This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Easy and delicious leftover turkey recipes are perfect for using up leftovers from your Thanksgiving feast! From casseroles to soups, we have a bit of everything.
More Collections: Chicken Dinner Ideas, Easy Soup Recipes, Quick Dinner Ideas
We Love Turkey Leftovers!
We know there tends to be a lot of food at Thanksgiving dinner, and if your family is anything like ours, we tend to have lots of leftovers.
One thing we almost always have leftovers of is TURKEY, but we don’t mind because we have so many recipes we can make with leftover Thanksgiving turkey.
Why we love leftover turkey:
- No waste. After all of that work, you don’t want a single tasty morsel to go to waste!
- Variety. Easily whip up a pan of leftover turkey Enchiladas or leftover Turkey Chili with chunks of turkey instead of ground meat.
- Classics. Make turkey gravy and pour it over egg noodles, like a stroganoff.
MAKE TURKEY BROTH!
The carcass, basically the rib cage, is what is left over after carving your turkey. This is perfect for making a nutritious turkey broth.
Make your own bone broth. Bone broth can be used whether a recipe calls for broth, stock, or bone broth – most often in soups.
- PREP. Remove the meat and break up the carcass into a large stockpot. A little meat and connective tissue only add to the nutrients and flavor.
- BOIL. Add cold filtered water to the pot until it just covers the carcass. Bring to a boil. Remove any film that forms on top of the water, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes.
- ADD AROMATICS. 1 onion (quartered),1 peeled carrot (chopped into 1-inch pieces), a stalk of celery (chopped into 1-inch pieces), 1-2 whole mushrooms, and herbs.
- Tie the herbs together. For fresh herbs: bundle and tie with twine. For dried herbs: wrap in cheesecloth, then tie closed with twine. Use your favorite herbs, but common ones include parsley, thyme, bay leaf, and garlic.
- SIMMER. Keep uncovered and simmer for 3 hours. Periodically check on the soup and skim off any film.
- STRAIN the broth through a mesh sieve. Repeat until the broth is clear and free of any bone fragments, vegetables, and herbs.
- STORE. Keep homemade bone broth in the fridge for up to a week. Freeze it, in ½ cup portions, for up to 12 months. Be sure to use airtight and freezer-safe containers.
Storing Leftover Turkey
We recommend storing turkey sliced, wrapped in foil, then placed in a container/bag (if in the freezer – a freezer-safe container/bag).
- STORE in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- FREEZE for 2-3 months.
- Reheat. The microwave is handy, but can dry out the meat, and make it a bit rubbery.
- The best way to reheat the turkey, so it’s moist and flavorful, is in the oven. Preheat the oven to 300°F. Place the turkey, along with a bit of broth or water, into a baking dish. Cover it with foil and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until heated through.
Leftover Turkey Sandwich
One of the best things about the Turkey dinner is the Thanksgiving leftovers!
- Use leftover Rolls or regular Sandwich Bread.
- Add your favorite sandwich fixings like lettuce, tomato, onions, peppers, and avocado.
- Add leftover Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce, or even gravy to the sandwich, like in this Turkey Cranberry Sandwich recipe.
Best Leftover Turkey Ideas
The options for using up turkey leftovers are endless, really! We love to use them in all sorts of recipes, but we are going to break it down for you.
Make a leftover turkey salad by substituting turkey in our Chicken Salad recipe. If you have leftover Pie Crust try making a tasty Chicken Pot Pie (or with turkey)!
1 Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe
2 Turkey Pot Pie Recipe
3 Monte Cristo Sandwich Recipe
4 Turkey Soup Recipe
5 Monte Cristo Sliders Recipe
6 Turkey Cranberry Sandwich Recipe
7 Turkey Meatball Recipe
8 Turkey Chili Recipe
9 Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole Recipe
10 Turkey Burger Recipe
11 Flatout Wraps Recipe
12 Creamy Turkey and Noodles Recipe
Substitute Leftover Turkey In These Recipes
We love chicken, and we have LOADS of recipes with it. Having said that, all of these recipes would still be delicious if subbed with turkey instead!
Give them a go, and let us know what you think. We have included classic dinner ideas as well as soups.
13 Chicken Spaghetti Recipe
14 Chicken Stuffing Casserole Recipe
Recipe Video
Get the recipe15 Bisquick Chicken Pot Pie
16 Chicken Pot Pie Soup Recipe
17 Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Recipe
18 King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe
19 CrockPot Chicken Stew Recipe
20 Chicken Corn Chowder Recipe
21 Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe
22 Chicken Dumpling Soup Recipe
23 Chicken and Dumpling Casserole Recipe
24 Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
25 Chicken Orzo Recipe
26 Chicken Stuffed Crescent Rolls Recipe
Recipe Video
Get the recipe27 Chicken Wild Rice Soup Recipe
28 Chicken Noodle Casserole Recipe
Recipe Video
Get the recipeA Family Favorite!
One of our favorite things to make with leftover turkey is this Turkey Noodle Soup (another is our famous Turkey Soup).
Not only is it super simple, but it’s delicious and hearty and perfect for the winter months.
Just chop a few cups of your leftover turkey, your favorite veggies and throw it in this soup, and you’re set!
Here is the recipe:
25+ Leftover Turkey Recipes
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons butter cubed
- 5 medium carrots chopped
- 3 celery ribs sliced
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon parsley flakes
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 10 cups chicken broth
- 3 cups rotini pasta
- 2 cups cubed cooked turkey
- 1 cup Half and Half
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat butter over medium heat. Add carrots and celery; cook and stir 8-10 minutes or until tender.
- Stir in flour and seasonings until blended; gradually stir in chicken broth.
- Bring to a boil. Add pasta. Reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered for 8-10 minutes.
- Stir in turkey and cream; heat through (do not boil). Enjoy WARM!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Use Those Turkey LEftovers!
These simple recipes will help you use up that leftover turkey without spending a lot of time in the kitchen! You’re going to love them!
More Collections: Easy Dinner Ideas, Beef Dinner Ideas, Breakfast for Dinner Ideas
Excellent
Thank you for including my Turkey Hash!