These fuss-free leftover turkey recipes will transform your usual post-Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches into hearty meals. Cure food boredom and save money the easy way. I guarantee you that holiday turkey doesn’t have to go to waste. Turn it into an effortless meal prep for the fridge or freezer!
I baked a 15-pound turkey one Thanksgiving, and then my relatives who were going to come got stuck at home thanks to a freak blizzard. All that turkey!!! I’m not one to waste food, so I set down to figure out how to use it before we went turkey crazy.
So buckle up and take a tour of all my recipes that take advantage of leftover turkey. But first, let’s see how to prep all the deliciousness.
How to Store Leftover Turkey
Before you freeze leftover turkey, decide how you want to use it. Here is a list of things I do before diving into the recipes. Turkey should last in the refrigerator for 4-5 days or in the freezer for 3-5 months.
- Remove the meat from the bones, then make an awesome stock with the bones.
- You can slice the breast meat for sandwiches, then freeze the slices between double sheets of parchment paper and in a freezer ziplock bag. Slip a knife between the sheets of parchment paper and pop out as many slices as you want for that meal.
- Shred the turkey for soups and stews, then freeze it in recipe-size portions in freezer bags.
- Chop the thigh meat into 1-inch cubes to top salads.
Safety Tip: Please remove the stuffing from the turkey if you baked it in the cavity, then freeze or refrigerate it separately.
Mouthwatering Recipes Ideal for Leftover Turkey
Swapping Out Chicken
1. Turkey Lasagna
Our family’s favorite recipe is lasagna, and it’s super easy to replace the chicken with turkey. Al dente noodles, umami-loaded mushrooms, healthy spinach, and a rich three-cheese sauce will never disappoint.
Chicken Lasagna is an easy makeover of chicken fettuccine Alfredo. The rich Alfredo sauce layered with lasagna noodles, mushrooms, spinach, and a three-cheese sauce is easy enough for an everyday meal but elegant enough for that special date night.
2. Turkey Enchiladas
This recipe is a spicy, cheesy, and hearty way to enjoy leftover turkey (replace the chicken). The homemade enchilada sauce is the secret to great enchiladas.
Rich, cheesy, and super saucy chicken enchiladas to adorn your dinner table with their ultimate blast of colors and flavors. This quick and easy recipe is more amazing with my homemade enchilada sauce! Perfect comfort food to share with your family and friends.
3. Fiesta Turkey Casserole
Cook your pasta, mix all the ingredients, top with cheese, and bake for a fast and easy weeknight meal. This spicy Tex-Mex dinner is sure to please the entire family.
This Fiesta Chicken Casserole is an excellent casserole dish brimming with Southwestern flavors, corn, beans, cheese, pasta, and leftover chicken. With just less than 10-minutes of prep time, you can make this cheesy hearty dish for busy weeknights!
4. Creamy Turkey Pasta Salad
Healthy, satisfying, oh-so-easy, flavor-packed are the best descriptions of this recipe. Bring summer vibes to those chilly days with this fantastic one-dish meal! You could also make a turkey salad sandwich.
5. Cream of Turkey Soup
This recipe is a reader favorite! The rich, creamy, thick texture is enticingly good! I’ve replaced the cream with evaporated milk for a lower-calorie version. Pair it with crusty no-knead bread for a soul-satisfying meal!
Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup – rich, creamy, thick and completely made from scratch soup. This cream of chicken soup starts with a roux and doesn’t require cream to bring out all those wonderful flavors. Cozy, comforting, homemade soup that you will make over and over again!
6. Southwest Turkey Salad
Enjoy a healthy main course salad with a fantastic salad dressing. The Tex-Mex flavors and hearty veggies, along with turkey, will give you a head start on New Year’s resolutions.
Here is everything a salad should be—hearty, colorful, and bursting with bold flavor. Romaine lettuce, black beans, avocado, and corn, topped with spicy chicken breast, deliver healthy indulgence.
Turkey Add-Ins
7. Brunswick Stew
This one-pot meal offers a versatile variety of meat and vegetables in a flavorful BBQ-based sauce. It’s especially comforting on cold nights with cornbread—a must-have when the weather starts cooling off.
A thick, flavorful, and hearty one-pot stew with vegetables and meat on a chicken broth and BBQ-base sauce seasoned with Creole seasoning for a deeper complex flavor that melds beautifully. A must-have dish on colder days!
8. Quiche Lorraine
I love a good quiche for a weekend breakfast or brunch. Add half a cup of cubed turkey to the mix, and bake it for an uncomplicated lunch.
Quiche Lorraine – the queen of all savory tarts made with a combination of flaky pie crust and an egg custard filling with bacon, cheese and a hint of heat from Creole seasoning. An amazingly easy and delicious breakfast or brunch that comes ready in no time. Serve it hot or cold!
9. Hoppin’ John
Don’t wait for New Year’s Eve to enjoy this hearty black-eyed pea recipe. I add a teaspoon of smoked paprika if using roasted instead of smoked turkey.
This savory, smokey, a bit spicy, and hearty black-eyed pea stew will warm your soul any day of the year. Southern classic soul food is super easy and richly flavored with Creole Seasoning and herbs. Pair it with rice, collard greens, and cornbread for a traditional New Year’s menu!
10. Ham and Bean Soup
This recipe is more than a great way to use leftover holiday ham; it’s also tasty with leftover turkey. A warm hug in a bowl meal that also freezes well.
This rich and comforting soup, loaded with white beans, veggies, and ham, delivers a comforting hug in a bowl. The perfect way to use up leftover ham from the holidays!
11. Red Beans and Rice
What’s not to love about this smoky, spicy, and comforting bean and rice combo? This Southern classic with delightfully complex yet satisfying flavors is a must-have on a weekly rotation. Take this soul food recipe to the next level by adding a cup of leftover Thanksgiving turkey.
Red Beans and Rice Recipe – smoky, spicy, and overly comforting beans and rice combo with smoked sausage and turkey flavored with creole seasoning. Delightfully full of complex flavors that is simple and easy. Truly a must-have on your weekly rotation!
12. Southern Mustard Greens
Want some green on your dinner table? Whip up these braised dark leafy greens packed with flavor and nutrition. An easy, soulful meal that has tons of flavor!
Slowly braised with bacon and smoked turkey, delivers a spicy, peppery side dish guaranteed to impress. This wonderful brassica provides a tender bite, heat, sweetness, and a pleasant bitterness for a soul food superfood.
13. Stuffed Green Bell Peppers
Instead of browning ground beef, mix in a cup of diced turkey, and you’re set. Now that’s a guilt-free, healthy post-Thanksgiving meal you can whip up in no time!
Stuffed Green Bell Peppers – easy to make side or main dish using minimal ingredients and ready in no time. A filling and impressive way to serve peppers on regular weeknights or on special occasions!
14. Chef Salad
Add leftover turkey for a higher protein version of this main meal salad that has everything. It comes together in less than no time and adds refreshing greens for a healthy lunch. Cobb salad also loves having turkey added to its layers.
Chef Salad – a classic favorite American salad with fresh vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, ham, and cheese topped with a creamy honey mustard yogurt dressing. A fantastic easy and healthy lunch or dinner ready in under 30 minutes!
15. Black-Eyed Pea Salad
Add a layer of chopped turkey to an already filling, main-course salad. Another great head start on your healthy New Year’s resolutions. Avocado corn salad is another tasty salad you can increase the protein with leftover turkey.
A bold Southern salad delivering wonderful textures starring black-eyed peas, corn, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and avocado with a luscious, sweet, citrusy salad dressing. An ideal make-ahead for tailgates, picnics, barbecues, and potlucks.
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