Twenty-Five Tasty Recipes Using Leftover Turkey (or chicken) and Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I made this Layered Mexican Casserole with chicken, but it would be a perfect use for leftover turkey!

(Updated with five more great ideas for turkey leftovers November 2012.)  I love to write round-up posts spotlighting my favorite recipes, but the problem with food blogging is that every year you try more recipes that end up being favorites.  That's why I'm updating last year's leftover turkey recipes with five new ideas from 2012.  After I finish this, I'm finalizing my grocery list, going shopping, and then I'll be heading out to spend the holiday with my sister and her very cute kids.  I'm even going to try to spend a couple days ignoring both my blogs and concentrating on having fun!

This year, and every year  I love the idea of a holiday dedicated to feeling gratitude, something I try to focus on every day.  And without turning this into a long list of all the things I'm thankful for, let me acknowledge how much I feel blessed to have a life filled with family, friends, interesting work, and all the cooking tools any food obsessed person could ever want!  And on Thanksgiving and every other day I also give thanks for the people who read this blog and leave nice comments or send e-mails that enrich my life.  Now here's my updated list of 25 Tasty Recipes Using Leftover Turkey (or chicken), with the new ideas from 2012 featured at the top of the post.   And for all my U.S. readers, I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration that's filled with love and good food.

Let's get this leftover party started with the Layered Mexican Casserole with Chicken (or turkey), Green Chiles, Pinto Beans, and Cheese shown at the top of the post.  This has been a hit with everyone I've made it for!

This Leftover Turkey (or Chicken) Shepherd's Pie with Garlic-Parmesan Cauliflower Topping was a delicious way to use turkey leftovers, including gravy.  (Or just buy some gravy like we did so you can make this!)

If you're really wanting to get back on track after the holiday, this Leftover Turkey (or Chicken) Salad with Indian Spices, Lemon, and Cilantro was delicious and it's a Phase One salad.

This Chicken and Avocado Salad with Lime and Cilantro that my sister Pam found on Pinterest has been hugely popular on the blog, and this would be delicious with leftover turkey.

Another new chicken salad that I loved that would be perfect with leftover turkey is this Chicken, Black Bean, and Red Pepper Salad with Spicy Avocado Dressing.

This Coconut-Lime Turkey (or Chicken) and Rice Soup is one of the most interesting recipes for turkey soup I've ever tried.

If you're a fan of sweet potatoes, you'll like this Leftover Turkey and Sweet Potato Soup with Black Beans and Lime.

A slightly different take on sweet potatoes is this Turkey and Cannellini Bean Soup with Sweet Potatoes and Rosemary.

This Turkey (or chicken) Lasagna with Sage and Three Cheeses has been a hit with everyone who's tried it.

Cabbage adds a healthy and slightly unusual twist in this Turkey and Wild Rice Soup with Cabbage, Parsley, and Sage.

Amy's Amazing White Chicken Chili is made with chicken breasts, but you could use white turkey meat to make this amazing chili as well.

I would gobble up leftover turkey if it was used in this recipe of Spicy Whole Wheat Sesame Noodles with Chicken, Green Onions, and Cilantro.

And for sure you could use leftover white turkey meat in this Shredded Chicken Salad with Green Olives, Celery, and Green Onion.

A classic that I'd never get tired of this time of year is Turkey Barley Soup.

For cilantro fans like me, this Leftover Turkey (or ground turkey) and Pinto Bean White Chili with Lime and Cilantro will be a hit.

Chicken, Black Bean, and Cilantro Soup is one of my all-time favorites that could definitely be made with white turkey meat.

For mushroom lovers, how about Leftover Turkey Soup with Double Mushrooms, which has dried and fresh mushrooms.

People from Utah might especially like this Leftover Chicken Chopped Salad with Cafe Rio Style Creamy Tomatillo Dressing, which of course can be made with leftover turkey!

And you could also use turkey in this West African Chicken and Peanut Stew with Chiles, Ginger, and Green Onions.

For a quick lunch, make a turkey version of this Leftover Chicken Chopped Salad with Red Pepper, Olives, and Feta.

I love this Brown Rice Salad with Leftover Turkey, Red Cabbage, and Pecans, and it's loaded with healthful ingredients if you overindulge on the holiday.

An after-Thanksgiving classic is this Leftover Turkey (or Chicken) Casserole with Brown Rice, Mushrooms, Sour Cream, Cheese, and Thyme.

Another casserole option that would work perfectly with leftover turkey is Better-than-Mom's Chicken, Broccoli, and Quinoa Casserole with Creamy Curry Sauce. 

For a quick lunch made from turkey leftovers, try these Turkey and Guacamole Quesadillas.

And last but not least, one thing I'll for sure be making on Friday is these Easy Leftover Turkey Pita Sandwiches with Fresh Cranberry Salsa.


That's a lot of options for using leftover turkey, but there's no such thing as too many leftover turkey recipes is there?  If you've got another good idea for using leftover turkey, let us know about it in the comments!