I used to have no imagination when it came to turkey. Leftover turkey meant sandwiches. And more sandwiches. Then everyone would get tired of turkey and never want to see turkey again. Which explains why I only used to make turkey once a year, at Thanksgiving. It would take a whole year to get over being tired of it. But just try looking in most cookbooks under turkey. Not a lot of turkey recipes out there.
Then it finally dawned on me that I didn’t need turkey recipes. I needed chicken recipes. Turkey is an easy replacement for chicken in most recipes. And the world is full of chicken recipes.
Now I cook turkey throughout the year. I love turkey. I love all the different things I make with it and we don’t get tired.
Here are a few of my favorite ways to use leftover turkey!
Go Mexican! The “wild” flavor punch of Mexican food feels like a polar opposite to the traditional Thanksgiving meal. You don’t even know you’re eating holiday leftovers. Try Sour Cream Enchiladas–with turkey instead of chicken.
You can also make turkey–instead of chicken–fajitas. (Try my homemade tortillas.)
Or, a little more traditional and yet still different…. Chicken and Biscuits becomes Turkey and Biscuits.
It’s also a great way to get in some of those leftover Thanksgiving Day vegetables. You can use whatever vegetables you have on hand for this recipe.
Or, go Italian! Again, such a different flavor direction that it really makes you forget you’re talking leftovers. Make Chicken, Bacon, and Ranch French Bread Pizza, only with turkey. (When I do this, my kids don’t know the difference. Same with the enchilada recipe above. They think they’re eating chicken.)
And don’t forget Turkey Noodle Soup!
Not that leftover turkey sandwiches aren’t great. Especially on Grandmother Bread. I love ’em. But you can only eat so many of them. (Favorite post-Thanksgiving sandwich–turkey and dressing sandwich!!! You?)
Find all these recipes on Farm Bell Recipes for the handy print page and to save them to your recipe box:
Sour Cream Enchiladas
Chicken ‘n’ Biscuits
Chicken, Bacon, and Ranch French Bread Pizza
Turkey Noodle Soup
Find more chicken recipes that can be translated to turkey recipes here.
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Joy says:
I just made Turkey Noodle Casserole with some of the left-over turkey last night. Also, did you know that left over gravy is GREAT in Turkey Vegetable Soup (made with boiling the bones, adding some leftover meat, chicken stock, vegetables)? I HATE green bean casserole–you know with mushroom soup–but have been told you can throw it into Turkey Noodle Casserole or even drown it in the Turkey Vegetable Soup and it disappears into the rest.
Now I have some delicious homemade fresh cranberry compote. Anyone know what I can do with about a cup of that?
On November 25, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Barbee says:
Turkey a la king is one of my favorites. I just serve it on toast.
On November 26, 2012 at 12:05 am
Amber says:
I made turkey tacos with shredded leftover turkey and I also made a (sort of) shepherds pie, layering the leftover mashed potatoes, gravy, turkey, greenbean casserole, stuffing and some grated cheddar on top. Baked it until warm…it was a great way to use everything up!
On November 27, 2012 at 10:50 pm