Updated Nov 22, 2021 Thanksgiving is over and that storage container of perfectly carved leftover turkey is waiting to be gobbled up. But after a night of heavy eating, you’re probably craving something different…maybe even lighter. So ditch the idea of reheating your previous Thanksgiving dinner plate as is, and opt for something far more exciting. Treat you leftover turkey like a simple meal prep ingredient and layer it onto a grain bowl with roasted butternut squash, avocado, and a dollop of cranberry sauce. Swap it for chicken in a cozy winter vegetable soup. Or dice up all your leftovers and bake them into a casserole with wild rice. There are so many un-boring things you can make with turkey leftovers!
Best Leftover Turkey Recipes
The secret to transforming leftover turkey into exciting new meals is a little creativity with flavor, sauces, and texture combinations. First, check to see what you have in your pantry, fridge, and freezer. The feel free to add in chopped nuts or seeds to a salad, or use up that frozen bag of peas in a casserole. Here’s a few ideas to get you started! And I’ll continue to add to this list every year. So be sure to bookmark this page for your next Thanksgiving menu. Turkey Cobb Salad This harvest turkey Cobb salad puts a tasty seasonal spin on the classic Cobb salad with roasted turkey, butternut squash, and cranberries. Those ingredients join the classic ingredients like bacon and boiled eggs to create a salad that’s protein-packed, and hearty. Lighter Turkey Casserole What better way to make use of leftovers than a comforting turkey casserole? But don’t worry, this one won’t weigh you down. It’s wonderfully light and fluffy with wild rice, frozen peas and a quick mushroom gravy sauce. Turkey Meatballs If you’ve got a meat grinder at home, take some turkey meat, grind it up, then make these delicious turkey meatballs. The best part? The maple mustard sauce, of course! Turkey Cranberry Hash Yes, you can use those turkey leftovers for breakfast! The potatoes are buttery soft, the turkey is deliciously filling, and the cranberries add that perfectly balanced sweetness. And if you’d like, you can top the hash with a poached egg! As far as mashed potatoes go, these potato pancakes are a no brainer. They’re crisp, savory, and a fun way to enjoy your mashed sides all over again.
