Do you know what to do with leftover turkey after your Thanksgiving or Christmas feast is over? We do! Today, we're talking about how to store leftover turkey and what not to do with overcooked turkey. We're featuring 40 scrumptious leftover turkey recipes from our food blogging friends so you can put your leftovers to work for you. The recipes include casseroles, soups, sandwiches, sides, and salads. Some are traditional and some are really creative, so there's something for everyone in this post-holiday recipe collection.
How to store leftover turkey
These are the most common ways we use to store leftover turkey (or cooked chicken) in the refrigerator and freezer:
- In glass meal prep containers with locking lids (see image below)
- refrigerate up to 5 days
- freeze up to 3 months
- In silicone storage bags
- refrigerate 3 or 4 days
- freeze up to 1 month
- In plastic deli rounds
- refrigerate 3 or 4 days
- freeze up to 1 month
- In zip-top freezer bags
- refrigerate 3 or 4 days
- freeze up to 1 month
- In vacuum-sealed storage bags
- freeze up to 3 months
I find the glass meal prep containers and vacuum-sealer methods keep my food fresh to the fullest extent more so than the other methods. The only downside is that the glass containers are heavier than the other options, but they last the longest and are the most convenient to wash. The vacuum sealers are not cheap, but they can save money in the long run.
What to do with overcooked turkey
You can try to mask the dryness of overcooked turkey by smothering it in gravy (been there), or adding it to a casserole or soup or salad (done that).
But, let's be honest...once turkey is overcooked, it will never make a tasty comeback. Repeat after me..."bye Felicia!"
That's it. I don't try to repurpose it and cover up the dryness. I throw it away or feed it to the neighbor dog, maybe. Nobody wants seconds of super dry turkey and holiday dinner, so why would they try to choke it down otherwise.
Tips for turning cooked turkey into other recipes
Assuming you are left with a big stash of perfectly cooked turkey, check out these tips that you'll need if you're repurposing it.
Timing is EVERYTHING: If I'm not planning to freeze cooked turkey meat for later use, I'm nothing short of OCD about getting it into a recipe ASAP for safety reasons.
The reason for this...cooked turkey is perishable and needs to be eaten anywhere from 3-6 days from the day it was first cooked. This means I need to get the leftover turkey into the casserole, or soup, or whatever I'm making within 2 days, preferably 1 day, and then eat that item within another 2 days.
Dry turkey: As I mentioned above, if your Thanksgiving turkey was overcooked and you're trying to cover it up by turning it into something else...don't. Cut your losses and pick up a rotisserie chicken from the market, or order takeout.
Substitute rotisserie chicken: You can easily swap storebought rotisserie chicken for cooked turkey in every one of these leftover turkey recipes.
40 Leftover Turkey Recipes: What To Do With Leftover Turkey
Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie is a veggie-loaded turkey casserole. It's made with a creamy, mashed potato topping, which makes it gluten-free and irresistible. Use leftover turkey from a holiday meal or store-bought rotisserie chicken for this easy shepherd's pie recipe!
This easy Leftover Turkey Curry recipe is simple, delicious and the perfect way to use up leftover turkey. This fuss-free British curry uses no special ingredients and can be on the table in less than half an hour. Adaptable and easy to pack with vegetables for a healthy boost.
This Mexican Turkey Soup Recipe is a genius use of leftover turkey, and with big, bold, and bright flavors, you can double it and freeze some for later!
Cranberry BBQ Turkey Pizza — Thick homemade pizza crust topped with sweet homemade cranberry bbq sauce, roasted turkey, red onions, bacon, cilantro and two different cheeses! This is the perfect use for all that leftover Thanksgiving turkey!
Warm and cheesy turkey sliders made from leftover turkey meat. They’re bursting with flavor and so easy to make to feed a crowd!
This Sumptuous Turkey Pie will use up your leftover turkey, Bacon and cream. Added to those are leeks, mushrooms and puff pastry, pies don't get better than this!
Turkey tortilla soup is a delicious soup made with leftover turkey, black beans and corn.
Skillet Turkey Pot Pie with Buttermilk Biscuits is an easy, one-pot dinner to use up rotisserie chicken or turkey leftovers. Bake up fresh whole wheat buttermilk biscuits while the creamy turkey pot pie filling simmers on the stove.
This Turkey Tetrazzini with a rich Parmesan cream sauce is an easy way to turn leftover turkey into a cozy comfort food dinner.
Leftover Turkey Alfredo Skillet Meal is the answer for your Post-Thanksgiving leftovers. Turkey, bacon, peas, and penne pasta are coated in a creamy alfredo sauce. Made in a single pan and ready in 30 minutes.
The easiest way to use up leftover turkey meat, this simple soup is hearty, healthy, and best of all delicious!
This delicious Thai red curry is made with a quick homemade paste from scratch for a fantastic bold flavor. Plus it’s a great way to use leftover meat.
Made in one pot using leftover turkey, this turkey pasta bake is easy, cheesy and delicious.
This Pesto Chicken Gnocchi Soup is made with rotisserie chicken or leftover turkey, pesto, gnocchi, fresh spinach, and chicken broth. It relies on prepared ingredients and requires minimal cooking skills. Add this soup to your collection of rotisserie chicken recipes for easy weeknight dinners!
This Turkey Stew recipe is made from scratch with potatoes and vegetables. It’s hearty and a great way to use up leftover turkey. Rustic and comforting!
A simple and easy to whip up Leftover Turkey Stew that’s done in a slow cooker! It’s low carb and gluten-free.
This homemade Turkey Pot Pie can even be made with leftover turkey or chicken. A creamy delicious filling topped with puff pastry. Pot Pie never tasted so good!
Put that leftover turkey to good use and make these Leftover Turkey Quesadillas with Black Beans. If you've never added black beans to a quesadilla, you've GOT to try this recipe, it's so good!
Cheesy Broccoli, Turkey, and Rice Casserole is a simple way to use holiday leftovers! Creamy and rich this casserole is packed with fresh broccoli, chopped turkey, and brown rice. A new post-holiday family favorite!
Low carb turkey casserole, made with cauliflower rice, green beans, and cheddar cheese can be on the table in under 45 minutes. It’s the PERFECT way to use up your leftover holiday, but you can easily make it with rotisserie chicken any time of year.
Sweet potatoes combined with savory turkey and cheese in a delicious orzo pasta dish. A wonderfully delicious way to use that leftover turkey
One-pot Leftover Turkey Orzo Pasta | Slimming Friendly - Supergolden Bakes
This creamy one-pot orzo pasta recipe is great for using up leftover Thanksgiving/ Christmas turkey. It is quick, easy, delicious AND slimming friendly too!
This Turkey Reuben Panini is Weight Watchers friendly at only 6 WW freestyle smart points (blue plan) and can be made with leftover turkey or deli turkey meat
Here's a 30-minute stovetop meal made with rotisserie chicken breast or leftover turkey, fresh broccoli, white rice, and a few pantry ingredients. It’s family-friendly and a great way to make a meal out of rotisserie chicken breast, right in one skillet!
This recipe for Leftover Turkey Casserole transforms turkey into pure comfort food!
Turkey Thai Curry - A brilliant way to use up your Christmas leftovers! Get dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes.
Thanksgiving leftovers are so quick and easy to put together and serve while watching all those football games and during all of the family activities this Thanksgiving weekend. These turkey nachos turn your leftover turkey stash into a cheesy, crunchy, spicy, gluten-free party food that will be scooped up in seconds!
This slightly creamy leftover turkey pot pie recipe is made in a cast iron pan to keep things simple. Bursting with gourmet flavors and crisp vegetables, this pot pie recipe is ultimate comfort food.
Reusing my turkey leftovers is always something I look forward to every year. I love to make a basic turkey noodle soup, but I REALLY love to make these melty Turkey Cranberry Sliders!
If you are searching for what to do with thanksgiving leftovers then search no further, 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. You can up the chili and make it spicy and even use two minute instant noodles. A great alternative to chicken ramen and just perfect for holiday leftovers.
Turkey and dumplings is the perfect winter supper and the perfect use for leftover turkey. We tested and tested to find the best dumplings ever! 1 hour weeknight simple recipe for a warm cozy dinner.
Green Chile Turkey Tetrazzini takes this traditional turkey leftover recipe to the next level. This turkey casserole is loaded with flavor thanks to the addition of green chiles, poblano peppers, and spicy pepper jack cheese.
This is one of my favorite ways to use up leftovers from a big dinner - a quick and easy soup full of healthy ingredients! It turns out wonderfully creamy and comforting.
Rich flavorful turkey leftover soup from carcass. With homemade shredded turkey, vegetables and noodles, this soup is healthy and will feed your whole family!
Easy turkey and cheese sliders baked in a honey mustard glaze. The simplicity in this recipe is that once your glaze is together, you just layer your slider bottoms, mayo, turkey, cheese, and slider tops in a casserole dish and cover everything with the glaze. Bake and boom, dinner is ready in less than 30 minutes!
This leftover turkey casserole recipe is the perfect way to use up your holiday extras with a few fresh partners mixed in.
This turkey salad recipe is so flavorful, colorful, and delicious! And it makes great use of your leftover turkey from Thanksgiving or any other occasion.
- 3 Bean Vegan Chili - 10/27/2020
- Smashed Potatoes Recipe - 10/22/2020
- Crockpot Chicken Vegetable Soup - 10/18/2020
Thanks for the helpful tips, and for including me in the list! All of these recipes look amazing!
Thanks, Dedra...you're so welcome! Thanks for contributing 😉
What a great list. There’s something here for everyone. Thanks.
Thanks, Patti...exactly my thoughts too 🙂
What a delicious looking collection of ideas - it makes you almost want more leftovers! Thanks for including my Thai red curry 🙂
You're so welcome, Caroline 🙂 Cheers!
What a delicious mix of turkey recipes, have to try some of these! Thanks for including my pie:-)
You're so welcome, Camilla 🙂 Cheers!
Such great ideas! And thank you for including my soup 😘
You're so welcome...looks delish! Thanks for contributing your recipe 🙂
What a wonderful selection of recipes for leftover turkey! Great ideas to transform that bird into entirely different meals! Pinning for later!
Thanks, Annissa. Glad to have you contribute your recipe too 🙂
Love all the helpful tips you include! What a great line up of recipes! 🙂
Thanks Judy! Yours looks delish! 🙂
I love turkey leftovers just as much (or more) than the original meal so I'm totally swooning over all these delicious recipes, Traci!! So many different options and I want to try 'em all! Thanks a million for including my pasta bake 🙂 Much appreciated!
You're SO welcome, Dawn...that pasta bake is gorgeous! 🙂
So many great ideas here!!! Thanks for sharing my Turkey Reuben!
You're so welcome...I WANT that sandwich!
This is a great collection of recipes! I always make a huge turkey and then try to find ways to use it up. My family won't get tired of turkey leftovers this year! 🙂
Thanks Kathy! Haha yep, no shortage of great ideas here 🙂 Thanks for contributing!
Great tips and great ideas! Thanks for including mine!
You're so welcome! I want every one of these dishes LOL 🙂
This is a goooood list! Yummm!
Thanks Michelle...your sliders are gorgeous! 🙂
What a great looking collection of recipes! Now I want to roast some turkey just to have leftovers to make some of these!
Oh I am right there with you, Jenn! Cravvvvvving turkey 🙂