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Kimber Matherne
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It’s no secret that with the holidays usually comes leftover turkey! Whether you have roasted turkey, smoked turkey, turkey tenderloin, or turkey breast, you are going to be equipped with over 30 easy recipes using leftover turkey. You will never wonder what to make with leftover turkey again! Get ready to elevate your Thanksgiving leftovers and savor the deliciousness with everything from sandwiches to refreshing cold dishes and mouthwatering warm meals. These recipes truly transform leftover turkey and makes them fresh and irresistible!
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Leftover turkey – the unsung hero of the holiday feast. This is the Best Roast Turkey recipe! Some say that turkey is actually better the next day. All I know is that turkey from Thanksgiving is the gift that keeps on giving, offering endless possibilities for new meals! Transforming yesterday’s dinner into something new? Yes, please! Leftover turkey recipes are anything but boring.
If you’re looking for turkey recipes, I have oven roasted turkey tenderloin, crockpot turkey tenderloin, and turkey breast and they are the perfect base for a comforting dinner. These are all great if it’s just you and your family or even for a larger gathering. My turkey seasoning is the best way to season all of these!
How long is leftover turkey good for?
Leftover turkey can be saved for 3-4 days in the refrigerator, perrecommendations of the USDA. .
If you want to use your leftover turkey to make a new recipe, try to use it within 3-4 days, or freeze it to extend the life of the turkey.
Can you freeze leftover turkey meat?
Leftover turkey can be frozen for up to 3 months in a regular freezer, or 6 months in a deep freeze, to maintain the best flavor. Leftover turkey works very well in the freezer and once thawed it will maintain its flavor and texture well.
If you want to expand the time that you can use your leftover turkey, I recommend portioning it to the amount you need for your recipe, then placing it in a freezer bag (to freeze flat) or freezer friendly container and freezing.
To summarize, if you want to make something with your leftover turkey this week, you can generally just pop it in the fridge. If you want to make something next week, or next month. Put the turkey leftovers in the freezer.
Best Leftover Turkey Recipes
These are classic recipes that are perfect to use leftover turkey with. Note: throughout this post, you can use traditional turkey leftover meat interchangeably in the recipes with leftover chicken.
- Turkey Tetrazzini — Swap out the chicken with your leftover turkey meat and you won’t believe how easy and delicious this comfort meal is!
- Oven Baked Turkey Tacos — Completely transform your thanksgiving leftovers with a new flavor.
- Crustless Turkey Pot Pie — Quick and so cozy!
- Turkey and Gravy Stuffed Bell Peppers — Mix leftover turkey and gravy with cooked rice, then stuff bell peppers and bake until the peppers are tender. Top with cheese for a melty finish.
- Turkey Cobbler — A leftover turkey casserole is the quickest way to use up all of that extra turkey meat.
- Pesto Turkey Pasta Bake — Delicious, quick family dinner!
Leftover Turkey Sandwiches
Leftover turkey provides a fantastic canvas for creating delicious and satisfying sandwiches. Feel free to mix and match ingredients based on your preferences, and don’t hesitate to get creative with condiments and spreads to add an extra layer of flavor to your leftover turkey sandwiches! Here are some ideas to inspire your post-Thanksgiving sandwich creations:
- Baked Turkey Sliders — Using turkey leftovers, these mini, cheesy turkey sandwiches will be a crowd favorite.
- Turkey Cranberry Sliders — Leftover turkey, cheese and cranberry sauce? Does it get any tastier?
- Thanksgiving Leftovers Monte Cristo — A twist on the classic Monte Cristo with turkey, ham, and Swiss cheese, dipped in egg batter, and then pan-fried until golden. Serve with a side of cranberry sauce for dipping.
- Turkey Roll Ups — Super easy, quick, and are packed with bold and tasty flavors.
- Cranberry Turkey Panini — My FAVORITE concoction! Turkey, creamy Brie cheese, and a generous spread of cranberry sauce, between slices of ciabatta or sourdough, then grilled to perfection.
- Thanksgiving Club Sandwich — Layers of leftover turkey, crispy bacon, Swiss cheese, lettuce, and cranberry mayo between slices of toasted whole-grain bread..
- Turkey and Stuffing Sliders — Mini sandwiches featuring sliced turkey, a spoonful of leftover stuffing, and a dollop of cranberry sauce on soft dinner rolls.
- Caprese Turkey Sandwich — Sliced turkey paired with fresh mozzarella, juicy tomato slices, basil leaves, and a balsamic glaze, all nestled between slices of bread..
- Apple and Cheddar Turkey Panini — Sliced turkey with sharp cheddar cheese and crisp apple slices, between slices of multigrain bread, then grilled.
- Pesto Turkey Ciabatta — Turkey slices, fresh mozzarella, tomato, and a generous spread of basil pesto on a ciabatta roll for a burst of flavor.
- Buffalo Turkey Wrap — Turkey tossed in buffalo sauce, paired with crunchy celery, blue cheese crumbles, and ranch dressing, all wrapped in a flour tortilla.
Salads with Leftover Turkey
I really do enjoy leftovers, but the same thing the next day can get really old! Creating a flavorful salad with leftover turkey is a great way to enjoy a lighter and refreshing meal. Remember: You can use traditional turkey leftover meat interchangeably in the recipes with leftover chicken.
- Turkey Cobb Salad — This is filling without feeling heavy, and perfect for lunch and dinner.
- Leftover Turkey Cranberry and Spinach Salad — I would pair this with my vinaigrette dressing and top with red onions, feta cheese and pecans.
- Chef Salad — This is my favorite salad to make with leftover Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey!
- Italian Salad — Adding some protein to this salad would be perfect for a more filling salad.
- Thanksgiving Harvest Salad — Mix leftover turkey with sweet potatoes, dried cranberries, pecans, and goat cheese on a bed of arugula or mixed greens. Top with a balsamic vinaigrette.
- Greek Turkey Salad — Toss together leftover turkey with cucumber, cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, red onion, and feta cheese. Serve on a bed of romaine lettuce and dress with a Greek vinaigrette.
- Apple and Walnut Turkey Salad — Mix leftover Thanksgiving turkey with crisp apple slices, chopped walnuts, celery, and mixed greens. Dress with a light apple cider vinaigrette.
Soup Recipes Using Leftover Turkey
These comforting soup recipes are a great way to repurpose that juicy, delicious, leftover turkey into comforting and nourishing meals. Remember: You can use traditional turkey leftover meat interchangeably in the recipes with leftover chicken.
- Leftover Turkey Bean Soup — This classic soup is perfect for leftover turkey.
- Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup — This is so easy and delicious!
- Wild Rice Soup
- Creamy Turkey Noodle Soup — I can already taste how amazing this is.
Easy Recipes Using Cold Turkey
These recipes really show the versatility of leftover turkey in creating vibrant and tasty dishes.
- Turkey and Broccoli Slaw Salad — Combine turkey with broccoli slaw mix, sliced almonds, and dried cranberries. Toss with a tangy poppy seed dressing for a refreshing and crunchy salad.
- Cranberry Pecan Turkey Salad — This simple salad is packed with sweet and savory flavors.
- Southwest Turkey Spirals — These are great for appetizers or even lunch!
- Turkey Avocado Wrap — Sliced turkey, creamy avocado, mixed greens, and a drizzle of ranch dressing wrapped in a tortilla for a light option.
- Leftover Turkey and Pasta Salad: Toss diced turkey with chilled cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, black olives, and feta cheese. Dress with a light vinaigrette or your favorite salad dressing.
- Greek Turkey Wrap — These are loaded with so much flavor and using turkey would be *chef’s kiss*.
This should give you a great start to figure out what to make with your Thanksgiving turkey leftovers. If you need more ideas, remember that most recipes can use turkey instead of chicken. It’s a very easy substitute!
If you have a tried and true leftover turkey recipe, make sure and let me know in the comments!
Check out my leftover cranberry sauce ideas if you’re looking for ways to use up even more leftovers!
What to make with leftover turkey from Thanksgiving?
Leftover turkey provides a fantastic base for creating delicious and satisfying meal such as sandwiches, soups, salads and casseroles. Remember that you can easily use turkey in recipes that call for chicken.
Can I freeze turkey?
Leftover turkey can be frozen for up to 3 months in a regular freezer, or 6 months in a deep freeze, to maintain the best flavor. Leftover turkey works very well in the freezer and once thawed it will maintain its flavor and texture well.
How long can I keep my turkey in the fridge?
Leftover turkey can be saved for 3-4 days in the refrigerator, perrecommendations of the USDA. .
Ooey Gooey Turkey Cheese Sliders
By: Kimber Matherne
5 from 1 vote
These delicious baked sandwiches are perfect for lunch, dinner, or a hearty appetizer. Filled with layers of tender turkey, tangy, melted provolone, and then baked with a sweet mustard sauce to lock in the flavor, these are a crowd pleaser!
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
Total Time: 30 minutes mins
12 servings
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Ingredients
- 24 Kings Hawaiian Rolls, (2 12pk packages)
- 1 lb sliced turkey breast
- 8 oz provolone cheese, 12 slices
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 3 tbsp dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375˚F.
Combine melted butter, dijon mustard, sugar and parsley and mix well.
Slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally and place the bottom half to fit snugly in a 9×13 pan.
Layer turkey and provolone evenly over the rolls and place the tops back on. Use a knife to cut between the rolls.
Brush the butter dijon sauce over the top of the rolls to evenly coat, working any extra sauce down between the rolls.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the tops turn golden brown and the cheese is melted. Enjoy!
Last step!Share a picture on Instagram and tag me at @easyfamilyrecipes!
Recipe Notes
Substitutions:
- KingsHawaiian rolls – You can also use plain white dinner rolls, or wheat dinner rolls in this recipe if you prefer.
- Turkey deli meat —You can use freshly sliced turkey from the deli counter or pre-sliced meat found in the refrigerated section. I prefer thinly sliced either way. A fun addition, is to use peppered turkey breast to add a little more of a kick to these sliders.
- Provolone cheese sliced —Again, either freshly sliced from the deli counter or pre-sliced in the cheese section will work equally well.
For the Glaze
- Butter – Unsalted can also work.
- Sugar – I use white sugar to create this honey mustard type sauce because sugar is easy to pour and mix, but you could use honey for great results also!
- Dijon mustard– In a pinch I have used both spicy mustard and yellow mustard with good results.
- Parsley– fresh or dried can be used, just make sure it is finely chopped.
How to Store: To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
How to Freeze: These turkey cheese sliders are great to make and freeze ahead for a busy night or to give to a friend. Follow the instructions in the post to ensure they stay fresh when freezing.
How to Reheat: This can be reheated in the microwave in 30 second increments.
How to Scale: You can half the recipe by using 1 loaf of Hawaiian rolls, an 8×8 pan etc.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 2sandwiches, Calories: 328kcal (16%), Carbohydrates: 33g (11%), Protein: 17g (34%), Fat: 14g (22%), Saturated Fat: 8g (50%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 61mg (20%), Sodium: 717mg (31%), Potassium: 173mg (5%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 10g (11%), Vitamin A: 287IU (6%), Vitamin C: 1mg (1%), Calcium: 152mg (15%), Iron: 1mg (6%)
