40 Best Leftover Turkey Recipes for Thanksgiving

This cozy pot pie gives leftover cooked turkey a completely new purpose. The creamy filling combines turkey with carrots, peas, mushrooms, onion, and garlic in a homemade white sauce. Instead of pastry, it gets topped with leftover bread tossed in garlic butter, plus Parmesan and melty cheese. Everything bakes together until the filling is bubbling and the cheesy garlic bread is golden. It is a clever way to use turkey, vegetables, and extra bread after Thanksgiving.

Turn leftover Thanksgiving turkey into a cozy bowl of homemade noodle soup. Chopped or shredded cooked turkey joins onion, carrots, celery, thyme, and egg noodles in turkey or chicken broth. Everything comes together in one pot, and the turkey is added near the end since it only needs to heat through. The soup takes about 35 minutes from start to finish. It is an easy choice for a warm post-Thanksgiving lunch or dinner.

This shepherd’s pie puts both leftover turkey and mashed potatoes to good use. The filling combines chopped turkey with onion, bell pepper, carrots, celery, peas, herbs, and a savory broth-based sauce. Leftover mashed potatoes are spread over the top, followed by shredded mozzarella. The skillet is baked until the cheese is golden and the filling is bubbling. You can also work in other Thanksgiving leftovers, such as stuffing or cranberry sauce.

Leftover cooked turkey becomes a hearty pasta dinner in this easy tetrazzini. Spaghetti, turkey, and mushrooms are coated in a creamy sauce made with broth, light cream, cream cheese, onion, and garlic. Mozzarella is mixed into the casserole and Parmesan is added on top before the final bake. It makes eight servings and reheats well, making it handy for easy dinners after Thanksgiving. Rotisserie chicken can also be used when holiday leftovers are gone.

This 30-minute casserole is a quick way to turn leftover turkey into a comforting family dinner. Cooked turkey and egg noodles are combined with peas, corn, cheddar, thyme, and sage. A simple homemade sauce made with butter, garlic, flour, milk, and reserved chicken stock keeps everything creamy. The mixture is topped with more cheddar and baked until the cheese begins to bubble. It is especially practical for a busy post-Thanksgiving dinner when you want something easy.

This quick turkey salad turns leftover cooked turkey into an easy lunch in just 10 minutes. Chopped turkey is mixed with celery, scallions, fresh dill, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and a touch of sugar. It can be served right away or chilled until needed. The recipe uses four cups of leftover turkey, so it is especially handy when you have plenty to use up. Serve it on bread or lettuce for a simple post-Thanksgiving meal.

These baked sliders use two Thanksgiving favorites in one easy meal. Cooked turkey and cranberry sauce are layered on Hawaiian rolls with Swiss cheese. A buttery mustard and garlic mixture is brushed over the top before baking. They take about 23 minutes from start to finish and work well for lunch, dinner, or a casual snack. You can even add leftover stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, or green bean casserole.

These savory turkey balls combine several Thanksgiving leftovers in one creative dish. Shredded turkey is mixed with equal parts mashed potatoes and stuffing, then shaped into balls. You can bake them and cover them with hot gravy or coat them in panko and pan-fry them. Cranberry sauce can also be added when serving. They make a fun appetizer or main dish while using turkey, potatoes, stuffing, and gravy all at once.

Give leftover turkey a cozy makeover with this hearty wild rice soup. Cooked turkey is combined with wild rice, mushrooms, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and chicken broth. A little optional cream can be stirred in at the end for a richer broth. The soup takes about 55 minutes and makes six servings. It can also be frozen in individual portions for an easy meal later.

This simple casserole is a practical way to use a large amount of leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Cooked turkey and prepared stuffing are layered in a baking dish, then covered with cream of chicken soup mixed with milk. The casserole bakes until hot and bubbly, with only about 10 minutes of prep required. It uses six cups of cooked turkey, making it great when you have lots of leftovers. The finished casserole can also be frozen for another meal.

These enchiladas give leftover turkey a bold, cheesy makeover. Shredded cooked turkey is mixed with sour cream, green chiles, taco seasoning, mozzarella, and Jack cheese. The filling is rolled in corn tortillas with green enchilada sauce, then topped with more sauce and cheese. They bake until hot and bubbly in about 30 minutes total. You can also assemble and freeze them for an easy future dinner.

This casserole packs several Thanksgiving leftovers into one easy dinner. Cooked turkey and cranberry sauce form the first layer, followed by mashed potatoes, corn, gravy, and stuffing. Everything is baked together until heated through and the stuffing is lightly crisp on top. You can swap in other leftover vegetables, including green beans or green bean casserole. It is also make-ahead and freezer-friendly for an easy post-holiday meal.

Turn four cups of leftover turkey into a hearty one-pot chili. The turkey simmers with fire-roasted tomatoes, black beans, kidney beans, peppers, onion, garlic, chiles, and warm spices. Cocoa powder and a little brown sugar add extra depth without making the chili taste sweet. Most of the work is simply letting everything simmer for 30 minutes. It also freezes well, making it useful for meal prep after Thanksgiving.

This skillet hash uses leftover turkey, stuffing, and gravy all at once. Onion, garlic, and red bell pepper are sautéed before the cooked turkey and stuffing are added. Toasted almonds and gravy finish the mixture and help create a lightly browned crust. Serve it on its own, over leftover mashed potatoes, or topped with a fried egg. It makes a creative day-after-Thanksgiving breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

These Monte Cristo sandwiches turn leftover turkey and cranberry sauce into a sweet and savory lunch. Turkey, cranberry sauce, and Muenster cheese are layered between slices of soft French bread. Each sandwich is dipped in an egg and milk mixture, then cooked in butter until golden on both sides. A dusting of confectioners' sugar adds the classic sweet finish. They are an easy way to make Thanksgiving leftovers feel completely different the next day.

This colorful Cobb salad gives leftover Thanksgiving turkey a lighter makeover. Cooked turkey tops spinach with bacon, roasted butternut squash, eggs, dried cranberries, goat cheese, and pecans. An apple cider vinaigrette ties the sweet and savory flavors together. Leftover cranberry sauce or roasted sweet potatoes can also be used. It is a hearty lunch or dinner that comes together in about 30 minutes.

Turn leftover cooked turkey into a creamy rice casserole packed with vegetables. Turkey is combined with rice, carrots, onion, peas, Parmesan, water chestnuts, broth, cream, and seasonings. A buttery mixture of cracker and bread crumbs adds a crisp topping. The casserole needs only about 15 minutes of prep before cooking and baking. It is an easy comfort food dinner for the days after Thanksgiving.

This white chili transforms shredded leftover turkey into a cozy one-pot meal. It combines turkey with white beans, corn, green chiles, onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, and turkey or chicken stock. Cream cheese and pepper Jack make the broth creamy, while lime and cilantro add fresh flavor. Part of the beans are mashed to help thicken the chili. It is ready in about 35 minutes, making it great for a quick post-Thanksgiving dinner.

Leftover turkey and cranberry sauce become a warm, cheesy sandwich in this quick recipe. They are layered on thick bread with creamy Brie and Havarti cheese. The sandwich is brushed with oil and grilled until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted. A skillet method is also included if you do not have a grill. With just 15 minutes of prep and cooking time, it is an easy Thanksgiving leftovers lunch.

Give shredded Thanksgiving turkey a Tex-Mex twist with this easy tortilla soup. The broth is loaded with tomatoes, corn, onion, jalapeño, garlic, cumin, and oregano. Leftover turkey is added near the end so it only needs to heat through. Top each bowl with crispy tortilla strips, avocado, Monterey Jack, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime. The whole soup takes about 35 minutes, making it a practical weeknight meal after the holiday.

This frittata turns leftover turkey into a hearty breakfast or brunch. Chopped turkey is combined with sweet potatoes, spinach, Gruyère, eggs, thyme, garlic powder, and paprika. The mixture starts on the stovetop and finishes baking in the oven until set. It is naturally gluten-free and can also work for lunch or dinner. The recipe takes about 55 minutes and makes six servings.

Use shredded leftover turkey to make these easy 15-minute wraps. Flour tortillas are filled with turkey, bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, avocado, mayonnaise, and mustard. Simply layer everything inside and roll each tortilla burrito-style. They make a quick post-Thanksgiving lunch or light dinner with no cooking required. The wraps can also be prepared ahead and refrigerated for easy meal prep.

This hot sandwich gives leftover Thanksgiving turkey a simple comfort food makeover. Toasted bread is topped with sliced turkey and Brie or provolone, then broiled until the cheese melts. Warm gravy is spooned over everything before serving. The entire meal takes only about five minutes to make. It is an especially easy lunch when you have leftover turkey and gravy to use up.

This one-pot soup packs the flavors of turkey pot pie into a cozy bowl. Four cups of cooked turkey simmer with carrots, potatoes, peas, celery, onion, herbs, stock, and half-and-half. Baked pie crust shapes are added on top for the classic pot pie finish. The turkey only needs to heat through while the vegetables cook. It makes eight servings, making it useful when you have plenty of Thanksgiving turkey left over.

These crispy bites combine several Thanksgiving leftovers in one fun appetizer. Chopped turkey, stuffing, Parmesan, and parsley are formed into balls, then wrapped in cold mashed potatoes. Each one is coated in flour, egg, and panko before being fried until golden. Serve them with leftover gravy for dipping. They are a creative option for game-day snacking or using turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy all at once.

This crescent ring wraps Thanksgiving leftovers into an easy appetizer or meal. Thinly sliced leftover turkey is layered with cranberry sauce, Gruyère, chive cream cheese, Dijon, and rosemary. Crescent dough folds around the filling and gets brushed with garlic butter before baking. It takes about 40 minutes from start to finish. You can also assemble it ahead of time and bake it when ready.

Give leftover turkey and cranberry sauce a fresh spin with these quick quesadillas. Chopped turkey is layered between tortillas with cranberry sauce, cheese, and fresh sage. The quesadillas cook in a skillet for about five minutes per side until the cheese melts. They are ready in just 15 minutes, making them perfect for an easy post-Thanksgiving lunch.

These crispy egg rolls put four Thanksgiving leftovers to work at once. Each wrapper is filled with turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and stuffing. Fry them until golden or use the included air fryer method for an easier option. Serve them with more cranberry sauce or leftover gravy for dipping. They make a fun snack, appetizer, or casual meal after the holiday.

A few cups of cooked turkey become a creamy, hearty soup in this comforting recipe. Carrots, celery, onion, herbs, broth, and rice simmer together until the rice is cooked. Half-and-half mixed with flour thickens the broth before the turkey is stirred in and heated through. Brown rice, white rice, or a brown and wild rice blend can be used. It is a cozy way to repurpose plenty of Thanksgiving turkey on a cold evening.

This one-pan pasta bake turns leftover turkey into an easy cheesy dinner. Cooked turkey is combined with pasta, mushrooms, leek, spinach, garlic, cream, Gruyere, and mozzarella. The pasta cooks right in the pan with stock and water before everything goes into the oven. It takes about 40 minutes total and makes six servings. You can also use leftover vegetables in the dish, making it even more useful after a big holiday meal.

This easy casserole turns leftover cooked turkey into a creamy, cheesy dinner. Shredded turkey is combined with broccoli, mushrooms, garlic, heavy cream, parsley, and plenty of cheese. The vegetables cook briefly in a skillet before everything is transferred to a baking dish and topped with more cheese. It bakes for about 20 minutes and takes just 35 minutes from start to finish. The casserole can also be assembled up to 24 hours ahead, making it handy for an easy post-Thanksgiving meal.

This lasagna turns three cups of leftover turkey into a hearty family dinner. Chopped turkey, carrots, bell pepper, onion, and garlic are combined with tomato sauce and cottage cheese. A creamy mixture of cream cheese, sour cream, and milk is layered with the turkey sauce, no-boil noodles, and plenty of cheese. Bake it for 35 to 40 minutes, then let it rest before serving. You can also assemble the lasagna ahead and refrigerate it until you are ready to bake.

This breakfast casserole puts leftover turkey and stuffing to work the next morning. Stuffing forms the base, followed by chopped turkey and shredded Swiss cheese. Eggs are whisked with cream of mushroom soup, milk, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper before being poured over the layers. Bake it covered for 30 minutes, then uncover it until golden and cooked through. It can also be assembled the night before for an easy post-Thanksgiving breakfast.

Give leftover cooked turkey a fresh twist with this colorful Waldorf salad. Turkey is tossed with Granny Smith apple, celery, red and green grapes, dried cranberries, pecans, and green onions. A simple mayonnaise and lemon dressing brings everything together. The salad takes about 15 minutes to prepare, then chills for at least two hours. Serve it over lettuce, on bread, or with crackers for an easy lunch.