Leftover Turkey Recipes (2024)

If you’re wondering what to do with leftover turkey, look no further!

Leftovers are one of my favorite parts of the holidays since it means easy meals for days or weeks to come (YAY!!).

Below is a collection of the best leftover turkey recipes and ideas. Create a new recipe like turkey soup or keep it simple with a hot turkey sandwich, the possibilities are endless!

Leftover Turkey Recipes (1)

What to Make With Leftover Turkey

When it comes to leftover turkey ideas there is no shortage. Especially when you consider that almost every recipe made with chicken is great with turkey too!

A delicious turkey pot pie or turkey salad sandwich are just some of the delicious ways to use it.

Bones, Neck, Giblets, and Carcass

  • If you make roast or spatchco*ck turkey, keep the backbone to add to turkey broth for soup.
  • Use the carcass or the neck from your Thanksgiving turkey for turkey stock. This can also be made in the Instant Pot or slow cooker.
  • Use the giblets in gravy or add them to leftover stuffing. If you’d like, keep the livers to make patè.
Leftover Turkey Recipes (2)
Leftover Turkey Recipes (3)

Leftover Turkey Soups

A bowl of soups is a great way to enjoy thanksgiving leftovers and it’s easy to make. Use the crockpot or make them on the stove for an easy meal! Serve with some dinner rolls or a thick slice of garlic bread to soak up every last drop!

Slow Cooker Turkey Soup (Cajun Bean)

Slow Cooker Turkey Vegetable Soup

White Turkey Chili

Slow Cooker

Creamy Turkey Soup Recipes

  • Hearty Turkey Stew (with leftover turkey) – Thick, cozy, and creamy with carrots and potatoes, this rustic turkey stew is a new favorite!
  • Creamy Wild Rice Soup – A classic soup recipe for good reason. Wild rice, vegetables, and tender chunks of leftover turkey in a creamy broth.
  • Leftover Turkey Soup with Potato Drop Dumplings – A simple turkey soup with mashed potato dumplings. A great way to use up broth and potatoes!
  • Turkey Tetrazzini Soup – A delicious slurpable spin on a classic turkey tetrazzini.

Broth Based Soups

  • Turkey Soup – Simply perfect. No oddball ingredients, this leftover turkey recipe is full of goodness.
  • Slow Cooker Turkey Vegetable Soup – Jam-packed with veggies in a tomato broth, this turkey soup is easy to make in the slow cooker. Add in leftover vegetables from dinner too!
  • Slow Cooker Cajun Bean Turkey Soup– Cajun bean soup is a hearty and delicious way to enjoy leftovers and great to feed a crowd. This soup reheats beautifully.
  • Turkey Noodle Soup – Turkey, vegetables, and noodles are cooked on the stovetop in just a few simple steps.
  • Spicy Southwest Turkey and Bean Soup – Leftovers with a kick. This soup is great topped with sour cream, salsa, and some jalapenos.

Turkey Chili Recipes

  • White Turkey Chili – leftover turkey chili in a flavorful sauce. This recipe cooks in the slow cooker for an easy hands-off meal.

Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipes

Turkey Tetrazzini

Recipes

Easy Broccoli Rice Casserole with Turkey

Casseroles

Turkey Pot Pie

Turkey

Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipes

Casseroles are my favorite, easy to make ahead of time, low on dishes, and belly-warming for sure! Most chicken casserolerecipes start with cooked chicken and it can almost always be substituted for cooked turkey (which is a big part of the reason I cook more turkey than I need).

Rice Casseroles

  • Turkey Broccoli Rice Casserole – Instant rice (or Minute Rice) makes this recipe extra fast. Kids and adults alike love it.
  • Wild Rice Casserole – Substitute the chicken for leftover turkey for an easy casserole.

Pasta Casseroles

  • Turkey Tetrazzini – This creamy pasta dish has leftover turkey and mushrooms with spaghetti in a creamy sauce. Top it all with cheese and bake until bubbly.
  • Creamy Turkey Casserole – Super quick prep and any kind of pasta, this shortcut meal is great for leftovers.

Other Casseroles

  • Turkey Pot Pie – Literally perfect. Flaky crust, tender leftover turkey, a flavorful creamy sauce, and cozy veggies.
  • – A bit like a turkey pot pie but with a fluffy cornbread topping.
  • Leftover Turkey Enchiladas – Tortillas filled with leftover turkey, smothered in enchilada sauce and cheese, and baked until bubbly.
  • Herbed Turkey Stroganoff – This saucy herby dish is full of flavor (and leftover turkey) and it’s perfect spooned over leftover mashed potatoes or pasta.
  • Cheesy Turkey Zucchini Casserole – Zucchini and turkey mix with stuffing in a new family favorite casserole.l
  • Turkey Stuffing Roll-Ups – All of the flavors of turkey dinner in turkey rolls. Use deli turkey or thin slices of leftover turkey. If your leftovers are too hard to roll, stack ’em up!
  • Leftover Turkey Casserole – This leftover turkey recipe has all of the goodness of Thanksgiving dinner in one dish.

Turkey Cranberry Pasta Salad

Pasta Salad

Turkey Sandwich

Sandwiches

Turkey Salad

Turkey

Easy Turkey Wraps

Sandwiches

Leftover Turkey Salads & Sandwiches

Leftover turkey is, of course, great for meals like soups and casseroles but it makes for a great lunch too! We use it in place of chicken in our favorite chicken salad sandwichesand add it todill pickle pasta salad for a hearty meal! My absolute favorite way to enjoy leftover turkey is as a hot turkey sandwich though (recipe below)!

Salads

  • Turkey Cranberry Pasta Salad – Creamy and flavorful, this is great for lunches throughout the week.
  • Leftover Turkey Salad – This turkey salad is quick and creamy. Serve as a turkey salad sandwich or spoon over lettuce.

Sandwiches

  • Easy Turkey Wraps – Use deli turkey or leftover turkey. Add in some leftover cranberry sauce too!
  • Club Sandwich – Turkey + BLT = club sandwich! This is one of our all-time favorites.
  • Turkey Bacon Brie Grilled Cheese Sandwich – Crispy, melty, gooey goodness.
  • Cranberry Turkey Pinwheels – Make ahead and serve for snacks, appetizers, or lunches.
  • Monte Cristo Sandwich – A crisp coated sandwich filled with ham, turkey, and lots of melty cheese. Dip in jam or better yet, cranberry sauce.
  • Turkey Sandwich – Simple and delicious.

What Can You Do With Leftover Turkey?

The great thing about roasting turkey or turkey breasts is that it’s cooked once and then you have easy prep for days (or weeks to come)! I use every bit of the turkey from the neck and backbone to the carcass.
Regardless of how you intend to use it, store leftover turkey meat and bones in airtight containers or zippered bags. This will help keep it fresh as long as possible.

How Long is Leftover Turkey Good For?

In the fridge, the leftover turkey should last 3-5 days.
In the freezer, it should last for up to a month if frozen. Perfect when you intend to use it later!

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Christmas, Kitchen Tips, Recipe Collections, Thanksgiving, Turkey

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Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!
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Leftover Turkey Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How long is leftover turkey good for in the refrigerator? ›

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. Turkey can be frozen for 3 to 4 months. Although safe indefinitely, frozen leftovers can lose moisture and flavor when stored for longer times in the freezer.

What to do with dry leftover turkey breast? ›

In addition to gravy, you can also save dry turkey with a little chicken (or even better, turkey) stock or broth. Place your carved meat in a shallow baking dish and cover it with stock. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and place in low oven, somewhere around 250 degrees, for 5-10 minutes.

Can I eat leftover turkey after a week? ›

How long do the turkey and trimmings stay safe in the refrigerator or freezer? The answer is simple: leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for three to four days. This means you have until the Monday after Thanksgiving to eat all those delicious leftovers or place them in the freezer to enjoy later.

Can I freeze cooked turkey after 3 days? ›

However, leftover turkey can be frozen after 3 days, and it will be fine. If your turkey has been in the fridge for up to 3 days, you are still good to freeze it. Just make sure to store it in a well-sealed container so it doesn't dry out.

Can you eat 7 day old turkey? ›

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends using cooked turkey within three to four days as long as it is kept refrigerated at a temperature that is 40°F or lower.

Can you eat leftover turkey on the 5th day? ›

As a general guideline, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services recommends eating or freezing turkey and other leftovers within three to four days.

Can I freeze leftover turkey? ›

How Long Can You Freeze Leftover Turkey? Leftover turkey freezes well for up to six months if properly handled, packed and frozen within three days of the original preparation. However, I like to try and use it within three months for best flavor and texture, and to avoid the possibility of freezer burn.

How to make leftover turkey juicy? ›

Simply heat your oven to 300 degrees, put the carved meat in a baking dish, and add some chicken broth or turkey stock to the pan. The meat will absorb some of the liquid as it heats, making it nice and juicy. Cover the pan tightly with foil and place it in the oven until the meat is hot, 20 to 30 minutes.

How do you make leftover turkey juicy again? ›

Here are two ways to add moisture to your turkey leftovers:
  1. Add butter to gravy, and brush it over the turkey before reheating.
  2. Smother your leftovers in equal parts gravy and stock and pour it over the turkey before reheating in the oven or microwave.
Oct 10, 2023

Is a 3 year old frozen turkey still good? ›

Frozen Turkey

Turkeys can be kept in the freezer indefinitely. However, cook turkeys within 1 year for the best quality.

Is it OK to eat turkey that's been in the fridge for 2 weeks? ›

If properly stored, raw turkey can last in the fridge for 1–2 days, while cold cuts last up to 5 days. How long does cooked turkey last in the fridge? If you have leftovers that include cooked turkey, you can expect those to last in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.

Can dogs eat turkey? ›

Is Turkey Good for Dogs? Yes, when cooked and prepared properly—and given in very small portions—turkey can be a healthy, occasional treat for dogs. Make sure it is fully cooked; has no skin, bones, or fat; and is not cooked with any other ingredients or seasonings.

Can you eat cooked turkey after 5 days overnight? ›

Cooked turkey and other leftovers can be kept in the fridge safely for about three to four days, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and FoodSafety.gov say. But after that time, "the risk of food poisoning goes up," the Mayo Clinic notes, pointing to the growth of bacteria in refrigerated leftovers.

What is the best way to freeze leftover cooked turkey? ›

Slice the meat from the turkey and wrap it in freezer paper or foil, then seal in plastic freezer bags (make sure to press out all the air before sealing). Liquids, like soup or gravy, will expand slightly as they freeze, so leave a little space at the top of the container.

What to do if my turkey is still frozen after 5 days? ›

If your turkey is still frozen solid:

Try a safe quick-thawing method. Cold water: Keep the bird in its airtight packaging or a leak-proof bag, submerge it in cold water, and change the water every 30 minutes. Microwave: Use your manufacturer guidelines to thaw for about 6 minutes per pound.

Can you eat turkey 5 days after Thanksgiving? ›

Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for three to four days, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service. Turkey typically lasts up to four days in the fridge before it goes bad.

Are leftovers good after 7 days? ›

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.

Can I keep a fresh turkey in the fridge for 6 days? ›

Buy a fresh turkey one to two days before the day you plan to cook. If there is a 'best-by' or 'use by' date on the manufacturer's label, then you can keep fresh poultry, unopened, in the refrigerator until that date.

How long do turkey breast slices last in the fridge? ›

Sliced cold cuts can be stored in a food storage bag, with any extra air squeezed out before it's sealed. Be sure to wash your hands before and after handling turkey, especially if it's raw. If properly stored, raw turkey can last in the fridge for 1–2 days, while cold cuts last up to 5 days.

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