When you cook a whole turkey, chances are you’ll have leftovers. We love turkey all year round, not just at the holidays, and one of the best parts is finding fun and delicious leftover turkey recipes to enjoy all week long.
Most people end up with lots of leftover turkey after Thanksgiving or Christmas, and a lot of ways to use up those holiday leftovers incorporate other elements of the meal, like stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, etc. We’ve all had a leftover turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce, right? But there are only so many of those that any one person can eat, plus turkey is delicious all year – not to mention it is a healthy and lean protein to incorporate into your diet.
Finding a whole turkey in the off-season isn’t always easy though. You may have to ask the butcher if they have any on hand, check the frozen section, or opt for just a turkey breast – those are more common to find in the meat section now.
While ground turkey is also common, in this article we’re focusing on leftover turkey recipes that are meant for regular turkey meat, generally in the shredded or chopped form, rather than the ground form.
How To Store Leftover Turkey
After you’ve enjoyed your meal, you’ll want to finish carving the bird and prepping it for storage. Clean all the meat from the bones and place the meat in air tight containers. When I originally carve the turkey, I often have many slices leftover after serving. I’ll store the slices separately from the meat that is shredded or bite-sized, as I will usually use them for different types of recipes. Slices are easier to quickly make sandwiches, or chop into chunks to stir into casseroles or salads, while the shredded pieces are easy to add to soups and stews.
If you plan to make a broth, keep some of the bones too. Store these separately from the meat in another container or in a Ziploc bag.
If you don’t plan on using the leftover turkey within three to four days, you can store the turkey in the freezer in an air tight container. When I freeze my turkey, I often double pack it, either in two Ziploc bags, or one Ziploc then placed in a Tupperware container. This helps to keep freezer burn away. When storing in the freezer, your leftover turkey is good for about two to three months.
Best Ways To Use Leftover Turkey
Leftover turkey is a versatile protein. It can be used as a substitute for chicken in most recipes that call for chicken so your options are nearly endless. It can also be enjoyed both hot or cold. Leftover turkey is perfect for:
- Adding to salads or wraps
- Stirring into soups and stews
- Baking into a bubbly, homecooked casserole
- Added to pasta dishes
- Hot and cold sandwiches
- Stir fries and sautéed dishes
Before you make your turkey, plan for your leftover turkey recipes! For example, if you are going to spatchcock your turkey, you can save the backbone and use it to make the most amazing bone broth right there on your stove! You can also use the neck and parts of the carcass for this.
While a lot of people toss the giblets, keep them and use them to make gravy, stuffing, or dirty rice.
Making a whole turkey can also be pretty cost effective. The last time I made a whole turkey in the off season, I found a 22 pound bird. We served it the first night with veggies and potatoes, then I went to work removing all the meat. With the leftovers, I was able to make a big batch of old fashioned turkey and noodles, a turkey pot pie big enough to feed 6 to 8 people, and the kids snacked on it right out of the container throughout the week.
Even if you go with a smaller turkey breast instead of a whole turkey, you can still have leftovers for a second (and even third) meal for the week. Whichever you end up with, scroll down to see some of our favorite ways to use up those turkey leftovers!
Leftover Turkey Recipes
If you're looking for new and delicious ways to repurpose your leftover turkey, try one of these recipes!
The BEST Turkey Tetrazzini
A creamy Turkey Tetrazzini recipe with mushrooms, peas, and a crunchy topping made with panko breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese. So good you’ll be roasting two turkeys!
Easy Turkey Pot Pie Recipe
Turkey pot pie is a tasty twist on a classic homecooked meal, packed with a creamy, flavorful sauce, colorful vegetables, and tender leftover turkey.
Old Fashioned Turkey And Noodles Recipe
A spin on chicken and noodles, this old fashioned turkey and noodles recipe is a hearty and comforting classic just like grandma used to make.
Chicken Cobbler Recipe
Swap the chicken for leftover turkey and make this hearty, home style cobbler recipe.
Corn Casserole with Turkey and Rice
While the recipe calls for leftover chicken, turkey is an obvious and delicious substitution in the easy corn casserole recipe.
Fresh Broccoli Rice Casserole with Chicken
Use leftover turkey in this broccoli rice casserole recipe for an equally flavorful dish that is creamy and topped with a crunchy breadcrumb topping.
Creamy Turkey Orzo Soup
Reminiscent of classic chicken noodle soup, this cozy and creamy Turkey Orzo Soup is a great way to use up your leftover turkey and takes just 30 minutes to make.
Herbed Turkey Stroganoff
A twist on classic stroganoff, this one is simmered to seasoned sour cream sauce perfection and can be served over noodles, rice, or potatoes.
Cheesy Turkey Zucchini Casserole
This zucchini turkey casserole is cheesy, creamy, and topped with your favorite stuffing mix. It's a great weeknight casserole as it's easy to make with just 10 minutes of prep time.
Turkey Cranberry Pasta Salad
For a unique and tasty twist on a classic favorite, this pasta salad recipe is full of juicy leftover turkey, crunchy celery and pecans, has a sweet tart flavor from the dried cranberries, brought together by poppy seed dressing.
Leftover Turkey Enchiladas Skillet
Made with pumpkin puree and veggies, this nutrient-dense turkey enchilada skillet is still cheesy and flavorful with a hint of heat.
Taiwanese Turkey Rice
This is a great recipe if you have a lot of turkey left over! Repurpose it in this traditional Taiwanese dish of turkey in a flavorful soy-based sauce, served over rice and topped with fried shallots.
Leftover Turkey Carnitas {Best EVER & Super Easy} @ Bake It With Love
If you love crispy carnitas, try this version made with leftover turkey! Serve it in tacos or burritos, stir it into your scrambled eggs, top a salad, or enjoy it on its own.
Leftover Turkey Risotto
This delicious risotto recipe is made with turkey, mushrooms, and pancetta and has a rich and creamy sauce that is oh so comforting.
Turkey Bolognese
Mix your leftover turkey into this rich ragu sauce and make a flavorful leftover Turkey Bolognese.
Turkey gumbo
A rich and hearty soup packed with protein, this Turkey Gumbo is perfect served over rice. And you can use the turkey bones to make a delicious homemade broth if you still have them.
Diner Style Turkey Croquettes - American Classic
These turkey croquettes are a great way to use up your turkey leftovers. They're perfectly crunchy on the outside and are great paired with mashed potatoes, soup, or salad. Don't forget the gravy for dipping!
Turkey Cobb Salad
Lighten up your next meal and use your leftover turkey to make this colorful and healthy Turkey Cobb Salad.
My Best Recipe for Turkey ala King
A classic comfort food dish, this Turkey Ala King is full of turkey chunks, colorful veggies, and simmered in a white wine cream sauce.
Creamy Turkey Shepherd's Pie (Using Thanksgiving leftovers!)
Cozy Shepherd's Pie is a great way to use up your leftover turkey. You'll love the creamy filling and it's topped with luscious, buttery mashed potatoes.
Pulled Leftover Turkey Sandwich with Rainbow Slaw
Turn your leftover turkey into a smoky, flavorful pulled turkey sandwich topped with creamy coleslaw.
Open Faced Turkey Sandwich
A classic way to use up your leftover turkey, these open faced hot turkey sandwiches are served on toasty bread with gravy spooned over the top!
Hot Brown Sandwich recipe
If you haven't had a Hot Brown, this is definitely the way to use your leftover turkey. An open faced sandwich slathered in mornay sauce and sprinkled with bacon - you can add tomato too!
Easy Turkey Casserole
An easy weeknight dinner to use your leftover turkey, this turkey casserole is creamy and cheesy and baked until bubbly.
Best Turkey Omelet Ever
Why not use your leftover turkey for breakfast? This turkey omelet is a wonderful choice for brunch, and the stuffing is optional.
Turkey Hash
This breakfast hash is a great use of leftover turkey, mixed with bacon, peppers and onions, and topped with eggs. You can add potatoes too if you'd like to bulk it up even more!
Leftover Turkey and Sweet Potato Frittata
Turkey pairs so well with sweet potatoes, and combining them into this frittata is a fantastic brunch idea!
Leftover Turkey Pot Pie Empanadas
These leftover turkey pot pie empanadas are perfect for dinner, or for making ahead for grab and go lunches.
Leftover Turkey Nuggets
A fun way to use up those leftovers, these turkey nuggets are lightly pan-fried and perfect for lunch or dinner.
Turkey Stir-Fry - Healthy Recipes Blog
Grab your leftover turkey and toss in your favorite veggies to make this delicious leftover turkey stir fry.
Low Carb Baked Turkey Cordon Bleu
This baked Turkey Cordon Bleu recipe is low-carb and keto friendly, but has all the rich, creamy flavor you love.
Leftover Turkey Muffin Tin Dumplings
These muffin tin dumplings are a great way to use up leftover turkey and can be ready in just 10 minutes.
Keto Turkey Soup
This Keto Turkey Soup is low in carbs but big on flavor and takes less than an hour to make.
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