50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (2024)

Table of Contents
Turkey Appetizers Thanksgiving Crescent Ring Crispy Turkey Nachos Turkey & Black Currant Brie Bites Turkey Salad Sliders Turkey and Pear Balsamic Pizza Turkey and StuffingAir Fryer Egg Rolls Smoked Buffalo Turkey Dip Turkey Soups and Stews Turkey Noodle Soup Turkey Stock Leftover Turkey Soup Healthy Turkey Chili Creamy Turkey Soup with Potatoes and Corn Turkey Bean Soup Leftover Slow Cooker Turkey Noodle Soup Leftover Turkey Chili Leftover Turkey Sandwiches Turkey Club Sandwich Pinwheels Turkey and Cranberry Mayo Roll-Ups Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Sliders Club Sandwich Honey Avocado Turkey Bacon Sandwiches Roasted Turkey & Avocado BLT Best Turkey BLT Wrap Thanksgiving Panini Turkey Rice and Pastas Turkey Florentine Pasta Bake Cheesy Turkey Noodle Casserole Leftover Turkey Tetrazzini One Pot Turkey Pilaf Turkey Bacon Alfredo Skillet Orzo with Leftover Turkey and Sweet Potatoes Turkey Dinners Grilled Turkey Zucchini Boats Turkey Stuffed Pepper Recipe Stuffed Acorn Squash Turkey Stuffing Slow Cooker Casserole Leftover Turkey Casserole Leftover Turkey Noodle Casserole Turkey Pasta Skillet Turkey Pot Pie Mexican Turkey Veggie Skillet Lasagna Leftover Turkey Pot Pie Healthy California Turkey Club Turkey Dumplings Thanksgiving Leftover Empanadas Cheesy Turkey Enchiladas Storage and Freezing If you liked these amazing leftover turkey recipes, check out turkey recipes for next year: Turkey Dry Brine Recipe Herb Mayonnaise Roast Turkey Breast Recipe FAQs References

Home » Recipe Collections » 50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes

Author: Tayler Ross

Published: 11/16/2018

Updated: 01/29/2024

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

These creative Leftover Turkey Recipes are just what you need to use up the rest of your leftovers using turkey and other key Thanksgiving menu items.

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (1)

It never fails that after Thanksgiving, we have TONS of leftovers! However, I can only eat turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy for so many days in a row before I tire of it.

There are so many delicious ways to use leftover turkey meat. And not only leftover turkey, but also creative ways to use leftover stuffing, leftover mashed potatoes and leftover gravy and all of your holiday leftovers.

That’s why I found these amazing leftover turkey recipes! From soups to casseroles, these recipes will make you want to have turkey for dinner every night!

Ranging from easy recipes like turkey stock using the turkey bones, or something a little more in depth like a casserole using egg noodles and leftover roast turkey.

No matter which recipe you use, you’re sure to find new favorite ways to turn your holiday dinners into new comfort food recipes. You can even substitute rotisserie chicken for most of these recipes too!

What's In This Article

Turkey Appetizers

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (2)

Thanksgiving Crescent Ring

ThisThanksgiving CrescentRingpiles your favorite turkey day leftovers onto buttery, flaky crescent rolls for a delicious meal or snack! Baked up to perfection and ready to enjoy in only 35 minutes!

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (3)

Crispy Turkey Nachos

These Crispy Turkey Nachos use your turkey and other ingredients that you probably already have on hand to make a delicious snack or appetizer!

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (4)

Turkey & Black Currant Brie Bites

Make this unique and delicious easy turkey brie appetizer. This crostini recipe only takes a few minutes to throw together and is fabulous for watching football!

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (5)

Turkey Salad Sliders

Turkey Salad Sliders are so simple to make using just a couple of ingredients, including your leftover turkey. Perfect for game day or a light lunch!

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (6)

Turkey and Pear Balsamic Pizza

This Turkey and Pear Balsamic Pizza is one of my favorite recipes year round. The sweet and tangy flavors are craveable.

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (7)

Turkey and StuffingAir Fryer Egg Rolls

Turkey and StuffingAir Fryer Egg Rollsare the perfect way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers, but they also make an easy and unique weeknight meal!

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (8)

Smoked Buffalo Turkey Dip

The ultimate use for leftover turkey is this Smoked Buffalo Turkey Dip! You’ve had buffalo chicken dip, now try buffalo turkey dip!

See The Recipe!

Turkey Soups and Stews

Turkey Noodle Soup

4.60 from 5 votes

Turkey Noodle Soup is a warm and comforting classic filled with savory broth, tender turkey, lots of vegetables and a crunchy topping.

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (11)

Leftover Turkey Soup

Looking for a perfect meal to use up yourleftover turkey? Packed with fresh vegetables and herbs, thisturkey souprecipe is super filling and so comforting!

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (12)

Healthy Turkey Chili

ThisHEALTHY and EASY Turkey Chili Recipehas perfect heat and aSECRET INGREDIENTthat makes it the ultimate winter meal and greatfor game days!

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (13)

Creamy Turkey Soup with Potatoes and Corn

Creamy Turkey Soup with Potatoes and Corn is a rich and hearty chowder that’s perfect for using several leftovers from Thanksgiving!

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (14)

Turkey Bean Soup

This Turkey Bean soup will warm your stomach and your soul! The perfect use for leftover turkey, this soup has classic comforting flavors that are perfect for for sick days or cozy nights in.

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (15)

Leftover Slow Cooker Turkey Noodle Soup

Leftover turkey soup is made in the crock pot and is the perfect recipe to use up some Thanksgiving leftovers!

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (16)

Leftover Turkey Chili

This is a thick & hearty Turkey Chili that’s perfect for using up leftover Thanksgiving turkey!

See The Recipe!

Leftover Turkey Sandwiches

Turkey Club Sandwich Pinwheels

4.59 from 12 votes

Turkey Club Sandwich Pinwheels use the traditional club sandwich ingredients, but wrap them in a tortilla. Easy to make, eat and clean up!

See The Recipe!

Turkey and Cranberry Mayo Roll-Ups

4.75 from 8 votes

Turkey, Swiss and Cranberry Mayo Roll-Ups- the perfect way to use your Thanksgiving leftovers for a fresh, new meal!

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (19)

Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Sliders

Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Slidersare like the holidays on a bun! Sweet Hawaiian rolls are brushed with a sweet and savory glaze, filled with turkey, cranberry sauce, and cheddar cheese, then warmed in the oven.

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (20)

Club Sandwich

This Club Sandwich Recipe is an easy and classic sandwich made with hickory smoked turkey breast, Swiss cheese, thick-cut bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise. It’s a great lunch or light dinner recipe!

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (21)

Honey Avocado Turkey Bacon Sandwiches

TheseHoney Avocado Turkey Bacon Sandwichesare my daily lunch lately, so for anyone needing healthy lunch ideas, this is it! And the best part? It’s really good!

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (22)

Roasted Turkey & Avocado BLT

This Roasted Turkey & Avocado BLT is a Panera copycat recipe. If you’ve had it, you know why we love it.

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (23)

Best Turkey BLT Wrap

With a delicious honey avocado dressing, this Turkey BLT Wrap is the best way to use turkey leftovers.

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (24)

Thanksgiving Panini

This Thanksgiving Panini is not only one of the best leftover turkey recipes, but it also uses up the rest of your leftovers, too! All of the best worlds combined in one bite.

See The Recipe!

Turkey Rice and Pastas

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (25)

Turkey Florentine Pasta Bake

ThisTurkey Florentine Pasta Bakecombines lean ground turkey with spinach and marinara for a simple baked pasta dish the whole family will love!

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (26)

Cheesy Turkey Noodle Casserole

This one-pot Cheesy Turkey Noodle Casserole is creamy, hearty, and full of all kinds of deliciousness! With veggies, pasta, leftover turkey and cheddar, this yummy meal is on the table in less than 30 minutes.

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (27)

Leftover Turkey Tetrazzini

Leftover Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe – creamy, rich baked spaghetti casserole with leftover turkey, peas, and lots of shredded cheese!

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (28)

One Pot Turkey Pilaf

Make this quick and healthy One Pot Turkey Pilaf! You’ll be one step closer to your healthy new goals.

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (29)

Turkey Bacon Alfredo Skillet

Post-Thanksgiving and have a heap of leftovers? Try this Turkey Bacon Alfredo Skillet!

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (30)

Orzo with Leftover Turkey and Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes combined with savory turkey and cheese in a delicious orzo pasta dish. The perfect easy dinner meal!

See The Recipe!

Turkey Dinners

Grilled Turkey Zucchini Boats

4.88 from 8 votes

Grilled Turkey Zucchini Boats Recipe -Turkey stuffed zucchini makes the perfect healthy dinner! One of the best zucchini recipes I’ve ever made.

See The Recipe!

Turkey Stuffed Pepper Recipe

5 from 11 votes

Turkey Stuffed Peppers are filled with spinach, onion, garlic, white beans and cheese. An easy and healthy dinner idea.

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (33)

Stuffed Acorn Squash

Stuffed Acorn Squashis packed with flavor using turkey, chopped apples, kale, and dried cranberries for a healthy side dish!Only 15 minutes of hands-on prep time is needed!

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (34)

Turkey Stuffing Slow Cooker Casserole

Tender, juicy turkey breast slow cooked with flavor-rich herb stuffing, creamy cream of chicken soup, tangy sour cream, and hearty chicken stock makes the perfect easy weeknight dinner that is both filling and comforting.

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (35)

Leftover Turkey Casserole

Tired of the same old leftovers? This Leftover Turkey Casserole is creamy and delicious. It's a great way to use up leftover meat and vegetables and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (36)

Leftover Turkey Noodle Casserole

Tired of having leftover Thanksgiving turkey? Make an easy Leftover Turkey Noodle Casserole and change things up! This easy family-pleasing meal is loaded with flavor!

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (37)

Turkey Pasta Skillet

Leftover Skillet Turkey Pasta, an easy pasta recipe, just add some of your favorite veggies such as mushrooms, tomatoes and peppers add some leftover cut up chicken or turkey and dinner is served.

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (38)

Turkey Pot Pie

Take using turkey up a notch with this crazy easy and scrumptious Turkey Pot Pie with a potato topping!

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (39)

Mexican Turkey Veggie Skillet Lasagna

This Mexican Turkey Veggie Skillet Lasagna is a great way to use up both leftover turkey and veggies!

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (40)

Leftover Turkey Pot Pie

Leftover turkey pot pieis easy and cheap to make homemade. You can use leftover chicken too! Make pot pie freezer meals and dinner will be set for weeks.

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (41)

Healthy California Turkey Club

This meal is super light with crumbled turkey bacon, turkey breasts, and a yummy avocado salsa on top.

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (42)

Turkey Dumplings

This is the best leftover turkey recipe everyone will love! Super easy and flavorful turkey dumplings that even your kids will love! Great for Thanksgiving leftovers.

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (43)

Thanksgiving Leftover Empanadas

Leftover turkey, ham, or sides make delicious empanadas (hand pies) in minutes with any pie crust!

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (44)

Cheesy Turkey Enchiladas

Turkey enchiladas are a family friendly dinner recipe that’s easy to make, and packed with Mexican flavors. Using turkey instead of beef or pork makes it a healthier recipe, too!

See The Recipe!

Storage and Freezing

While they all vary, most of these recipes can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for about 3-4 days. If your leftover recipes seem a bit dry, try adding some chicken broth to them.

If you liked these amazing leftover turkey recipes, check out turkey recipes for next year:

  • Juicy Roast Turkey
  • Homemade Turkey Rub
  • Homemade Turkey Injection Seasoning
  • Fried Turkey Recipe

Turkey Dry Brine Recipe

4.75 from 12 votes

All your dry brining questions answered! How to dry brine a turkey to add flavor and get perfectly seasoned and succulent turkey everytime.

See The Recipe!

Herb Mayonnaise Roast Turkey Breast Recipe

4.65 from 31 votes

Herb Mayonnaise Turkey Breast is a delicious roast turkey breast perfect for Thanksgiving dinner. Easy to make in a fraction of the time of a whole turkey.

See The Recipe!

50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (47)
50+ Favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Which of the following is the most popular way to serve leftover turkey? ›

The five most popular ways to serve leftover turkey is as a sandwich, in stew, chili or soup, casseroles and as a burger.

How long is leftover turkey good in the fridge? ›

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. Turkey can be frozen for 3 to 4 months. Although safe indefinitely, frozen leftovers can lose moisture and flavor when stored for longer times in the freezer.

What to do with dry leftover turkey breast? ›

In addition to gravy, you can also save dry turkey with a little chicken (or even better, turkey) stock or broth. Place your carved meat in a shallow baking dish and cover it with stock. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and place in low oven, somewhere around 250 degrees, for 5-10 minutes.

How to reheat leftover turkey without drying it out? ›

“The best way to reheat turkey is in the oven,” says chef Jose Garces. “Slice the turkey, place it in a shallow pan, add some chicken or turkey stock, and cover tightly with foil. Heat at 300 or 325 degrees until the turkey reaches 165 degrees. The stock should allow the turkey to steam without drying out.”

How do restaurants reheat turkey? ›

FLASH REHEATING at a high temperature is a method often used by restaurants chefs. The concept is simple. Put room temperature food in shallow, covered pans, and put it in a 450 degree oven for approx. 7-15 minutes.

What do stores do with leftover turkeys? ›

As a result, many unwanted fresh Thanksgiving turkeys are sent straight to the butcher so that consumers can purchase smaller, more affordable portions of the meat. Some grocery stores also opt to cook a portion of their leftover Thanksgiving meats to be sold at their delis.

Can you eat leftover turkey on the 5th day? ›

According to foodsafety.gov, a website of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the following foods are safe in the fridge: Turkey: 3-4 days. Eat turkey within three to four days of cooking. If you use the turkey in a new dish like a soup or casserole, only consume within those initial four days.

Is a 3 year old frozen turkey still good? ›

Frozen Turkey

Turkeys can be kept in the freezer indefinitely. However, cook turkeys within 1 year for the best quality.

Is it OK to eat turkey that's been in the fridge for 2 weeks? ›

If properly stored, raw turkey can last in the fridge for 1–2 days, while cold cuts last up to 5 days. How long does cooked turkey last in the fridge? If you have leftovers that include cooked turkey, you can expect those to last in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.

How to make leftover turkey juicy? ›

Simply heat your oven to 300 degrees, put the carved meat in a baking dish, and add some chicken broth or turkey stock to the pan. The meat will absorb some of the liquid as it heats, making it nice and juicy. Cover the pan tightly with foil and place it in the oven until the meat is hot, 20 to 30 minutes.

How do you add moisture to leftover turkey? ›

Add moisture

Splash the turkey with a bit of leftover broth or stock and cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes. The aluminum foil will prevent moisture from evaporating too quickly and the low temperature will help prevent the turkey from losing flavor.

Why does leftover turkey taste better? ›

What you're doing is allowing the cooking to continue, but what you're really doing is allowing the protein, the collagen, the various juices to sort of cool down and solidify and trap the flavor. As you wait, the aromas diffuse through this big bird and even the inside tastes better.

Is it okay for turkey to be a little pink? ›

The best way to be sure a turkey — or any meat — is cooked safely and done is to use a meat thermometer. If the temperature of the turkey, as measured in the thigh, has reached 180°F. and is done to family preference, all the meat — including any that remains pink — is safe to eat.

Can you reheat turkey more than twice? ›

How many times can you reheat turkey? It's not a good idea to reheat turkey more than once. Technically, as long as it reaches 165° each time, it's safe to eat. That said, it's a food safety hazard to some degree, since every time you heat and cool food, it passes through the danger zone (between 40° and 140°).

What is the best way to store leftover turkey? ›

Leftovers should be stored within two hours of cooking. Divide leftovers into smaller portions and refrigerate or freeze them in covered shallow containers so they cool quickly. A large container or whole turkey will take too long to cool down to a safe temperature, which gives bacteria a chance to multiply.

What is the most popular alternative to having a turkey? ›

Cornish game hen, goose, duck, ham, beef, salmon, and mushroom recipes make worthy centerpieces for holiday meals.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Fr. Dewey Fisher

Last Updated:

Views: 6654

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (42 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Fr. Dewey Fisher

Birthday: 1993-03-26

Address: 917 Hyun Views, Rogahnmouth, KY 91013-8827

Phone: +5938540192553

Job: Administration Developer

Hobby: Embroidery, Horseback riding, Juggling, Urban exploration, Skiing, Cycling, Handball

Introduction: My name is Fr. Dewey Fisher, I am a powerful, open, faithful, combative, spotless, faithful, fair person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.