Tuesday, November 21, 2023
HomeBaby FoodStraightforward Concepts for Leftover Turkey

Straightforward Concepts for Leftover Turkey


Discover the best methods to make use of leftover turkey when you find yourself with some left from Thanksgiving, Christmas, or one other meal. These are fast, yummy, and kid-friendly.

Leftover turkey in glass container with lid.

Leftover Turkey

Every time I make a turkey for a vacation, or simply make a smaller reduce like turkey tenderloin or breast, I discover that we often have so much left over. To assist me make good use of it and never let it go to waste, I typically repurpose it into a brand new recipe.

This retains issues fascinating and sometimes is extra interesting to my children. I put all my favourite methods to make use of leftover turkey right here so you’ve got them multi function place.

(You may like my kid-friendly Thanksgiving recipes too.)

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Turkey noodle soup in two bowls.

Turkey Noodle Soup

Get pleasure from turkey the warmest and most comforting method with this easy soup recipe. It’s soothing when sickness strikes and makes for a quick and yummy meal whenever you want it.

Turkey Noodle Soup

With a fast cooking time and a most comforting texture and taste, this Turkey Noodle Soup is an all-time favourite method to make use of leftover turkey. It is soothing when sickness strikes and makes for a quick and yummy meal everytime you want it.

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Turkey noodle soup in two bowls.
White turkey chili with toppings on side.

White Turkey Chili

Combine totally cooked turkey right into a base of flavorful white chili for a satisfying meal to share with the household.

Straightforward White Turkey Chili

Use this recipe to profit from any leftover turkey or to simply get pleasure from a bowl of comforting White Turkey Chili. That is versatile, nutritious, and excellent to share with the children.

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White turkey chili in two bowls with toppings.
creamy chicken pasta in three bowls.

Creamy Turkey Pasta

You can also make the sauce forward of time to get a soar begin on the method if you need, or you can also make all of it within the second. This recipe works with contemporary or frozen cauliflower (the flavour of each is delicate and never very noticeable) and whichever sort of pasta your loved ones prefers, too. And naturally, you may substitute turkey for rooster!

Creamy Hen Pasta

Creamy Hen Pasta with veggies that mix proper into the sauce? Win! This pasta recipe is legit scrumptious and is so loopy comforting. See the Notes for variations and storage data.

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creamy chicken pasta in three bowls.
chicken-and-sweet-potato-bowls-for-kid-and-parent-1

Candy Potato Turkey Bowls

Make fast work of feeding the household with this sheet pan Candy Potato Hen (or substitute turkey) Bowls recipe that works as a meal-prep thought or as a household meal. In below half-hour, you may prepare dinner up a scrumptious dinner that’s endlessly adaptable for the distinctive eaters at your desk.

Candy Potato Hen Bowls (Straightforward Meal Prep)

You’ll be able to meal prep this recipe to have prepared for future lunches or dinners to share with the children or you can also make it as a household dinner. Add taste to your bowl with the elective substances.

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chicken-and-sweet-potato-bowls-for-kid-and-parent
sheet-pan-quesadillas-on-platter

Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas

Learn to make an enormous batch of quesadillas for the household all on the similar time with these simple oven-baked Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas. They’re flavorful, straight-forward, and so delish! Add turkey proper inside for a scrumptious addition!

Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas

These simple quesadillas might be made with pumpkin puree, candy potato puree, or butternut squash puree. It’s also possible to skip it and simply go along with beans and cheese! I make these as half moon shapes because it helps include the mess a bit when feeding these to children.

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sheet-pan-quesadillas-on-platter
pizza-quesadillas-on-blue-plate

Fast Pizza Quesadillas

After I need a fast and simple children meal utilizing pantry staples, I typically flip to Pizza Quesadillas. These are prepared in about 6 minutes, have traditional pizza taste with a gentle and easy-to-chew texture, and are nearly endlessly versatile! Tuck turkey proper inside for additional protein!

Fast Pizza Quesadillas (An Straightforward Youngsters Meal)

This meal is ideal for whenever you’re brief on time or whenever you wish to make pizza with much less fuss. Add a easy facet of reduce up fruit, applesauce, or a salad equipment and name it good.

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pizza-quesadillas-on-blue-plate
chili-mac-in-bowls-on-counter

Straightforward Chili Mac

Tacky, comforting, and full of plant-based protein and veggies, this family-friendly Chili Mac is an excellent yummy dinner for everybody on the desk. Add shredded cooked turkey alongside the cheese for a yummy meal.

Straightforward Chili Mac (with Further Veggies)

You should use precut butternut squash or candy potato and shredded carrots to chop down on the prep time if desired. This isn’t tremendous saucy, however you may improve the liquid if desired. See the Notes for particulars.

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chili-mac-in-white-and-stainless-bowl
vegetarian chili

Large Batch Turkey Chili

Loaded with kid-friendly greens together with candy potato and corn, this chili makes sufficient for 2 dinners—so you may stash one within the freezer for a future meal that’s all able to go! And when you have a meat-lover within the household, add shredded turkey on the finish of the cooking course of to have a dinner that pleases everybody.

Large Batch Vegetarian Chili

When serving this to a bit one, I like to empty off a lot of the broth. This makes it a bit simpler (and fewer messy) for them to eat. If your loved ones likes spice, add in a splash or two of cayenne pepper.

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Veggie chili in pot and two bowls with cheese.
Orzo soup in bowls and pan.

Fast Orzo Soup

With a fast cooking time, veggie-loaded base, and most comforting taste, this simple Orzo Soup is an all-time favourite household meal. It’s soothing when sickness strikes and makes for a quick and yummy meal whenever you want it. Stir in finely diced turkey on the finish to heat via.

Fast Orzo Soup

With a fast cooking time, a veggie-loaded base, and most comforting taste, this simple Orzo Soup is an all-time favourite household meal. It is soothing when sickness strikes and simply makes for a quick and yummy meal whenever you want it.

Get the recipe

Orzo soup in bowls and pan.
family-style-burrito-bowls

Straightforward Turkey Burrito Bowls

With pantry staples together with rice and beans, roasted veggies, and diverse toppings, these burrito bowls are certainly one of my go-to household meals since they’re simple to tug collectively AND customise for everybody on the desk. Simply add chopped cooked turkey to the bowl for a terrific protein choice.

Straightforward Vegetarian Burrito Bowls

Prep the rice, beans, and veggies forward if you happen to can or wish to. They retailer properly within the fridge and easily should be reheated. The vitamin data on this recipe will fluctuate based mostly on the substances you select to make use of.

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grain bowls with rice and beans
sliced-turkey-wrap-in-teal-lunchbox

Straightforward Turkey Wrap Recipe

Roll up just a few easy substances to make this scrumptious Turkey Wrap recipe in minutes. It’s a terrific lunch wrap for residence or faculty, and you’ll simply regulate the substances to swimsuit the preferences of your little one. Use thinly sliced turkey breast meat or shredded turkey.

Straightforward Turkey Wrap Recipe (to Share with the Youngsters)

Roll up just a few easy substances to make this scrumptious Turkey Wrap recipe in minutes. It is a terrific lunch wrap for residence or faculty, and you’ll simply regulate the substances to swimsuit the preferences of your little one. This makes one wrap, so scale up as desired.

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sliced-turkey-wrap-in-teal-lunchbox

Learn how to Retailer Leftover Turkey

Slice, shred, or cube the turkey—in response to how you propose to make use of it later—and retailer in a container within the fridge.

Or, you may place right into a freezer bag within the portion measurement you propose to make use of, so I often do 2 cups, and take away as a lot air as potential earlier than sealing. Then you may freeze the meat for as much as 6 months and add (nonetheless frozen) proper into any recipe that may warmth it via comparable to soup, chili, or stew.

Greatest Suggestions for Success

  • Let the turkey cool fully earlier than storing.
  • Retailer it reduce the best way you propose to make use of it later to simplify issues for future you.
  • If freezing, freeze within the parts that you just plan to make use of it later. I often do 2 cups.
  • Take away as a lot air as potential from the freezer bag to scale back the potential for ice crystals.

Associated Recipes

I’d love to listen to your suggestions on this submit, so please remark beneath to share.

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