What to Make With a Smoked Turkey: 19 Creative Leftover Recipes

Smoked turkey is a delicious centerpiece for holiday meals and family gatherings. But once the initial feast is over, you’re often left with pounds of leftover smoked turkey meat

Figuring out what to do with the leftovers can be a challenge. You want to use up as much of the turkey as possible without getting bored of the same old sandwiches and casseroles.

This article will provide you with 19 creative recipes for putting your leftover smoked turkey to good use. From soups and salads to skillets and stir-fries, these ideas will help you get the most out of your holiday bird!

Get Creative With Leftover Smoked Turkey Sandwiches

Of course, sandwiches are a go-to for using up leftover turkey. But you can add interest by getting creative with combinations and toppings.

• Smoked Turkey Club – Layer turkey with bacon, lettuce tomato and avocado on toasted bread.

• Cranberry Turkey Panini – Grill turkey with cranberry sauce and brie cheese between slices of sourdough

• BBQ Turkey Wraps – Shred turkey and toss with barbecue sauce. Stuff into tortillas with slaw and pickles.

• Turkey Reuben – Pair turkey with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing on rye bread.

Whip Up Hearty Smoked Turkey Soups

Soups make excellent use of leftover smoked turkey. They’re comforting, pack in veggies, and the flavors develop as the ingredients simmer together.

• Turkey Noodle Soup – Shred turkey into chicken broth with carrots, celery and egg noodles.

• Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup – Puree cooked wild rice with broth and milk. Add turkey, mushrooms, onion and herbs.

• Turkey Posole – Cook turkey into a Southwest-inspired soup with hominy, beans, veggies and chili powder.

• Turkey Tortilla Soup – Add shredded turkey to tomato-based vegetable soup and serve with tortilla chips.

Build Nutritious Salads With Smoked Turkey

Salads allow you to create lighter, healthier meals from your leftover turkey. Load them up with fresh greens, veggies, nuts, cheese and fruit.

• Turkey Cobb Salad – Top greens with turkey, avocado, eggs, tomato, bacon and blue cheese.

• Waldorf Salad – Toss turkey with apples, celery, walnuts, raisins and mayonnaise over mixed greens.

• Turkey Caesar Salad – Include sliced turkey on a classic Caesar salad with romaine, croutons and Parmesan.

• Turkey Taco Salad – Layer turkey over greens and top with peppers, onions, black beans, corn, cheese and chipotle ranch.

Prepare Comforting Casseroles

Casseroles make excellent use of leftovers! You can throw almost anything into a baking dish, top it with cheese or biscuits, and end up with a hearty, crowd-pleasing meal.

• Turkey Tetrazzini – Mix turkey with pasta, Parmesan, mushrooms and sherry in a creamy sauce.

• Turkey Pot Pie – Stir turkey into homemade or canned gravy with vegetables and bake under a flaky pie crust.

• Turkey Enchiladas – Roll tortillas around turkey, peppers, onions and enchilada sauce. Top with melted cheese.

• Turkey Stuffing Bake – Layer shredded turkey, stuffing and veggies in a baking dish and drizzle with gravy or soup.

Give a Twist to Tacos

Who doesn’t love tacos? Spice up your leftover turkey by using it in place of ground beef or shredded chicken in these tacos with Mexican flair.

• Smoked Turkey Tacos – Top soft tortillas with turkey, pico de gallo, avocado and lime crema.

• Turkey Tinga Tacos – Simmer turkey in a smoky chipotle sauce. Serve in corn tortillas with queso fresco.

• Turkey Taco Salad Tacos – Fill tortillas with turkey taco salad fixings for a hand-held version.

• Sweet Potato Turkey Tacos – Include roasted sweet potato and turkey with cabbage slaw in tortillas.

Toss Together Turkey Skillet Meals

Skillet meals make quick, easy weekday dinners. Just toss turkey with veggies, starch and sauce right in the pan for fuss-free meals.

• Turkey Stir Fry – Cook turkey with broccoli, carrots, peppers and teriyaki sauce over rice.

• Turkey Fajita Skillet – Sauté turkey with bell pepper, onion and fajita seasoning. Serve with tortillas.

• Turkey Hash – Fry turkey with potatoes, peppers and onions for a hearty breakfast hash.

• Turkey Fried Rice – Stir turkey into leftover rice with peas, carrots, soy sauce and eggs.

Pile Turkey Onto Pizza

Using leftover turkey as a pizza topping is an unexpected way to change up the flavor. It adds a smoky, savory twist to a cheesy slice.

• BBQ Turkey Pizza – Top crust with barbecue sauce, turkey, red onion, cilantro and cheese.

• Southwest Turkey Pizza – Include turkey, black bean salsa, corn, jalapeños and pepper jack cheese.

• Greek Turkey Pizza – Use tzatziki sauce, turkey, artichoke hearts, spinach and feta cheese.

• Buffalo Turkey Pizza – Drizzle spicy buffalo sauce over turkey, blue cheese crumbles and mozzarella.

Scramble Up Smoked Turkey Breakfasts

Don’t wait for lunch to start enjoying those leftovers! Turkey makes a satisfying addition to many classic breakfast dishes.

• Turkey Hash – Fry diced turkey with potatoes, peppers, onions and eggs.

• Turkey and Egg Burritos – Roll up scrambled eggs, turkey, cheese and salsa in a tortilla.

• Turkey Frittata – Bake eggs with turkey, spinach, and Parmesan for a simple oven dish.

• Turkey Biscuit Sandwiches – Tuck scrambled turkey and cheese inside fluffy, hot biscuits.

Transform Turkey Into Global Cuisine

Think outside the box and give your turkey a taste of worldwide flavors. It takes well to diverse seasonings and ethnic ingredients.

• Turkey Banh Mi – Include turkey on the iconic Vietnamese sandwich with pickled veggies and spicy mayo.

• Jerk Turkey Rice Bowl – Season turkey with Caribbean jerk spice and serve over coconut rice with mango salsa.

• Turkish Turkey Flatbread – Top flatbread with turkey, hummus, cucumber, feta and tzatziki.

• Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps – Stir fry turkey in Thai peanut sauce. Spoon into lettuce leaves.

With some creativity and global inspiration, smoked turkey leftovers can be transformed into 19 delicious new dishes. From piling it onto pizza to scrambling it up for breakfast, the possibilities are endless.

Use these recipes to get inspired as you look to use up every last bit of your holiday bird in fun, flavorful ways. Don’t let anything go to waste – smoked turkey makes tasty meals for days!