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
7 Healthy Friendsgiving Recipes Your Besties Will Practically Inhale
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

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.

How do you reheat leftover turkey without drying it out? ›

Simply heat your oven to 300 degrees, put the carved meat in a baking dish, and add some chicken broth or turkey stock to the pan. The meat will absorb some of the liquid as it heats, making it nice and juicy. Cover the pan tightly with foil and place it in the oven until the meat is hot, 20 to 30 minutes.

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Can I freeze cooked turkey after 3 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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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.

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How do you make leftover turkey moist? ›

Step 2: Add moisture

Place your leftover portions in aluminum foil and add a few spoonfuls of gravy or chicken stock over the meat. Add a pat of butter and close the foil tightly. Alternatively, you can use a casserole dish, but make sure to cover it tightly with aluminum foil to prevent the steam from escaping.

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How do you make leftover turkey juicy again? ›

Here are two ways to add moisture to your turkey leftovers:

Add butter to gravy, and brush it over the turkey before reheating.
Smother your leftovers in equal parts gravy and stock and pour it over the turkey before reheating in the oven or microwave.

Oct 10, 2023

Tell Me More ›

How do chefs reheat turkey? ›

If you're reheating a lot of turkey at once, the oven is your best option.

Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
Carve the turkey breast meat into thin slices and carve the leg meat off the bone. ...
Cover the dish tightly with foil and roast for 30 mins until the turkey is very hot – at least 75C on a cooking thermometer.

Can you eat cooked turkey after 5 days overnight? ›

Snyder points to the USDA FoodKeeper app for best guidance: The tool notes that refrigerated, cooked turkey should be eaten within 4 days. Eat frozen turkey leftovers within 6 months for premier quality.

Can you eat turkey left out overnight? ›

If the room temperature is above 90 degrees, limit the time that turkey sits out to only one hour. After that time, it must be put away in the refrigerator or freezer to prevent the overgrowth of harmful bacteria on the surface.