Just when you think you couldn’t possibly eat turkey ever again, the day after Thanksgiving arrives and you find yourself eying the contents of the fridge with renewed interest. While the possibilities for Thanksgiving leftovers are as endless as your imagination, here are our picks for the best leftover turkey ideas. From tacos to chowder, they’re sure to help you use up every morsel.
Homemade turkey stock and the addition of cream transforms this turkey and wild rice soup into a more filling meal. The flavors continue to develop, making the soup even better the next day.
With a small skillet, you can make four individual portions of this tasty turkey hash using holiday leftovers. Be sure to chop the turkey and potatoes well, or the mixture will not hold together when cooked. For additional flavor, add a few tablespoons of finely chopped celery and a pinch of poultry seasoning.
More casserole than salad, this recipe is an easy, quick, and tasty way to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey. If you’re feeling adventurous, consider adding a can of pineapple chunks or a cup of seedless grapes to the dish.
Turkey Tacos | Leftover Turkey Ideas
This recipe for turkey tacos makes a basic soft taco to which you can add or subtract as you see fit. Do you like avocados, chopped lettuce, carrots, or olives? Go ahead, thrown them in — get as creative as you like. For burritos or wrap sandwiches, use larger-size flour tortillas.
Made with fresh veggies, leftover turkey, and refrigerated biscuit dough, this easy leftover turkey potpie comes together quickly and is sure to become a family favorite.
Why should the fish and clams get to have all the fun? This rich and chunky turkey chowder is easy, creamy, and delicious.
This post was first published in 2017 and has been updated.
Aimee Tucker is Yankee Magazine’s Home Editor and the Senior Digital Editor of NewEngland.com. A lifelong New Englander and Yankee contributor since 2010, Aimee has written columns devoted to history, foliage, retro food, and architecture, and regularly shares her experiences in New England travel, home, and gardening. Her most memorable Yankee experiences to date include meeting Stephen King, singing along to a James Taylor Fourth of July concert at Tanglewood, and taking to the skies in the Hood blimp for an open-air tour of the Massachusetts coastline.
