Great Ideas for How to Cook Holiday Turkey Leftovers
Holiday turkey leftovers galore! I love leftovers, especially after a wonderful Thanksgiving or Christmas feast!
There’s something so satisfying about opening the refrigerator the next day and discovering that much of the hard work has already been done. The turkey is roasted, the vegetables are cooked, and there’s a delicious collection of ingredients waiting to become something entirely new.
Of course, nobody wants to eat exactly the same holiday dinner for the next four days!
Fortunately, leftover turkey is incredibly versatile. From comforting soups and creamy pot pies to colorful salads, sandwiches, tostadas, and casseroles, there are so many ways to make the most of that beautiful holiday bird.
So, before you reach for another plain turkey sandwich, let’s explore some delicious ideas for putting those holiday turkey leftovers to work!
Why Holiday Turkey Leftovers Are Worth Saving
Preparing a holiday turkey takes time, effort, and money. Therefore, it makes sense to enjoy as much of that delicious meal as possible.
Leftover cooked turkey is a convenient starting point for all kinds of recipes. You can shred it, chop it, slice it, or combine it with other ingredients from your holiday dinner.
Even better, leftover turkey works beautifully in many dishes that normally call for cooked chicken.
Think about soups, salads, wraps, casseroles, pasta dishes, and savory pies. With a little imagination, one holiday bird can inspire several entirely different meals!
And that’s what I call resourceful cooking!
What Can You Make with Holiday Turkey Leftovers?
Whether you have a few slices of turkey breast or several containers of shredded light and dark meat, there’s no shortage of possibilities.
Here are some of my favorite ways to turn holiday leftovers into another delicious meal.
1. Make a Delicious Turkey Salad
Turkey salad is one of the easiest ways to transform leftover turkey into a quick lunch.
Simply combine chopped or shredded turkey with a little mayonnaise or plain yogurt, finely chopped celery, and your favorite seasonings.
From there, you can get creative!
- Add dried cranberries or chopped fresh apple for sweetness.
- Stir in chopped pickles or a little mustard for tang.
- Include green onion, fresh parsley, or dill for extra flavor.
- Season with freshly ground black pepper and a little lemon juice.
Serve your turkey salad in a sandwich, wrap, lettuce cup, or on toasted bread. You can also spoon it over a bed of fresh salad greens.
If your turkey has already been seasoned generously, taste the salad before adding more salt.
More Delicious Turkey Salad Recipes to Try
If you love turkey salad as much as I do, here are two more wonderful recipes from my Cooking With Kimberly kitchen. Both are delicious ways to give leftover turkey a completely different personality!
- Romaine Salad with Turkey Breast, Blue Potatoes, Chèvre & Raspberry Vinaigrette – A colorful combination of turkey, romaine lettuce, blue potatoes, creamy goat cheese and raspberry vinaigrette. Use sliced leftover turkey breast for an easy holiday variation.
- Turkey Scallopini Salad with Gorgonzola – One of my all-time favorite recipes! For a holiday-leftovers version, substitute cooked leftover turkey for the turkey scallopini. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy those delicious flavors without preparing another turkey dish from scratch.
▶ Watch: Romaine Salad with Turkey Breast, Blue Potatoes, Chèvre & Raspberry Vinaigrette
Watch my original Cooking With Kimberly cooking show to see how I prepare this beautiful turkey salad!
2. Bake a Comforting Turkey Pot Pie
A homemade turkey pot pie is a wonderful way to use both leftover turkey and vegetables from your holiday dinner.
Combine chopped cooked turkey with carrots, peas, celery, onions, and a creamy gravy or savory sauce.
Then, transfer the filling to a baking dish and cover it with pie pastry, puff pastry, or another suitable topping.
Bake until the pastry is golden and the filling is bubbling and thoroughly heated.
Leftover gravy can be especially useful here. However, add enough broth or milk to achieve a filling that is creamy without being overly thick.
This is comfort food at its finest!
Watch My Homemade Turkey Pot Pie Recipe
Want to make a delicious homemade pot pie with your extra holiday turkey? Follow my How to Bake Turkey Pot Pie recipe on Cooking With Kimberly!
It’s a lovely way to transform leftover turkey into a comforting, satisfying meal. You can also use suitable leftover vegetables to make the most of your holiday ingredients.
▶ Watch: How to Bake Turkey Pot Pie
Join me in the kitchen for my original homemade turkey pot pie cooking show!
3. Prepare a Hearty Turkey Soup
Meanwhile, turkey soup is another holiday-leftovers classic, and for good reason.
It’s warming, satisfying, and easy to adapt according to the ingredients you have available.
Start with a flavorful broth, then add vegetables, herbs, and cooked shredded turkey.
You can include rice, noodles, potatoes, beans, or other additions to create a hearty meal.
For something different, try a Tex-Mex-inspired soup with tomatoes, peppers, cumin, and tortilla chips.
One of my favorite recipes is Tired of Leftover Holiday Turkey? Low-Fat Tortilla Soup. It’s a hearty Tex-Mex-inspired soup that turns leftover turkey into an entirely different meal with warming spices, tomatoes and delicious toppings.
Remember to add already-cooked turkey toward the end of the cooking process so it can heat through without becoming unnecessarily dry.
Don’t Throw Away Those Turkey Bones! Make Homemade Broth
Before you discard that holiday turkey carcass, remember there’s still something wonderful you can make with the bones and scraps: homemade roasted turkey broth!
After removing the cooked turkey meat, save the carcass and suitable bones, along with leftover vegetable trimmings and aromatic herbs. These ingredients can become the foundation of a flavorful homemade broth.
Use your turkey broth in soups, gravies, rice dishes, casseroles, and other delicious recipes. It’s another wonderful example of making the most of your holiday ingredients.
Follow my complete How to Cook Roasted Turkey Broth from Scratch recipe on Cooking With Kimberly.
Kitchen Tip: Refrigerate the turkey carcass and usable scraps promptly after dinner. Prepare the broth within the safe refrigerated storage period, or freeze the bones and scraps promptly for later use.
▶ Watch: How to Cook Roasted Turkey Broth from Scratch
Watch my cooking show and learn how to turn leftover roasted turkey bones and scraps into delicious homemade broth!
4. Reinvent Turkey with Tex-Mex Flavors
Sometimes, the best way to enjoy leftovers is to make something that tastes nothing like the original holiday feast!
Cooked turkey is wonderful in tacos, quesadillas, tostadas, enchiladas, and other Tex-Mex-inspired meals.
Try seasoning shredded turkey with cumin, chili powder, garlic, and a little broth to keep it moist.
Then add your favorite vegetables, cheese, sauces, and toppings.
For a particularly creative approach, check out my Holiday Turkey Tostadas with Jalapeño Haskap Relish.
In that recipe, I use refried butternut squash as a base for the tostadas, along with seasoned turkey, rice, fresh vegetables, cheese, and delicious sweet-spicy haskap relish.
It’s a fantastic example of how Thanksgiving leftovers can become something exciting enough to serve to guests!
Watch My Holiday Turkey Tostadas with Jalapeño Haskap Relish
These tostadas are one of my favorite ways to transform leftover turkey into something completely different! You get delicious layers of seasoned turkey, refried butternut squash, rice, vegetables, cheese and Haskapa’s sweet-spicy Jalapeño Haskap Relish.
Find the complete recipe by searching for Holiday Turkey Tostadas with Jalapeño Haskap Relish on Cooking With Kimberly.
▶ Watch: Holiday Turkey Tostadas with Jalapeño Haskap Relish
See how I transform holiday turkey leftovers into these colorful, delicious tostadas!
5. Make Turkey Sandwiches and Melts
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a really good turkey sandwich!
The secret is to make it special.
Layer slices of turkey with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and your favorite condiments. Add cranberry sauce for a sweet-tart holiday touch.
You can also prepare an open-faced hot turkey sandwich with gravy or turn your leftover turkey into a grilled cheese-style melt.
For another variation, try toasted bread with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and a little leftover gravy on the side.
Delicious!
6. Turn Turkey into Casseroles and Pasta Dishes
Leftover turkey also works beautifully in baked casseroles.
Combine cooked turkey with rice, pasta, or potatoes, plus vegetables and a flavorful sauce.
Top with cheese or seasoned breadcrumbs if desired, then bake until thoroughly heated.
Turkey can also replace cooked chicken in many familiar recipes, including creamy pasta dishes, rice bakes, and vegetable casseroles.
However, remember that turkey is already cooked, so the goal is to heat it safely while preserving its tenderness.
7. Use Turkey in Salads, Bowls and Quick Lunches
On the other hand, not every leftover meal has to be heavy or rich.
If you’re craving something a little lighter after a big holiday dinner, try adding leftover turkey to a colorful salad bowl.
Combine greens, shredded turkey, crisp vegetables, cooked grains, and a flavorful dressing.
You can also make rice bowls with turkey, roasted vegetables, and a spoonful of your favorite sauce.
These meals are easy to customize and can be a delicious change after several days of traditional holiday foods.
Don’t Forget the Other Thanksgiving Leftovers!
Turkey isn’t the only holiday ingredient worth saving.
Leftover roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, squash, rice, stuffing, and cranberry sauce can all inspire new dishes.
For example:
- Mashed potatoes: Make potato cakes, croquettes, or a topping for a savory baked casserole.
- Roasted vegetables: Add them to soups, omelets, grain bowls, or pasta dishes.
- Butternut squash: Mash or refry it for wraps, tostadas, or a delicious vegetable side.
- Stuffing: Use it as a topping for a casserole, reheating it thoroughly.
- Cranberry sauce: Try it in sandwiches, salad dressings, or alongside reheated turkey.
- Cooked rice: Turn it into a savory rice bowl or a new side dish.
Using what you already have is a wonderful way to reduce food waste, stretch your grocery budget, and create something delicious without starting from scratch.
How to Store Holiday Turkey Leftovers Safely
Before planning all these delicious meals, it’s important to store your leftovers properly.
After the holiday dinner, remove the remaining turkey from the bones and refrigerate it promptly in shallow containers.
Refrigerate perishable leftovers within two hours of serving. Keep your refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or colder.
Generally, cooked turkey and other properly refrigerated leftovers should be eaten within three to four days.
If you’re not going to use the turkey during that time, freeze it promptly instead.
Divide it into smaller portions before freezing so you can thaw only what you need.
For the best quality, aim to use frozen cooked turkey within roughly two to six months. Food kept continuously frozen at 0°F (-18°C) remains safe longer, although quality gradually declines.
Thaw frozen turkey safely in the refrigerator or by another approved method, and reheat leftovers thoroughly to 165°F (74°C).
Important: Freezing doesn’t reset the clock on leftovers that have already been sitting in the refrigerator. Freeze them while they’re still fresh and within the safe storage period.
Can You Freeze Complete Thanksgiving Meals?
Absolutely! Preparing individual freezer meals is a practical way to enjoy holiday flavors later.
For example, you might combine sliced turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and gravy into a freezer-safe meal container.
Then label it with the contents and freezing date.
Some foods freeze better than others, so consider keeping delicate vegetables, fresh salads, and crisp toppings separate.
When you’re ready to enjoy your meal, thaw and reheat it safely.
It’s a little taste of Thanksgiving without having to prepare an entire holiday feast!
Watch Cooking With Kimberly’s Turkey Recipes
Want more turkey inspiration, from preparing the holiday bird to creating delicious meals with the leftovers?
Explore my Turkey Recipes + Reviews playlist for cooking shows, useful techniques, recipes, and delicious ideas.
▶ Watch: Turkey Recipes + Reviews
Watch Holiday Leftovers Recipes and Ideas
And if you’re wondering what else to make after Thanksgiving, Christmas, or another special celebration, I’ve got even more inspiration for you!
My Holiday Leftovers Recipes + Ideas playlist focuses on creative ways to turn extra food into entirely new meals.
Whether you have leftover turkey, vegetables, potatoes, or other holiday favorites, I hope these videos give you some delicious new ideas.
▶ Watch: Holiday Leftovers Recipes + Ideas
Watch the complete Holiday Leftovers Recipes + Ideas playlist on YouTube.
More Holiday Turkey Leftovers Inspiration
Looking for still more delicious ideas?
- Explore More Holiday Turkey Leftover Recipes
- Find My Leftover Turkey Tortilla Soup
- Discover Holiday Turkey Tostadas with Jalapeño Haskap Relish
- Browse Turkey Recipes on Cooking With Kimberly
- Explore Thanksgiving Recipes and Holiday Ideas
Make the Most of Your Holiday Turkey Leftovers!
One of my favorite things about cooking is discovering just how many different meals can come from the same ingredients.
Holiday turkey leftovers are no exception!
What began as a beautiful Thanksgiving or Christmas feast can become a comforting bowl of soup, a colorful tostada, a creamy pot pie, or a delicious turkey sandwich.
So, don’t let that wonderful turkey go to waste!
Use your imagination, store your leftovers safely, and have some fun creating new meals with the delicious food you’ve already prepared.
Until next time…
Be a Champion in Your Kitchen, and Eat Deliciously!
Kimberly 💜
