Leftover Turkey Recipes to Try After Thanksgiving

Turkey Carnitas with Green Mojo
Photo: Photo: Jennifer Causey / Food stylist Chelsea Zimmer / Prop stylist Kathleen Varner

Thanksgiving leftovers are one of the best parts of the holiday. You can always reheat them and enjoy as-is for Thanksgiving 2.0, but they also can be repurposed into all different kinds of meals. Take turkey, for example — you can include it in a casserole, use it to make stock, make tacos, and of course, enjoy it in a next-day sandwich situation, too. Read on for those recipes and more Thanksgiving leftover turkey dishes.

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Buffalo Turkey Hand Pies

Buffalo Turkey Hand Pies
Photo: Jennifer Causey / Food stylist / Chelsea Zimmer / Prop stylist Kathleen Varner

These delicious, savory hand pies are made by filling store-bought puff pastry with diced leftover turkey that's been tossed with a Buffalo-style hot sauce.

02 of 12

Thai-Inspired Turkey Green Curry

Thai-Inspired Turkey Green Curry
Photo: Jennifer Causey / Food stylist Chelsea Zimmer / Prop stylist: Kathleen Varner

Leftover turkey breast is easily infused with lots of flavor when reheated in this quick Thai-inspired Turkey Green Curry.

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Kentucky Hot Brown

Kentucky Hot Brown
© BARNARD & MEYER

Star chef Bobby Flay smothers an open-face turkey sandwich with cheese sauce and bacon for his version of the over-the-top Louisville classic.

04 of 12

Leftover Roast Turkey and Chinese Egg Noodle Soup

Leftover Roasted Turkey and Chinese Egg Noodle Soup
Alison Miksch

"This is a great recipe for whether you're roasting a traditional whole bird, using a spatchcocked (butterflied) turkey, or the separate parts," cookbook author Andrea Nguyen writes.

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Turkey "Carnitas" with Green Mojo

Turkey Carnitas with Green Mojo
Photo: Jennifer Causey / Food stylist Chelsea Zimmer / Prop stylist Kathleen Varner

Shredded cooked turkey replaces the more traditional shredded pork in this riff on carnitas tacos, served with a sauce inspired by Cuban mojo.

06 of 12

Thanksgiving Leftovers Nachos

thanksgiving-leftover-nachos-ft-blog1119-1.jpg
Sarah Crowder

F&W culinary director at large Justin Chapple makes next-level nachos with leftovers from his Thanksgiving meal. He includes diced turkey, chopped roasted vegetables, and whole cranberry sauce, but any leftovers you have can be used because gooey Monterey Jack cheese brings them all together.

07 of 12

Parmesan-Braised Gigante Beans with Turkey

Parmesan-Braised Gigante Beans with Turkey
Photo: Jennifer Causey / Food stylist Chelsea Zimmer / Prop stylist Kathleen Varner

Giant lima beans cooked to al dente complement tender braised leftover turkey thighs and drumsticks in this cozy stew. A rind of Parmesan cheese enriches the broth.

08 of 12

Turkey and Butternut Squash Lasagna with Crispy Sage

Turkey and butternut squash lasagna with crispy sage
Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

Each layer of this next-level lasagna leans on Thanksgiving leftovers in a smart way to bring big flavor to the table. Leftover sautéed mushrooms jazz up the creamy béchamel, while mashed butternut squash (or sweet potato) provides a smooth contrast to the hearty turkey filling flavored with leftover gravy and Parmesan. Pan-fried sage leaves add an elegant twist.

09 of 12

Walnut-Cranberry Turkey Salad

Walnut-Cranberry Turkey Salad

© Christina Holmes

The dressing for this light, delicious turkey salad is made with mayonnaise, yogurt, and chopped fresh herbs.

10 of 12

Farmhouse Turkey Hot Dish

Farmhouse Turkey Hot Dish
John Kernick

"Hot dish" is Minnesotan for baked layers of starch, meat, vegetable, and typically, canned soup. In TV host and Twin Cities native Andrew Zimmern's version, crisp brown Tater Tots provide the starch. "Nothing beats Tater Tots for this. Period," says the chef. And the meat comes from freshly braised turkey legs, though 4 cups of shredded leftover meat would be excellent, too.

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Leftover Turkey Broth

This is the perfect broth to get the most out of your Thanksgiving turkey carcass
Getty Images

This simple Leftover Turkey Broth recipe from Justin Chapple provides an easy method to making broth from scratch using your leftover roasted turkey carcass.

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Turkey Shepherd's Pie with Two-Potato Topping

Turkey Shepherd's Pie with Two-Potato Topping

© Lucy Schaeffer

In one dish, you can use leftover turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, and sweet potatoes to put a new spin on your Thanksgiving flavors. This recipe makes a large pie, but you can also prepare it in individual ramekins; check them for doneness after 20 minutes.

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