Generally, cooking a whole turkey is reserved for special occasions (Thanksgiving turkey, anyone?), thanks to the effort it takes and the amount of food it yields. Turkeys are usually sold in sizes large to XXXL, which means that when you cook one, you’ll probably end up with lots of leftovers. And let’s be real, even a carved turkey takes up quite a bit of space in the refrigerator. 

So, what do you do with all that leftover turkey? You get creative. Turkey is a blank canvas for any spice blend or marinade — meaning leftover turkey can actually be a lot of fun in the kitchen. There are plenty of ways to use up that leftover bird, and we’ve got 10 delicious solutions for you to dive into right here. 

10 creative ideas for leftover turkey

If you’ve got heaps of leftover turkey, your first instinct might be to make a turkey sandwich. With the right toppings (stuffing, cranberry sauce, maybe even some mashed potatoes), you can generally pull together something pretty tasty. However, we think you can do a little bit better than that. 

1. Turkey and dumplings

Here’s a dish that gives you a chance to use up a lot of your Thanksgiving leftovers. David Murphy, one of the owners of Shuggie's Trash Pie + Natural Wine, a climate-solutions restaurant in San Francisco highlighting upcycled ingredients and sustainable proteins, suggests making turkey and dumplings, using leftover mashed potatoes to make the dumplings. If you’ve got leftover ham, you can add that for good measure. 

The dish is simple enough: Sautee down lots of mirepoix (be it: onion, garlic, celery, carrots, or any combination of aromatics you have left over), then toss in the bones from your turkey. If you’ve got leftover ham, chop it up and add it to the mix. You can also add ham bones if you have them. Finally, add broth (any kind will do) and let it all cook down together. 

Meanwhile, make the leftover mashed potato dumplings. After half an hour,, remove the bones and add the dumplings, gently simmering them in the sauce.  Finish with tons of minced ham and big chunks of turkey.

2. Turkey rillettes

If you’re looking to do something with just the turkey, Dave recommends turkey rillettes. Turkey rillettes are a type of preserved meat spread, similar to pâté, made by slowly cooking leftover turkey with fat (like the skin or dark meat) and seasonings until it becomes tender and easily shreddable.

For this version, simmer three cups of cooked leftover turkey with half a cup each of duck or chicken fat and turkey or chicken stock. Season with any leftover fresh herbs, like rosemary and thyme, fresh garlic (in any form — you’ll blend it later), and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, and then blend until smooth, adding olive oil if necessary to loosen it up. 

Then, chill and serve! It’s great with leftover crusty bread or crackers, plus any jam or cranberry sauce you might have lying around. If you don’t finish it all in one sitting, it’ll last for about four days in the fridge. 

3. Turkey quesadillas

There are very few leftovers that a pile of hot shredded cheese can’t help, so Dave suggests quesadillas as a perfect way to make use of leftover turkey. 

If you’re sharing leftovers with friends or family, you can set up a quesadilla bar with all your leftovers and let everyone build their own quesadillas with whatever you still have from the night before. A little turkey, a little stuffing, some mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce sandwiched between a couple of tortillas and a layer of cheese? There might not be anything better than that. 

4. Turkey pot pie 

If you’re a bit more of a traditionalist, turkey pot pie could be right up your alley. And after a big holiday, you’ve probably got almost everything you need in your refrigerator already. 

You’ll assemble a pot pie much like you would a sweet pie. Simply line a pie pan with a homemade or store-bought pie shell and combine leftover turkey, gravy, and any vegetables you’ve got hanging around (leftover roasted carrots and Brussels sprouts or even green bean casserole would be great). If you want to take it a step further, you could skip the top crust and pipe on leftover mashed potatoes for a riff on shepherd’s pie. Once assembled, bake at 350°F until the mashed potatoes start to turn golden brown.

5. Turkey tetrazzini

Turkey tetrazzini is an Italian baked pasta dish somewhere between a turkey casserole and a lasagna. Making tetrazzini is simple enough. First, cook spaghetti until it’s al dente and shred your leftover turkey. Then, sauté onion, mushrooms, and garlic in butter and thicken it with flour, chicken or turkey stock, and cream. Add the cooked pasta and shredded turkey to the sauce and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a baking dish and top with cheese. Bake at 350°F until the cheese is melted and starting to brown. 

6. Turkey chili

Typically, when people think of chili they think only of ground meat — and that’s an oversight! While ground meat definitely has its place in chili, tender, shredded turkey is an even better option. When the turkey is already cooked, it comes together very quickly. 

To make a delicious turkey chili, you can use your favorite chili recipe and sub out whatever meat is supposed to be in there for turkey. Simply cook the aromatics as you normally would (like onions, garlic, and peppers), season with warm spices like paprika, cumin, and chili powder, add the beans, whatever stock you're using, and then the turkey. Let it simmer for twenty to thirty minutes so the flavors can all come together, and then serve it as you normally would, with your favorite chili toppings. 

7. Turkey salad

Because turkey is a relatively lean protein, leftovers can feel dry and flavorless. All of that can easily be remedied  by making turkey salad — you know, like chicken salad, but with turkey. Just dice or shred your turkey, mix in your favorite mustard and mayonnaise, then toss in some diced onions, celery, and your favorite herbs like dill or chives. Want to be a little extra? Add sriracha for spice or capers for a briny punch. You can customize this mix however you like before sandwiching it between two slices of bread. 

8. Turkey congee

Another way to offset turkey’s dry qualities is with a soup, particularly a warm, comforting bowl of congee topped with shredded turkey, fried shallots, chili crisp, and scallions. First you’ll cook a cup of short-grain white rice in eight cups of chicken or turkey stock for an hour—long enough that it breaks. Then stir in the turkey and tablespoon each of soy sauce and minced ginger. Adjust for seasoning and serve, sprinkling on your favorite toppings. 

9. Turkey bánh mì

This isn’t your average turkey sandwich. Using leftover turkey to make a bánh mì, a Vietnamese sandwich traditionally made with pork, will transform something typically bland into a flavorful culinary experience. To try it out, slather a crusty baguette with spicy mayo, then layer picked vegetables, like carrots and daikon radish, cilantro, sliced jalapenos, and your turkey, and enjoy. 

10. Turkey Sloppy Joes

Perhaps the easiest of all the suggestions, the turkey Sloppy Joes are a tasty alternative to a plain old turkey sandwich. All you really need to do is shred the turkey and mix it with a couple of cups of your favorite BBQ sauce in a pot over medium heat. Once warm, you can serve with thinly sliced white or yellow onions and pickles on toasted hamburger buns. It doesn’t get much easier than that!

How long does leftover turkey last?

As long as it’s wrapped or in an airtight container in a refrigerator that is 40°F or below, leftover cooked turkey will stay good for three to four days. According to the USDA, leftover turkey can also be frozen indefinitely. While it won’t spoil, its quality will begin to deteriorate after three to four months, so it’s best to use it within that time frame. 

If you plan on freezing the turkey, it’s best to slice it first, removing the meat from the bones rather than freezing it whole. You can also freeze the bones to use in soups and stocks at a later date. 

If you aren’t able to get your turkey in the freezer before it goes bad, you can keep it from going to the landfill with Mill. The Mill food recycler turns uneaten food — including meats like turkey — into Food Grounds that can be used as nutrient-rich soil amendment or added directly to your compost pile. Simply add your leftover turkey — bones and all — to the Mill, and it will take care of the rest. 

Sources:

1. U.S. Department of Agriculture: “How long can you keep leftover cooked turkey?” September 18, 2024. https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/How-long-can-you-keep-leftover-cooked-turkey