Thanksgiving leftovers add up fast. Here are ten things worth doing with a turkey beyond staring at the carcass in the fridge.
1. Roast Turkey
The default, and for good reason. Thaw fully, rub with butter, salt, and whatever spices you like, then roast.
| Step | Time |
|---|---|
| Prep | 1 hour |
| Roast | 3-4 hours |
| Rest | 30 minutes |
Don’t skip the rest. Tenting it for half an hour after the oven makes a noticeable difference in the meat.
2. Turkey Sandwich
Sliced turkey, good bread, lettuce, tomato, cheese, mustard or mayo. That’s the base. For a Thanksgiving version, add stuffing and cranberry sauce between the slices. It works better than it sounds.
3. Turkey Soup
The best use of a picked-over carcass. Simmer the bones with carrots, celery, onion, and broth, then pull off whatever meat is left and add it back in. Salt, pepper, thyme. An hour on the stove and the house smells like a holiday.
4. Turkey Salad
Shred or chop leftover turkey over greens, add whatever vegetables are in the fridge, top with nuts or seeds for crunch, and dress it. A vinaigrette keeps it light; mayo turns it into a chicken-salad style scoop you can put on bread.
5. Turkey Chili
Ground turkey works in any chili recipe. Brown the meat, add onion and garlic, then kidney beans, diced tomatoes, and chili powder. Simmer 30 minutes. Top with cheese, sour cream, or jalapenos.
6. Turkey Burgers
Mix ground turkey with breadcrumbs, an egg, and seasoning. Shape into patties and grill or pan-fry until cooked through. Avocado and a spicy mayo are a good combo on top.
7. Turkey Tacos
Heat shredded leftover turkey with taco seasoning, warm some tortillas, and set out toppings: lettuce, cheese, salsa, guacamole. Faster than ordering takeout and uses up the leftovers.
8. Turkey Meatballs
Ground turkey, breadcrumbs, an egg, garlic, and Italian seasoning. Shape into golf-ball-sized rounds, bake or pan-fry, then drop into pasta sauce. They also work as an appetizer with toothpicks or stuffed into a sub roll.
9. Turkey Stir-Fry
Dice leftover turkey, heat oil in a pan, add the turkey and whatever vegetables you have on hand (bell peppers, broccoli, carrots). Splash in soy or teriyaki sauce and serve over rice or noodles. Dinner in under 30 minutes.
10. Turkey Pot Pie
Mix leftover turkey with mixed vegetables and a can of cream of chicken soup. Pour into a pie crust, top with a second crust, cut a few slits, and bake at 425 F for 30 to 35 minutes until the crust is golden. One of the best uses for the second wave of leftovers.
Final Thoughts
Roasting the bird is the easy part. The real value of a turkey is in the week of meals that follow it. Pick two or three of these, freeze the rest of the meat, and you’ll get more out of one bird than most people manage. Happy Thanksgiving.
