14 Easy Leftover Turkey Recipes

Still staring at half a turkey the Monday after Thanksgiving? These leftover turkey recipes turn it into brand new suppers your family won’t recognize as leftovers, from a pot of turkey and dumplings to cheesy casseroles and a quick turkey hash. Most of these were written with chicken, and cooked turkey swaps right in cup for cup.

Planning the big meal first? Start with our Thanksgiving menu ideas and make-ahead Thanksgiving dishes.

Turkey Leftover Makeovers

These were made with Thanksgiving leftovers in mind.

1Turkey Hash

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Turkey Hash with eggs and bacon
Turkey Hash
The ultimate post-Thanksgiving comfort food, my turkey hash recipe is made with leftover tender turkey breast, leftover turkey gravy, onions, peppers, cubed hash browns, and Season All.
Check out this recipe

Leftover turkey and potatoes cooked into a hearty hash, perfect for breakfast the morning after.

2Deluxe Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole

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Deluxe hash brown casserole with Thanksgiving ham leftovers
Deluxe Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole – Thanksgiving Leftover Makeover!
Remix some of those delicious leftovers into a deluxe hash brown casserole that is fit for a meal all by itself if need be!
Check out this recipe

A cheesy hash brown casserole that gives leftovers a whole new life.

3Handheld Pot Pies

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A plate of two handheld chicken pot pies
Flaky, Creamy Handheld Chicken Pot Pies
These handheld chicken pot pies are filled with creamy chicken and veggies tucked inside golden, flaky puff pastry. It’s a cozy classic made perfectly portable!
Check out this recipe

Flaky little pot pies filled with creamy turkey and vegetables. Use turkey in place of the chicken.

4Homemade KFC Bowls

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Close-up of a homemade KFC bowl.
Homemade KFC Bowls
A warm, cozy bowl packed with mashed potatoes, chicken, corn, cheddar, and savory gravy. This KFC bowl recipe is your go-to for when you’re craving fast food but want it homemade without a whole lot of cooking involved!
Check out this recipe

Pile leftover mashed potatoes, corn and gravy into bowls and top with crispy chicken or warmed turkey.

Soups, Stews and Dumplings

Simmer that turkey into something cozy for a chilly weeknight.

5Chicken and Dumplings with Biscuits

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chicken and dumplings
Easy Chicken and Dumplings
This easy chicken and dumplings recipe, like most Southern comfort food, may have evolved out of necessity but they stuck around because they are delicious!
Check out this recipe

Fluffy biscuit dumplings in a rich broth. Use shredded turkey and you’ve got turkey and dumplings.

6Chicken Noodle Soup

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spoonful of Chicken Noodle soup
Chicken Noodle Soup
Warm up with this simple but tasty chicken noodle soup recipe. It couldn't be easier to make and the seasoning makes the flavors POP!
Check out this recipe

A simple, comforting noodle soup that’s just as good with leftover turkey.

7Easy Chicken Stew

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chicken stew
Easy Chicken Stew
This easy chicken stew recipe is overloaded with tender chicken, crushed tomatoes, potatoes, and corn and is ready in just 30 minutes.
Check out this recipe

Tomatoes, potatoes and tender meat make a hearty stew in about 25 minutes.

Leftover Turkey Casseroles

Stir cooked turkey into any of these instead of chicken.

8Hot Chicken Salad

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Baked hot chicken salad.
Hot Chicken Salad
This creamy Southern chicken casserole (a.k.a a hot chicken salad) includes tender chicken, celery, and boiled eggs baked with a crunchy potato chip topping.
Check out this recipe

Granny Jordan’s creamy, crunchy-topped casserole, ready in about 30 minutes.

9Brunswick Chicken Casserole

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Brunswick Chicken Casserole
Boasting the same flavor profile as a Brunswick stew, this easy Brunswick chicken casserole recipe includes tender chicken and vegetables in a deliciously-seasoned barbecue sauce.
Check out this recipe

All the flavor of Brunswick stew in an easy casserole.

10Country Casserole

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Country Casserole
Filled with chicken, cheese, vegetables, and cream of chicken soup, this quick and easy country casserole recipe is so creamy and filling.
Check out this recipe

Meat, cheese and vegetables in a creamy sauce, ready in about 40 minutes.

11Cheesy Chicken and Corn Casserole

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Cheesy chicken and corn casserole
Cheesy Chicken and Corn Casserole
This addictive creamy and cheesy chicken and corn casserole is gluten-free comfort food that makes the perfect weeknight dinner.
Check out this recipe

A creamy, cheesy casserole loaded with corn.

12Crustless Chicken Pot Pie

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Crustless Chicken Pot Pie
This crustless chicken pot pie recipe is an easy one-pan meal. It includes a creamy and flavorful sauce with tender bites of veggies and chicken.
Check out this recipe

An easy one-pan pot pie without the fuss of a crust.

13Chicken Divan Casserole

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chicken Divan casserole Southern plate
Chicken Divan Casserole
With tender chicken, broccoli, cheddar cheese, and crispy bread crumbs, this creamy chicken divan casserole is a fancy name for a good down-home casserole.
Check out this recipe

Tender meat, broccoli and cheddar under a crispy topping.

14Mama’s Chicken Poulet

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Slice of chicken poulet
Mama’s Chicken Poulet or “Chicken Chicken”
A favorite of Sunday brunches and Southern cafes, this classic begins with some surprising ingredients! See how easy it is to make!
Check out this recipe

A Southern brunch classic that’s an easy way to stretch leftovers.

Tips for Using Leftover Turkey

  • Refrigerate leftover turkey within 2 hours of serving and use it within 3 to 4 days.
  • Shred or chop the turkey before storing so it’s ready to drop into soups and casseroles.
  • Freeze extra turkey in recipe-size bags with a little broth to keep it moist.
  • Use 1 cup of chopped turkey anywhere a recipe calls for 1 cup of cooked chicken.

Leftover Turkey FAQs

How long is leftover turkey good for?

Cooked turkey keeps 3 to 4 days in the fridge or about 3 months in the freezer.

Can I use turkey in chicken recipes?

Yes. Cooked turkey works in almost any recipe that calls for cooked chicken, like casseroles, soups and dumplings.

What’s the easiest way to use up leftover turkey?

Turkey hash and casseroles are the quickest, since they use cooked turkey and pantry staples.

18 Comments

  2. Boy are we on the same page or what! I already shredded and froze most of my turkey last night with the intentions of make a few of your top 10!! We love your Country Casserole, Chicken Divan, and Chicken Poulet so they are all getting turkey makeovers in the near future!! We got a free turkey from our grocery store, so needless to say we ended up with a 22lb. bird for 4 people, lol, lots of leftovers!!

    And Nan, I also was thinking how I could use leftover stuffing (sorry, I’m a Yankee!) for the Poulet, would love to know if someone did try it, too!!!

    Reply

  3. The Chicken Poulet looks wonderful. I am wondering if I could just use left over dressing rather than buy stuffing? Anyone tried it this way?

    Reply

  6. Happy belated Thanksgiving. I hope you and your family had a wonderful time. Thanks for the list, the lettuce wraps look great!

    Reply

  7. Hey Christy, I hope you enjoyed your family time this week!! Thank you for working so hard to put this list up!!!

    Reply

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