Healthy Recipes for Leftover Turkey (2024)

November 23, 2017 — last updated October 17, 2023 by Kalyn Denny30 comments »

Here are my favorite Healthy Recipes for Leftover Turkey, and there are some long-time favorites in this collection! Check out the recipes in this round-up if you want strictly low-carb leftover turkey recipes!

PIN Healthy Recipes for Leftover Turkey to try some later!

It’s Thanksgiving Day and every one who celebrates Thanksgiving has probably been up for a few hours putting the turkey in the oven, right? I’m going to be taking a few days off to enjoy the holiday, but first I wanted to update this collection of Healthy Recipes for Leftover Turkey. If you’re lucky enough to have some leftover turkey I hope you find something here that catches your eye for an idea to use it!

I love, love, love Thanksgiving and the way it reminds us to be grateful for the blessings we have in our lives, and I hope all my readers have a wonderful Thanksgiving with plenty of leftover turkey! Now on to the healthy recipes for leftover turkey; enjoy!

Want strictly low-carb recipes for leftover turkey?

The recipes in this round-up are partly comfort food Thanksgiving leftovers, so even though they’re healthy recipes, not all of them are super low in carbs. If you want to see my low-carb options for leftover turkey, check out my round-ups for Low-Carb Leftover Turkey Recipes or Low-Carb and Keto Turkey Soup Recipes!

Leftover Turkey and Leftover Chicken:

This collection of ideas for leftover turkey includes plenty of recipes that were made with cooked chicken breast, because any recipe that uses leftover chicken can also be made with leftover turkey, and vice-versa!

Healthy Recipes for Leftover Turkey (or Chicken):

An after-Thanksgiving classic is this Leftover Turkey Casserole that has brown rice, mushrooms, and a creamy cheesy sauce, and this recipe is usually a hit with everyone!

Amy’s Amazing White Chicken Chili is made with chicken breasts, but you could use white turkey meat to make this amazing chili as well. (Add the leftover turkey towards the end of the cooking time.)

Slow Cooker Turkey Soup with Kale and Sweet Potatoes is a delicious idea for using leftover turkey!

Green Chile Chicken Quesadillasmight be the perfect dish for Thanksgiving leftovers if you want something quick and easy! I make these with low-carb tortillas, but use any tortillas you prefer.

This easy Mexican Chicken Soup is flavored with lime and cilantro, and it can be made with pinto beans or cauliflower rice.

I love this recipe for Chicken Egg Foo Yung, and this would be an extra-fun way to use leftover turkey!

This delicious Chicken Barley Soup is perfect to make with leftover turkey, and this soup is not even that high in carbs!

And one thing I’ll always be making after Thanksgiving is these Turkey Pita Sandwiches with Cranberry Salsa.

More Recipes for Leftover Turkey (or Chicken):

Turkey, Sweet Potato, and Black Bean Soup
Sesame Noodles with Chicken
Coconut-Lime Turkey and Rice Soup
Chicken Black Bean Salad
Slow Cooker Turkey Soup with Spinach and Lemon
Mexican Chicken Casserole with Pinto Beans

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Categories: Holiday Recipes, Recipe Round-Ups, Recipes, Ingredients: Chicken, Turkey

originally published on Nov 23, 2017 (last updated Oct 17, 2023) by Kalyn Denny

30 commentsLeave a comment »

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Ashley S —November 27, 2019 @ 5:24 pm Reply
Kalyns kitchen thank you for this information very helpful when it comes to understanding keto diet and i’m also grateful i found https://cutt.ly/ketoplus, it helped me not only lose the weight but keep it off, hope it helps others!
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Kalyn Denny —November 28, 2013 @ 2:30 pm Reply
Thanks Jeanette; hope you're having a great day!
Jeanette —November 28, 2013 @ 2:26 pm Reply
Lots of great ideas for leftovers from the big day. Happy Thanksgiving Kalyn!
Kalyn Denny —November 26, 2013 @ 5:08 pm Reply
Erin, thanks so much. So glad you like the ideas!
Erin | The Law Students Wife —November 26, 2013 @ 5:07 pm Reply
I absolutely love this round up! Sharing it with my facebook fans today. Here's to eating well at the holidays (while still keeping it healthy too!)
Barbara Bakes —November 24, 2012 @ 5:41 pm Reply
Some many great, healthy ideas. It would be nice to try a bite of each.
Jeanette —November 24, 2012 @ 3:35 am Reply
Hope you had a really nice Thanksgiving Kalyn – lots of great ideas for leftovers! We simply layered all the leftovers in a casserole pan and reheated it. The boys love leftovers from Thanksgiving.
Kalyn Denny —November 24, 2012 @ 3:10 am Reply
Joe, so glad the recipes are helpful for you.
Joe —November 23, 2012 @ 8:14 pm Reply
Kalyn,
See Also
The Best Dairy-Free Soy-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe
Thank you so much for your Blog. We truly enjoy the recipes and find ourselves making adjustments based on our likes/dislikes. We have been SouthBeach dieters for 2 years and have found it important to find those likable alternatives.
Kalyn Denny —November 21, 2012 @ 9:03 pm Reply
Thanks so much, go glad it has been good for you.
bewitchingkitchen.com —November 21, 2012 @ 3:13 pm Reply
Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your break, and enjoy all the great things of being with family and loved ones!
It's been a joy to follow your blog through the years, you are a source of inspiration!
Diethood.com —November 21, 2012 @ 2:45 pm Reply
This is a delicious round up. Now I'm seriously hungry.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!
Kalyn Denny —November 21, 2012 @ 3:22 am Reply
So glad you enjoyed it!
ValKahn —November 21, 2012 @ 2:20 am Reply
I made your Layered Mexican Casserole W/Chicken for dinner tonight. My family loved it! Thank you for sharing.
Kalyn Denny —November 19, 2012 @ 3:10 pm Reply
Thanks Diane, and I'm going to update this post, so it may be 25 ideas using turkey by the time you next see it!
Diane Balch —November 19, 2012 @ 12:14 pm Reply
Just wanted to let you know that your recipe has been included in a turkey roundup today. I will be pinning and tweeting it too. Happy Thanksgiving.
Kalyn Denny —November 28, 2011 @ 6:09 pm Reply
Thankd Dara. I had a great Thanksgiving at my sister's house.
Carrian, sadly, all my turkey is now gone.
Jen, you're welcome. Hope you get to try some and enjoy them.
Jen —November 28, 2011 @ 6:00 pm Reply
Thanks so much for this list! I can't wait to try some of these recipes. The casseroles look delish and are gluten-free friendly 🙂 Yum!
Carrian —November 25, 2011 @ 7:09 pm Reply
great ideas!! Heaven knows we have plenty to get rid of!
Cookin' Canuck —November 25, 2011 @ 5:56 pm Reply
Wow, what a fantastic list of recipes to use up that extra turkey. The Coconut-Lime Turkey & the sesame noodles have both caught my eye. I hope you had a wonderful day yesterday!
Kalyn Denny —November 25, 2011 @ 1:53 pm Reply
Thanks all; so glad people like my suggestions. (And I wish I had more leftover turkey too!)
gfe--gluten free easily —November 25, 2011 @ 1:37 pm Reply
Lovely sentiments, Kalyn, and wow on this recipe roundup! I was tickled to figure out 10 turkey leftover recipes for a roundup on my blog. 20 shows how many awesome recipes you have in general. Those soups look so appealing on this chilly morning, but I can also see how people could not resist that lasagna. It sure makes me wish I had some gluten-free lasagna noodles on hand. 😉 (Hmmm,maybe I should make some homemade gf lasagna?)
Will leave a comment on the specific post, but wanted to also let you know that I did make your roasted green beans with red peppers. Oh my goodness, Kalyn, they are so good. 🙂 I can't wait to eat leftovers later today! 😉
Belated happy Thanksgiving, dear! Hope you are having a fabulous time with your family!
Shirley
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) —November 25, 2011 @ 10:55 am Reply
Now I wish I had more turkey left over! Great round-up of low-glycemic post-Thanksgiving recipes. I'm going to start with the soups (predictable, aren't I?).
John Box —November 25, 2011 @ 7:57 am Reply
Wow, thanks for so many ideas for my leftover turkey. The West African Chicken and Peanut Stew looks amazing and I definitely will be trying that out.
Penny —November 24, 2011 @ 7:26 pm Reply
Happy Thanksgiving Kalyn. You have been an inspiration and roll model to so many.
"Firman Way Anak MCRmy" —November 24, 2011 @ 5:30 pm Reply
waw,… deliciouss,….
Kalyn Denny —November 24, 2011 @ 1:58 pm Reply
CA, sorry but I have never heard of that. But I do have a new feature on the blog that lets you save recipes to your own recipe box through Ziplist. You can access it on any site that's signed up with Ziplist, so the file can never get lost.
T.W., thanks so much and best wishes for you on Thanksgiving and every day!
T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types —November 24, 2011 @ 10:31 am Reply
Happy Thanksgiving, Kalyn! Blessings to you and your family!
C.A. Marshall —November 24, 2011 @ 10:15 am Reply
Hey Kalyn! I tracked your blog down through forums for the YUM recipe manager software. I'm wondering if you still have a working copy of it? I made the mistake of not exporting the right kind of file before upgrading and now I can't see any of my recipes. 🙁 I'm trying to track down anyone that would be willing to open my file and export it again in the right format. There are only about 50 recipes, so it's not a large file.
If you can help, I'd be eternally grateful!

Healthy Recipes for Leftover Turkey (2024)

FAQs

How long is leftover turkey good for in the fridge? ›

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. Turkey can be frozen for 3 to 4 months. Although safe indefinitely, frozen leftovers can lose moisture and flavor when stored for longer times in the freezer.

Find Out More ›

Which of the following is the most popular way to serve leftover turkey? ›

One of the most classic and beloved ways to enjoy leftover turkey is by making a delicious sandwich. Whether you prefer a simple turkey and mayo combo or a more elaborate creation with cranberry sauce and stuffing, the options are endless.

Learn More ›

What to do with dry turkey leftovers? ›

The dried meat will absorb the moisture and be more edible. Make any kind of dish with a rich sauce, to give the dry meat some richness. Or just serve it with a rich gravy. The next time I do turkey and have leftovers I will make this recipe…..

Tell Me More ›

Can I freeze cooked turkey after 3 days? ›

If your turkey has been properly handled, you can refrigerate and eat it for up to four days. If you are planning to freeze it, it's best to freeze it within one day of cooking for optimal texture and taste. However, leftover turkey can be frozen after three days and it will be fine.

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Is a 3 year old frozen turkey still good? ›

Frozen Turkey

Turkeys can be kept in the freezer indefinitely. However, cook turkeys within 1 year for the best quality.

Read On ›

Is it OK to eat turkey that's been in the fridge for 2 weeks? ›

If properly stored, raw turkey can last in the fridge for 1–2 days, while cold cuts last up to 5 days. How long does cooked turkey last in the fridge? If you have leftovers that include cooked turkey, you can expect those to last in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.

Find Out More ›

How do you reheat leftover turkey and keep it moist? ›

Place the turkey pieces in a baking dish and drizzle with a few tablespoons of stock and/or butter. Cover the dish with foil and heat in the oven at 350°F for about 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can microwave the sliced turkey (cover with a damp paper towel) in a microwave-safe dish at 50% power in 1-minute intervals.

Learn More ›

Can you eat cooked turkey after 5 days? ›

Cooked turkey and other leftovers can be kept in the fridge safely for about three to four days, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and FoodSafety.gov say. But after that time, "the risk of food poisoning goes up," the Mayo Clinic notes, pointing to the growth of bacteria in refrigerated leftovers.

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Why does leftover turkey taste different? ›

The flavor is variously described as "rancid," "stale," and like "cardboard," and even compared to "damp dog hair." Warmed-over flavor is caused by the oxidative decomposition of lipids (fatty substances) in the meat into chemicals (short-chain aldehydes or ketones) which have an unpleasant taste or odor.

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Can leftover turkey be eaten cold? ›

When serving your turkey the next day, the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline advises that cooked turkey may be eaten cold or reheated. To reheat your turkey, USDA gives the following recommendations: In the Oven: Set the oven temperature no lower than 325°F.

Is leftover turkey safe to eat cold? ›

Remember, every time they're removed from the refrigerator, it gives pathogens an opportunity to grow. Your leftover turkey sandwich is fine cold, if you cooked it properly the first time.