Ugh. Turkey can be so dry and boring and just blah. It’s not a fan favorite for a reason, and it’s surprising it still holds up as an annual traditional meal.
Perhaps it’s because when it’s done right, it’s so great. It’s moist and delicious and delightful. And the leftovers can be even better!
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Can You Use Leftover Turkey?
But wait. What about dry turkey?
Yes, it’s true. You can really mess up turkey, and even if it’s not dry the first time, you could dry it out as leftovers.
Fortunately, you can avoid this problem with a few careful steps.
Indeed, you can reheat virtually any food that’s been frozen or refrigerated. The trick is to use the right approach with the right appliance.
For foods that have been breaded or fried, it’s often a good idea to use the oven or the air fryer to get it back in shape. For foods that have been baked or grilled, you’re often going to get the best results with the oven or the grill.
When it comes to using your leftover turkey, it’s best to only warm it to the point of getting it fully heated then stop. Of course, it will depend on how you plan to prepare the turkey, but in most cases, the stovetop is going to be the best appliance.
Let’s just look at what’s possible.
Should You Use Leftover Turkey?
Before we do that, it’s important to discuss food safety.
If you’re concerned about getting food poisoning, know that you can put those fears at ease for the most part. If the turkey was fine and didn’t get you sick the first time, it’s unlikely to get you sick after the fact. As long as you’ve stored the food properly, you’re unlikely to have problems.
Of course, it’s helpful to note that general guidelines say you should always reheat your leftovers to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Still, you should always do your own research. To get you started on that research, check out eatright.org.
Open-Faced Turkey Sandwiches
The most obvious leftovers for turkey are open-faced turkey sandwiches. They’re so delicious and so easy to prepare! It’s like Thanksgiving #2!
- Put some olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat.
- Add your turkey slices to the pan and sauté on both sides until the turkey is heated through.
- Add your leftover gravy to the pan and continue to heat just until the gravy is hot. If necessary, add some turkey broth to thin out the gravy.
- Here’s the trick: toast a large slice (or two) of sourdough bread. The tang of the bread sets beautifully against the turkey and gravy. Yum!
- Place the turkey slices on the toast and pour an abundance of gravy over the top.
- Serve and enjoy!
Turkey Salad
Turkey salad is another easy dish to make with your leftovers.
- Make yourself a big green salad with tomato, cucumber, olives, shredded carrots, and maybe even some garbanzo beans for extra protein.
- Don’t forget a delightful cheese like mozzarella, feta, or gorgonzola.
- Chop up about a ½ cup to 1 cup of turkey and place it on your salad.
- Add your favorite dressing, toss, and enjoy!
Turkey Casserole
A turkey casserole can be such a quick dinner during the week to throw together, throw in the oven, and be done.
The easiest carb to add to a casserole is rice. It holds up well, so you don’t have to worry about eating mush.
- Cook the rice ahead of time according to the package.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- While the rice is cooking, drizzle some olive oil in a cast iron pan over medium heat on the stove.
- Chop half an onion and two garlic cloves.
- Also chop any vegetables you want in your casserole. Favorites are carrots, peas, and green beans.
- Add all the ingredients plus 2 cups of chopped turkey to the pan and saute until the veggies are soft.
- Add 2 tablespoons of butter to the pan and sprinkle 2 tablespoons of flour over the ingredients once the butter has melted.
- Mix everything in the pan until you have a paste and add 2-3 cups of turkey or chicken broth, stirring constantly to make a gravy.
- Add the rice and put everything in a casserole dish with a lid.
- Cook the casserole in the oven for 30 minutes, serve, and enjoy!
Turkey Pot Pie
Want to switch things up?
You can follow all the same instructions as above, minus the rice. You won’t need rice for this one.
- Place the turkey and veggies in gravy in a prepared pie shell.
- Add another pie shell to the top of the combination to make a top crust.
- Slit holes in the top crust to allow the pot pie to breathe.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes, watching your crust toward the end of the bake.
- You can add foil to the top to ensure the crust does not burn.
- Once your pie is done, you can simply serve it and enjoy!
Easy peasy.
Turkey Broccoli Soup
You may have heard of chicken and broccoli, but have you heard of turkey and broccoli? It can be just as good if not better.
First, you’ll make a cheesy broccoli soup.
- Make a roux by mixing flour and butter in a pan. You can start with ¼ cup of butter and 2 tablespoons of flour.
- Add 2 cups of milk for a bechamel sauce, stirring constantly.
- Add 2 cups of cheddar cheese to the bechamel sauce, stirring constantly.
- Stir in 2 cups of chopped broccoli and 2 cups of chopped turkey as well as 2 cups of chicken broth.
- Stir everything together and allow to cook over medium-low heat until the broccoli is tender.
- Serve and enjoy!
What’s your favorite dish to make with leftover turkey? Let me know in the comments. I love to hear from my readers!
