34 Delicious Ways to Use Up Leftover Turkey After Thanksgiving

updated Nov 1, 2023

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Credit: Kelli Foster
Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

On the day after Thanksgiving, do you find yourself wondering what in the world you’re going to do with all of that leftover turkey? You’re not alone. There’s the requisite turkey and cranberry sandwich, and perhaps a pot of turkey soup. (Don’t forget to use that carcass for turkey stock!) But for some of us, that barely puts a dent into all those turkey leftovers.

Don’t lose hope! The ways to repurpose the turkey — without eating the same dish for days on end — are not only endless, but superbly tasty. It does take a little inspiration and creativity, but that’s where you have us.

A good back pocket strategy that never fails is to treat turkey like chicken (they do have similar flavor profiles, after all). With the options to use turkey when a recipe calls for cooked or rotisserie chicken, the possibilities now feel limitless. So this year, get inventive and have some fun with those leftovers.

Here are 34 leftover turkey recipes to get you hyped up.

Easy Leftover Turkey Recipes

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Turkey à la King

This creamy dish, made from vegetables like onions, celery, and mushrooms, puts leftover shredded turkey to good use.

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Turkey Sandwich

Classic, deli-style turkey sandwich made with sliced, roasted turkey, cheese, lettuce, and tomato.

3 / 33

Leftover Thanksgiving Lasagna

When you’ve had your fill of turkey sandwiches and turkey soup, but there are still leftovers waiting to be eaten in the fridge, choose greatness. And by greatness we mean a towering lasagna.

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Turkey Shepherd's Pie

This crowd-pleasing dish combines diced holiday turkey with mirepoix, frozen peas, and umami-rich gravy, then topped with mashed potatoes.

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Turkey Noodle Soup

This hearty soup makes use of your leftover Thanksgiving turkey and repurposed in this noodle soup with vegetables.

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Turkey Tetrazzini

Turkey tetrazzini has many variations, but at its heart it is a baked noodle casserole.

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Turkey and Cheese Sandwich Sliders

If you do plan on making one leftover turkey sandwich, let this be the one. The leftover turkey meat and slices of cheese gets tucked inside an entire fluffy Hawaiian rolls. Since you build a full pan of sliders, you not only feed a crowd but you get to have a little break from intensive holiday cooking.

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Post-Thanksgiving Stuffed Shells

This seasonal twist on classic stuffed shells keeps the tender cooked pasta, the ricotta, and the stringy, melted mozzarella cheese, but ditches traditional filling for the flavors of Thanksgiving.

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Turkey Noodle Casserole

Countless versions of turkey noodle casserole abound in Southern community cookbooks and recipe boxes, but we think this one is the very best.

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Bacon, Kale, & Turkey Stew

A quick kale and turkey stew, made more flavorful by bacon and onion, and simple enough to be simmered together in less than an hour of mostly hands-off time.

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Turkey Enchiladas

These enchiladas have become one of our favorite ways to make the most of turkey leftovers. The turkey gets transformed into a new meal, with warm spices and a little kick — it tastes nothing like Thanksgiving dinner.

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Open-Faced "Hot Brown" Sandwiches

A “Hot Brown” starts out simple enough: sliced turkey, bacon, and tomatoes are piled atop thick, buttery bread, but the ordinary turns to extraordinary when it is smothered in a cheesy, creamy Mornay sauce.

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Turkey, Cranberry, Cheddar Skillet Monkey Bread

A warm and cheesy monkey bread that makes use of your leftover Thanksgiving turkey and cranberry sauce.

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Chipotle Turkey Salad

Transform your leftover turkey into a classic deli turkey salad tossed in a mayo-based dressing.

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Cheesy Turkey and Mushroom Lasagna

This chicken (or turkey) and mushroom lasagna is a simple enough dish to wow your family on a weeknight, but it’s also special enough to impress at a dinner party for your foodiest friends.

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Post-Thanksgiving Turkey Vegetable Soup

The day after Thanksgiving take your leftovers and turn them into a simple, cozy turkey and vegetable soup.

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Turkey Avgolemono Soup

This version of the classic Greek avgolemono soup made with turkey is the ultimate comfort food — creamy, full of tender rice and shredded turkey, and with the perfect lemony bite.

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Creamy Turkey Poblano Soup

Creamy and warm with a bit of a kick, this soup is sure to become a go-to. Use shredded chicken or leftover turkey and enjoy this bowl of comfort.

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Turkey Enchilada Omelet

This omelet, which can be made with shredded chicken or turkey, has all the Southwest flavors we love and adore, wrapped up in a fluffy egg package.

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Turkey and Gnocchi Soup

This is the kind of soup that puts you at ease — think of it as an Italian version of the Southern comfort food classic, chicken and dumplings, with fresh potato gnocchi replacing the usual flour dumplings and turkey replacing chicken.

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Turkey Parmesan Biscuit Bake

This is a weeknight-friendly chicken (or turkey) Parmesan biscuit bake that captures all the satisfying flavors and textures of the classic dish with much less time and effort.

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Mexican Turkey Soup

This take on Mexican chicken soup is perfect for a quick and easy dinner because it already has a lot to do with using up leftovers, and turkey makes the perfect substitution.

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One-Pot Creamy Turkey Orzo

This easy orzo dish is pure veggie-packed comfort. Made all in pot, it tastes like grown-up mac 'n cheese — creamy, cheesy, and packed with good-for-you greens and chicken or turkey.

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Turkey and Soba Noodle Salad with Red Curry-Almond Dressing

This cold soba salad is reminiscent of peanut sesame noodles, but with a few key swaps. Its flavor is more lively, surprising, nutty, and spicy.

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Cheesy Southwestern Turkey Casserole

This comforting Southwest chicken bake is sure to satisfy, and it's easy to swap in turkey for the chicken. It's comprised primarily of canned goods, meaning most of the work is already done for you.

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King Ranch Casserole

King ranch casserole could be likened to a Tex-Mex lasagna: layers of toasted flour tortillas are smothered in a cumin- and chili powder-spiked cream sauce, along with heaps of grated cheese. What is there not to like?

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Turkey Flautas with Lime Sour Cream

Flautas—or taquitos as some of you may know them—are complete comfort food. They’re just corn tortillas filled with seasoned meat, rolled, and deep-fried to perfection. Served with a variety of salsas and sour cream, it’s just plain good-for-the-soul kinda food.

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Buffalo Turkey Pasta Bake

There are few things more satisfying after a busy fall day than coming home to a warm and creamy casserole loaded with saucy buffalo chicken (or turkey), tender pasta, and a double dose of cheese.

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BBQ Turkey and Pineapple Flatbread Pizzas

Start with pre-made flatbreads, which are even quicker than prepared pizza dough because you don’t have to stretch or shape them.

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White Turkey Chili Skillet Dip

Grab a bag of chips and call this crave-worthy dip, dinner. It's inspired by white chicken chili, and it couldn't be easier to use leftover turkey in place of the chicken.

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Hearty Turkey Stew

This hearty bowl of stew is definitely the coziest way to use up leftover holiday turkey.

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Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Pot Pie

Turn Thanksgiving leftovers into a comforting, creamy turkey pot pie.

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Irish Turkey & Ham Cottage Pie

This recipe combines two classic Irish dishes.

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