Leftovers are the best part of the holidays — especially when all you want to do is graze in peace! These leftover turkey recipes make all that cooking worthwhile, and with so many flavourful dinners to choose from, you definitely won’t get bored.
Honestly, the leftovers might be our favourite bit about cooking the big Christmas dinner. We deliberately cook more than we need, so there’s always plenty of delicious snacking to be had, the fridge stays stocked so everyone can help themselves, and we can pull together a brand new meal at the drop of a hat whenever we fancy it.
You’re most likely to end up with leftover turkey and ham, but don’t forget about the vegetables, sauces and sides too — they can all be repurposed into something delicious.
Check out some of our favourites below, with everything from soup, sandwiches and salads to curry, casserole and chilli. Enjoy!
You may also enjoy: 25 Super Scrummy Easy Chicken Recipes for Family Meals
Delicious Leftover Turkey Recipes
1. Classic Turkey Sandwich
We can’t even begin to talk leftovers without starting with a classic turkey sandwich. The best turkey sandwiches are packed with cranberry sauce, stuffing, turkey and ham, all layered together — yum! Change things up with a bagel or wrap, and add some mozzarella or Brie for extra toasted cheesiness.
2. Turkey Pot Pie
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Turkey pot pie, like this one from Damn Delicious, is comfort food at its finest. With a flaky puff pastry crust on top and a creamy turkey filling that melts in your mouth, this is one leftover meal you’ll actually look forward to.
3. Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup
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What could be more comforting after all the Christmas indulgence than a warming bowl of turkey noodle soup? Cooking Canuck has a great leftover turkey noodle soup recipe that works on the stovetop or in an Instant Pot, and it freezes well too, so you can portion it up for another day. If you’re short on time, this quick turkey noodle soup recipe from BBC Good Food can be on the table in 15 minutes.
4. Turkey Enchiladas
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These turkey enchiladas from Simply Recipes are made with leftover turkey, homemade chilli sauce, onions, black beans and cheese. Top with red onion, avocado, coriander or whatever you fancy.
5. Turkey Casserole
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This leftover turkey casserole from Dinner Then Dessert combines leftover turkey, cheesy gravy and cornbread. It’s delicious, easy, and ready in under 45 minutes.
6. Turkey Stir Fry
A stir fry dinner is really quick — do your chopping in advance and dinner can be on the table in minutes. Use our vegetable stir fry recipe as a base, add in your leftover turkey, and swap the veg for whatever you have on hand. Rice or noodles make a great side.
7. Turkey Corn Chowder
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One pot and 30 minutes is all it takes to make this hearty turkey corn chowder from Diethood.
8. Turkey Pizza
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Not a classic leftover option, but everyone will love a Christmas pizza! Use our quick pizza dough recipe to get started, then go all out with a cranberry, Brie and turkey pizza from Taste of Home — perfect party food over the holidays. Or try this easy buffalo turkey pizza from Erica’s Recipes, packed with flavour thanks to Ranch dressing, buffalo sauce and lots of mozzarella.
9. Turkey Lettuce Wraps
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Feeding a crowd or hosting a holiday party? These turkey lettuce wraps with peanut sauce from Cheap Recipe Blog are a great option.
10. Turkey Panini
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Toast all your leftovers together in a turkey panini — stuffing, cranberry sauce, turkey and ham — or try a new flavour combo like this pesto, mozzarella, kale and turkey panini from Delish. Or how about this turkey Cuban panini from Panini Happy, where mayonnaise, Dijon mustard and cranberry sauce combine into a delicious sauce with turkey, ham, Swiss cheese and optional sliced pickles.
You may also enjoy: How to Make Three Budget-Friendly Dinners Out of One Meal
11. Turkey Carbonara
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This turkey carbonara from Dinner At the Zoo is packed with flavour — bacon, turkey, peas and a sauce made from turkey gravy, cream and parmesan. What’s not to love?
12. Turkey and Cranberry Pies
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Pack all the flavours of your turkey dinner into individual pies. These turkey and cranberry mini pies from Savour the Flavour are layered with turkey, potato, gravy, stuffing and cranberry sauce for a clever reinvention. These handheld turkey and cranberry pies from BBC Good Food are versatile too — swap in ham and mustard if you prefer.
13. Indian Spiced Turkey Pilaf
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This Indian spiced turkey pilaf from Ricardo Cuisine is packed with flavour, thanks to chicken (or turkey) stock, garam masala and fresh coriander.
14. Turkey Empanadas
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These turkey empanadas from The Spruce Eats are a fabulous way to use up your Thanksgiving or Christmas leftovers. They’re quick and easy to prepare, made with a filling of turkey, mashed potatoes and dressing, plus some tasty seasonings. Use homemade or shop-bought pastry to make this recipe even easier.
15. Turkey Mac and Cheese
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Mac and cheese is a firm favourite in many households, but you can give it a holiday makeover with leftover turkey. This leftover turkey mac and cheese from Foodness Gracious is creamy and delicious, with chunks of turkey and tarragon stirred through, plus leftover stuffing crumbled on top for a savoury, crunchy crust. Yum!
You may also enjoy: Quick and Easy Family Meal Ideas for Busy Parents
16. Coronation Turkey
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Go retro with a spin on coronation chicken and use your leftover turkey instead. The combo of curry powder, mayonnaise, natural yoghurt and mango chutney may sound unusual, but it makes a delicious, creamy salad that’s perfect for feeding a crowd. Serve as part of a buffet, on brown bread, in a wrap, or in coronation turkey lettuce wraps like this idea from BBC Good Food.
17. Turkey Chilli
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A big bowl of chilli is so comforting, especially when the weather turns wintry, and it’s a great way to feed a crowd. This turkey chilli from Simply Recipes uses leftover meat instead of ground turkey, making great use of that flavoursome dark meat.
18. Turkey Pasta Bake
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Girl Heart Food turns leftovers into a tasty turkey pasta bake with sun-dried tomatoes and artichokes, but you could use whatever you have in the fridge — leftover ham, cherry tomatoes, peppers or spinach would all work well.
19. Turkey Wild Rice Soup
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Soup is the ultimate comfort food at this time of year. This lightened up turkey and wild rice soup from The Healthy Toast is a great way to use up leftover turkey.
20. Turkey Curry
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Ready in just 25 minutes, this tikka masala-style turkey curry from Easy Peasy Foodie is quick, easy and delicious served with white, brown or pilau rice, and/or naan bread.
You may also enjoy: This Easy and Creamy Thai Green Chicken Curry is Divine!
21. Turkey Tortilla Soup
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This turkey tortilla soup from What’s Gaby Cooking is delicious on its own, but gets a huge boost from the toppings you can add — crunchy tortilla strips are the best bit!
22. Turkey Tetrazzini
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Many tetrazzini recipes rely on condensed soup for the sauce, but this leftover turkey tetrazzini from Spicy Southern Kitchen is made from scratch and packed with flavour. Best of all, it can be assembled in advance and cooked when you’re ready to eat.
23. Rachael Ray’s Turkey Tacos
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Rachael makes it look so easy — watch her put together these tasty turkey and chorizo tacos here.
24. Leftover Turkey Stroganoff
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This leftover turkey stroganoff from Rock Recipes uses up both turkey and any leftover gravy, giving you plenty of flavour and a really filling meal.
25. Turkey Vegetable Soup
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Made with homemade turkey stock, leftover turkey, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms and green beans (or whatever vegetables you have on hand), this turkey and vegetable soup from Garlic and Zest is warming, filling and nourishing. Finish with a swirl of cream for extra flavour.
You may also enjoy: 16 Splendid Soup Recipes That the Kids Will Love
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does leftover turkey keep in the fridge?
Cooked turkey should be cooled quickly, stored in an airtight container in the fridge, and used up within a few days. If you’re not going to get through it in time, freezing is a great option.
Can you freeze leftover turkey?
Yes — leftover turkey freezes well. Portion it up before freezing so you can defrost only what you need for a future meal, and make sure it’s fully defrosted before reheating.
What’s the best way to reheat leftover turkey?
Reheat turkey thoroughly until it’s piping hot all the way through, whether you’re using the oven, hob or microwave. Only reheat what you plan to eat, rather than reheating the same batch more than once.
Can I use leftover ham instead of turkey in these recipes?
Absolutely. Most of these recipes work just as well with leftover ham, or a mix of both — perfect if you’ve got a bit of everything left in the fridge after the big day.
More Family Food Ideas
If you enjoyed these leftover turkey recipes, you might also like:
- 25 Super Scrummy Easy Chicken Recipes for Family Meals
- How to Make Three Budget-Friendly Dinners Out of One Meal
- Quick and Easy Family Meal Ideas for Busy Parents
- This Easy and Creamy Thai Green Chicken Curry is Divine!
- 16 Splendid Soup Recipes That the Kids Will Love
Save These Ideas for Later
Got a fridge full of leftovers and not sure where to start? Bookmark this page or save it to your recipe folder so you can come back to it whenever you need dinner inspiration over the holidays.
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