40 Leftover Turkey Recipes

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40 Leftover Turkey Recipes helps you figure out what to do with leftover roast turkey or air-fried turkey after your Thanksgiving or Christmas feast.

Shepherd's pie in white baking dish with section cut out by serving spoon

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We're featuring 40 easy 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 creative, so there's something for everyone in this post-holiday recipe collection.

Table of Contents hide

1) 40 Easy Leftover Turkey Recipes

2) How to store leftover turkey

3) Tips for using leftover turkey in recipes

40 Easy Leftover Turkey Recipes

Turkey Salad Recipe

turkey salad over fresh greens in wood bowl

Use your leftover roast turkey to make the best turkey salad. The combination of juicy turkey, dried cranberries, walnuts, celery, and creamy dressing makes an irresistible combination. Scoop it over salad greens or pile it up to make the best sandwich!

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Easy Turkey Stock Recipe

How to make turkey stock with leftover turkey bones, vegetables, and herbs. This savory "liquid gold" can be used as turkey broth for soup, gravy, or any recipes requiring turkey stock or broth.

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Easy Leftover Turkey Curry Recipe

This easy leftover turkey curry recipe is simple, quick, delicious. The perfect way to use up leftover turkey, with no special ingredients.

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Mexican Turkey Soup Recipe

You’ve never seen leftover turkey like this before! The big, bold flavors in this Mexican Turkey Soup Recipe will impress everyone!

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Tater Tot Turkey Casserole

Turkey tater tot casserole is a delicious one-pan meal the whole family will love, and you can easily make this recipe with leftover turkey!

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Slow Cooker Southwestern Turkey Stew

Slow Cooker Southwestern Turkey Stew is hearty, flavorful, easy and healthy. You probably already have most of the ingredients on hand!

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Cranberry BBQ Turkey Pizza

Cranberry BBQ Turkey Pizza — Thick homemade pizza crust topped with sweet cranberry bbq sauce, turkey, red onions, bacon, cilantro and lots of cheese!

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Turkey Sliders with Cheese

Warm and cheesy turkey sliders with cheese on buttery sweet Hawaiian rolls are irresistibly delicious, and perfect for dinner or parties.

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Sumptuous Turkey Pie

Sumptuous Turkey Pie is the perfect pie for using up your leftover Christmas turkey, bacon and cream. With added leeks and mushrooms this puff pastry pie is off the scale good so hence the name!

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Turkey Tortilla Soup

A perfect way to use up leftover turkey. Turkey tortilla soup is delicious and easy to make and can be made with leftover turkey or chicken.

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Skillet Turkey Pot Pie with Buttermilk Biscuits

Roasted turkey (or chicken) simmered in a light, creamy sauce with traditional pot pie vegetables is at the top of our comfort food list!

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Creamy Turkey Tetrazzini

Turkey Tetrazzini is an easy way to turn leftover holiday turkey into a cozy comfort food dinner. You can make it with rotisserie chicken, ham, or seafood, too!

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Turkey Alfredo

Turkey alfredo is filled with pasta, peas, bacon, cooked turkey, and a creamy alfredo sauce. It’s the perfect solution to holiday leftovers!

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Leftover Turkey & Wild Rice Soup

The easiest way to use up leftover turkey meat, this simple soup is hearty, healthy, and best of all delicious!

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Thai red curry (perfect for leftovers)

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.

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Turkey Pasta Bake

Easy instructions to make this delicious turkey pasta bake using leftover turkey. With very little prep, this one is sure to be a favourite!

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Leftover Turkey Stew

This gluten free Leftover Turkey Stew recipe is made with potatoes and vegetables. It’s easy, healthy, and a great way to use up turkey meat!

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Leftover Turkey Stew in the Slow Cooker Crock Pot

Not sure what to do with all the turkey leftovers? Why not make a yummy leftover turkey stew in the slow cooker crock pot!

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Leftover Turkey Pot Pie

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! Turkey Pot Pie I had a really good visit to Toronto back in October. The Italian and I spent two wonderful weeks with our kids, our family…

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Leftover Turkey Quesadillas with Black Beans

Put that leftover Thanksgiving turkey to good use and make these Leftover Turkey Quesadillas with Black Beans... because no one wants to cook anything complicated the day after Thanksgiving! Such a great way to use

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Cheesy Broccoli, Turkey, and Rice Casserole

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.

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Cajun Turkey Casserole

A delicious and wholesome casserole made with leftover turkey.

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Orzo with Leftover Turkey and Sweet Potatoes

Leftover turkey and sweet potatoes tossed with orzo, combining sweet and savory fall flavors for a delicious use of leftover turkey!

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Leftover Turkey Pasta

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!

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Weight Watchers Turkey Reuben Sandwich

6 WW fsp’s (blue plan)

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Low-Carb Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe

This recipe for Low-Carb Leftover Turkey Casserole is low-carb, keto, gluten-free, grain-free, diabetic, LC/HF, and Banting diet friendly.

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Turkey Thai Curry {Perfect for Leftover Turkey}

Turkey Thai Curry is a great way to use leftover turkey! This weeknight meal is a 20-minute dish with the flavors of an all-day simmer.

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Thanksgiving Leftovers Turkey Nachos

Thanksgiving Leftovers Turkey Nachos: Turn your leftover Thanksgiving turkey into cheesy, spicy, gluten-free party food that will be scooped up in seconds!

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Leftover Turkey Skillet Pot Pie

This slightly creamy leftover turkey pot pie 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.

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Leftover Turkey Ramen

If you are searching for what to do with thanksgiving leftovers then search no further, this turkey ramen is the ultimate leftover turkey soup!

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Creamy Turkey & Dumplings (With The Best Dumplings Ever)

Turkey and dumplings is the perfect winter supper. We tested and tested to find the best dumplings ever! 1 hour weeknight simple recipe for a warm cozy dinner. Cozy up with a steaming bowl of

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Green Chile Turkey Tetrazzini

Green Chile Turkey Tetrazzini a great turkey tetrazzini recipe that is loaded with flavor thanks to green chiles, poblano peppers, and spicy pepper jack cheese.

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Instant Pot Turkey and Rice Soup

Make this creamy turkey and rice soup in your instant pot with holiday leftovers and a handful of staple ingredients. Easy dump and go meal!

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Leftover turkey soup

Rich flavorful turkey leftover soup from carcass. With homemade shredded turkey, vegetables and noodles, this soup is healthy and will feed your whole family! The best way to use leftover Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey. Every

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Baked Turkey & Cheese Sliders

These easy baked turkey sliders with cheese are covered in a simple honey mustard glaze.

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Leftover Turkey Casserole

This leftover turkey casserole recipe is the perfect way to use up your holiday extras with a few fresh partners mixed in.

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Turkey Salad Recipe with Cranberries

This turkey salad recipe is so flavorful, colorful, and delicious! A great turkey cranberry salad to make use of your leftover turkey from Thanksgiving.

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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:

My favorite airtight containers
- refrigerate for up to 5 days
- freeze up to 3 months
Silicone storage bags or zip-top freezer bags
- refrigerate for up to 5 days
- freeze up to 1 month
Plastic deli rounds or containers
- refrigerate for up to 5 days
- freeze up to 1 month
Vacuum-sealed storage bags
- freeze up to 3 months

I find that these airtight containers and vacuum-sealer methods keep my food fresh to the fullest extent. The only downside is that the glass containers are heavier than the other options, and they cost more upfront. But, because they tend to outlast the other options, it offsets the cost. A vacuum sealer also for itself over time with food that can be frozen.

shredded chicken breast or turkey breast in glass meal prep container on grey background — Store cooked turkey or rotisserie chicken in glass meal prep container

Tips for using leftover turkey in recipes

Don't use overcooked turkey for these turkey recipes. Once the turkey is overcooked, it will never make a tasty comeback, even after smothering it with the most delicious gravy or hiding it in a casserole.

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.

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, soup, or whatever I'm making within 2 days, preferably 1 day, and then eat that item within another 2 days.

Substitute chicken breast: You can easily swap shredded chicken for cooked turkey in these leftover turkey recipes.

Comments

Jane says

November 27, 2020 at 4:48 pm

What a wonderful collection of recipes Traci, everyone would love every one of them!! Thanks for including my Basil Tetrazzini, one of our favorite spins on the classic!

- The Kitchen Girl says
  
  November 27, 2020 at 9:07 pm
  
  Thanks, Jane! So happy to include yours! It sounds delish 🙂
Dedra | Queenslee Appétit says

December 28, 2019 at 2:34 pm

Thanks for the helpful tips, and for including me in the list! All of these recipes look amazing!

- Traci Antonovich says
  
  December 28, 2019 at 7:58 pm
  
  Thanks, Dedra...you're so welcome! Thanks for contributing 😉
Patti says

December 28, 2019 at 11:19 am

What a great list. There’s something here for everyone. Thanks.

- Traci Antonovich says
  
  December 28, 2019 at 7:59 pm
  
  Thanks, Patti...exactly my thoughts too 🙂
Caroline says

December 28, 2019 at 9:38 am

What a delicious looking collection of ideas - it makes you almost want more leftovers! Thanks for including my Thai red curry 🙂

- Traci Antonovich says
  
  December 28, 2019 at 11:18 am
  
  You're so welcome, Caroline 🙂 Cheers!
CAMILLA HAWKINS says

December 28, 2019 at 9:35 am

What a delicious mix of turkey recipes, have to try some of these! Thanks for including my pie:-)

- Traci Antonovich says
  
  December 28, 2019 at 11:18 am
  
  You're so welcome, Camilla 🙂 Cheers!
Nora from Savory Nothings says

December 28, 2019 at 8:38 am

Such great ideas! And thank you for including my soup

- Traci Antonovich says
  
  December 28, 2019 at 8:41 am
  
  You're so welcome...looks delish! Thanks for contributing your recipe 🙂
Annissa says

December 28, 2019 at 8:21 am

What a wonderful selection of recipes for leftover turkey! Great ideas to transform that bird into entirely different meals! Pinning for later!

- Traci Antonovich says
  
  December 28, 2019 at 8:25 am
  
  Thanks, Annissa. Glad to have you contribute your recipe too 🙂
Judy says

December 28, 2019 at 7:18 am

Love all the helpful tips you include! What a great line up of recipes!

- Traci Antonovich says
  
  December 28, 2019 at 7:24 am
  
  Thanks Judy! Yours looks delish! 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

December 28, 2019 at 6:46 am

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!

- Traci Antonovich says
  
  December 28, 2019 at 6:59 am
  
  You're SO welcome, Dawn...that pasta bake is gorgeous! 🙂
Terri says

December 28, 2019 at 6:46 am

So many great ideas here!!! Thanks for sharing my Turkey Reuben!

- Traci Antonovich says
  
  December 28, 2019 at 6:58 am
  
  You're so welcome...I WANT that sandwich!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says

December 28, 2019 at 6:45 am

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! 🙂

- Traci Antonovich says
  
  December 28, 2019 at 6:58 am
  
  Thanks Kathy! Haha yep, no shortage of great ideas here 🙂 Thanks for contributing!
Lynn @ Fresh April Flours says

December 28, 2019 at 6:41 am

Great tips and great ideas! Thanks for including mine!

- Traci Antonovich says
  
  December 28, 2019 at 6:43 am
  
  You're so welcome! I want every one of these dishes LOL 🙂
- Michelle says
  
  December 28, 2019 at 6:51 am
  
  This is a goooood list! Yummm!
- Traci Antonovich says
  
  December 28, 2019 at 7:00 am
  
  Thanks Michelle...your sliders are gorgeous! 🙂
Jenn says

December 28, 2019 at 6:40 am

What a great looking collection of recipes! Now I want to roast some turkey just to have leftovers to make some of these!

- Traci Antonovich says
  
  December 28, 2019 at 6:43 am
  
  Oh I am right there with you, Jenn! Cravvvvvving turkey 🙂

40 Easy Leftover Turkey Recipes

How to store leftover turkey

Tips for using leftover turkey in recipes

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