7 Creative Ways to Use Leftover Turkey

Thanksgiving is a holiday that is known for an abundance of food. From turkey to dessert and everything in between, the holiday table is always full of family favorites.

Of course, there is always food left over. Rather than letting it go to waste or simply putting it in freezer containors, Good Housekeeping suggests using the leftovers to help keep the celebration going from Black Friday through the long weekend.

You can substitute turkey for chicken in your favorite recipes or try some of these seven creative ways to use up extra Thanksgiving food. You’ll be glad you did!

Savory Turkey and Mushroom Crepes

Crepes are perfect for brunch and this recipe from The Spruce Eats dresses up turkey with mushrooms and a  delicious white sauce. While there are a lot of ingredients, this elegant dish can be made in less than an hour. if you are not an experienced crepe maker, you can use store bought ones.

Warm up With Turkey Chili

This super easy chili from Simply Recipes is a great way to use up leftover turkey. You can make it with either dark or white meat. Shred the meat and cook with kidney beans, tomatoes, bell peppers, garlic and chili spice. You can make it mild or hot depending on how spicy your family enjoys chili. Serve with shredded cheese, guacamole, sour cream, and tortilla chips.

Not Your Usual Turkey Pasta Casserole

You can upgrade your Thanksgiving leftover casserole with this recipe from Good Housekeeping. Make a gourmet meal by adding gruyere, cremini mushrooms, and spinach to shredded turkey and mezze rigatoni. This is not your typical casserole!

Delectable Turkey Sandwich

This turkey sandwich is unique. It’s more like  a Thanksgiving dinner on bread and it is perfect for Friday’s lunch. According to Delish, it would be a crime not to make this Thanksgiving sandwich. All you need is leftover turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, spinach, and gravy. Just layer the ingredients on top of sourdough bread and enjoy.

Homemade Turkey and Sweet Potato Soup

You can pair up leftover turkey and sweet potatoes in this hearty soup recipe from The Spruce Eats. This delicious recipe also uses a variety of mixed vegetables and bacon. Although it calls for half-and-half you can use the fat free version, milk, or a non dairy creamer instead. What’s great is that it only takes 45 minutes to prep and cook.

Turkey Pot Pie Lunch

This turkey pot pie is comfort food on a cold day. You can use leftover Thanksgiving turkey and vegetables. Although the recipe from Delish calls for a homemade crust, you can use a refrigerated or frozen pie crust instead. Just remember to thaw frozen crusts so they can be rolled and shaped into a top crust.

Pizza Night

Pizza is a family pleaser. This recipe from The Spruce turns leftover turkey and mashed potatoes into toppings. You can make your own pizza crust or cut prep time by buying a pre-cooked crust for an easy to make meal.