18 Leftover Turkey Recipes for Amazing Post-Thanksgiving Meals

leftover turkey pho in bowl with herb garnish
Photo:

Kelsey Hansen

Get this: Leftover turkey recipes can be even better than Thanksgiving dinner itself! Try these turkey soups, cheesy casseroles, piled-high sandwiches, turkey salads, and more to put Thanksgiving leftovers to good use.

01 of 18

Dairy-Free Turkey Tetrazzini

leftover turkey dairy free turkey tetrazzini

Kelsey Hansen

Put a trio of Thanksgiving leftovers to work in this dairy-free casserole. Turkey and cooked greens make the filling while leftover bread cubes or stuffing mix forms a crunchy topper. Each bit is loaded with creaminess thanks to a homemade cashew-based sauce.

02 of 18

Garden Turkey Melt

Overgrown Garden Turkey Melt
Andy Lyons

This isn't your typical deli sub! Our garden turkey melt is one turkey sandwich that doesn't slack on flavor. Artichoke hearts, garlic, and fresh rosemary do all the heavy lifting in this easy Thanksgiving leftovers recipe.

03 of 18

Leftover Turkey Pho

leftover turkey pho in bowl with herb garnish

Kelsey Hansen

Put shredded leftover turkey to good use in this quick version of Vietnam’s beautiful rice noodle soup, pho. Simmer packaged broth with toasted spices like cinnamon, star anise, and fresh ginger. Serve each bowl with fresh herbs, lime wedges, and sliced chiles.

04 of 18

Turkey Shepherd's Pie

Turkey Shepherd's Pie
Blaine Moats

Not only is this a delicious and simple leftover turkey recipe, but you can add in other Thanksgiving leftovers, too! Mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, and gravy make up this delicious leftover turkey casserole—simply swap the ingredients from our shepherd's pie recipe with turkey, potatoes, and other dishes borrowed from your Thanksgiving menu.

05 of 18

Sesame-Ginger Turkey Wraps

Sesame-Ginger Turkey Wraps
Andy Lyons

Each of these tortilla-wrapped snacks is full of bold Asian flavors for a unique way to use up your leftover turkey. Top each turkey-filled wrap with broccoli cole slaw for an unexpected crunch in every bite.

06 of 18

Sloppy Turkey and Veggie Sandwiches

Sloppy Turkey and Veggie Sandwiches
Scott Little

Shred your leftover turkey to make these sloppy sandwiches that adults and kids won't be able to get enough of. A creamy goat cheese-yogurt sauce mixed with garlic and herbs adds flavor to every bite of turkey leftovers.

07 of 18

Cran-Turkey Enchiladas

Cran-Turkey Enchiladas
Kim Cornelison

This crowd-pleaser makes the most of leftover turkey and cranberry sauce—and it's got all of your favorite leftover turkey enchilada fixings, including black beans, salsa, Monterey Jack cheese, and onion.

08 of 18

Smoked Turkey Panini

Smoked Turkey Panini
Andy Lyons

This mile-high turkey sandwich gets a fresh spin with thick slices of country Italian bread and bruschetta topping. We'll show you how to create a melty leftover turkey sandwich using to skillets.

09 of 18

New World Chili

New World Chili
Andy Lyons

Fresh pumpkin, dried cranberries, and jalapeno peppers add a pleasing twist to slow-simmering leftover turkey chili. Let it stew while you catch up on Netflix or the sports matches on TV.

10 of 18

Turkey-Avocado Wraps

Turkey-avocado wraps
Jay Wilde

Turn leftover turkey into a tasty Tex-Mex lunch in these simple tortilla wraps starring creamy avocados and spicy chipotle peppers. Make the corn salsa up to 24 hours before serving.

11 of 18

Turkey-Spinach Toss

Turkey Spinach Toss
Andy Lyons

Pepper-seasoned turkey breast, deli ham, and juicy oranges top fresh wilted spinach in this light lunch. Cooking juices make a tasty dressing for this leftover turkey breast recipe.

12 of 18

Chef's Salad

Chef's salad
Blaine Moats

We show you how to make the best variation of this classic salad, which tosses together with your favorite dressing and lots of fresh veggies and meats in just 30 minutes.

13 of 18

Turkey-Bacon Salad

Turkey-Bacon Salad
Andy Lyons

This easy leftover turkey recipe requires just a few ingredients, plus a homemade mustard-dill dressing. Bacon and snap peas top romaine lettuce in this hearty (and low-cal) turkey salad recipe.

14 of 18

Herbed Turkey and Waffles

Herbed Turkey and Waffles
Andy Lyons

A creamy sauce featuring Parmesan cheese, roasted turkey, thyme, and sage tops these homemade cornmeal waffles. Cranberry relish makes a tart and delicious topper.

15 of 18

Turkey Frame Soup

Turkey Frame Soup
Andy Lyons

Whole wheat pasta, turnips, carrots, parsnips, and beans simmer for a little more than an hour in a zesty tomato broth to create this satisfying soup. It's the best way to make the most of every single piece of your leftover turkey.

16 of 18

The Anything Frittata

The Anything Frittata
Scott Little

Serve a next-day brunch you and your out-of-town guests will love. This turkey-and-veggie frittata takes just 25 minutes to make.

17 of 18

24-Hour Chicken Fiesta Salad

24-Hour Chicken Fiesta Salad
Marty Baldwin

Layers of greens, turkey, tomatoes, jicama, cheese, and beans topped with tortilla chips and served with a chili dressing make a texturally interesting Mexican-inspired turkey salad. Layer the ingredients in the evening and chill overnight. Open the fridge come dinnertime and voila! You've got yourself a beautiful and filling meal.

18 of 18

Turkey Pad Thai

Chicken Pad Thai
Kritsada Panichgul

Pad Thai is Thailand's most famous noodle dish. Whether they're called banh pho (in Vietnamese) or sen mee (in Thai), rice stick noodles are still rice stick noodles. Don't soak the noodles too long or they'll break when cooked. And while chicken might be the typical option, swapping in leftover Thanksgiving turkey will put a delicious spin on a delicious recipe.

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