Easy Ideas for Leftover Turkey

Find the easiest ways to use leftover turkey when you end up with some left from Thanksgiving, Christmas, or another meal. These are quick, yummy, and kid-friendly.

Leftover Turkey

Whenever I make a turkey for a holiday, or just make a smaller cut like turkey tenderloin or breast, I find that we usually have a lot left over. To help me make good use of it and not let it go to waste, I often repurpose it into a new recipe.

This keeps things interesting and often is more appealing to my kids. I put all my favorite ways to use leftover turkey here so you have them all in one place.

(You might like my kid-friendly Thanksgiving recipes too.)

Leftover Turkey
White Turkey Chili
How to Store Leftover Turkey
Best Tips for Success

Your toddler won’t eat? Help is here!

Turkey Noodle Soup

Enjoy turkey the warmest and most comforting way with this simple soup recipe. It’s soothing when illness strikes and makes for a fast and yummy meal when you need it.

Turkey Noodle Soup

With a quick cooking time and a most comforting texture and flavor, this Turkey Noodle Soup is an all-time favorite way to use leftover turkey. It's soothing when illness strikes and makes for a fast and yummy meal whenever you need it.

Turkey Noodle Soup

White Turkey Chili

Mix fully cooked turkey into a base of flavorful white chili for a satisfying meal to share with the family.

Easy White Turkey Chili

Use this recipe to make the most of any leftover turkey or to just enjoy a bowl of comforting White Turkey Chili. This is versatile, nutritious, and perfect to share with the kids.

Easy White Turkey Chili

White turkey chili in two bowls with toppings.

Creamy Turkey Pasta

You can make the sauce ahead of time to get a jump start on the process if you want, or you can make it all in the moment. This recipe works with fresh or frozen cauliflower (the flavor of both is mild and not very noticeable) and whichever type of pasta your family prefers, too. And of course, you can substitute turkey for chicken!

Creamy Chicken Pasta

Creamy Chicken Pasta with veggies that blend right into the sauce? Win! This pasta recipe is legit delicious and is so crazy comforting. See the Notes for variations and storage information.

Creamy Chicken Pasta

chicken-and-sweet-potato-bowls-for-kid-and-parent-1

Sweet Potato Turkey Bowls

Make quick work of feeding the family with this sheet pan Sweet Potato Chicken (or substitute turkey) Bowls recipe that works as a meal-prep idea or as a family meal. In under 30 minutes, you can cook up a delicious dinner that’s endlessly adaptable for the unique eaters at your table.

Sweet Potato Chicken Bowls (Easy Meal Prep)

You can meal prep this recipe to have ready for future lunches or dinners to share with the kids or you can make it as a family dinner. Add flavor to your bowl with the optional ingredients.

Sweet Potato Chicken Bowls (Easy Meal Prep)

chicken-and-sweet-potato-bowls-for-kid-and-parent

Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas

Learn how to make a big batch of quesadillas for the family all at the same time with these easy oven-baked Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas. They’re flavorful, straight-forward, and so delish! Add turkey right inside for a delicious addition!

Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas

These easy quesadillas can be made with pumpkin puree, sweet potato puree, or butternut squash puree. You can also skip it and just go with beans and cheese! I make these as half moon shapes since it helps contain the mess a little when feeding these to kids.

Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas

Quick Pizza Quesadillas

When I want a quick and easy kids meal using pantry staples, I often turn to Pizza Quesadillas. These are ready in about 6 minutes, have classic pizza flavor with a soft and easy-to-chew texture, and are almost endlessly versatile! Tuck turkey right inside for extra protein!

Quick Pizza Quesadillas (An Easy Kids Meal)

This meal is perfect for when you're short on time or when you want to make pizza with less fuss. Add a simple side of cut up fruit, applesauce, or a salad kit and call it good.

Quick Pizza Quesadillas (An Easy Kids Meal)

Easy Chili Mac

Cheesy, comforting, and packed with plant-based protein and veggies, this family-friendly Chili Mac is a super yummy dinner for everyone at the table. Add shredded cooked turkey alongside the cheese for a yummy meal.

Easy Chili Mac (with Extra Veggies)

You can use precut butternut squash or sweet potato and shredded carrots to cut down on the prep time if desired. This isn’t super saucy, but you can increase the liquid if desired. See the Notes for details.

Easy Chili Mac (with Extra Veggies)

Big Batch Turkey Chili

Loaded with kid-friendly vegetables including sweet potato and corn, this chili makes enough for two dinners—so you can stash one in the freezer for a future meal that’s all ready to go! And if you have a meat-lover in the family, add shredded turkey at the end of the cooking process to have a dinner that pleases everyone.

Vegetarian Bean Chili (Big Batch)

When serving this to a little one, I like to drain off much of the broth. This makes it a little easier (and less messy) for them to eat. If your family likes spice, add in a dash or two of cayenne pepper.

Vegetarian Bean Chili (Big Batch)

vegetarian bean chili in bowls on table.

Quick Orzo Soup

With a quick cooking time, veggie-loaded base, and most comforting flavor, this easy Orzo Soup is an all-time favorite family meal. It’s soothing when illness strikes and makes for a fast and yummy meal when you need it. Stir in finely diced turkey at the end to warm through.

Quick Orzo Soup

With a quick cooking time, a veggie-loaded base, and most comforting flavor, this easy Orzo Soup is an all-time favorite family meal. It's soothing when illness strikes and just makes for a fast and yummy meal when you need it.

Quick Orzo Soup

Easy Turkey Burrito Bowls

With pantry staples including rice and beans, roasted veggies, and assorted toppings, these burrito bowls are one of my go-to family meals since they’re easy to pull together AND customize for everyone at the table. Just add chopped cooked turkey to the bowl for a great protein option.

Easy Vegetarian Burrito Bowls

Transform pantry staples into the yummiest homemade Vegetarian Burrito Bowls with this easy recipe. (Prep the rice, beans, and veggies ahead if you can or want to. They store well in the fridge and simply need to be reheated.)

Easy Vegetarian Burrito Bowls

Easy Turkey Wrap Recipe

Roll up a few simple ingredients to make this delicious Turkey Wrap recipe in minutes. It’s a great lunch wrap for home or school, and you can easily adjust the ingredients to suit the preferences of your child. Use thinly sliced turkey breast meat or shredded turkey.

Easy Turkey Wrap Recipe

Roll up a few simple ingredients to make this delicious Turkey Wrap recipe in minutes. It's a great lunch wrap for home or school, and you can easily adjust the ingredients to suit the preferences of your child. This makes one wrap, so scale up as desired.

Easy Turkey Wrap Recipe

How to Store Leftover Turkey

Slice, shred, or dice the turkey—according to how you plan to use it later—and store in a container in the refrigerator.

Or, you can place into a freezer bag in the portion size you plan to use, so I usually do 2 cups, and remove as much air as possible before sealing. Then you can freeze the meat for up to 6 months and add (still frozen) right into any recipe that will heat it through such as soup, chili, or stew.

Best Tips for Success

Let the turkey cool completely before storing.
Store it cut the way you plan to use it later to simplify things for future you.
If freezing, freeze in the portions that you plan to use it later. I usually do 2 cups.
Remove as much air as possible from the freezer bag to reduce the potential for ice crystals.