31 Leftover Turkey Recipes to Clear Your Overstuffed Fridge
If you ask us, leftover turkey recipes are the true heart of the Thanksgiving holiday. That’s why, even for a small gathering, you’ll usually catch us cooking a whole turkey—not just for the day-of feast, but for the next-day turkey gumbo, turkey enchiladas, or even crisp turkey salads.
Leftover turkey keeps well for at least three days in the fridge and up to two months in the freezer. That gives you plenty of time to focus on more than building the perfect leftover turkey sandwich. And it’s not just about the bird: Our favorite leftover recipes also offer creative ways to move through your stuffing, cranberry sauce, and sides. Whether you’re in the mood for a golden-toasted turkey sandwich or delicately spiced samosas, these leftover turkey recipes will help you clear out the fridge in the most delicious way possible.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton1/31Simple Turkey Chili With All the Toppings
Leftover turkey recipes don’t get easier than this rich and smoky one-pot chili. Swap the ground turkey for shredded meat, then top the bowls however you please. A bright kick of lime juice and a dollop of silky sour cream play off the heat from fresh jalapeño.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Anna Hampton2/31Turkey Tetrazzini
Photo by Dong Kim3/31The Ultimate Turkey Dinner Leftovers Soup
Turn your Thanksgiving dinner leftovers into a dressed-up potato soup. Mashed potatoes, carrots, stuffing, and roast turkey meet again to bring depth and texture to this ideal cold-weather meal.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich6/31Taiwanese Turkey Rice
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell7/31Monte Cristo Sandwiches
Tired of the cold leftovers sandwich? Mix it up with this hot sandwich recipe. Melty cheese meets punchy mustard and thinly-sliced leftover turkey breast, all wrapped up in battered and fried egg bread. Serve with cranberry sauce on the side for dipping.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell8/31Lentil and Chicken Soup With Sweet Potatoes and Escarole
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone9/31Thanksgiving Skillet Pizza
Assembled directly in a cast-iron skillet, this Thanksgiving pizza is a canvas on which your roast turkey and cooked vegetables will shine.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano and Stevie Stewart10/31Chilaquiles Rojos
Nachos for brunch? Sounds good to us. In this classic Mexican dish, you’ll top homemade tortilla chips with a smoky salsa roja and shredded turkey for a crunchy, spicy start to the day after Thanksgiving.
Photo by Ted Cavanaugh11/31French Toast Turkey Sandwich
What’s better than a leftover turkey sandwich? One made with French toast, of course. This sweet-salty showstopper is the ideal way to use leftover turkey breast.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce12/31Pickle Potato Salad
Calling all pickle lovers: This briny, herby, and creamy potato salad features a pickle brine spice rub and enough sliced pickles to put any deli to shame. Just swap the rotisserie chicken for leftover turkey.
Photo by Lara Ferroni13/31Turkey Gumbo
The Cajun trinity—onions, celery, and bell peppers—cook down with a dark roux in this gumbo recipe. Roasted turkey has never known a better home.
Photo by Elizabeth Cecil15/31Turkey Congee With Crispy Shiitake Mushrooms
Comforting turkey congee is our ideal cold-weather breakfast. As with any rice soup or porridge, have fun with the toppings: Add fresh herbs, roasted butternut squash, chopped peanuts, or a soft-boiled egg.
Lara Ferroni16/31Turkey Samosas
Leftover turkey, mashed potatoes, and peas find new life in these crispy fried samosas that pair perfectly with fresh chutney. The dough rounds can be prepped ahead of time and can stay in the fridge for 24 hours or the freezer for 3 months.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton17/31Easy Green Curry
Combine store-bought green curry paste, freshly grated ginger, lime, and creamy coconut milk to make this effortless turkey curry. Toss in bell peppers and sugar snap peas for vegetal crunch.
Chris Gentile19/31Chipotle Barbecue Pulled Turkey Drumstick Sliders With Brussels Sprout Slaw
Use a Dutch oven or slow cooker to braise leftover drumsticks in a sticky, adobo-spiced barbecue sauce. Paired with a brussels sprouts slaw, these sliders make perfect gameday fare.
Photo by Ted Cavanaugh26/31Turkey Pho Dip
Part French dip, part pho, all-out delicious. Dunk your turkey sandwich in a Vietnamese-inspired broth, delicately spiced with star anise, cinnamon, and fennel seed.
Penden + Munk27/31Turkey and Mushroom Risotto
Use your turkey stock to transform rice, wild mushrooms, and heaps of nutty cheese into a creamy, porridge-like risotto—the perfect weeknight follow-up to Thanksgiving dinner.
Photo by Yunhee Kim29/31Shepherd’s Pie
Take out multiple leftovers with one hearty dish. Swap shredded turkey for the ground lamb and use leftover mashed potatoes for the beautifully cross-hatched topping. It’s comfort food at its finest.
Photo by John Kernick30/31Monte Cubano
If you had both a turkey and a holiday ham, you’re well-prepared to make this riff on a classic Cuban sandwich. Swiss cheese, pickles, and sliced meat gets dunked in an egg batter and fried to golden perfection.
