Quick answer: Three easy things to do with leftover turkey are creamy turkey tortilla soup, turkey ramen, and turkey fajitas. Each one turns cooked turkey into a brand new dinner, and none of them taste like Thanksgiving round two.
With six grown children, 16 grandkids, and 5 great-grandkids, my family has a lot of different tastes. What one of them loves, another won't touch. So after Thanksgiving, I don't make just one leftover meal. I make a few, and everybody finds their favorite.
Don't get me wrong. The traditional turkey sandwich with pickles and mayo on wheat bread is a classic, and somebody always makes one at midnight. But when you want something different, these are the three meals I reach for.
1. Creamy Turkey Tortilla Soup, My Eldest Daughter's Favorite
How do you make turkey tortilla soup with leftover turkey?
Creamy turkey tortilla soup is cubed leftover turkey simmered with broth, Rotel tomatoes and green chilies, black beans, corn, and warm Tex-Mex spices, then finished with lime juice and a splash of heavy cream. It takes about 50 minutes and makes 8 big bowls.
This one belongs to my eldest daughter. I live with her and her husband now, and when she sees leftover turkey in the fridge, she asks for this soup before I can even close the door.
What you need: 3 cups cubed leftover turkey, 4 cups chicken broth, 2 cans Rotel, 2 cans black beans, 1 can corn, onion, jalapenos, garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, limes, 1 cup heavy cream, and my secret ingredient, crushed Fritos.
How I make it: Saute the onion, jalapenos, and garlic. Add the cans, spices, and Fritos, then stir in the turkey and simmer for 20 minutes. Finish with lime juice and cream.
Terri's tip: Keep the heat low once the cream goes in. If it boils, the cream can separate. Want the full step-by-step? Download my free Creamy Turkey Tortilla Soup recipe here.
2. Top Ramen With Turkey, My Youngest Son's Pick
Can you put leftover turkey in ramen?
Yes, and it's the easiest leftover turkey dinner there is. Take a package of Top Ramen, add shredded turkey, a hard boiled egg, and your favorite vegetables. Dinner is ready in about 10 minutes.
My youngest son loves this one. It's simple, it's cozy, and you can make it a little different every time.
What you need: 1 package of Top Ramen (any flavor), 2 cups water or homemade turkey stock, about 1 cup shredded leftover turkey, a sliced hard boiled egg, and your favorite vegetables like snap peas and broccoli.
How I make it: Cook the noodles in water or turkey stock with your vegetables right in the pot. Stir in the seasoning packet, then add the turkey for the last 30 seconds or so, just long enough to warm it through. Top with the egg and dinner is ready.
Terri's tip: Cook the noodles in your homemade turkey stock instead of water and it tastes like a whole new dish. Just start with half the seasoning packet, since the stock is already flavorful. Download my free Turkey Top Ramen recipe here.
3. Turkey Fajitas for a Family With Different Tastes
How do you turn leftover turkey into fajitas?
Turkey fajitas are bell peppers and onions sauteed until tender, with leftover turkey added at the end so it warms up and soaks in all that pepper flavor. Wrap it in warm tortillas and dinner is done in about 20 minutes.
With so many different tastes in my family, fajitas are a sure thing. Everybody picks their own peppers and toppings.
What you need: about 3 cups leftover turkey, your favorite bell peppers, an onion, and warm tortillas.
How I make it: Saute the bell peppers and onion. When they're close to done, add the turkey so it warms up and picks up all that pepper flavor.
Terri's tip: Don't add the turkey too early. It's already cooked, so it only needs a few minutes in the pan to warm through.
Want my whole Thanksgiving dinner?
Before you can have leftovers, you need the big meal. My Thanksgiving Bundle has the recipes my family has made for years: the turkey, bread stuffing, giblet gravy, green beans with bacon, fruit salad, and yam and apple casserole. I also tucked in Charlotte's Chocolate Chip Pie, plus a bonus Thanksgiving Game Plan so you know exactly what to make and when.
Get Terri's Thanksgiving Bundle
Your Leftover Turkey Questions, Answered
How long is leftover turkey good in the fridge? Cooked turkey keeps 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator when stored in a sealed container. If you won't use it by then, freeze it.
Can you freeze leftover turkey? Yes. Shred or slice it, pack it in freezer bags with a splash of broth, and it keeps for 2 to 3 months. All three of these recipes work with thawed turkey.
What's the best part of the turkey to use for leftovers? Dark meat stays juicier in soups and fajitas. White meat is great sliced thin for ramen or sandwiches.
What can I make with leftover turkey besides sandwiches? Creamy turkey tortilla soup, turkey ramen, and turkey fajitas are three easy dinners that use up leftover turkey and work for a family with lots of different tastes.
However you use it up, I hope your family gathers around the table one more time this weekend. That's what the leftovers are really for.
