Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and of course FOOD! We certainly enjoy our food.
But what do you do when you have a TON of leftovers? You can’t just let them go to waste!
Of course, with a family of my size, I don’t have to worry about that too much.
However, if you do have leftovers this blog post will discuss 20 of those ways to use up your leftover Thanksgiving turkey.
As of writing this post we haven’t had Thanksgiving yet. Just writing about all this food was making me hungry.
Of course, it could be cause I am writing in the morning and haven’t had my breakfast yet.
Well, I digress…
Anyways, from soups to sandwiches, we have you covered. And best of all, most of these recipes are gluten-free or can be made so that everyone can enjoy them!
If you are serving a gluten-free guest, make sure to use certified gluten-free ingredients.
1. Turkey and Vegetable Soup
This is a classic comfort food recipe that is simple to prepare. Just add diced turkey, vegetables, broth, and spices to a pot and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add some gluten-free noodles or rice if desired.
2. Turkey Pot Pie
Use your favorite gluten-free crust, add cooked turkey and vegetables, and bake in a preheated oven until golden brown.
https://celiac.org/eat-gluten-free/recipes/turkey-pot-pie/
3. Turkey Pasta and Cheese
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Layer cooked pasta, cheese, and diced turkey in a lightly greased baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees F until bubbly and golden brown. Serve with gluten-free bread or dinner rolls.
Here is a gluten-free recipe that can be made. However, they put the option of adding wine in this recipe. It isn’t needed for it.
While I know it cooks out, I just don’t use alcohol for my cooking. I don’t want as a Christian to be seen purchasing it. It might be a stumbling block to someone that didn’t know I was just cooking with it.
That’s just me though. Just a little side note.
4. Turkey Salad Sandwich
Combine diced turkey, celery, chopped onion, and mayonnaise for a simple yet tasty sandwich filling. Serve on gluten-free bread or lettuce wraps.
5. Turkey Enchiladas
Roll up cooked turkey with cheese in gluten-free tortillas, top with your favorite enchilada sauce and bake until golden brown.
6. Turkey Pot Stickers
Use gluten-free wrappers and stuff with turkey, vegetables, and seasonings for a unique Asian-style appetizer or main dish.
Here is a recipe for turkey pot stickers, however they use ground turkey, but you can always substitute and use your leftover Thanksgiving turkey in this recipe.
7. Turkey Lasagna
Layer cooked turkey with cheese, noodles or slices of zucchini or eggplant, and tomato sauce for a delicious gluten-free lasagna. However, make sure to use gluten-free noodles.
8. Turkey Quesadillas
Just like with the enchiladas, combine cooked turkey, cheese, and seasonings in gluten-free tortillas for an easy Mexican-style dinner.
9. Turkey Fried Rice
Saute turkey and vegetables in a bit of oil. Add cooked rice and seasonings, then fry until the rice is golden brown.
10. Turkey Chili
Mix cooked turkey with beans, spices, and tomato sauce for an easy gluten-free chili that’ll be sure to please any crowd. Top it off with a dollop of sour cream (if desired) and serve with your favorite gluten-free crackers.
https://celiac.org/eat-gluten-free/recipes/turkey-chili/
11. Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Layer cooked turkey, vegetables, and potatoes in a baking dish for an easy gluten-free one-dish meal. Top with shredded cheese, if desired. Once again they use ground turkey in this recipe however, it could easily work for leftover turkey that you already have cooked.
https://theprettybee.com/turkey-shepherds-pie-gluten-free-dairy-free/
12. Turkey Curry
Saute cooked turkey in a bit of oil with onions, garlic, spices, and coconut milk to create a delicious curry. Serve with basmati or jasmine rice for a complete meal.
The recipe calls for gluten-free soy sauce however you can use liquid aminos in place of soy sauce. That is what I cook with.
13. Turkey Burgers
Mix cooked turkey, seasonings, and vegetables to form patties then cook in a skillet or grill until golden brown. Serve on gluten-free buns with your favorite burger toppings.
14. Turkey Sloppy Joes
Combine cooked turkey with your favorite barbecue sauce and seasonings, then simmer together until the mixture reaches desired consistency. Serve on gluten-free buns for a delicious sandwich.
15. Turkey wild rice soup
Cook wild rice in a stock or broth with cooked turkey, vegetables, and seasonings for a fulfilling soup.
https://tastefulventure.com/turkey-wild-rice-soup-dairy-free/
16. Turkey and Veggie Stir Fry
Saute turkey, vegetables, and seasonings in a bit of oil for an easy one-dish meal that’s sure to please any crowd. Serve over gluten-free rice or noodles for a complete dinner.
Some of these recipes are using ground turkey or beef. They can easily be altered to use shredded turkey as well.
17. Turkey Club Sandwich
Layer slices of cooked turkey, bacon, lettuce, and tomato between two slices of gluten-free bread for a delicious sandwich.
18. Turkey and Dumplings
Simmer cooked turkey in a stock or broth with seasonings and vegetables. Then, drop spoonfuls of biscuit dough into the liquid to create your own delicious gluten-free dumplings. Serve with a side of mashed potatoes for a complete meal.
19. Turkey Casserole
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Layer cooked turkey, vegetables, and seasonings in a baking dish. Top with shredded cheese and bake until golden brown. Serve with a side salad or steamed vegetables for a delicious meal.
20. Buffalo Turkey Wraps
Mix cooked turkey with your favorite hot sauce, ranch dressing, and shredded cheese. Wrap up in a gluten-free wrap with lettuce and tomato for a delicious snack or meal.
Bonus Tip:
Turkey Stock
Save your turkey bones and turn them into a nutritious stock that can be used as the basis for soups or other dishes.
Place the bones in a large pot and cover them with water. Add some vegetables, herbs, and spices if desired. Simmer for several hours until the liquid has reduced to a flavorful broth. Strain the stock before using it in other recipes.
Gf Homemade Turkey Gravy
Make a delicious and gluten-free gravy for your leftover turkey with the stock you just made.
Thanksgiving may be over, but there’s no need to let those delicious leftovers go to waste. With these 20 delicious recipes, you can make sure that every bit of your Thanksgiving meal is put to good use. Don’t forget that you can also freeze or store your leftovers for another time. So what are you waiting for? Try one of these recipes today and see how easy it can be to breathe new life into leftover Thanksgiving turkey!
Happy belated Thanksgiving!
As a busy homeschooling mom, it saves time and money when I can plan for leftovers.
Here are some other posts you may like.
Here are a couple of posts on why I am now gluten-free.
So what dishes do you make with your leftover Thanksgiving dinner?
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