Do you need healthy leftover turkey recipes to use up extra Thanksgiving turkey? I've collected 12 of the best leftovers that use up turkey leftovers from Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner! Each recipe is a good use of leftovers like meat, cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, veggies, and more!
Jump to:
- What Is a Popular Dish Made With Leftover Turkey?
- Healthy Turkey Leftover Recipes
- Instant Pot Turkey Noodle Soup
- Cranberry Crescent Roll Braid
- Thanksgiving Tacos
- Coconut Milk Curry
- Tetrazzini Casserole
- Bone Broth
- Cranberry Brie Sandwiches
- Healthy Turkey Wrap with Grapes and Pecans
- Easy Pot Pie
- Turkey Pesto Sandwich
- Leftover Turkey Gyros
- Nachos
- FAQs
- Instant Pot Turkey Noodle Soup
What Is a Popular Dish Made With Leftover Turkey?
Whether you have Thanksgiving leftovers or you have smoked meat from a barbecue or smoker, these delicious recipes give you a variety of choices to use up what you have.
Healthy recipes like soups, sandwiches, casseroles, wraps, and pasta are an easy and quick choice when you have a lot of leftover turkey.
If it's the holidays, you likely have a lot of other leftovers from Thanksgiving Day like mashed potatoes, stuffing, broccoli, sweet potatoes, green beans, cheesy Brussels sprouts, and more!
You can freeze your leftover turkey breast, but these tasty ways are a great way to have your meals planned for days! Many of these recipes are light, some are heart-healthy and even low-carb!
Healthy Turkey Leftover Recipes
INSTANT POT TURKEY NOODLE SOUP
Classic turkey soup is cozy and full of flavor while also being light and refreshing!
Mix chicken broth with delicious turkey and other leftovers for a delicious and nutritious soup! You can use leftover chicken too!
Crescent rolls wrapped around leftover meat and other Thanksgiving sides make this super easy for the holidays.
Quick and easy and can be eaten for a meal or an appetizer.
These tacos are one of the most fun and healthy leftover turkey recipes!
All of the sides and meat are in a tortilla and taste just as delicious as the original meal!
Only 20 minutes and this delicious meal is on the table. Serve with white rice, cauliflower rice, or brown rice.
A deliciously creamy, lightly spiced curry recipe that the whole family will love. One of the easiest healthy leftover turkey recipes out there!
Delicious pasta and creamy sauce make this a super easy recipe.
One of the best leftover turkey casseroles that the entire family will enjoy!
Use it for a leftover turkey soup recipe like wild rice soup or sipping, it's a great way to use up leftover bones.
Make this recipe with turkey carcass, red onion, carrots, and celery in your Instant Pot or stovetop!
A delicious sandwich bursting with tons of flavor.
Cranberry & brie turkey sandwiches are a mix of savory and sweet that complement each other so well.
An easy wrap recipe you can make for lunch or a quick dinner.
Swap low-fat mayo for yogurt for a protein boost.
A fun twist on Thanksgiving dinner with the best part - a deliciously flaky crust!
Turkey pot pie is full of delicious veggies and a simple gravy that makes this recipe so hearty and filling.
It's the perfect sandwich for lunch or an easy dinner.
Serve this leftover Thanksgiving turkey sandwich toasted or make it on the griddle!
It is one of the most flavorful and healthy leftover turkey recipes bursting with Mediterranean flavors.
Fresh veggies, tzatziki, and soft pita bread make this wrap so tasty.
Use up leftover dark meat or turkey legs with this cheesy and satisfying nachos recipe.
Perfect for a game day appetizer or a fun dinner.
FAQs
According to the USDA, leftover cooked turkey can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. That gives you a few days after Thanksgiving to give these healthy leftover turkey recipes a try!
Leftover turkey tastes best when used in a recipe like a cozy soup, casserole, or recipe with gravy that helps to impart moisture back into the meat.
You can also swap it for rotisserie chicken in rotisserie chicken recipes such as chicken salad, homemade taquitos, or even buffalo chicken dip.
If the meat has been overcooked one of the best uses for it is with a soup like this noodle soup, casserole, or a pasta bake to help get some moisture back into it.
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Instant Pot Turkey Noodle Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 cup chopped green beans
- 1 quart chicken broth use 2 quarts if you like more broth
- 16 oz egg noodles
- 2 cups leftover turkey
- 2 tablespoon parsley chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1.5 cups plain Greek yogurt ¼ cup per bowl
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions
- Turn on Instant Pot saute feature and press start. Add in olive oil and heat. Add in onions and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add in chopped carrots, celery and green beans along with 1 quart of broth. Stir gently then place lid into locked and sealed position. Cook on manual high pressure for 10 minutes. Release pressure, cancel manual mode.
- Turn saute mode back on and add egg noodles. Let noodles saute for 7-8 minute or until desired firmness.
- Stir in cooked turkey and stir. Allow to simmer until just heated through, 1-2 minutes. Stir in Greek yogurt, top with parsley and salt & pepper to taste if desired.
Stove Top Instructions
- Heat olive oil over medium heat and then add in carrots and celery. Saute until softening and slightly translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add broth and allow soup to come to a boil then reduce heat and simmer on medium low for about 15 minutes.
- Add in noodles and cook for 10 minutes or until the noodles are al dente. Stir in chopped turkey and heat until warmed through.
- Stir in Greek yogurt and then top with chopped parsley and season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
- If the meat is already cooked it is very important to add the meat last and only allow it to simmer until heated through. Since it is already cooked it will dry out quickly if left to simmer too long.
- Freezer: Store in quart sized freezer safe soup containers for up to 3 months.
- Leftovers: Add in up to 1 additional quart of chicken broth when storing leftovers as the noodles tend to suck up much of the broth. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Reheat: Reheat in the microwave or on the stove top until heated through.
- Paleo: Swap noodles for potatoes and omit Greek yogurt for a paleo version that is dairy free.
- Stir in some kale for some extra greens!
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