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By Katie Workman
on Nov 16, 2018, Updated Jan 29, 2022
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I get a little OCD about making sure I am taking full advantage of leftovers, and Thanksgiving is like the Olympics of leftover repurposing. One can only eat so many turkey sandwiches, right? And then we need to move on, and figure out how to turn all that leftover turkey into delicious meals the family will be excited to see later in the week.
Here are a bunch of options – and remember, anywhere you can use leftover shredded chicken, turkey is pretty much fair game!
If you’re looking for a great turkey recipe, check out this Easy Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey!
15 Recipes Using Leftover Turkey
5 from 2 votes
How to Make Turkey Stock from Leftover Turkey
Make use of ALL of the turkey leftovers, and end up with a rich, flavorful stock that can be put to use in so many ways (and also frozen!).
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5 from 1 vote
Turkey Posole Soup
That leftover Thanksgiving turkey is put to great use in a warm, comforting, and very satisfying soup
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5 from 6 votes
Turkey Picadillo
A possibly unorthodox version of a wonderful Latin American dish. Use chopped leftover turkey in place of the ground turkey, and skip the browning step.
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5 from 6 votes
Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup
This divine soup is scented with chili, cumin, and coriander and topped with all kinds of deliciousness, like avocado and tortilla crisps. This is one of my favorite soups of all time.
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5 from 3 votes
Spicy Chicken and Black Bean Enchiladas
Some kick, how much depends a bit on your poblanos. Use shredded turkey instead of chicken in these cheesy enchiladas.
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5 from 2 votes
Spicy Thai Chicken and Rice Noodle Soup
Lemongrass, ginger, fish sauce, rice noodles all come together in one of my favorite seasonless soups. This is an unusual way to make use of leftover shredded poultry.
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5 from 8 votes
Turkey Chili
This is our all-time favorite chili recipes, thick and flavorful and loaded with vegetables. Use chopped leftover turkey in place of the ground turkey and/or turkey sausage. Or use a combo of leftover cooked turkey and turkey sausage for even more flavor.
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5 from 2 votes
Chicken Marsala Pasta
Pick up some mushrooms and a rotisserie chicken and have this pasta for dinner in about 30 minutes. You might even have some leftover sautéed mushrooms from the big holiday meal – add them right in, baby.
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5 from 6 votes
Slow Cooker Red Lentil, Fennel, and Chicken Soup
This thick and satisfying soup has tailgating or sidelines or post-game meal written all over it. You can just make the soup without the chicken called for in the recipe, and then stir in shredded cooked turkey for the last hour or so of cooking so it takes on the soup’s amazing flavors (coriander! cumin!)
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5 from 3 votes
The Easiest Shortcut Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup
It’s not the complicated recipe creation that makes me feel happy and proud so much….it’s the easy ones.
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5 from 3 votes
Chicken Tomato Soup
The smell of this savory soup, which includes easily available pantry ingredients, will make everyone within range instantly ravenous.
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5 from 1 vote
Turkey Pot Pie
Brightly colored vegetables mingle with satisfying chunks of leftover cooked turkey in one of the simplest but most delicious pot pies ever.
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5 from 2 votes
Turkey Tetrazzini
Leftover turkey mixed with sautéed fresh mushrooms and a delightful cream sauce spiked with sherry, sage, and parsley is nestled under a cheesy, crunchy breadcrumb topping. This tetrazinni casserole is anything but boring!
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5 from 1 vote
Leftover Turkey Split Pea Soup
The most comforting, satisfying way to use up leftover turkey, including a simple homemade stock.
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5 from 1 vote
Turkey Reuben Sandwiches
This version of one of the most delicious and classic sandwiches in the sandwich lexicon uses turkey for a lighter change of pace.
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About Katie Workman
Katie Workman is a cook, a writer, a mother of two, an activist in hunger issues, and an enthusiastic advocate for family meals, which is the inspiration behind her two beloved cookbooks, Dinner Solved! and The Mom 100 Cookbook.
Read More About Me
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