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I love a good turkey sandwich the day after Thanksgiving. One of them, anyway. By the second day, the leftover turkey sitting in the fridge starts to feel like a chore.
The trick is to turn it into something completely different. Anything you’d normally make with cooked chicken works with turkey, and once it’s in a soup, chili or quesadilla, nobody at the table will know it’s leftovers. Here are our favorite ways to use it up.
8 easy leftover turkey recipes
1. Turkey Tamale Pie
A sweet cornbread base topped with enchilada sauce, seasoned shredded turkey and melted cheese. It takes about ten minutes of hands-on time, and it completely transforms Thanksgiving leftovers. If you have leftover corn casserole, stir it into the cornbread batter.
Get the Turkey Tamale Pie recipe
2. Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup
Our creamy chicken wild rice soup works perfectly with turkey. It’s cozy, filling and a great way to use up leftover celery and carrots too.
Get the wild rice soup recipe (swap in turkey for the chicken)
3. Turkey Enchilada Chili
All the flavor of enchiladas in a big pot of chili. Shredded turkey stands in for the chicken with no other changes needed.
Get the enchilada chili recipe
4. Turkey Quesadillas
Tortillas, shredded turkey and cheese, crisped in a pan. Add leftover cranberry sauce and a little brie or cream cheese for a sweet-and-savory twist the grown-ups will love.
5. Turkey Club Egg Rolls
Turkey, bacon, cheese and tomato rolled up in egg roll wrappers and baked or fried until crispy. They make a fun weekend lunch or game-day snack.
Get the club egg rolls recipe
6. Turkey Pot Pie
Mix chopped turkey with frozen peas and carrots, leftover gravy (or a can of cream of chicken soup) and a splash of milk. Pour it into a pie plate, top with a refrigerated pie crust or biscuits, and bake at 400°F until golden, about 25 to 30 minutes.
7. Turkey Fried Rice
Use leftover turkey and day-old rice with frozen mixed vegetables, scrambled eggs and soy sauce. It’s dinner in 15 minutes.
8. Turkey and Stuffing Casserole
Layer leftover stuffing, chopped turkey and gravy in a baking dish, top with cheese, and bake at 350°F until hot, about 25 minutes. It’s Thanksgiving in one dish. Don’t have leftover stuffing? Try our Cranberry Walnut Stuffing.
How long do turkey leftovers last?
- In the fridge: 3 to 4 days. Refrigerate leftovers within two hours of serving.
- In the freezer: 2 to 6 months. Pull the meat off the bone, portion it into freezer bags, and label it with the date.
- Reheating: heat leftovers to 165°F. Add a splash of broth to keep turkey from drying out.
Tip: freeze shredded turkey in 2-cup portions. That’s the amount most recipes call for, so you can pull out exactly what you need for a quick dinner in December.
Need dinner ideas for the rest of the week? The Easy Peasy Meal Club sends done-for-you family meal plans and grocery lists. Join the Easy Peasy Meal Club for just $7 a month, or try a free week first.
Heads-up: I’m a co-owner of Easy Peasy Recipeasy.
Plan your Thanksgiving
Haven’t planned the big meal yet? Grab the free Thanksgiving Menu Planner to organize your menu, guests and shopping list on one page.
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