The short answer: the best leftover turkey recipes are the ones that add moisture back to the meat: soup, pot pie, tetrazzini, enchiladas, fried rice and sandwiches with gravy or cranberry sauce. Use the turkey within 3 to 4 days or freeze it.
- 25 ideas sorted by breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Soups and bakes that hide dry meat best
- Fridge time: 3 to 4 days
- Safety: refrigerate within 2 hours and reheat to 165°F
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Our picks for leftover turkey recipes
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Leftover turkey gets dry fast, so the trick is to pair it with something moist: broth, gravy, cream, sauce or cranberry. Each idea below does that. For a day-by-day schedule that covers sides and pie too, see our Thanksgiving leftovers meal plan.
Leftover turkey breakfast ideas
- Turkey hash. Crisp diced potatoes with onion, turkey and a fried egg on top.
- Turkey and cheese omelet. Two eggs, a handful of shredded turkey and cheddar.
- Breakfast burritos. Scrambled eggs, turkey, cheese and salsa in a tortilla, then freeze extras.
- Turkey and stuffing waffles. Press leftover stuffing and turkey into a waffle iron and top with gravy. Our stuffing recipe makes extra for this.
- Turkey breakfast casserole. Bread, eggs, milk, turkey and cheese baked until puffed. Our hashbrown casserole is a good potato base.
Leftover turkey lunch ideas
- Turkey sandwich with cranberry. Turkey, cranberry sauce and a little stuffing on toast. See more in our sandwiches guide.
- Hot turkey sandwich. Turkey on bread, mashed potatoes alongside, all covered in warm gravy.
- Turkey salad. Chopped turkey with mayo, celery and cranberries or grapes. Use our chicken salad recipe and swap in the turkey.
- Turkey quesadillas. Turkey, cheese and green chiles in a tortilla, pan-fried until crisp. Our air fryer quesadilla method works too.
- Turkey wraps. Turkey, cranberry sauce, greens and cream cheese in a tortilla.
- Turkey pasta salad. Short pasta, turkey, peas and a creamy dressing. Start with our pasta salad.
Leftover turkey dinner ideas
- Turkey pot pie. Turkey, peas, carrots and gravy under a pie crust. Our chicken pot pie recipe works with turkey in place of chicken.
- Turkey tetrazzini. Spaghetti, turkey and mushrooms in a creamy Parmesan sauce, baked until bubbly.
- Turkey enchiladas. Turkey and cheese rolled in tortillas under red or green enchilada sauce.
- Turkey fried rice. Cold rice, turkey, peas, carrots, egg and soy sauce. Follow our fried rice recipe.
- Turkey tacos. Warm the turkey with taco seasoning and a splash of broth.
- Turkey and rice casserole. Rice, turkey, broccoli and a cheese sauce under buttered crumbs.
- Turkey and mashed potato cakes. Mix turkey with mashed potatoes, form patties and pan-fry. Our mashed potatoes make a good base.
- Turkey meatballs. Grind or finely chop leftover turkey with breadcrumbs and egg, then bake. For a fresh-ground version, see our turkey meatballs.
- Turkey shepherd's pie. Turkey and vegetables in gravy, topped with mashed potatoes and baked.
Leftover turkey soups and the carcass
- Turkey soup. Simmer the carcass for broth, then add noodles, vegetables and turkey. See our turkey soup recipe.
- Turkey and wild rice soup. Creamy, with wild rice, carrots and celery.
- Turkey chili. White beans, green chiles and turkey in a light broth. See our turkey chili.
- Turkey noodle soup. Egg noodles, carrots, celery and turkey in the carcass broth.
- Turkey and dumplings. Stew with turkey and vegetables topped with drop biscuits.
A 4-day leftover turkey plan
| Day | Lunch | Dinner |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 after the meal | Turkey sandwich with cranberry | Turkey pot pie |
| Day 2 | Turkey salad | Turkey enchiladas |
| Day 3 | Turkey quesadillas | Turkey soup from the carcass |
| Day 4 | Soup leftovers | Freeze any turkey you have not used |
How long leftover turkey keeps
| Turkey | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Cooked turkey, sliced or shredded | 3 to 4 days | Freeze for longer storage |
| Dishes made with turkey (soup, casserole) | 3 to 4 days | Freeze in portions |
The 3 to 4 day guidance comes from FoodSafety.gov's cold storage chart and the USDA's leftovers guidance, which also say to refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and reheat them to 165°F. For more detail on timing, see how long turkey is good in the fridge.
Freeze leftover turkey the smart way
- Pull the meat off the bones first, then slice or shred it.
- Pack it in 1- or 2-cup freezer bags with a spoonful of broth or gravy.
- Press the air out, label the date and freeze flat so it thaws faster.
- Freeze the carcass in its own bag for soup.
- Thaw it in the fridge overnight, and reheat it with a little broth.
Carving cleanly leaves you more usable meat, so our guide to how to carve a turkey is worth a look. Cranberry sauce is the best companion for most of these recipes; see our cranberry sauce recipe.
Plan the leftovers week
Leftovers only save money when they are on the plan before they spoil. Write a soup night and a sandwich lunch into the week while the fridge is still full.
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Frequently asked questions
What can I make with leftover turkey? You can make turkey soup, turkey pot pie, turkey tetrazzini, turkey enchiladas, turkey fried rice, turkey salad, sandwiches, quesadillas and casseroles with leftover turkey. Swap it in for cooked chicken in almost any recipe.
How long is leftover turkey good in the fridge? Leftover cooked turkey is good in the fridge for 3 to 4 days when it is stored in a covered container within 2 hours of cooking. After that, freeze it or throw it out.
Can you freeze leftover turkey? Yes, you can freeze leftover turkey. Slice or shred it, pack it in freezer bags with the air pressed out, label the date and freeze it flat. A little broth or gravy in the bag keeps the meat from drying out.
How do you reheat leftover turkey without drying it out? To reheat leftover turkey without drying it out, cover it with a splash of broth or gravy and warm it in a 325°F oven or in a covered skillet until it reaches 165°F. Do not microwave plain slices uncovered.
Can you use leftover turkey instead of chicken? Yes, leftover turkey can replace cooked chicken in soups, casseroles, salads, tacos and pot pies in equal amounts. Add it at the end of cooking so it only needs to warm through.
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Sources
- FoodSafety.gov: Cold food storage chart foodsafety.gov
- USDA FSIS: Leftovers and food safety fsis.usda.gov