Thanksgiving dinner may be the main event, but the leftovers are where the fun really begins! Cooking a whole turkey, even for a smaller gathering, means you’ll have plenty of delicious possibilities for the days ahead.
Instead of making the same turkey sandwich over and over, you can turn your leftover Thanksgiving turkey into comforting soups, flavorful enchiladas, hearty gumbo, or fresh salads.
There are so many creative ways to use up everything from the turkey itself to leftover stuffing, cranberry sauce, and roasted vegetables.
Shred the turkey and add it to a warming soup with celery and aromatic vegetables, then let everything simmer until the flavors come together.
Or try something different with crispy turkey samosas, toasted sandwiches, and other easy meals the whole family will enjoy.
Properly stored cooked turkey generally keeps for 3–4 days in the refrigerator, or around 2–6 months in the freezer for best quality. That gives you plenty of opportunities to transform your holiday extras into entirely new dishes.
Whether you’re craving something quick for lunch or a cozy dinner that makes the most of your Thanksgiving feast, these leftover turkey recipes will help you enjoy every last bite without letting good food go to waste!
16. Hot Louisville-Style Turkey Sandwich (How to Turn Leftover Turkey)
Give leftover turkey a delicious makeover with this hot Louisville-style sandwich. Tender slices of turkey are topped with a rich homemade cheese sauce and sweet pimentos, creating a warm, creamy, and satisfying meal.
It’s an easy way to turn holiday leftovers into something a little more exciting than the usual cold turkey sandwich.
15. Christmas Pasta Bake (Way to Use Leftover Turkey)
If you’ve had enough of the traditional Christmas leftovers sandwich, this pasta bake is a delicious way to use up everything in the fridge.
Combine leftover turkey with vegetables, cheese, and pasta to create a comforting oven-baked meal that’s easy to adapt to whatever you have on hand.
It’s also freezer-friendly, so you can prepare a batch and save some for another day instead of eating leftovers for every meal.
14. Turkey Ramen – Perfect Leftover Turkey Soup!
Turn your holiday turkey leftovers into a comforting bowl of homemade ramen. The turkey is gently poached in a flavorful broth, which then becomes the base for a delicious soup with just a few additional ingredients.
Add as much chili as you like to adjust the heat, and feel free to use convenient instant noodles to keep things simple. It’s a fun alternative to classic chicken ramen and a wonderful way to give leftover turkey a completely different flavor.
13. Turkey Waffles with Crispy Bacon and Maple Syrup
Put a savory twist on the classic chicken-and-waffles combination with these turkey waffles. Leftover turkey is fried in bacon drippings and served over waffles generously coated with maple syrup, alongside crispy bacon and creamy avocado.
The sweet and savory flavors make this a particularly tempting breakfast or brunch, especially after Thanksgiving or Christmas. If you’re looking for something unexpected to do with leftover turkey, this recipe is a great place to start.
12. Healthy Budget-friendly Leftover Turkey Mushroom Meatballs
Bought a turkey that turned out to be much bigger than your family could possibly finish? These turkey and mushroom meatballs offer a tasty solution to the leftover dilemma.
hey’re a clever way to transform cooked turkey into something completely different, combining it with mushrooms to make flavorful meatballs that work well for lunch or dinner.
It’s also a budget-conscious recipe that helps make the most of a holiday bird instead of letting all that extra meat go to waste.
11. Leftover Skillet Turkey Pasta Skillet from My Best Lunch and Dinner Ideas
This leftover turkey pasta skillet is a quick and flexible meal that makes excellent use of cooked holiday meat. Toss turkey pieces with pasta, your favorite vegetables, and a few simple ingredients for an easy lunch or dinner.
Mushrooms and peppers are particularly good additions, but you can adapt the recipe to whatever happens to be in your fridge. It’s a welcome change from making yet another pot of turkey soup, and it works just as well with leftover chicken.
10. Russian-style Turkey Pot Pie
This Russian-inspired turkey pot pie is rich, creamy, and full of savory flavor, with an attractive presentation that makes it suitable for a special dinner. Despite looking impressive, it’s straightforward enough to prepare on an ordinary weeknight.
Savory pies have a long history in Russian cooking and are among the country’s traditional dishes, alongside blinis and various porridges. This recipe brings that comforting pie tradition to the table while making delicious use of leftover turkey.
9. Make Leftover Turkey Casserole
Bring all the best flavors of Thanksgiving together in one comforting leftover turkey casserole. This layered dish is a practical way to use up the extras from your holiday meal, turning turkey and other festive favorites into a satisfying oven-baked dinner.
It’s especially handy after a busy celebration, when the fridge is still full of delicious leftovers and you want to enjoy them in a new way without spending another entire day cooking.
8. Keto Turkey Leftover Casserole Easy Recipe
Put your leftover turkey to good use with this creamy, low-carb casserole. Made with tender pieces of turkey breast, vegetables, a rich keto-friendly white sauce, and plenty of melted cheese, it’s a comforting dish that’s easy to prepare.
It’s also a practical way to clear out those extra vegetables sitting in the fridge while turning holiday leftovers into a completely new meal.
7. Instant Pot Turkey Chili with Andouille Sausage, Corn, Green Chilies and Fritos
Warm up on a chilly day with this hearty Instant Pot turkey chili, loaded with bold Cajun-inspired flavors. Juicy turkey, spicy Andouille sausage, sweet corn, green chilies, and crunchy Fritos come together in one satisfying bowl.
The pressure cooker makes preparation surprisingly simple, so you can enjoy a rich, spicy comfort food dinner without spending hours at the stove. It’s also a delicious way to use up leftover holiday turkey.
6. Easy Leftover Turkey Soup with Stuffing Dumplings
Give Thanksgiving leftovers a creative second life with this warming turkey and dumplings soup. It features a rich homemade-style turkey broth filled with chunks of roasted turkey, topped with crispy dumplings made from leftover stuffing.
Baking the stuffing into golden little bites adds a wonderful contrast to the savory soup. It’s a cozy, filling meal that makes excellent use of ingredients you might otherwise struggle to finish after the holidays.
5. Amazing Turkey Cranberry Sliders
These turkey cranberry sliders are a delicious way to enjoy Thanksgiving leftovers in a fun, easy-to-serve format.
Tender turkey, tangy cranberry sauce, and melted cheese come together in soft little sandwiches that are perfect for lunch, casual dinners, or sharing with family and friends.
When the holiday meal is over and the fridge is still full of turkey, these flavorful mini sandwiches offer a welcome change from the usual leftovers routine.
4. Creamy Turkey and Stuffing Casserole
Enjoy all the familiar flavors of Thanksgiving in one easy, creamy casserole. This recipe combines leftover turkey and stuffing with green beans and cream of mushroom soup, creating a comforting meal with very little preparation.
A generous topping of crispy fried onions adds the savory crunch that makes the dish especially satisfying. It’s a clever way to bring several holiday leftovers together and turn them into a hearty family dinner.
3. Learn to Make Turkey (or Chicken) Noodle Casserole
This creamy turkey noodle casserole is an easy comfort food dinner that works just as well with leftover turkey as it does with rotisserie chicken.
Tender pieces of meat and noodles are combined in a rich, creamy sauce and baked into a satisfying dish that’s ready in under an hour.
It’s a great option for busy evenings when you want something filling without complicated preparation, and a particularly useful recipe for making the most of leftover holiday turkey.
2. Crispy Leftover Turkey Potato Cakes
Turn leftover turkey and potatoes into golden, crispy cakes that might just become a favorite in their own right. These savory patties are a wonderful way to transform the remains of a holiday dinner into something fresh and delicious.
With a crunchy exterior and a hearty, comforting center, they’re perfect for lunch or a casual meal. Sometimes the best part of a festive feast is discovering how good the leftovers can taste when prepared in a completely different way.
1. Leftover Turkey Curry – Ultimate Turkey Dinner Igea!
After all the traditional Christmas dishes, a fragrant turkey curry is a delicious way to change things up. Instead of preparing another roast dinner or spending hours in the kitchen, use your leftover turkey to create a flavorful meal inspired by Indian cuisine.
The warming spices and rich sauce bring a completely different character to the familiar holiday meat.
It’s also a practical way to make the most of the food you’ve already bought and cooked, especially when the festive season has left you with plenty of leftovers and very little enthusiasm for more elaborate cooking.
16 Best Leftover Turkey Recipes for Thanksgiving Turkey Leftovers
Transform your leftover Thanksgiving turkey into delicious meals! Discover the best leftover turkey recipes, from cozy pot pie to easy ways to use it.
Ingredients
- Hot Louisville-Style Turkey Sandwich (How to Turn Leftover Turkey)
- Christmas Pasta Bake
- Turkey Ramen - Using Leftovers
- Turkey Waffles with Bacon and Maple (leftovers recipe)
- Healthy Leftover Turkey Mushroom Meatballs
- Leftover Chicken or Turkey Pasta Skillet
- Easy and Quick Turkey Pot Pie
- Thanksgiving Leftovers Casserole
- Keto Turkey Leftover Casserole Recipe
- Instant Pot Turkey Chili with Andouille Sausage
- Turkey and Dumplings Soup with Stuffing Dumplings
- One of the Best Leftover Turkey Recipes-Turkey Cranberry sliders
- Turkey and Stuffing Casserole
- How to make an easy Turkey or Chicken Noodle Casserole
- Leftover Turkey Potato Cakes
- Leftover Turkey Curry
Instructions
- Choose any Leftover Turkey Recipes from the post that you like.
- Click on the link below the photo to get the full recipes and instructions.
- Try the best Leftover Turkey Recipes and share your photo under my pin on Pinterest!
I share healthy recipes, clean eating ideas, and meal plans for weight loss, as well as give you the best tips on wellness, pregnancy, and parenting advice.