31 Leftover Turkey ideas..YUM!

Too many leftovers to handle? Scrap that tired cold turkey sandwich and turn to one of our creative ideas for transforming yesterday's leftovers into delicious new meals.

Thanksgiving Turkey Salad
Mix chopped turkey with dried cranberries, walnuts, chopped celery and a little minced red onion. If you like blue cheese, crumble some in. Stir in some mayonnaise and serve on toasted brioche or leftover rolls from Thanksgiving dinner.

Stuffing Casserole
Butter a baking dish and line it with leftover stuffing that has been mixed with packaged french-fried onions, pressing the stuffing up the sides as best you can to make a little stuffing “pie shell.” In a bowl, mix together a can of cream of mushroom soup, 3/4 cup milk, frozen peas (or leftover green beans) and chopped turkey. Pour mixture into stuffing shell and sprinkle some cheese over the top. Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes, or until the filling is set and the top is golden and bubbly.

Thanksgiving Tacos
Saute a chopped onion in olive oil until translucent. Add minced garlic and saute for 1 minute more. Stir in shredded leftover turkey, 1 cup salsa and 1/3 cup water, and cook over low heat until the mixture looks soft and stew-like (about 15 minutes). Sprinkle with chopped cilantro, then fill taco shells with the mixture and top with shredded lettuce, cheese and sour cream.

Turkey Hash
Peel and dice 3 to 4 sweet potatoes into 1/2-inch pieces and cook in boiling water for about 5 minutes, or until tender; drain. Saute a chopped onion and green pepper in oil until soft, then season with garlic powder, salt and pepper. In a large bowl, mix the onion-pepper mixture, the sweet potatoes and chopped leftover turkey. Heat olive oil in a large skillet and add the sweet potato mixture, flattening it to the pan with the back of a wooden spoon. Cook potatoes until they form a crispy crust, then flip and cook until crispy on the other side.

Asian-Style Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Mix together equal amounts of hoisin sauce and barbecue sauce (use enough to generously coat the amount of turkey you have). Saute minced garlic and ginger in sesame oil for 1 minute, then stir in the hoisin mixture. Mix in finely chopped leftover turkey and minced scallions, and simmer for about 10 minutes. Serve with romaine lettuce leaves for wrapping up the mixture.

Turkey-ghetti
Saute chopped onions and green peppers in olive oil until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add finely chopped leftover turkey, spaghetti sauce and a splash or three of red wine, then cover and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Toss with cooked spaghetti and Parmesan cheese.

Corn Bread and Ham Muffins
Prepare your favorite corn bread mix according to the directions on the box. Before baking, fold in some chopped leftover ham, some shredded cheddar cheese and a sprinkling of sliced scallions. Fill muffin cups halfway with the mixture and bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve warm.

Mashed Potato Gratin
Saute onions, shallots or garlic (or all three) until soft. Blend with leftover mashed potatoes, minced leftover ham, a tablespoon or two of mustard and a small amount of milk or cream (just enough to make the potatoes soft again). Fill a buttered baking dish with the mixture and sprinkle some shredded cheese on top. Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake at 300 F until heated through (about 15 minutes).

Turkey Tortilla Soup
Slice corn tortillas into thin strips and cook in hot oil until crisp; remove to paper towels to drain. In a large pot, combine 32 ounces of chicken broth, 1 cup salsa (or stewed tomatoes) and a chopped zucchini. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Add chopped leftover turkey and heat through. Serve soup topped with your fried tortilla strips, sour cream and a splash of fresh lime juice.

Cranberry Sauce Chutney
This recipe assumes you have about 2 cups of leftover cranberry sauce to work with—adjust measurements to suit. Chop a medium onion and half an apple and saute until soft. Mix in 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger and cook for 1 minute, then add the cranberry sauce and 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar. Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool to room temperature and enjoy with cheese on crusty bread.

Ultimate Day-After Turkey Sandwich
Generously spread mayonnaise and ketchup on 2 slices of your favorite bread. Layer stuffing, turkey (dark meat is great here), cranberry sauce and a bit of mashed sweet potato on one slice of the bread. We’ve been known to sprinkle on some leftover fried onions from the green bean casserole as well. Top with remaining bread slice.

Leftover Hors D'oeuvres Soup
This is a great way to use up the crudites and cheese tray that no one touched. Cut your vegetables into 1- to 2-inch pieces. Saute a few chopped shallots in some butter until softened. Add your chopped vegetables and a few sprigs of thyme; saute for a minute, stirring to coat the vegetables in the butter. Add about 3 cups of chicken or vegetable stock for every 2 cups of vegetables that you’ve used. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes. Puree half the soup, then add it back into the pot and season with salt and pepper. Toast a few slices of leftover bread, sprinkle with cheese and broil until melted and golden. Float the cheesy croutons on top of the soup.

Curried Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Saute chopped onions in olive oil until golden. Add a tablespoon of curry powder and some minced garlic and fry until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in a can of cream of chicken soup and 1/2 cup white wine. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until thickened but still fluid. (You can add a bit more wine if it gets too thick.) Mix in some frozen peas and some finely chopped leftover turkey meat and pour into a buttered casserole dish. Spread or pipe mashed potatoes over the mixture and top with some shredded cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 F for 20 to 30 minutes, or until heated through and bubbly.

Husband’s Dinner
Cook enough rice for four people and let it cool. In the largest skillet you have, saute chopped onions, minced garlic and chopped pepperoni in olive oil for 4 to 5 minutes. Add chopped leftover turkey, diced apple and sliced scallions. Mix in a generous helping of curry powder and cook until everything is heated through. Thoroughly mix in the cooked rice and season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with some more fresh scallions before serving. This recipe was invented by a kindly husband who wanted to give his wife a break from cooking the day after Thanksgiving.


Cranberry Sauce Fudge Sundaes
In a small saucepan, mix cranberry sauce with a few tablespoons of Gran Marnier and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, warm up your favorite hot fudge sauce in a separate saucepan (or in the microwave). Scoop vanilla ice cream into bowls and drizzle the two sauces over the top. You might never look at cranberry sauce the same way again.

Green Bean Casserole Pasta
Saute generous amounts of chopped garlic and a pinch of red pepper flakes in olive oil. When the garlic is soft, toss in shrimp and cook until just pink. Add leftover green bean casserole and 1/2 cup white wine (or water) and let bubble for 3 to 4 minutes, or until heated through. Toss with hot penne or fusilli pasta.