Before kids, we got in the habit of just eating a second (and third…and sometimes fourth) Thanksgiving dinner once the big day was over. Complete with leftover turkey and all the trimmings, my husband and I were perfectly content to eat and repeat until every last bite was gone.
Once kids entered the picture, those days went out the window. While kids aren’t so excited to eat the same dinner over and over again, we still have to clean out the fridge post-Thanksgiving. So, we’ve had to get a little creative. Nowadays, we’ll transform our turkey and trimmings into something completely new—and delicious. These simple ideas and recipes for leftover turkey are just as delicious as the main event, and even better, the kids don’t complain about another night of Thanksgiving leftovers.
Leftover Turkey
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Turkey Pesto Panini
Sure, a regular turkey sandwich will probably do, but it’s a holiday weekend, so you might as well make sandwiches to remember. The kids will love this Turkey Pesto Panini from Damn Delicious.
Photo: Damn Delicious -
Turkey Skillet Pasta
Pasta is a guaranteed hit with my kids, especially with subtle Italian spices and flavorful turkey. It’s probably a good idea to top this Turkey Skillet Pasta from An Italian in My Kitchen with a pile of shredded Parmesan, too.
Photo: An Italian in My Kitchen -
Easy Turkey Enchiladas
Leftover turkey gets a flavorful makeover in these easy enchiladas from Le Creme de la Crumb. My kids love the cheesy topping and I love that the filling is made with other healthful ingredients including black beans.
Photo: Le Crumb de la Crumb -
Turkey Nachos
Nachos for dinner? Sure! Especially when all you have to do is pile on the toppings and warm through to melt the cheese in this easy turkey nachos recipe from Bless Her Heart Y'all.
Photo: Bless Her Heart Y'all -
Thanksgiving Pizza
Have you ever thought of topping a pizza with turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing? Me neither—until now! This insane Thanksgiving pizza from Baked by Rachel looks like just the thing to help the whole family recover from Black Friday shopping.
Photo: Baked by Rachel -
Roasted Butternut Squash Turkey Tacos
Change up the expected plate of leftovers with these simple Roasted Butternut Squash Turkey Tacos from Marla Meridith. Put out bowls of assorted fillings for the kids and let them decide what kinds of tacos they want for dinner.
Photo: Marla Meridith -
Turkey Noodle Soup
Tweak a classic pot of Chicken Noodle Soup by swapping in turkey, and you’ve got a meal for the whole family. Pair this simple turkey noodle soup from Sugar and Spice by Celeste with cheese and crackers for an even bigger dinnertime hit.
Photo: Sugar and Spice by Celeste -
Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
Creamy broth and yummy toppings set this Slow Cooker Turkey Chili from 3 Yummy Tummies up for success—and once it’s in the slow cooker, you can go about your day and serve up a kid-friendly dinner whenever hunger strikes.
Photo: 3 Yummy Tummies -
Turkey Bacon and Avocado Grilled Cheese
Think grilled cheese meets BLT, with a healthy dose of avocado in the mix and you have this killer turkey bacon and avocado grilled cheese from Tidy Mom. Sure, some kids might pull the components apart and eat them one by one, but even with a big mess to clean up, this delicious sandwich belongs on your long weekend menu.
Photo: Tidy Mom -
Turkey Taquitos
Slightly crispy, and with a cheesy filling, you need to bookmark these Turkey Taquitos from Bless this Mess to make for the kids. Serve them with a favorite salsa and dinner is done.
Photo: Bless this Mess -
Turkey Dumpling Soup
Transform a super-straightforward ingredient list into a comforting bowl of Turkey Dumpling Soup from the Lean Green Bean. You might want to serve less broth to the smallest eaters at your table, but if they’re like most kids, they’ll love the doughy dumplings.
Photo: The Lean Green Bean
