17 Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Recipes for the Days After

Thanksgiving leaves most of us with a fridge full of turkey and a few days of meals to figure out. These 18 leftover turkey recipes give you plenty of ways to use it up: soups and stews, skillet dinners, casseroles and pot pies, salads and wraps, and the sandwiches everyone wants the next day.

Many of them use up other leftovers too, like cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy, and mashed potatoes. Several freeze well, so you can cook once over the long weekend and have dinner ready later in the month without eating the same plate four days in a row.

Turkey Stew

This Turkey Stew simmers leftover turkey with yellow potatoes, carrots, celery, and peas in turkey stock, seasoned with fresh sage, thyme, and rosemary. Mashing a few of the potatoes thickens it without flour. It takes about 45 minutes in one pot and freezes for up to 3 months, so you can stash a batch for a busy December night.

Turkey and Rice Soup

Simple and light, this Turkey and Rice Soup combines shredded turkey, white rice, carrots, onion, and celery in broth with rosemary and thyme. It’s gluten-free and dairy-free as written, which helps if anyone at your table needs both. After a heavy holiday meal, a bowl of this feels like a reset.

Turkey Cranberry Wrap

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Made with just five ingredients, this Turkey Cranberry Wrap layers dairy-free cream cheese, cranberry sauce, sliced turkey, and crisp romaine in a tortilla. There’s no cooking and it’s ready in about 10 minutes. It’s a smart way to use the last of the cranberry sauce for lunch, and an almond flour tortilla makes it gluten-free.

Easy Leftover Turkey Salad

From a registered dietitian, this Easy Leftover Turkey Salad mixes shredded turkey with lemon, fresh dill, celery, onion, and toasted pecans. It’s low-carb, needs no cooking, and comes together in 10 minutes. Pile it on greens, tuck it into lettuce wraps, or spread it on toast for an easy lunch the week after Thanksgiving.

15-Minute Turkey Stroganoff

Ready in one skillet, this 15-Minute Turkey Stroganoff cooks mushrooms, onion, and garlic with fresh rosemary, then stirs in turkey, broth, Worcestershire, and sour cream. Serve it over egg noodles, rice, or cauliflower rice for a lighter plate. It’s one of the fastest ways to turn leftover turkey into a full dinner that doesn’t taste like a repeat.

Turkey and Sweet Potato Hash

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Packed with color, this Turkey and Sweet Potato Hash crisps cubed sweet potato and peppers in one skillet with Cajun seasoning and a splash of hot sauce, then folds in turkey and feta. Use bell peppers if you want it mild. Top it with a fried egg and it works for breakfast, lunch, or dinner the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Vietnamese-Style Turkey & Sweet Potato Curry

If you want something completely different from the holiday plate, this Vietnamese-Style Turkey & Sweet Potato Curry simmers turkey and sweet potato in coconut cream with red chili, turmeric, fish sauce, and lime. It’s ready in about 30 minutes on the stovetop. Spoon it over rice and finish with fresh cilantro.

Leftover Turkey Chili

Hearty and freezer-friendly, this Leftover Turkey Chili uses both white and dark meat with cannellini and kidney beans, diced tomatoes, and red bell pepper. Chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika give it plenty of flavor in about 35 minutes. Make a pot on Saturday and freeze the extra for an easy dinner later in the month.

Turkey Orzo Soup

Featuring tender orzo, this Turkey Orzo Soup simmers turkey with carrots, onion, celery, garlic, and thyme, plus a splash of white wine in the broth. It’s ready in 30 minutes on the stovetop, or you can let it go in the slow cooker. It freezes for up to 3 months, so it’s a good one to double.

Creamy Turkey Soup

This low-carb Creamy Turkey Soup swaps noodles for cauliflower and zucchini, with onion and celery in broth finished with a little cream and cream cheese. Each bowl has about 29 grams of protein and 6 net carbs. It’s made in one pot in about 40 minutes, so it’s an easy lunch to portion out for the week.

Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

Layered in a cast-iron skillet, this Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie stacks sausage stuffing, turkey, gravy, and mashed potatoes, with optional cheese on top. It bakes in about 45 minutes. It uses four Thanksgiving leftovers at once, so it’s the one to make when the fridge is full of containers.

Individual Turkey Pot Pies

Baked in ramekins, these Individual Turkey Pot Pies fill each dish with turkey, carrots, celery, onion, and peas in a stock-based sauce with a little mustard, then top it with a round of puff pastry. They take about 40 minutes and make 5 servings. Prefer one big pie? Bake the filling in a single dish instead and scoop it out at the table.

Easy Turkey Cranberry Sliders

These Easy Turkey Cranberry Sliders layer Hawaiian rolls with turkey, whole-berry cranberry sauce, and melted provolone or Swiss, then get brushed with a Dijon and poppy seed butter before baking. One pan makes 12. Add a layer of leftover stuffing if you have it, and set them out for a Friday night with family still in town.

Wild Rice and Leftover Turkey Casserole

Loaded with broccoli and mushrooms, this Wild Rice and Leftover Turkey Casserole bakes turkey and a wild rice blend in a cheddar and sour cream sauce under a buttery Ritz cracker topping. You can assemble it up to 2 days ahead and add the topping right before baking. It’s a good one to prep while you’re still putting away Thanksgiving dishes.

Easy Leftover Turkey Pasta Bake

Made without any canned soup, this Easy Leftover Turkey Pasta Bake tosses egg noodles with turkey, mushrooms, peas, jarred alfredo, and ricotta, then bakes it under white cheddar. It takes about 35 minutes. Rotisserie chicken works too, so save the recipe for after the turkey is gone.

Leftover Thanksgiving Sandwich

This Leftover Thanksgiving Sandwich stacks turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, green bean casserole, a drizzle of gravy, and crispy fried onions club-style on bread. It takes about 10 minutes to build and you can eat it cold or warmed up. It’s the sandwich to make the day after, when you want one more bite of the whole meal.

Turkey Brie Cranberry Sandwich

Grilled in a skillet or panini press, this Turkey Brie Cranberry Sandwich melts brie over sliced turkey with cranberry sauce, toasted walnuts, and spinach. Use low-carb bread and a sugar-free cranberry sauce to keep it keto. It’s ready in about 15 minutes and makes a cozy lunch on a cold weekend after Thanksgiving.