20 Ideas for Leftover Turkey

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com
Updated August 27, 2020
Credit: Blaine Moats

Not sure what to do with that leftover bird? Try our ideas for soups, casseroles, pot pie, sandwiches and salads.

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Turkey Cubano

Credit: Blaine Moats
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Swap turkey for roast pork in this Thanksgiving spin on a Cuban sandwich. (Or file this recipe for Christmas and pair leftover ham with deli turkey.)

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Turkey Tortilla Soup

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Turn leftover turkey (or chicken) into soup by adding pantry staples, such as salsa, chicken broth and tortilla chips. Start to finish: 20 minutes 

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Catchall Casserole

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Customize this recipe to suit your tastes and whatever meat and veggies you've got in your fridge. 

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Turkey-Mango Quesadillas

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Tuck mango salsa, Gouda cheese, and chopped turkey or chicken into flour tortillas for this fresh twist on quesadillas.  

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Wild Rice & Turkey Soup

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Short on time for a post-holiday meal? Try our quick and easy soup inspired by the flavors of Minnesota, which leads the nation in turkey production. Smoked turkey mixes with the state grain, wild rice. Meaty shiitake mushrooms add more substance to the bowl.

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Strongbow Turkey Pie

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Turkey dominates the menu at the Strongbow Inn in Valparaiso, Indiana. Use your turkey leftovers in their meaty turkey pie recipe. Lighter eaters might prefer to split a pie. 

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Pesto Pasta Toss

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You'll only need six ingredients - and 20 minutes - to whip up this pasta dish. Use chopped leftover cooked turkey, chicken, pork, beef, or vegetables, and whatever kind of pasta you have on hand. 

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Applejack Turkey Sandwich

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Grilled sweet peppers and onion add crunch to the sweet-smoky Applejack Turkey Sandwich from a Gaylord, Michigan, restuarant.

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Spinach, Turkey and Wild Rice Soup

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Spinach and wild rice give a nutritional boost to traditional turkey and rice soup that simmers in your slow cooker. Use low-sodium condensed chicken soup and broth to make it even healthier. 

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Cranberry-Turkey Spinach Salad

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Roast turkey, cucumber, jicama (Mexican potatoes), onion, and cranberry jelly top fresh baby spinach. Toss it with tangy cranberry vinaigrette for extra festive flavor. 

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Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole

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This hotdish combines a handful of pantry ingredients. It's a great way to use up leftover chicken or turkey. 

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Turkey Cranberry Enchiladas

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This crowd-pleasing main dish makes the most of both leftover turkey and cranberry sauce— plus it has favorite enchilada fixings such as black beans, salsa, Monterey Jack cheese, and onion. 

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Mix-and-Match Potpie

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Create your version of this classic with leftover turkey or other meats, selecting your favorite ingredients and crust options to use in our basic recipe. 

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Smoked Turkey Quiche

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This variation of a classic quiche recipe combines smoked turkey breast with Swiss cheese, eggs and cream. Serve with fresh fruit and homemade sweet rolls for a hearty start to the day. The recipe comes from a Minnesota bed and breakfast.

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Turkey-Cranberry Fingers

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Cranberry-orange relish, sliced turkey and fresh watercress or spinach leaves make a colorful appetizer-size sandwich. The recipe includes instructions for making focaccia, but purchased bread works fine, too. 

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New World Chili

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Pumpkin, dried cranberries, jalapeno peppers, and turkey add an unusual flavor twist to slow-simmering chili. 

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Michigan Muffuletta

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Stone House Bread Cafe in Leland, Michigan, gave us the recipe for this version of the New Orleans classic, layered with olive relish. 

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Sausage-Wild Rice Casserole

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Pork sausage and wild rice blend with onion, mushrooms and water chestnuts in an easy-to-make casserole. Add 2 cups cubed, cooked chicken or turkey to make it a main dish. 

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Rachel Sandwiches

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This twist on the classic Reuben trades the traditional corned beef for thin-sliced turkey (but you could use leftover holiday turkey, too). To reduce the sodium, rinse sauerkraut with cold water before using. 

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Gobbler Sandwich

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Pile turkey on herbed focaccia along with Roma tomatoes, romaine lettuce and shredded cheddar for a comfort food sandwich.

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By The editors of MidwestLiving.com