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40 Leftover Turkey Recipes helps you figure out what to do with leftover roast turkey or air fried turkey after your Thanksgiving or Christmas feast is over?
We're featuring 40 easy leftover turkey recipes from our food blogging friends so you can put your leftovers to work for you. The recipes include casseroles, soups, sandwiches, sides, and salads. Some are traditional and some are creative, so there's something for everyone in this post-holiday recipe collection.
Table of Contents hide
1) How to store leftover turkey
2) Tips for using leftover turkey in recipes
3) 40 Leftover Turkey Recipes: What To Do With Leftover Turkey
How to store leftover turkey
These are the most common ways we use to store leftover turkey (or cooked chicken) in the refrigerator and freezer:
- My favorite airtight containers
- refrigerate up to 5 days
- freeze up to 3 months
- Silicone storage bags or zip-top freezer bags
- refrigerate up to 5 days
- freeze up to 1 month
- Plastic deli rounds or containers
- refrigerate up to 5 days
- freeze up to 1 month
- Vacuum-sealed storage bags
- freeze up to 3 months
I find that these airtight containers and vacuum-sealer methods keep my food fresh to the fullest extent. The only downside is that the glass containers are heavier than the other options and they cost more up front. But, because they tend to outlast the other options, it offsets the cost. A vacuum sealer also for itself over time with food that can be frozen.
Tips for using leftover turkey in recipes
Don't use overcooked turkey for these turkey recipes. Once turkey is overcooked, it will never make a tasty comeback, even after smothering it with the most delicious gravy or hiding it in a casserole.
Assuming you are left with a big stash of perfectly cooked turkey, check out these tips that you'll need if you're repurposing it.
Timing is EVERYTHING: If I'm not planning to freeze cooked turkey meat for later use, I'm nothing short of OCD about getting it into a recipe ASAP.
The reason for this...cooked turkey is perishable and needs to be eaten anywhere from 3-6 days from the day it was first cooked. This means I need to get the leftover turkey into the casserole, or soup, or whatever I'm making within 2 days, preferably 1 day, and then eat that item within another 2 days.
Substitute rotisserie chicken: You can easily swap storebought rotisserie chicken for cooked turkey in every one of these leftover turkey recipes.
40 Leftover Turkey Recipes: What To Do With Leftover Turkey
Turkey Salad Recipe
Use your leftover roast turkey to make the best turkey salad. The combination of juicy turkey, dried cranberries, walnuts, celery, and creamy dressing make an irresistible combination. Scoop it over salad greens or pile it up to make the best sandwich!
Turkey Stock or Broth
How to make turkey stock with leftover turkey bones, vegetables, and herbs. This savory "liquid gold" can be used as turkey broth for soup, gravy, or any recipes requiring turkey stock or broth.
Chicken Shepherd's Pie
Use your leftover turkey for this scrumptious comfort casserole. It's made with loads of veggies, juicy meat leftover from holiday dinner, and creamy mashed potato topping.
Photo Credit:fussfreeflavours.com
Leftover Roast Turkey Curry – a Comforting Meal!
This easy Leftover Turkey Curry recipe is simple, delicious and the perfect way to use up leftover turkey. This fuss-free British curry uses no special ingredients and can be on the table in less than half an hour. Adaptable and easy to pack with vegetables for a healthy boost.
Photo Credit:www.ketocookingwins.com
Mexican Turkey Soup Recipe
This Mexican Turkey Soup Recipe is a genius use of leftover turkey, and with big, bold, and bright flavors, you can double it and freeze some for later!
Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
Chicken broccoli rice casserole is a tasty one-pot stove-top dinner made with lean chicken breast, fresh broccoli, and no soup! It's quick, easy, a little cheesy, and great for weeknights.
Photo Credit:thefeatherednester.com
Tater Tot Turkey Casserole
Turkey tater tot casserole is a delicious one-pan meal you can make with leftover turkey and everyone's beloved tater tots. Make this recipe and watch those turkey leftovers disappear!
Photo Credit:www.fromachefskitchen.com
Slow Cooker Southwestern Turkey Stew
Use your leftover turkey for the most delicious turkey stew. It's slow-cooked and loaded with butternut squash, black beans, and so much Southwest flavor!
Cranberry BBQ Turkey Pizza — Thick homemade pizza crust topped with sweet homemade cranberry bbq sauce, roasted turkey, red onions, bacon, cilantro and two different cheeses! This is the perfect use for all that leftover Thanksgiving turkey!
Photo Credit:littlesunnykitchen.com
Turkey Sliders
Warm and cheesy turkey sliders made from leftover turkey meat. They’re bursting with flavor and so easy to make to feed a crowd!
Photo Credit:www.fabfood4all.co.uk
Sumptuous Turkey Pie
This Sumptuous Turkey Pie will use up your leftover turkey, Bacon and cream. Added to those are leeks, mushrooms and puff pastry, pies don't get better than this!
Photo Credit:www.beyondthechickencoop.com
Turkey Tortilla Soup
Turkey tortilla soup is a delicious soup made with leftover turkey, black beans and corn.
Photo Credit:savoringtoday.com
Skillet Turkey Pot Pie with Buttermilk Biscuits
Skillet Turkey Pot Pie with Buttermilk Biscuits is an easy, one-pot dinner to use up rotisserie chicken or turkey leftovers. Bake up fresh whole wheat buttermilk biscuits while the creamy turkey pot pie filling simmers on the stove.
Photo Credit:stripedspatula.com
Creamy Turkey Tetrazzini
This Turkey Tetrazzini with a rich Parmesan cream sauce is an easy way to turn leftover turkey into a cozy comfort food dinner.
Photo Credit:thetoastykitchen.com
Leftover Turkey Alfredo Skillet Meal
Leftover Turkey Alfredo Skillet Meal is the answer for your Post-Thanksgiving leftovers. Turkey, bacon, peas, and penne pasta are coated in a creamy alfredo sauce. Made in a single pan and ready in 30 minutes.
Photo Credit:www.earthfoodandfire.com
Leftover Turkey & Wild Rice Soup
The easiest way to use up leftover turkey meat, this simple soup is hearty, healthy, and best of all delicious!
Photo Credit:www.carolinescooking.com
Thai red curry (perfect for leftovers)
This delicious Thai red curry is made with a quick homemade paste from scratch for a fantastic bold flavor. Plus it’s a great way to use leftover meat.
Photo Credit:girlheartfood.com
Turkey Pasta Bake {delicious leftover turkey idea!}
Made in one pot using leftover turkey, this turkey pasta bake is easy, cheesy and delicious.
Pesto Chicken Gnocchi Soup
ThisPesto Chicken Gnocchi Soupis made with rotisserie chicken or leftover turkey, pesto, gnocchi, fresh spinach, and chicken broth. It relies on prepared ingredients and requires minimal cooking skills. Add this soup to your collection of rotisserie chicken recipes for easy weeknight dinners!
Photo Credit:www.therusticfoodie.com
Turkey Stew
This Turkey Stew recipe is made from scratch with potatoes and vegetables. It’s hearty and a great way to use up leftover turkey. Rustic and comforting!
Photo Credit:lowcarbyum.com
Leftover Turkey Stew in the Slow Cooker Crock Pot
A simple and easy to whip up Leftover Turkey Stew that’s done in a slow cooker! It’s low carb and gluten-free.
Photo Credit:anitalianinmykitchen.com
Leftover Turkey Pot Pie
This homemade Turkey Pot Pie can even be made with leftover turkey or chicken. A creamy delicious filling topped with puff pastry. Pot Pie never tasted so good!
Photo Credit:www.babaganosh.org
Leftover Turkey Quesadillas with Black Beans
Put that leftover turkey to good use and make these Leftover Turkey Quesadillas with Black Beans. If you've never added black beans to a quesadilla, you've GOT to try this recipe, it's so good!
Photo Credit:cheesecurdinparadise.com
Cheesy Broccoli, Turkey, and Rice Casserole
Cheesy Broccoli, Turkey, and Rice Casserole is a simple way to use holiday leftovers! Creamy and rich this casserole is packed with fresh broccoli, chopped turkey, and brown rice. A new post-holiday family favorite!
Photo Credit:www.healthy-delicious.com
Cajun Turkey Casserole (Low Carb + Gluten-Free)
Low carb turkey casserole, made with cauliflower rice, green beans, and cheddar cheese can be on the table in under 45 minutes. It’s the PERFECT way to use up your leftover holiday, but you can easily make it with rotisserie chicken any time of year.
Basil Chicken Tetrazzini is a scrumptious, veggie loaded entree that puts your leftover chicken or turkey to good use. This entree is gluten-free and utterly delicious!
Photo Credit:cookingchatfood.com
Orzo with Leftover Turkey and Sweet Potatoes #SundaySupper
Sweet potatoes combined with savory turkey and cheese in a delicious orzo pasta dish. A wonderfully delicious way to use that leftover turkey
Photo Credit:www.supergoldenbakes.com
One-pot Leftover Turkey Orzo Pasta | Slimming Friendly - Supergolden Bakes
This creamy one-pot orzo pasta recipe is great for using up leftover Thanksgiving/ Christmas turkey. It is quick, easy, delicious AND slimming friendly too!
Photo Credit:foodmeanderings.com
Weight Watchers Turkey Reuben Sandwich
This Turkey Reuben Panini is Weight Watchers friendly at only 6 WW freestyle smart points (blue plan) and can be made with leftover turkey or deli turkey meat
Photo Credit:simplysohealthy.com
Low-Carb Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe
This recipe for Leftover Turkey Casserole transforms turkey into pure comfort food!
Photo Credit:www.simplystacie.net
Turkey Thai Curry
Turkey Thai Curry - A brilliant way to use up your Christmas leftovers! Get dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes.
Photo Credit:blessherheartyall.com
Thanksgiving Leftovers Turkey Nachos
Thanksgiving leftovers are so quick and easy to put together and serve while watching all those football games and during all of the family activities this Thanksgiving weekend. These turkey nachos turn your leftover turkey stash into a cheesy, crunchy, spicy, gluten-free party food that will be scooped up in seconds!
Photo Credit:www.foodabovegold.com
Leftover Turkey Skillet Pot Pie
This slightly creamy leftover turkey pot pie recipe is made in a cast iron pan to keep things simple. Bursting with gourmet flavors and crisp vegetables, this pot pie recipe is ultimate comfort food.
Photo Credit:www.sprinklesandsprouts.com
Turkey Ramen - Using Leftovers
If you are searching for what to do with thanksgiving leftovers then search no further, this turkey ramen is the ultimate leftover turkey soup! The turkey is poached in a delicious and easy stock, which with a few additions turns into the wonderful broth for this simple homemade ramen. You can up the chili and make it spicy and even use two minute instant noodles. A great alternative to chicken ramen and just perfect for holiday leftovers.
Photo Credit:theadventurebite.com
Creamy Turkey & Dumplings (With The Best Dumplings Ever)
Turkey and dumplings is the perfect winter supper and the perfect use for leftover turkey. We tested and tested to find the best dumplings ever! 1 hour weeknight simple recipe for a warm cozy dinner.
Photo Credit:www.goodlifeeats.com
Green Chile Turkey Tetrazzini
Green Chile Turkey Tetrazzini takes this traditional turkey leftover recipe to the next level. This turkey casserole is loaded with flavor thanks to the addition of green chiles, poblano peppers, and spicy pepper jack cheese.
Photo Credit:www.savorynothings.com
Instant Pot Turkey and Rice Soup
This is one of my favorite ways to use up leftovers from a big dinner - a quick and easy soup full of healthy ingredients! It turns out wonderfully creamy and comforting.
Photo Credit:berrymaple.com
Leftover turkey soup
Rich flavorful turkey leftover soup from carcass. With homemade shredded turkey, vegetables and noodles, this soup is healthy and will feed your whole family!
Photo Credit:freshaprilflours.com
Baked Turkey & Cheese Sliders
Easy turkey and cheese sliders baked in a honey mustard glaze. The simplicity in this recipe is that once your glaze is together, you just layer your slider bottoms, mayo, turkey, cheese, and slider tops in a casserole dish and cover everything with the glaze. Bake and boom, dinner is ready in less than 30 minutes!
Photo Credit:hearthandvine.com
Leftover Turkey Casserole With Fresh Peas & Mushrooms
This leftover turkey casserole recipe is the perfect way to use up your holiday extras with a few fresh partners mixed in.
Photo Credit:www.savorywithsoul.com
Turkey Salad Recipe with Cranberries
This turkey salad recipe is so flavorful, colorful, and delicious! And it makes great use of your leftover turkey from Thanksgiving or any other occasion.