. Fruity, cheesy, meaty, and peppery — all these flavors make up the best leftover turkey sandwich ever!
4. Leftover Turkey Soup
This tummy-warming soup is loaded with rice, turkey chunks, veggies, and a few simple seasonings. For a healthier meal, using brown rice is the way to go. Thicken the soup by using half milk and half cream. When sauteed carrots, onions, and celery join the mix, you’ll get a hearty and oh-so-creamy dish!
5. Turkey Pot Pie
This dish is a lot like chicken pot pie, but you’ll obviously have to swap out the chicken for turkey. Using pre-made pie crust will significantly shorten the prep time. Everything goes into the pie crust: the flavorful sauce, turkey, and veggies. The best part is when you bite into that flaky pie crust bursting with creamy, chunky filling. Yum!
6. Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s pie is typically made with ground beef or lamb, topped with creamy mashed potatoes and crispy, golden cheese crust. Using turkey meat will create a pie that’s as tasty as the original. Besides the turkey and mashed potatoes, you’ll have to add a mix of veggies, herbs, broth, and a couple of spices for total comfort food!
7. Leftover Turkey in Gravy
Bring new life to your day-old roasted turkey by simply cooking it in mushroom gravy. The result is a tender, juicy turkey meat and a sauce you’ll want to sop up with dinner rolls! The secret ingredient here is the gravy made with chicken broth, flour, and butter. Adding the mushrooms makes all the difference because of their natural savory taste.
8. Leftover Turkey Chili
This chili calls for minimal prep work but packs a lot of flavors, making it one of my go-to leftover turkey recipes. Ever tried adding cocoa to your chili? If not, this recipe will make you want to do just that. I promise that the cocoa won’t leave a weird chocolatey taste. It enhances the existing flavors and offset the tangy nature of tomatoes.
9. Leftover Turkey Cobb Salad
Quick, easy, and so refreshing, this turkey cobb salad is perfect if you’re looking for a light yet satisfying meal. It’s packed with proteins, fresh veggies, cheese, raisins, and spices. Meanwhile, the vinaigrette dressing is mixed with dijon mustard and maple syrup, making everything extra delicious!
10. Leftover Turkey Hash
In its basic form, this breakfast recipe only needs leftover turkey, stuffing, and gravy. And because this is a hash recipe, potatoes and onions are a must. Want some extra crunch? Adding toasted slivered almonds and sauteed red peppers will do the trick. The fried egg on top is a classic addition, too!
11. Leftover Turkey Empanadas
These empanadas are chock full of meat, potatoes, and gravy, making them a filling and flavorful on-the-go snack. The best part is, you can customize the flavors that go inside these handheld pies. Mix and match leftovers and let your imagination run wild!
12. Turkey Pot Pie Soup
Yup, this is turkey pot pie in soup form. Imagine shredded leftover turkey, potatoes, and veggies cooked in a creamy and well-spiced broth. This soup is best served with biscuits or puff pastry on the side. Try using chicken next time because a dish this good will be requested again.
13. Leftover Turkey Tortilla Soup
Craving bold and fresh Mexican flavors? This turkey tortilla soup is exactly what you’ll need. Loaded with tomatoes, corn, beans, and chilies, this soup has everything that makes Mexican food incredibly delicious! For a complete Mexican treat, I love eating my soup with crumbled tortilla chips and shredded cheese on top. So good!
14. Leftover Turkey Enchiladas
Enchiladas are always requested in our house, and every variation I’ve tried has been a hit, especially the leftover turkey enchiladas. This filling meal consists of classic Tex-Mex ingredients. Think lots of cheese, pinto beans, sour cream, jalalpeños, and so much more! The soft corn tortillas are smothered in an enchilada sauce that’s full of savory goodness. You’ll be blown away by the bold flavors in each bite.
15. Leftover Turkey Patties
These hearty, tasty turkey patties will win over the kids and the grown-ups! They’re a lighter version of classic beef patties, and you can make them without breadcrumbs. These patties are great for pita pockets or a simple sandwich with layers of greens, mustard, and pickles.
16. Thanksgiving Leftover Pizza
Pizza is one of those dishes that everyone in the family enjoys. Gather your Thanksgiving leftovers because making this pizza is a fun way to mix everything up! From veggies to gravy sauce to stuffing, all the leftovers can go into this after-thanksgiving pizza. Don’t forget the cheese! A pizza isn’t complete without it.
17. Slow Cooker Turkey Chowder
This indulgent turkey chowder has a restaurant-quality that’ll make you want to go back for seconds and thirds! Cornstarch and heavy cream team up to thicken the soup. Add in the turkey meat, corn, and veggies for a nutritious yet tummy-satisfying dish.
18. Leftover Turkey Melts
This open-faced sandwich with warm, melted cheese is downright irresistible! Beneath that ooey-gooey cheese, you’ll find a creamy, healthy turkey salad. The toppings go into lightly toasted gluten-free bread, and you’ll be done prepping everything in 10 minutes. It’s so tasty and healthy!
19. Turkey and Dumplings
Turkey and dumplings is a delicious meal for the colder nights! This soul-warming dish combines turkey leftovers, homemade dumplings, and pantry spices. To get the perfectly tender dumplings, avoid over-mixing the dough. Meanwhile, using bone broth will give you a nutrient-dense dish.
20. Leftover Turkey Stroganoff
This recipe is a spinoff of classic beef stroganoff . It’s lighter, but so tasty! This dish can be made with leftover turkey or chicken, flavored with a thick sour cream gravy sauce. Dijon mustard, earthy mushrooms, and smoked paprika add layers of indulgent flavors to the stroganoff sauce. Serve with egg noodles and enjoy!
21. Leftover Turkey Crepes
You won’t need a crepe maker whenever you crave good, savory crepes. This recipe shows you just how easy it is to make these thin pancakes. Combine turkey meat with mushrooms, carrots, and onions for a crave-worthy filling. Spread over the crepes, fold them into a triangular shape, and serve with sour cream.
22. Turkey Over Biscuits
Crisp, buttery biscuits topped with warm, creamy turkey — this is comfort food at its finest. The sauce is made with flour, butter, chicken broth, milk, and herbs. You can enhance the flavors and textures by using other add-ins. Some of the great picks are parmesan cheese, sliced mushrooms, and chopped cauliflower.
23. Turkey and Broccoli Quiche
This savory egg custard features meaty turkey and hearty broccoli flavored with cheese and curry powder. Just imagine the medley of flavors coming out from this fantastic dish. The broccoli is cooked with butter and onion, while bacon bits are used as a topping for extra flavor.
24. Leftover Turkey Burritos
The tangy salsa, meaty turkey, and classic Tex-Mex spices are combined in some of the tastiest burritos I’ve ever had! Cheese, cilantro, and cumin join the mix for a flavor bomb. To upgrade these burritos, you can top them off with avocado, more salsa, and more cheese.
25. Leftover Turkey Salad
This turkey salad is much like classic chicken salad, but with a twist. It has pecans for a crunchy texture and cranberries for a tangy flavor. Everything comes together in minutes and is tossed in mustard-mayo dressing. The salad can be served over fresh greens or included in wraps or sandwiches.
26. Thanksgiving Egg Rolls
Crispy egg rolls filled with mashed potatoes, turkey, and stuffing — this is one of the most unique leftover turkey recipes in existence! The filling goes into a wonton wrapper and is baked until crispy. Serve the egg rolls with gravy and cranberry sauce for alternating savory and sweet flavors.
27. Thanksgiving Leftovers Quesadilla
Everyone’s favorite, next to pizza, is the quesadilla. This version is packed with turkey meat, sage, and three kinds of cheese! Every lingering bite of Thanksgiving is in this quesadilla. Plus, it’s a cinch to make in the stovetop or microwave. If you’re looking for a quick and easy comfort food recipe, this quesadilla ticks all the boxes.
28. Leftover Turkey Monte Cristo
The next-level Thanksgiving leftover sandwich is here: Turkey Monte Cristo. It features leftover turkey, cranberry sauce, and cheese all layered between crisp and buttery bread slices. For the best tasting sandwich, use French bread loaves. Just like making authentic Monte Cristo, the sandwich must be soaked in an egg-milk mixture before frying.
29. Leftover Turkey Tacos
These turkey tacos are exactly what you need after so much holiday cooking. They’re a breeze to make and versatile, too. For the toppings, you can use anything you have on-hand. But the classic options are avocado, tomatoes, cheese, and sour cream. Extra flavors emerge when you cook the shredded turkey in a tomato puree and chicken stock infused with honey and lime juice.
30. Leftover Turkey Nachos
Joining the ranks of crowd-favorite snacks, such as pizza and quesadillas, are these turkey nachos. The perfectly crisp tortillas are loaded with classic nacho toppings, such as tomatoes, onions, olives, and chiles. Taco seasoning and cheese (lots of it) complete the awesome nacho flavor.
31. Creamed Turkey on Toast
This recipe will level up your leftover turkey sandwich-making. It calls for a creamy sauce flavored with bold spices like garlic powder, nutmeg, curry powder, and so much more! Heavy cream and milk are added for a nice and thick soup, while green peas and onions bring out savory notes.
32. Turkey Orzo Soup
A one-pot comforting soup that’s ready in 30 minutes — who wouldn’t love this recipe? This dish is also loaded with veggies and fresh herbs, making it both healthy and yummy! Of course, this soup calls for orzo pasta, which adds a beautiful texture and makes the dish extra filling.
33. Leftover Turkey Curry
If you’re a fan of curries, you’ll adore this recipe! This turkey curry is brimming with bold flavors from several spices, aromatics, and ghee. The mix of veggies, meat, and the thick, rich sauce makes this dish downright comforting! Serve this saucy dish over cauliflower rice for a nourishing yet super tasty meal. Click on a star to rate it!
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