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Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes – WellPlated.com

These Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes will allow you to reinvent your extras into new dishes you’ll be able to get pleasure from for the subsequent a number of days! Plus I share recommendations on storage and reheating to ensure your leftovers are simply as delish as they had been Thanksgiving Day.

Turkey tetrazzini in a baking dish

My Favourite Methods to Reuse Thanksgiving Leftovers!

cookbook author erin clarke of well plated

Getting ready and serving an exquisite, scrumptious turkey on Thanksgiving Day is a practice in my household—and so are the Thanksgiving leftovers!

When you’ve exhausted the plain (turkey sandwiches), determining what to do with leftovers is usually a problem.

Over time, I’ve discovered easy and delicious methods to repurpose my leftover turkey and sides that don’t really feel like I’m merely reheating my Thanksgiving Day meal.

From comforting casseroles to veggie-packed pastas to creamy soups, these recipes will breathe new life into the leftovers out of your Thanksgiving dinner. Plus, most of them serve a number of individuals, which means they’re supreme for these of you who nonetheless have visitors at your own home.

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Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipes

You possibly can’t beat a heat and comfortable turkey casserole! And for those who’re not precisely within the temper for a giant casserole proper after Thanksgiving, no worries: simply pop it within the freezer and also you’ve obtained a heat-and-eat dinner for one more day.

Turkey pot pie with gravy

Turkey Pot Pie

This turkey pot pie recipe skips the underside crust to lighten issues up! Leftover Thanksgiving turkey and frozen greens make it SO straightforward.

Take a look at this recipe

turkey tetrazzini in a baking dishturkey tetrazzini in a baking dish

Turkey Tetrazzini

Turkey tetrazzini turns leftovers right into a hearty casserole! With mushrooms, peas, and pasta in a tacky cream sauce, it is complete consolation meals.

Take a look at this recipe

Chicken and biscuits in a baking dish and served in two bowlsChicken and biscuits in a baking dish and served in two bowls

Turkey and Biscuits

The unique model of this recipe is made with hen, however you’ll be able to simply swap in turkey!

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Leftover Turkey Pastas

Actually, you’ll be able to fold leftover turkey into nearly any pasta recipe—particularly ones with a creamy sauce. The flavors within the dishes under all pair effectively with turkey!

Butternut squash mac and cheese with breadcrumb toppingButternut squash mac and cheese with breadcrumb topping

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Add your leftover turkey to this creamy mac and cheese for further protein.

Take a look at this recipe

Cheesy chicken Alfredo bake in a dishCheesy chicken Alfredo bake in a dish

Turkey Alfredo Bake

That is one other recipe the place you’ll be able to swap the hen with turkey. Straightforward!

Take a look at this recipe

A plate with healthy sweet potato pasta with Brussel sprouts and cranberries on a black plate.A plate with healthy sweet potato pasta with Brussel sprouts and cranberries on a black plate.

Candy Potato Pasta with Brussels Sprouts

Bulk up this fall-inspired pasta along with your turkey leftovers. In case you’ve obtained spare Brussels sprouts and candy potatoes, even higher!

Take a look at this recipe

Leftover Turkey Sandwiches

The traditional! The OG! However these recipes are slightly bit extra elevated than the sandwiches you set along with leftover dinner rolls whereas standing in entrance of the fridge at midnight.

A turkey salad sandwich on a bunA turkey salad sandwich on a bun

Turkey Salad

Use your Thanksgiving extras to make this leftover turkey salad with cranberries, apples and creamy Greek yogurt dressing. Straightforward and delish!

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Turkey Cheddar Apple Grilled Cheese Sandwich. The best flavors of fall! Melty cheddar, sweet apple butter, granny smith apples, and healthy turkey make an amazing sweet and savory flavor combination that tastes like fall! Healthy comfort food that’s perfect for fast lunches and easy family meals. Recipe at wellplated.comTurkey Cheddar Apple Grilled Cheese Sandwich. The best flavors of fall! Melty cheddar, sweet apple butter, granny smith apples, and healthy turkey make an amazing sweet and savory flavor combination that tastes like fall! Healthy comfort food that’s perfect for fast lunches and easy family meals. Recipe at wellplated.com

Apple Grilled Cheese with Turkey

This grilled cheese sandwich is a bit more grown-up than the model made with American cheese slices, but it surely’s nonetheless a success with children. Win!

Take a look at this recipe

leftover thanksgiving turkey sliders on hawaiian slider bunsleftover thanksgiving turkey sliders on hawaiian slider buns

Leftover Thanksgiving Sliders

Juicy turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and melty cheese sandwiched between fluffy Hawaiian slider buns and baked till golden, these straightforward Thanksgiving sliders are essentially the most scrumptious approach to make use of your leftover Thanksgiving turkey.

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Leftover Turkey Soups

You possibly can swap turkey for hen in any of your favourite soups, however these are my private favorites.

Overhead view of turkey soup in bowlOverhead view of turkey soup in bowl

Turkey Soup

Use your leftover turkey meat for turkey soup! Made with or with out the turkey carcass, this hearty soup is flavorful and satisfying.

Take a look at this recipe

Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup in a soup crockSlow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup in a soup crock

Turkey Wild Rice Soup

Use leftover turkey as a substitute of hen on this satisfying soup recipe.

Take a look at this recipe

a bowl of quick and easy chicken enchilada soupa bowl of quick and easy chicken enchilada soup

Turkey Enchilada Soup

Make turkey enchilada soup by utilizing your leftovers as a substitute of hen. Add your favourite toppings and devour!

Take a look at this recipe

Extra Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes

Turkey’s not the one factor you’re prone to have in your fridge after Thanksgiving! Whereas Candy Potato Casserole With Pecans and such are most likely greatest loved as-is, listed here are some inventive concepts to make use of a few of the different leftovers you may need available.

Leftover stuffing cakes on a plate with an egg on topLeftover stuffing cakes on a plate with an egg on top

Leftover Stuffing Truffles

Rework further Thanksgiving stuffing into straightforward leftover stuffing truffles. Crisp on the skin, tacky on the within, and excellent with eggs.

Take a look at this recipe

What to do with leftover cranberry sauce- Make a breakfast parfaitWhat to do with leftover cranberry sauce- Make a breakfast parfait

Leftover Cranberry Sauce Parfait

Leftover cranberry sauce parfaits are the right use for leftover cranberry sauce from the vacations. A simple and wholesome breakfast or snack.

Take a look at this recipe

easy shepherds pie topped with mashed potatoes in a bowl with a spooneasy shepherds pie topped with mashed potatoes in a bowl with a spoon

Straightforward Shepherd’s Pie

A simple shepherd’s pie recipe with savory floor beef or floor lamb filling, frozen veggies, and creamy mashed potatoes baked on prime.

Take a look at this recipe

A serving of vegetarian shepherd's pie in a bowlA serving of vegetarian shepherd's pie in a bowl

Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie

Hearty vegetarian shepherd’s pie with a savory vegetable mushroom filling and creamy mashed potato topping is cozy, filling consolation meals!

Take a look at this recipe

a skillet with sweet potato and sausage hash with peppers and eggsa skillet with sweet potato and sausage hash with peppers and eggs

Candy Potato Hash

When you have leftover baked or boiled candy potatoes after making your casserole, put them to make use of on this hash recipe!

Take a look at this recipe

Roasted vegtable salad in a bowl with quinoa and pitaRoasted vegtable salad in a bowl with quinoa and pita

Roasted Vegetable Salad

Reinvent these leftover roasted veggies into a simple work-week lunch!

Take a look at this recipe

Storing Leftover Turkey

If attainable, slice and refrigerate the turkey as quickly as attainable after the meal has ended. This helps maintain the meat from drying out.

  • To Retailer. Turkey leftovers will final within the fridge for as much as 4 days. Place them in an hermetic storage container or ziptop bag. For further moisture, you’ll be able to drizzle a few of the turkey drippings or broth excessive of the meat earlier than refrigerating it.
  • To Freeze. The easiest way to freeze leftover turkey is in an hermetic, freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.

Tip!

To keep away from one other inflow of turkey, freeze your leftovers in smaller parts. This lets you thaw and revel in your further turkey slightly at a time.

Reheating Leftover Turkey

For these of you who’ve tried to reheat turkey up to now, you know the way simply it might probably go from moist and tender to dry and hard.

Listed below are my greatest suggestions for protecting your leftover turkey as tasty because the day it was ready:

  • To Reheat. Low and sluggish is the secret right here to make sure your leftover turkey is tender.
  1. Wrap leftover turkey in aluminum foil, making a sealed pouch across the meat. Place the pouch in a baking dish.
  2. Earlier than sealing the pouch, add moisture to your turkey by pouring slightly broth (or turkey drippings) over it.
  3. Place the turkey in a 300 levels F oven till warmed by way of.

Tip!

When you can reheat the turkey within the microwave, it’s not my first selection. If that you must use the microwave, be sure to add loads of moisture to the turkey earlier than reheating it so it doesn’t dry out.

chicken and biscuits in a casserole dishchicken and biscuits in a casserole dish

The best way to Know When Leftover Turkey Is Unhealthy

Figuring out whether or not leftover turkey has gone dangerous comes right down to 4 of your 5 senses (for those who can by some means hear when leftover turkey is dangerous, please educate me your methods).

  • Sight. In case your leftover turkey seems to be discolored or has indicators of mould, it’s now not suitable for eating and needs to be discarded.
  • Scent. In case your turkey smells bitter, off, or in any other case uncommon, throw it out.
  • Contact. Turkey that has gone dangerous will sometimes really feel slimy to the contact.
  • Style. In case your turkey has handed the three different senses however tastes off in any approach, assume it’s dangerous and toss it.

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