006. 9 Healthy Recipes to Whip Up With Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey

9 Healthy Recipes to Whip Up With Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey

Soups, salads, even tacos — these tasty meals will have you looking forward to leftovers.

Written ByKelly Kennedy, RDN

Medically Reviewed byLynn Grieger, RDN, CDCES on November 15, 2023



Got turkey? This versatile lean protein can be made into a variety of different healthy meals after the holidays.

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Any cooked turkey that survives a holiday feast is the gift that keeps on giving! But if you’re not a huge fan of leftovers, it can feel more like a burden than a blessing. With a few simple ingredients, however, you can transform leftover turkey into a whole new culinary experience! Plus, using up leftovers is a great way to decrease food waste and cut back on food costs. (Three meals for the price of one? Yes, please!) 

Skinless turkey is a naturally lean protein, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and, as the American Heart Association notes, turkey is a rich source of several vitamins and minerals, including choline, niacin, and vitamins B6 and B12. Turkey is also a good source of potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc.

While the traditional holiday meal features a whole roasted bird with sides like green bean casserole and stuffing, there are countless creative uses for leftover turkey, both light and dark meat. For estimating purposes, you can expect to get about 18 cups of meat from a 10-pound bird, and the carcass can be used to make a soup stock.

The USDA recommends using all turkey within three to four days. If you won’t be able to use it all in that amount of time, consider freezing it. Leftover turkey meat freezes incredibly well, making for an easy heat-and-serve protein another night. To freeze turkey, scoop it into a resealable plastic freezer bag and squeeze as much air out as you can before sealing. Of course, if you’re ready to use up leftover turkey right away, give these simple recipes a try today!

The Best Healthy Turkey Chili

Lean ground turkey stands in for ground beef and sausage in this twist on a traditional chili. Switching to lean ground turkey is an easy way to cut back on the calories and saturated fat in your chili. For example, switching from 80 percent lean ground beef to 93 percent lean ground turkey will save you 117 calories and 6 grams (g) of saturated fat per 4-ounce (oz) serving, according to the USDA. 

contains  Soy, Wheat, Fin fish

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HEALTHY RECIPES

9 Healthy Recipes to Whip Up With Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey

Soups, salads, even tacos — these tasty meals will have you looking forward to leftovers.

Written ByKelly Kennedy, RDN

Medically Reviewed byLynn Grieger, RDN, CDCES on November 15, 2023



Got turkey? This versatile lean protein can be made into a variety of different healthy meals after the holidays.

Stocksy

Any cooked turkey that survives a holiday feast is the gift that keeps on giving! But if you’re not a huge fan of leftovers, it can feel more like a burden than a blessing. With a few simple ingredients, however, you can transform leftover turkey into a whole new culinary experience! Plus, using up leftovers is a great way to decrease food waste and cut back on food costs. (Three meals for the price of one? Yes, please!) 

Skinless turkey is a naturally lean protein, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and, as the American Heart Association notes, turkey is a rich source of several vitamins and minerals, including choline, niacin, and vitamins B6 and B12. Turkey is also a good source of potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc.

While the traditional holiday meal features a whole roasted bird with sides like green bean casserole and stuffing, there are countless creative uses for leftover turkey, both light and dark meat. For estimating purposes, you can expect to get about 18 cups of meat from a 10-pound bird, and the carcass can be used to make a soup stock.

The USDA recommends using all turkey within three to four days. If you won’t be able to use it all in that amount of time, consider freezing it. Leftover turkey meat freezes incredibly well, making for an easy heat-and-serve protein another night. To freeze turkey, scoop it into a resealable plastic freezer bag and squeeze as much air out as you can before sealing. Of course, if you’re ready to use up leftover turkey right away, give these simple recipes a try today!

1



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Crustless Turkey Pot Pie

The creamy texture of pot pie is the perfect way to incorporate vegetables in a way that even the pickiest eaters will love! Enjoying your pot pie without the crust will not only save you big time on calories, carbs, and saturated fat, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But, the best part of this dish has to be the fact that, without the crust, it doesn’t have to be baked in the oven, so you can get dinner on the table even faster!

contains  Wheat, Dairy

5.0 out of 1 reviews

SERVES

4

CALORIES PER SERVING

351

AUTHOR

Kelly Kennedy, RDN

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2



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Lighter Turkey Tacos

Turkey Taco Tuesday, anyone? You can stretch your leftover turkey meat even further by adding beans, an inexpensive, plant-based protein source that also delivers a boost of fiber, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Results of a study published in 2023 in Nutrients found that, over the course of 10 years, people who ate beans regularly gained less weight, particularly belly fat, compared to those whose diets didn’t include beans.

contains  Wheat

SERVES

4

CALORIES PER SERVING

457

AUTHOR

Kelly Kennedy, RDN

 View full recipe

3



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Turkey-Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed peppers are the ultimate all-in-one meal, with lean protein, whole grains, and vegetables all in one neat little package! This version is a great way to repurpose already cooked turkey or chicken and can even use up leftover cooked grains from the fridge. Using cheese as a condiment (a small amount) adds loads of flavor without a lot of calories!

contains  Dairy

SERVES

4

CALORIES PER SERVING

355

AUTHOR

Kelly Kennedy, RDN

 View full recipe

4



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Turkey Salad

Using lowfat or fat-free Greek yogurt in place of mayonnaise is an easy way to lower the amount of calories, fat, and unhealthy saturated fat that you would find in a classic chicken salad or turkey salad. Th

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i

Stock

Leftover Turkey Sandwich

Roasted turkey is a holiday staple and this lean source of protein can be a healthy addition to any plate. Cranberry sauce adds sweetness and antioxidants, per UMass Dartmouth. Making cranberry sauce from scratch is easier than you think and a good way to cut back on the amount of added sugar.

contains  Wheat, Dairy

4.6 out of 5 reviews

SERVES

1

CALORIES PER SERVING

400

AUTHOR

Kelly Kennedy, RDN

 View full recipe

6



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Instant Pot Stock

Making your own stock at home is easy and economical. Plus, when you make it in a pressure cooker, it’s fast. Stock can be a great way to use up leftover vegetables and bones from a roasted chicken that would otherwise be thrown out. This rich chicken stock can add lots of flavor to a number of dishes, such as sauces, rice, and soup. Store stock in the fridge for up to four days or in the freezer for up to three months.

4.3 out of 7 reviews

SERVES

1

CALORIES PER SERVING

70

AUTHOR

Kelly Kennedy, RDN

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7



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Turkey, Apple, and Cheddar Sandwich

If you’ve never used apples in a savory pairing, this upgraded turkey sandwich is likely to become a fast favorite. Granny Smith apples have a characteristic tart flavor that cuts through the creaminess of the cheese. Use 100 percent whole-wheat bread that lists whole-wheat flour as the first ingredient for a fiber- and nutrient-packed base for your sandwich. According to data from the USDA, you’ll get almost 4 g of fiber from the bread alone.

contains  Wheat, Dairy

4.8 out of 6 reviews

SERVES

2

CALORIES PER SERVING

415

AUTHOR

Kelly Kennedy, RDN

 View full recipe

8



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Lemon Turkey and Rice Soup

The lean protein and vegetables in this savory bowl will give you the stamina and nutrients you need to convalesce, and the addition of lemon juice does more than just brighten up the flavors. It also adds a dose of antioxidant vitamin C, according to data from the USDA. As well, lemons and other citrus fruits contain hesperidin, a compound that some early research has found may help activate immune pathways that prevent the flu and other viruses from replicating. It’s also low enough in calories to add a piece of whole-grain bread or crackers.

5.0 out of 3 reviews

SERVES

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