Make Taste, Not Waste: 10+ Delicious Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
It's estimated that a staggering 316 million pounds of food is wasted each Thanksgiving. GROSS. The easiest way to be part of the solution? Eat your dang leftovers! Read on to discover the best ways to transform leftover turkey into a tasty meal.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Turkey Banh Mi with Quick-Pickled Cranberries
Talk about transforming all of your turkey day leftovers into a totally different meal! This Thanksgiving take on a classic banh mi is a great way to mix up your leftovers. Don’t have leftover raw cranberries? Just sub with a spread of cranberry sauce.
For the pickled cranberries
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped cranberries
1 cup shredded carrot
For the Sandwich
1 or 2 baguettes, cut into
4 6-inch lengths
4 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 small onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
2 cups shredded turkey
2 tablespoons fish sauce,more if needed
1 teaspoon five-spice powder
1 tablespoon sugar
12 slices cucumber
1 small jalapeño, sliced
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, torn
Sriracha sauce (optional)
Directions
In a medium bowl, combine the sugar, rice vinegar and salt, then stir to combine. Add the cranberries and carrots and toss to coat. Let stand at room temperature while you make the rest of the sandwich.
Preheat the broiler. Slice the baguette pieces almost all the way through lengthwise and open each like a book. Spread a tablespoon of mayo on the cut sides of each piece. Place on a sheet pan and reserve.
In a large saute pan over medium heat, drizzle the oil and add the onion. Stir for 5 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic and ginger and stir for a minute, then add the turkey and sprinkle with fish sauce, five-spice powder and sugar. Stir until the turkey is heated through. Remove from heat and keep warm.
Place the prepared baguette slices under the broiler and broil until the mayonnaise is bubbly. Fill each baguette with the turkey mixture, then top it with cucumber slices, cranberry mixture, jalapeño and cilantro. If desired, drizzle with Sriracha sauce. Serve immediately.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Turkey Vatapa
Traditionally made with shrimp, this turkey take on a classic Brazilian stew is sure to be a welcome change from your classic Thanksgiving meal.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup diced yellow onion
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons minced fresh jalapeño pepper
3 1/2 cups diced tomatoes (1 28-ounce can)
12 ounces lager beer
Salt
3/4 cup peanuts, ground fine in a food processor
1 cup light coconut milk
2 1/2 cups cooked turkey, skin removed, chopped
Ground black pepper
3 tablespoons minced parsley
3 tablespoons minced cilantro
1 lime, zest and juice
Directions
In a large Dutch oven or stockpot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and bell pepper and saute for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger and jalapeño and saute another few minutes. Stir in the diced tomatoes, beer and a pinch of salt and bring to a boil.
Cover pot, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the ground peanuts, coconut milk and turkey. Stir and simmer, uncovered, for another 5-10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste and stir in the parsley, cilantro and lime zest and juice.
Photo Courtesy of Pickled Plum
Roast Turkey Hash
When you’ve spent what feels like a week in the kitchen, a hash is a great way to combine all your leftovers for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
In this recipe, leftover turkey, shredded Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, and stuffing are combined into a patty and pan-fried to create Thanksgiving hashbrowns of sorts!
Drizzle it with leftover gravy or your favorite hot sauce and enjoy!
Photo Courtesy of Spend with Pennies
Leftover Turkey Enchiladas
Think classic chicken enchiladas, but with leftover turkey instead of Co-op roasted chicken!
Calling for just bell pepper, onion, garlic, torillas, leftover turkey, enchilada sauce, and cheese, these enchiladas are super easy and make for a simple meal when you don’t want to spend a bunch of time cooking.
If you have leftover squash or sweet potato, you could add those as a filling for a veggie option!
Photo Courtesy of RecipeTin Eats
Garlic Bread Leftover Turkey Pot Pie
Of course, a pot pie is a no-brainer for leftover turkey.
But instead of requiring you to make a fussy crust, this recipe from RecipeTin Eats uses sourdough bread as the top of the pie!
All you’ll need is leftover turkey and whatever veg you have on hand, plus some butter, flour, and milk to make the filling.
Photo Courtesy of Jo Cooks
Turkey Bites
Thursday’s dinner is Sunday’s game day snack!
In this recipe, leftover turkey is combined with sour cream, asiago cheese, herbs, and spices and stuffed into a homemade dough to make the perfect football-watching appetizer.
Serve them along side fresh veg and Co-op wings to serve a crowd!
Photo Courtesy of Plated Cravings
Creamy Leftover Turkey Soup
Cube up that leftover turkey and pair it with corn and potatoes in this creamy soup from Plated Cravings!
This soup calls for simple pantry ingredients and is an easy weekend meal to enjoy after the busy holiday week.
If you end up with a lot of extra turkey, cook a big batch and freeze some for easy weeknight meals in December.
Photo Courtesy of Diestel Turkey
Turkey Salad with Cranberries & Almonds
Another simple way to enjoy leftover turkey? Make a turkey salad filling with onion, celery, apples, and cranberries!
Serve it over a bed of lettuce for a lighter meal after the big feast or serve it as a slider with any leftover rolls you have on hand.
More Leftover Turkey Recipes
Leftover Turkey "Carnitas" from Serious Eats
Turkey Tetrazzini from Lil’ Luna
Turkey and Stuffing Quiche from Food Network
Leftover Turkey Fried Rice from Ahead of Thyme