The turkey was the centerpiece on Thursday, and by Friday it is a foil-wrapped mountain taking up half the fridge. The good news is that cooked turkey is one of the most flexible ingredients you can have: it works in sandwiches, soups, casseroles, pot pies and even enchiladas, and it is already seasoned and ready to go.
These 25 leftover turkey recipes come from Fork To Spoon and lean on the air fryer and Instant Pot, so most are on the table in 20 to 30 minutes. You will find hot sandwiches and sliders, cozy casseroles and soups, quick weeknight meals and a few crispy snacks that make leftover turkey feel like a brand-new dinner. Where a recipe was written for chicken, it is noted; cooked turkey swaps in one for one.
No more turkey sandwiches four days in a row.
Turkey Sandwiches, Sliders and Wraps
1. Air Fryer Leftover Thanksgiving Sliders
Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and melted cheese on Hawaiian rolls, air fried until the tops are golden. The single best thing to do with Thanksgiving leftovers.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Leftover Thanksgiving Sliders
2. Easy Air Fryer Turkey and Cheese Sandwich
A hot turkey and cheese sandwich with a crisp, buttery exterior. Sliced leftover turkey beats deli turkey here every time.
Get the recipe: Easy Air Fryer Turkey and Cheese Sandwich
3. Air Fryer Turkey and Cheese Pinwheel Sandwiches
Tortillas spread with a sun-dried tomato cream cheese, layered with turkey and cheese, rolled, sliced and air fried for 3 to 4 minutes until melty.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Turkey and Cheese Pinwheel Sandwiches
4. Crispy Air Fryer Turkey Wraps
Turkey, cheese and veggies rolled in a tortilla and air fried until the outside is crisp. A 15-minute lunch for the days after the holiday.
Get the recipe: Crispy Air Fryer Turkey Wraps
5. Air Fryer Turkey Turnovers
Puff pastry pockets stuffed with turkey, gravy and vegetables, air fried until flaky. A hand-held pot pie that freezes well.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Turkey Turnovers
6. Air Fryer Crack Chicken Crescent Bites
Shredded meat, bacon, cheddar and ranch wrapped in crescent dough. Written for chicken; shredded leftover turkey is a straight swap.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Crack Chicken Crescent Bites
7. Air Fryer Chicken Quesadilla
Crispy tortillas with melted cheese and shredded meat. Use leftover turkey and add a spoonful of cranberry sauce on the side for dipping.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Quesadilla
8. Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
Rolled tortillas filled with seasoned shredded meat and cheese, air fried until crunchy. Swap in turkey and serve with salsa and sour cream.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
Casseroles, Pot Pies and Comfort Dinners
9. Air Fryer Leftover Turkey Pot Pie
Turkey, vegetables and gravy under a flaky crust, baked in the air fryer. The classic leftover dinner, done in a fraction of the oven time.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Leftover Turkey Pot Pie
10. Air Fryer Turkey Tetrazzini
Creamy pasta with turkey, mushrooms and Parmesan, baked until bubbly with a golden top. Feeds the whole family from two cups of leftover turkey.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Turkey Tetrazzini
11. Air Fryer Turkey Enchiladas
Shredded turkey rolled in tortillas with enchilada sauce and cheese, air fried until the edges crisp. A Friday-night dinner that tastes nothing like Thursday.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Turkey Enchiladas
12. Air Fryer Turkey Croquettes
Mashed potatoes and chopped turkey shaped into patties, breaded and air fried until crunchy. Uses two leftovers in one recipe.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Turkey Croquettes
13. Homemade Chicken Pot Pie in the Air Fryer
The from-scratch pot pie with a creamy filling and buttery crust. Replace the chicken with diced turkey and use leftover gravy in the sauce.
Get the recipe: Homemade Chicken Pot Pie in the Air Fryer
14. Banquet Turkey Pot Pie in the Air Fryer
For the night you are too tired to cook: the frozen Banquet pot pie, air fried for a crisp crust instead of a soggy microwave one.
Get the recipe: Banquet Turkey Pot Pie in the Air Fryer
15. Instant Pot Italian Wedding Soup
A brothy soup with tiny meatballs, greens and pasta. Stir in shredded turkey at the end for a heartier bowl that uses up the last of the bird.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Italian Wedding Soup
16. Easy Instant Pot Chili (No Beans)
A thick, meaty chili ready in under an hour. Swap half the ground beef for chopped leftover turkey, or go all turkey for a lighter pot.
Get the recipe: Easy Instant Pot Chili No Beans
17. Easy Instant Pot Wild Rice
Nutty wild rice cooked in the pressure cooker. Fold in diced turkey, cranberries and a splash of broth for a one-bowl turkey and wild rice dinner.
Get the recipe: Easy Instant Pot Wild Rice
Quick Meals, Salads and More Turkey Dinners
18. Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Salad
A loaded salad with BBQ-tossed meat, corn, black beans and a creamy dressing. Use chopped leftover turkey for a lighter lunch after a heavy holiday.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Salad
19. Air Fryer Trader Joe’s Southwest Chicken Quesadillas
Southwest-seasoned quesadillas with peppers and cheese. Shredded turkey and a spoonful of salsa turn these into a 10-minute dinner.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Trader Joe’s Southwest Chicken Quesadillas
20. Air Fryer Turkey Cutlets
For when the leftovers run out but the craving does not: juicy turkey breast cutlets ready in 15 minutes, perfect for sandwiches the rest of the week.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Turkey Cutlets
21. Air Fryer Boneless Turkey Breast Roast
A small boneless roast for a second round of turkey dinners without cooking a whole bird. Slice thin for sandwiches, dice for casseroles.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Boneless Turkey Breast Roast
22. Easy Cajun Smoked Turkey Breast
A spicy, smoky turkey breast that gives you flavorful leftovers on purpose. Great sliced for po’ boys and wraps.
Get the recipe: Easy Cajun Smoked Turkey Breast
23. Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
Juicy ground turkey burgers air fried in about 15 minutes. If you bought extra ground turkey for the holiday, this is the easy weeknight use for it.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
24. Easy Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf
A lean, tender turkey meatloaf with a tangy glaze, cooked in the air fryer in under an hour. Leftover slices make excellent meatloaf sandwiches.
Get the recipe: Easy Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf
25. Easy Barefoot Contessa Turkey Burger
Ina Garten’s turkey burger with a few smart additions that keep it moist. A classic worth having in rotation long after Thanksgiving.
Get the recipe: Easy Barefoot Contessa Turkey Burger
How to Store, Freeze and Reheat Leftover Turkey
Carve it all on day one. Pull every bit of meat off the carcass within two hours of dinner. Slice the breast, shred the dark meat, and store them in separate airtight containers with a splash of broth or pan drippings to keep them moist.
Use within 3 to 4 days. Leftover turkey keeps 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Plan sandwiches and sliders for the first two days, then cook the rest into casseroles, pot pies and enchiladas.
Freeze in portions. Pack diced or shredded turkey in one- or two-cup freezer bags, press out the air and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and it goes straight into any recipe above.
Save the carcass. Freeze the bones and make turkey stock when you have an afternoon. It is the base for every soup on this list.
Reheat low and slow. The air fryer at 300°F to 325°F for 3 to 5 minutes, with the turkey covered or lightly brushed with broth, keeps slices juicy. The microwave dries turkey out fast; if you must use it, add a damp paper towel over the top.
Crisp the skin separately. Leftover turkey skin gets rubbery in the fridge. A couple of minutes in a 400°F air fryer brings it back to crackling for topping salads and soups.
Leftover Turkey FAQs
How long is leftover turkey good for? Three to four days refrigerated in an airtight container, or up to 3 months frozen.
Can I freeze cooked turkey? Yes. Diced or shredded turkey freezes better than large slices, and it thaws faster. Add a little broth to the bag so it does not dry out.
What is the best way to reheat turkey without drying it out? Low heat with moisture: the air fryer or oven at 300°F to 325°F, covered, with a spoonful of broth or gravy. Avoid high heat and long microwave times.
Can I use leftover turkey in chicken recipes? Almost always. Cooked turkey swaps one for one for cooked chicken in casseroles, soups, quesadillas, taquitos, pot pies and salads. Several recipes above were written for chicken and work the same with turkey.
What can I make with a lot of leftover turkey at once? Tetrazzini, pot pie, enchiladas and chili each use two to three cups. Make one of those plus a batch of sliders and you will clear the fridge in two days.
Is leftover turkey safe if it sat out after dinner? Turkey left at room temperature for more than two hours should be discarded. Refrigerate leftovers quickly on the holiday, before the pie comes out
