Turkey Arepas
It's the day after the holidays, and your fridge is full of leftover turkey. What's a cook to do? These sandwiches, soups, and other clever dishes let you have some tasty fun with your remaining poultry.
One of our personal favorite post-holiday recipes? These Turkey Arepas.
Arepas are corn cakes popular in Latin American countries. Look for arepa flour in the international food section of large supermarkets or in an ethnic market. Don't substitute masa harina or cornmeal for the arepa flour, which is precooked. Store the flour in an airtight container in your freezer to extend its shelf life.
Quick Roasted Turkey Posole
After everyone is done with the white meat for the sandwiches, what’s a cook to do with all the leftover bits? Soup is always the answer, and this Southwestern-inspired Turkey Posole is one to keep even after the holidays have passed. Hominy might be new to some, but the chewy texture of this thick corn kernel gives this soup more texture to hold up to the tangy broth. Feel free to mix and match your toppings, the ingredients indicated are only limited to your own posole dreams.
Turkey Tetrazzini
Enjoy one baked pasta dish tonight, and freeze one for a comforting supper later. This turkey-and veggie-loaded pasta bake is a one-dish meal worth sharing and is an easy solution for "nothing in the fridge" nights.
To Freeze: Cover baking dish with heavy-duty foil or an airtight lid. Freeze up to two months.
To Thaw: Remove foil; place dish in microwave. Microwave at 30% power for 30 minutes or until thawed.
To Reheat: Preheat oven to 400° for 20 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in center registers 160°.
Spicy Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Here's a low-carb twist on a taco: shredded white-meat turkey dressed with sweet-tart cranberry sauce spiced with adobo and chipotle. Tuck it all into tender lettuce leaves.
Roast Turkey Pho
You can substitute unsalted chicken stock for the homemade. If you do, simmer with the water, stock, peppercorns, sugar, star anise, and ginger, and proceed with recipe from there.
Smoked Turkey and Swiss Crepes
Time: 40 minutes
No Tears: Let the batter rest a bit so the air bubbles dissipate and the mixture thickens. This will help keep crepes from tearing in the pan.
Serve with Cucumber-Tomato Skewers with Dilly Sauce
Turkey and Vegetable Stew with Whole-Grain Biscuits
This hearty spin on chicken and dumplings satisfies with just over 300 calories. Double the recipe to freeze, so you have an easy, comforting dinner when you need it.
Cauliflower Turkey Tetrazzini
The genius trick to this unique turkey tetrazzini is using flavor-packed Cauliflower Salad in the sauce. Pureed, it becomes creamy and luscious. Any leftover turkey, or even rotisserie chicken, will work here.
Turkey Pitas with Tahini-Yogurt Sauce
Time: 35 Minutes
Flavor Hit: Tahini adds a rich, roasted sesame flavor to the yogurt sauce.
Serve with Chopped Romaine Salad: Combine 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, ½ teaspoon chopped fresh oregano, ¼ teaspoon grated lemon rind, and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add 3 cups chopped romaine lettuce, 1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes, and ¼ cup vertically sliced red onion; toss gently to coat. SERVES 4 (serving size: 1 cup) CALORIES 49; FAT 3.6g (sat 0.5g); SODIUM 126mg
Turkey and Andouille Sausage Gumbo
Use up leftover holiday turkey in a Cajun stew for your crew tonight, or freeze some for later.
To Freeze: Cool gumbo completely; freeze flat in a large zip-top plastic freezer bag. Freeze rice in a zip-top-plastic freezer bag.
To Thaw: Microwave gumbo in bag at MEDIUM (50% power) for 4 minutes or until pliable.
To Reheat: Pour gumbo into a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook 20 minutes or until heated. Place rice in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH 1 minute at a time, stirring after each minute, until heated.
Sautéed Greens, Smoked Turkey, and Provolone Panini
The crusty grilled exterior gives way to a cheesy, savory interior loaded with earthy kale. Even finicky eaters will find this a delicious way to get their greens.
Turkey Posole Casserole with Cornmeal Biscuit Topping
This casserole is a cross between tamale pie, posole, and—somehow—chicken and dumplings. It's a great use for leftover holiday turkey, taking the flavors south of the border for a welcome break from the Thanksgiving palate. You can also use rotisserie chicken in place of turkey.
Curried Turkey, Spinach, and Cashew Salad
After a day of eating probably just a bit too much, this simple salad makes for a nice, lighter change (and uses up your leftovers, too).
Peking Turkey Wraps
Salty-sweet and full of fresh crunch, these wraps are a tasty way to pack in a serving of vegetables that the kids are sure to love.
Turkey and Swiss Wrap with Carrot Salad
This is the perfect lunch to make ahead of time and pack for a long trip. Serve these turkey and Swiss wraps with a carrot salad for a healthy and kid-friendly lunch. The wholesome, balanced lunch will keep you fueled and ready for the day.
Thai Curry Stew with Turkey and Zucchini
If you're looking for a spicier post-holiday meal, this veggie-packed curry stew certainly fits the bill. The mashing step thickens the broth; you can skip it for a looser stew.
Hot Turkey Sandwiches
Cranberry-shallot chutney adds a sweet, tangy flavor to this hearty turkey sandwich.
Warm Turkey and Spinach Salad with Crispy Pancetta and Cranberry Vinaigrette
This main-dish salad combines two likely holiday leftovers: turkey and cranberry sauce. Pancetta is uncured Italian bacon; look for it in the deli section of your grocery store. You can substitute bacon, though, if you prefer.
White Bean and Turkey Chili
Crowd-pleasing white bean chili calls for canned beans and chicken broth, making prep convenient (plus you already know you have the turkey in your fridge).
Turkey-Mushroom Bread Pudding
This savory bread pudding is the answer to holiday dinner leftovers, making use of extra turkey and bread.
Sweet and Spicy Satsuma Turkey
Fresh mandarin oranges, riesling, and orange marmalade provide the highlights for the sweet profile, while crushed red pepper adds the spicy kick to this Asian-inspired turkey dish. Serve with hot steamed rice as an accompaniment to soak up the delicious sauce.
Mexican Turkey Stew
While usually an ingredient in moles, roasted pumpkinseed kernels add another layer of nutty flavor to this posole-style broth. Look for them in specialty markets and health-food stores. Substitute ancho chile powder if guajillo is unavailable.
Turkey Vatapa
Vatapa is a rustic Brazilian stew, a fiery blend with beer, coconut milk, and ground peanuts as its base. Made with leftover turkey, it's a snap to prepare.
Roast Turkey and Prosciutto Pizza
Leftover turkey provides the meaty backbone for this pizza, while prosciutto adds its salty savoriness and arugula contributes a slight bitterness and crunch. Fontina, though it's not a traditional pizza cheese, has a mild and nutty flavor that's nice here (but you can substitute mozzarella if you want). Prebaked pizza crusts are an effortless way to a quick pizza, but you can make the dough from scratch; stretch into a circle and bake at 500° for 8 minutes before using in this recipe.
Asian Turkey Salad
This fresh, bright salad takes Thanksgiving leftovers on a trip East. And after the big day, you'll welcome its lightness.
Turkey Jambalaya
Andouille sausage adds a kick to the Cajun classic from Louisiana. Rice and shredded turkey absorb a flavorful mixture of tomatoes and spices until they're bursting with flavor.
Turkey and Wild Mushroom Hash Cakes
Inject some new flavors into your holiday leftovers with these innovative turkey and mushroom hash cakes.
Curried Turkey Soup
This creamy turkey soup recipe has distinctly Asian influences. Flavored with curry and sweetened with coconut, it's a tasty way to use leftovers from the holiday bird.
Toasted Turkey and Brie Sandwiches
You may need a knife and fork to eat this sandwich. Serve with a side of cranberry sauce and sweet potato chips. For a twist, try Cambozola cheese (a mixture of soft, rich Camembert and zingy Gorgonzola blue cheese) instead of Brie.
Turkey and Wild Rice Salad
This Thanksgiving-themed salad makes a tasty light lunch or supper option.
Collard Greens with Lima Beans and Smoked Turkey
This simple one-pot meal of dried lima beans, smoked turkey breast, and chopped collards can easily be made ahead in advance. In fact, it’s probably better the next day, as the flavors intensify over time.
Turkey Pho
A brothy noodle soup, pho is a Vietnamese specialty that puts Thanksgiving remainders to use in a refreshingly original way.
Turkey-Sausage Paella
Use smoked Spanish paprika for this recipe, as regular paprika will not impart the same rich, smoky flavor. Chorizo is a Spanish sausage that can be fiery or mild but is always well seasoned. Hot Italian sausage is a good substitute.
Turkey Magiritsa
This is a variation of the classic Greek soup magiritsa, which is typically made from lamb, chicken broth, egg, and lemon, and is served to end the Lenten fast. Here, it's transformed into a fine fall dish using turkey leftovers.
Turkey Alfredo Pizza
Collard greens and leftover turkey meld beautifully with commercial Alfredo sauce and nutty fontina cheese, resulting in an easy yet inventive meal. Rubbing the pizza crust with a halved garlic clove imparts lots of flavor with little effort and no chopping.
Post-Turkey Day Posole
This posole, or spicy Mexican stew, is a great way to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Top with shredded cabbage, sliced radishes, cilantro, and lime wedges.
Turkey and Potato Soup with Canadian Bacon
This hearty soup will warm up your family on a cold night. For a complete meal, serve with an arugula salad.
Spicy Turkey Soft Tacos
Turkey is a leaner alternative to ground beef, and gives a new taste and texture to what you expect in a taco filling. This recipe calls for making your own mole sauce, but don't let that intimidate you. It's easy to prepare and comes together in a flash. Be careful, though: the turkey will spatter from time to time in the pan during the browning process.
Roasted Squash Soup with Turkey Croquettes
Leftover turkey, breadcrumbs, and egg combine to make crisp croquettes that nestle in velvety squash soup. Panko breadcrumbs are extracrisp, but you can use plain dry breadcrumbs, if you prefer.
Turkey-Pasta Soup
This soup attains slow-simmered flavor in just 13 minutes. Cooking the pasta in the boiling broth saves time and also makes for flavorful noodles. A sandwich is a natural pairing to make this a meal; these Grilled Tomato and Brie Sandwiches are a great choice.
Hot Brown Sandwiches
Your standard post-turkey day sandwich gets a major upgrade in our version of the Louisville classic.
Jack Quesadillas with Cranberry Salsa
Leftover cranberry sauce transforms into a spicy salsa for these delicious turkey quesadillas.
Turkey Pot-au-Feu
Pot-au-feu is a simple French dish of meat and vegetables simmered together. In this version, root vegetables and leftover turkey bask in a rich broth that's begging to be sopped up with warm bread.
