A ton of delicious uses for leftover turkey! These easy leftover turkey recipes will transform your holiday leftovers into tasty casseroles, soups, pasta dishes, and much more!
I know. Eating turkey for days on end after a holiday loses its appeal.
But what if you could repurpose that leftover Thanksgiving and Christmas turkey into something completely different?
There are actually a ton of uses for leftover turkey, and they taste nothing like the original version!
You can take your pulled turkey leftovers, and whip up a meal your family or houseguests will love.
They will be SO impressed by what a magical cook you are!
Plus, you’ll reduce food waste (and save on your grocery bill) when you transform your leftovers into several other meals.
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First, let’s cover a few simple guidelines.
FAQ:
How long is leftover turkey good for in the fridge?
Turkey is generally good for at least 3-4 days in the refrigerator. That should give you plenty of time to whip up some of these easy recipes.
Can you freeze leftover turkey?
Yes, you can TOTALLY freeze leftover turkey. In fact, that’s a great way to stretch it further.
Turkey stays good in the freezer for 3 months. Or a whole lot more if you use a Foodsaver! (Check outhow to use a Foodsaver to save tons of money here.)
If you’re sick of cooking post-holiday, just pop your leftover turkey into the freezer. Then you can pull them out to create these recipes over the next few months.
How do you store leftover turkey?
Store your leftover turkey in zipper-style bags, or your favorite storage containers with tight-fitting lids.
Okay, ready for some deliciousness?
Let’s dive in!
45 Easy Leftover Turkey Recipes to Reinvent Your Holiday Leftovers
1 Photo Credit:www.sprinklesandsprouts.com If fried chicken and waffles is one of your favorite breakfasts, then you are going to love these turkey waffles! This recipe is going to make your morning a whole lot better. 2 Photo Credit:www.snackinginsneakers.com This recipe really couldn’t be any easier. You’ll just take a bunch of your leftover turkey and other Thanksgiving leftovers, and make healthy and delicious meatballs! 3 Photo Credit:www.imagelicious.com This Turkey Pot Pie is delicious, savoury, and creamy! It also looks beautiful and impressive. It’s perfect for a fancy dinner party but it’s also very easy for a quick weeknight dinner. 4 Photo Credit:divaliciousrecipes.com These low carb turkey calzones make a great meal with leftover roasted turkey and are gluten free! 5 Photo Credit:www.myturnforus.com These turkey sliders are not only a great leftover turkey recipe but also a great way to use leftover cranberry sauce. Just look at all those delicious flavors coming together in this slider. 6 Photo Credit:www.rockrecipes.com Comfort food heaven… and from leftovers too! These crispy potato and turkey cakes may be even better than the meal that preceded them. 7 Photo Credit:www.greedygourmet.com Reinvent and repurpose your turkey into a completely different flavor profile with this turkey curry! 8 Photo Credit:www.oliviascuisine.com Tortilla chips topped with turkey carnitas, cranberry sauce salsa, brussel sprouts and lots of cheese. It doesn’t get better than that! 9 Photo Credit:www.theflavorbender.com This Leftover Turkey Sandwich is the EASIEST way to transform your Thanksgiving leftovers into a hearty, scrumptious breakfast or brunch sandwich the next day. 10 Photo Credit:www.missinthekitchen.com Take your leftover Thanksgiving turkey to the next level with this best ever Turkey Salad! With just 5 ingredients, this simple sandwich spread is going make you look forward to the leftovers! 11 Photo Credit:www.thefrugalfoodiemama.com This recipe comes together super easily, and you probably already have everything you need to make this right now in your pantry and fridge. 12 Photo Credit:thesuburbansoapbox.com Super easy Baked Turkey Croquettes are a genius way to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers. This recipe calls for stuffing and turkey…rolled in breadcrumbs and baked to a crispy perfection. You can even freeze them for busy weeknight dinners during the holiday season! 13 Photo Credit:bellyfull.net A fun and delicious holiday-themed twist on traditional enchiladas! 14 Photo Credit:www.afarmgirlsdabbles.com Giant mushroom caps filled with a flavorful, lightly creamy mixture of wild rice and turkey. 15 Photo Credit:www.gritsandpinecones.com In this turkey egg roll recipe, leftover turkey is combined with crunchy cabbage and carrots in a tasty hand-held treat your family will love! You could cut them up and serve as appetizers, or they make as a delicious side dish. 16 Photo Credit:cookingwithjanica.com Ham, turkey, and cheese between two slices of bread, dipped in a sweet batter, then deep fried?! And served with jam!? Yes please. 17 SUCH an easy way to repurpose leftover turkey. The perfect meal to make when you’re tired post-holiday. 18 Photo Credit:www.thismamacooks.com This Turkey Cranberry Crescent Braid recipe is made easy with refrigerated seamless dough from the grocery store. 19 Photo Credit:cookingwithjanica.com Want to do something a little crazy with your holiday leftovers? Try making this copycat Taco Bell crunchwrap supreme, with turkey! 20 Photo Credit:www.platingpixels.com Slow Cooker Turkey Marsala makes a festive holiday-themed alternative to chicken marsala. Turkey breast slow cooked to tender perfectly in a rich and velvety marsala sauce. 21 Photo Credit:www.thegunnysack.com This unique pizza has all the holiday flavors - turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and more! 22 Photo Credit:www.savoringthegood.com Instead of a turkey sandwich, serve your leftover turkey, gravy and cranberry sauce over crispy sweet potato fries and melty cheese curds to make turkey poutine. 23 Photo Credit:www.thespeckledpalate.com Add your favorite leftovers to the mix, and let the Thanksgiving flavors sing as you enjoy them wrapped up in a tortilla. 24 Photo Credit:www.everydayeileen.com A delicious sandwich that assembles in minutes and tastes amazing! 25 Photo Credit:www.hungryhealthyhappy.com Leftover turkey, vegetables and cheese can all be added to this casserole, so nothing goes to waste. It freezes well too, so you don’t have to eat it straight away. 26 Photo Credit:anitalianinmykitchen.com Skillet Turkey Pasta is the perfect pasta dish to make with your leftover turkey. Just add your favorite veggies and some cut up leftover turkey and lunch or dinner is served. Delicious! 27 Photo Credit:www.mypcoskitchen.com This creamy casserole recipe is filled with juicy turkey breast, vegetables, a keto white sauce. 28 Photo Credit:www.tastesoflizzyt.com Use up your Thanksgiving leftovers to make this creamy Turkey and Stuffing Casserole with green beans. All the flavors of Thanksgiving in one simple recipe. 29 Photo Credit:www.myturnforus.com This turkey noodle casserole is a quick and easy dish made from Thanksgiving or Christmas leftovers. 30 Photo Credit:thehungrybluebird.com Turkey Tetrazzini, a creamy casserole perfect for using that leftover Thanksgiving turkey ~ pasta baked in homemade cream sauce, with mushrooms, peas, Parmesan and diced turkey or chicken. 31 Photo Credit:www.elizabethdhokia.com You know when a bunch of ingredients come together and just WORK? 32 Photo Credit:www.thekitchenismyplayground.com Creamy spaghetti loaded with chopped leftover turkey and slathered with cheese, Turketti is sure to receive rave reviews at your house too. 33 Photo Credit:scrummylane.com What to do with those pesky leftovers? Keep it simple and delicious with this leftover turkey, bacon and brussels sprouts macaroni cheese. 34 Photo Credit:www.oliviascuisine.com Using just a few ingredients (that you probably already have) and a couple quick steps, enjoy this casserole while you’re relaxing after the holiday. 35 Photo Credit:www.theflavorbender.com This Thanksgiving Leftover Strata transforms all your leftovers into a layered casserole that’s chock-full of flavor with pockets of gooey cheese, crispy bacon, juicy turkey, sweet and tart cranberry sauce, all topped with crunchy croutons and a drizzle of cheesy turkey gravy! 36 Photo Credit:searchingforspice.com Serve it with pasta, potatoes or rice and you can even freeze it for when you want an easy meal next month! 37 Photo Credit:www.sprinklesandsprouts.com 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. A great alternative to chicken ramen and just perfect for holiday leftovers. 38 Photo Credit:www.wenthere8this.com This Instant Pot Turkey Chili is just the stuff to warm you up this winter season. Packed with spicy Andouille sausage, chunks of juicy turkey, corn, green chilies and Fritos, this easy turkey chili is the perfect way to use up that leftover turkey! 39 Photo Credit:www.wenthere8this.com This Turkey and Dumpling soup has amazing crispy stuffing dumplings made from leftover stuffing. A deep, rich turkey broth with chunks of roasted turkey and crispy baked balls of leftover stuffing is all you need to keep warm and snuggly. 40 Photo Credit:www.greedygourmet.com This smoked turkey is a perfect example of just how you can use leftovers to make another delicious and nutritious meal in no time. This turkey chowder altogether takes just 30 minutes to prepare and cook! 41 Photo Credit:thehungrybluebird.com This turkey noodle soup is a delicious way to use up a bunch of what you already had on hand for the holiday. 42 Photo Credit:www.thekitchenismyplayground.com Try whipping up a pot of Creamy Turkey Soup with Spinach. It's a rich, hearty, flavor-loaded soup ... that's so much "more" than a basic turkey sandwich. 43 Photo Credit:www.agoudalife.com Turkey and Lentil Soup made with ground turkey or holiday leftovers. Easy, delicious, healthy and packed with protein. Cooks in 30 minutes! 44 Photo Credit:www.beyondthechickencoop.com This turkey tortilla soup is a must for the after holiday menu. It has black beans, corn, and roasted chili peppers, plus the bonus crunchy tortilla strip toppings! 45 Photo Credit:houseofnasheats.com This Creamy Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup recipe is a hearty, satisfying soup that is full of carrots, mushrooms, celery and onion in a light, creamy broth. 46 Photo Credit:eatingrichly.com Sometimes you really need to mix things up with some creative, exciting leftover turkey recipes after the holidays. This turkey gumbo is a great way to use up leftover turkey or you can sub shredded chicken and chicken stock to make it any time of year.Comfort Food:
Fried Turkey Waffles with Bacon and Maple
Leftover Turkey Mushroom Meatballs
Easy and Quick Turkey Pot Pie
Turkey Calzones
Turkey Cranberry Sliders
Turkey Potato Cakes
Leftover Turkey Curry
Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Nachos
The Best Leftover Turkey Sandwich
Easy Turkey Salad
Creamed Turkey Over Biscuits
2-Ingredient Baked Turkey Croquettes
Cranberry Turkey Enchiladas
Turkey Wild Rice Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Easy Leftover Turkey Egg Rolls Recipe
Turkey Monte Cristo Sandwich
BBQ Turkey Pizza
Turkey Cranberry Crescent Braid
Thanksgiving Leftovers "Crunchwrap Supreme"
Slow Cooker Turkey Marsala
Thanksgiving Pizza
Thanksgiving Poutine
Thanksgiving Tacos
Turkey Reuben Sandwich
Leftover Turkey Pasta and Casserole Recipes:
Christmas Pasta Bake
Turkey Skillet Pasta
Keto Turkey Casserole Recipe
Turkey and Stuffing Casserole
Turkey Noodle Casserole
Turkey Tetrazzini
Turkey Pasta Salad With Honey And Mustard Dressing
That’s what happens here with this turkey pasta salad.
Turketti {aka: Leftover Turkey Spaghetti Casserole}
Turkey, Bacon and Brussels Sprouts Macaroni and Cheese
Turkey and Mashed Potatoes Casserole
Holiday Leftover Strata
Turkey Ragu
Leftover Turkey Soups and Stews:
Turkey Ramen
Instant Pot Turkey Chili with Andouille Sausage
Turkey and Dumplings Soup
Turkey Chowder with Sweetcorn
Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup
Creamy Turkey Soup with Spinach
Turkey and Lentil Soup
Turkey Tortilla Soup
Creamy Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup
Turkey Gumbo
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Ready to try some different uses for leftover turkey?
I hope this list of easy leftover turkey recipes has your mouth watering.
Not to mention give you an easy way to create a post-holiday meal plan.
The hardest part is just deciding which one to make first!
Be sure to also check out:
- 40+ Dirt Cheap Meals to Make When You’re on a Budget
- Ultimate List of Cheap Easy Side Dishes for Dinner (+ printable!)
- 13 Surprising Things You Can Make in an Air Fryer
Comfort Food:
1
Fried Turkey Waffles with Bacon and Maple
Photo Credit:www.sprinklesandsprouts.com
If fried chicken and waffles is one of your favorite breakfasts, then you are going to love these turkey waffles! This recipe is going to make your morning a whole lot better.
2
Leftover Turkey Mushroom Meatballs
Photo Credit:www.snackinginsneakers.com
This recipe really couldn’t be any easier. You’ll just take a bunch of your leftover turkey and other Thanksgiving leftovers, and make healthy and delicious meatballs!
3
Easy and Quick Turkey Pot Pie
Photo Credit:www.imagelicious.com
This Turkey Pot Pie is delicious, savoury, and creamy! It also looks beautiful and impressive. It’s perfect for a fancy dinner party but it’s also very easy for a quick weeknight dinner.
4
Turkey Calzones
Photo Credit:divaliciousrecipes.com
These low carb turkey calzones make a great meal with leftover roasted turkey and are gluten free!
5
Turkey Cranberry Sliders
Photo Credit:www.myturnforus.com
These turkey sliders are not only a great leftover turkey recipe but also a great way to use leftover cranberry sauce. Just look at all those delicious flavors coming together in this slider.
6
Turkey Potato Cakes
Photo Credit:www.rockrecipes.com
Comfort food heaven… and from leftovers too! These crispy potato and turkey cakes may be even better than the meal that preceded them.
7
Leftover Turkey Curry
Photo Credit:www.greedygourmet.com
Reinvent and repurpose your turkey into a completely different flavor profile with this turkey curry!
8
Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Nachos
Photo Credit:www.oliviascuisine.com
Tortilla chips topped with turkey carnitas, cranberry sauce salsa, brussel sprouts and lots of cheese. It doesn’t get better than that!
9
The Best Leftover Turkey Sandwich
Photo Credit:www.theflavorbender.com
This Leftover Turkey Sandwich is the EASIEST way to transform your Thanksgiving leftovers into a hearty, scrumptious breakfast or brunch sandwich the next day.
10
Easy Turkey Salad
Photo Credit:www.missinthekitchen.com
Take your leftover Thanksgiving turkey to the next level with this best ever Turkey Salad! With just 5 ingredients, this simple sandwich spread is going make you look forward to the leftovers!
11
Creamed Turkey Over Biscuits
Photo Credit:www.thefrugalfoodiemama.com
This recipe comes together super easily, and you probably already have everything you need to make this right now in your pantry and fridge.
12
2-Ingredient Baked Turkey Croquettes
Photo Credit:thesuburbansoapbox.com
Super easy Baked Turkey Croquettes are a genius way to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers. This recipe calls for stuffing and turkey…rolled in breadcrumbs and baked to a crispy perfection. You can even freeze them for busy weeknight dinners during the holiday season!
13
Cranberry Turkey Enchiladas
Photo Credit:bellyfull.net
A fun and delicious holiday-themed twist on traditional enchiladas!
14
Turkey Wild Rice Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Photo Credit:www.afarmgirlsdabbles.com
Giant mushroom caps filled with a flavorful, lightly creamy mixture of wild rice and turkey.
15
Easy Leftover Turkey Egg Rolls Recipe
Photo Credit:www.gritsandpinecones.com
In this turkey egg roll recipe, leftover turkey is combined with crunchy cabbage and carrots in a tasty hand-held treat your family will love! You could cut them up and serve as appetizers, or they make as a delicious side dish.
16
Turkey Monte Cristo Sandwich
Photo Credit:cookingwithjanica.com
Ham, turkey, and cheese between two slices of bread, dipped in a sweet batter, then deep fried?! And served with jam!? Yes please.
17
BBQ Turkey Pizza
SUCH an easy way to repurpose leftover turkey. The perfect meal to make when you’re tired post-holiday.
18
Turkey Cranberry Crescent Braid
Photo Credit:www.thismamacooks.com
This Turkey Cranberry Crescent Braid recipe is made easy with refrigerated seamless dough from the grocery store.
19
Thanksgiving Leftovers "Crunchwrap Supreme"
Photo Credit:cookingwithjanica.com
Want to do something a little crazy with your holiday leftovers? Try making this copycat Taco Bell crunchwrap supreme, with turkey!
20
Slow Cooker Turkey Marsala
Photo Credit:www.platingpixels.com
Slow Cooker Turkey Marsala makes a festive holiday-themed alternative to chicken marsala. Turkey breast slow cooked to tender perfectly in a rich and velvety marsala sauce.
21
Thanksgiving Pizza
Photo Credit:www.thegunnysack.com
This unique pizza has all the holiday flavors - turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and more!
22
Thanksgiving Poutine
Photo Credit:www.savoringthegood.com
Instead of a turkey sandwich, serve your leftover turkey, gravy and cranberry sauce over crispy sweet potato fries and melty cheese curds to make turkey poutine.
23
Thanksgiving Tacos
Photo Credit:www.thespeckledpalate.com
Add your favorite leftovers to the mix, and let the Thanksgiving flavors sing as you enjoy them wrapped up in a tortilla.
24
Turkey Reuben Sandwich
Photo Credit:www.everydayeileen.com
A delicious sandwich that assembles in minutes and tastes amazing!
Leftover Turkey Pasta and Casserole Recipes:
25
Christmas Pasta Bake
Photo Credit:www.hungryhealthyhappy.com
Leftover turkey, vegetables and cheese can all be added to this casserole, so nothing goes to waste. It freezes well too, so you don’t have to eat it straight away.
26
Turkey Skillet Pasta
Photo Credit:anitalianinmykitchen.com
Skillet Turkey Pasta is the perfect pasta dish to make with your leftover turkey. Just add your favorite veggies and some cut up leftover turkey and lunch or dinner is served. Delicious!
27
Keto Turkey Casserole Recipe
Photo Credit:www.mypcoskitchen.com
This creamy casserole recipe is filled with juicy turkey breast, vegetables, a keto white sauce.
28
Turkey and Stuffing Casserole
Photo Credit:www.tastesoflizzyt.com
Use up your Thanksgiving leftovers to make this creamy Turkey and Stuffing Casserole with green beans. All the flavors of Thanksgiving in one simple recipe.
29
Turkey Noodle Casserole
Photo Credit:www.myturnforus.com
This turkey noodle casserole is a quick and easy dish made from Thanksgiving or Christmas leftovers.
30
Turkey Tetrazzini
Photo Credit:thehungrybluebird.com
Turkey Tetrazzini, a creamy casserole perfect for using that leftover Thanksgiving turkey ~ pasta baked in homemade cream sauce, with mushrooms, peas, Parmesan and diced turkey or chicken.
31
Turkey Pasta Salad With Honey And Mustard Dressing
Photo Credit:www.elizabethdhokia.com
You know when a bunch of ingredients come together and just WORK?
That’s what happens here with this turkey pasta salad.
32
Turketti {aka: Leftover Turkey Spaghetti Casserole}
Photo Credit:www.thekitchenismyplayground.com
Creamy spaghetti loaded with chopped leftover turkey and slathered with cheese, Turketti is sure to receive rave reviews at your house too.
33
Turkey, Bacon and Brussels Sprouts Macaroni and Cheese
Photo Credit:scrummylane.com
What to do with those pesky leftovers? Keep it simple and delicious with this leftover turkey, bacon and brussels sprouts macaroni cheese.
34
Turkey and Mashed Potatoes Casserole
Photo Credit:www.oliviascuisine.com
Using just a few ingredients (that you probably already have) and a couple quick steps, enjoy this casserole while you’re relaxing after the holiday.
35
Holiday Leftover Strata
Photo Credit:www.theflavorbender.com
This Thanksgiving Leftover Strata transforms all your leftovers into a layered casserole that’s chock-full of flavor with pockets of gooey cheese, crispy bacon, juicy turkey, sweet and tart cranberry sauce, all topped with crunchy croutons and a drizzle of cheesy turkey gravy!
36
Turkey Ragu
Photo Credit:searchingforspice.com
Serve it with pasta, potatoes or rice and you can even freeze it for when you want an easy meal next month!
Leftover Turkey Soups and Stews:
37
Turkey Ramen
Photo Credit:www.sprinklesandsprouts.com
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. A great alternative to chicken ramen and just perfect for holiday leftovers.
38
Instant Pot Turkey Chili with Andouille Sausage
Photo Credit:www.wenthere8this.com
This Instant Pot Turkey Chili is just the stuff to warm you up this winter season. Packed with spicy Andouille sausage, chunks of juicy turkey, corn, green chilies and Fritos, this easy turkey chili is the perfect way to use up that leftover turkey!
39
Turkey and Dumplings Soup
Photo Credit:www.wenthere8this.com
This Turkey and Dumpling soup has amazing crispy stuffing dumplings made from leftover stuffing. A deep, rich turkey broth with chunks of roasted turkey and crispy baked balls of leftover stuffing is all you need to keep warm and snuggly.
40
Turkey Chowder with Sweetcorn
Photo Credit:www.greedygourmet.com
This smoked turkey is a perfect example of just how you can use leftovers to make another delicious and nutritious meal in no time. This turkey chowder altogether takes just 30 minutes to prepare and cook!
41
Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup
Photo Credit:thehungrybluebird.com
This turkey noodle soup is a delicious way to use up a bunch of what you already had on hand for the holiday.
42
Creamy Turkey Soup with Spinach
Photo Credit:www.thekitchenismyplayground.com
Try whipping up a pot of Creamy Turkey Soup with Spinach. It's a rich, hearty, flavor-loaded soup ... that's so much "more" than a basic turkey sandwich.
43
Turkey and Lentil Soup
Photo Credit:www.agoudalife.com
Turkey and Lentil Soup made with ground turkey or holiday leftovers. Easy, delicious, healthy and packed with protein. Cooks in 30 minutes!
44
Turkey Tortilla Soup
Photo Credit:www.beyondthechickencoop.com
This turkey tortilla soup is a must for the after holiday menu. It has black beans, corn, and roasted chili peppers, plus the bonus crunchy tortilla strip toppings!
45
Creamy Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup
Photo Credit:houseofnasheats.com
This Creamy Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup recipe is a hearty, satisfying soup that is full of carrots, mushrooms, celery and onion in a light, creamy broth.
46
Turkey Gumbo
Photo Credit:eatingrichly.com
Sometimes you really need to mix things up with some creative, exciting leftover turkey recipes after the holidays. This turkey gumbo is a great way to use up leftover turkey or you can sub shredded chicken and chicken stock to make it any time of year.
