Beyond Soup And Sandwiches: 12 Things To Do With Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey

Make the most of your holiday favorites without putting in extra effort in the kitchen with these simple leftover hacks that will keep you chowing through that leftover turkey without boring your taste buds.

Make sure all of your favorites receive the attention they deserve this holiday with these 12 creative recipes that will make you forget all about the usual post-Thanksgiving soups and sandwiches.

If you have loads of leftover turkey and you're not sure what to do with it, you can use turkey in your next taco recipe. Make a cranberry and tomatillo chutney (using your leftover cranberry sauce, of course) and you'll have a hearty and delicious post-Thanksgiving lunch option. — Rosa Mexicano

For the Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Tacos recipe, click here.

Use leftover Thanksgiving turkey to make our famous Salt Creek Grille Princeton poblano turkey quiche, right in your own kitchen! — Salt Creek Grille Princeton

For the Poblano Turkey Quiche recipe, click here.

Use leftover Thanksgiving turkey to make our famous Salt Creek Grille Princeton pulled turkey pupusas with pickled cabbage, right in your own kitchen! — Salt Creek Grille Princeton

For the Pulled Turkey Pupusas with Pickled Cabbage recipe, click here.

John "Blue" Avila was born into the barbecue business, as the first grandson of Texas food legends A.C. & Mary Saenz of A.C. Saenz Tamales & BBQ est. 1968. Avila was previously the pitmaster at the world-famous Franklin's Barbecue in Austin (widely-considered to be the best in the country) and is now working as Executive Chef at Morgan's in New York. 

He handles a number of turkey items on their grill including Turkey Tails and slow-oak-smoked turkey. This is what he had to say: "Now, a lot of old timers would muster up all of the leftover meat from the turkey and make Turkey a la King which is a true Southern dish," said Chef Avila. "One of the components is pimento as well which is very popular right now on the scene."

"My grandpa loved Thanksgiving Day with the family but I always saw a sparkle in his eye knowing he was just a day away from making his family famous Turkey a la King. This is a simple comfort food recipe that is easy to make." — Lauren Gordon

For the Turkey a la King recipe, click here.

Unsure of what to do with your leftover turkey? Put it to good use by pairing it with chopped apples, chickpeas, and butternut squash on mixed greens. — organicgirl

For the Turkey Chopped Salad with Sweet Pea and Lemon Agave Dressing recipe, click here.

Justin Warner, chef at Brooklyn's Do or Dine restaurant, came up with an inventive twist on a classic Thanksgiving dinner. Wrap turkey and cranberry sauce with nori and mashed potatoes for a creative sushi dish. Serve with a gravy dipping sauce to round out the flavors and sushi-eating experience. — Emily Jacobs

For the Turkey Dinner Sushi Roll recipe, click here.

Chef Joe Quintana from Rosa Mexicano suggests spicing up all that leftover turkey with a Mexican twist. Whether adding to a smoky soup or folding into enchiladas in a creamy Suizas sauce, Quintana likes to incorporate flavors like tomatillo and chile to enhance the beloved bird, once the cranberry sauce has run dry. As for entertaining the guests, chef Quintana notes that "most folks arrive at a dinner party with their appetite already in tact, so best to have something waiting for them to snack on. If you're serving one of our Mexican turkey leftover recipes, I'd suggest starting with an appetizer, like our 'Guacamole with roasted pears and apples,' which offers a bite that's both authentic and seasonal." — Lauren Gordon

For the Turkey Enchiladas Suidas recipe, click here.

Delicious, indulgent, perfect appetizers for any post holiday party! — Lauren Gordon

For the Turkey Leftover Empanada recipe, click here.

Along with making sandwiches and casseroles with your leftover Thanksgiving dinner, there's mac and cheese. This recipe incorporates a bit of freshness, with sage and garlic, to make the best use out of your uneaten turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, and cranberries. — Michael Ferraro

For the Thanksgiving Leftover Mac and Cheese recipe, click here.

"Using high-quality ingredients and traditional techniques, Krescendo has been Brooklyn's destination for updated versions of classic Italian dishes since opening in the borough in the late fall 2012. The menu highlights the artisan recipes of Naples, Sicily, and Southern Italy, including wood-fired pizza." — Krescendo Brooklyn

For the Thanksgiving Leftovers Pizza recipe, click here.

Use lean chopped turkey to make these delicious croquettes to serve at your post-Thanksgiving holiday parties.

For the Turkey Manchego Croquettes with Orange Saffron Aioli recipe, click here.

Combine leftover turkey with cranberries and sliced mushrooms in a creamy sauce over egg noodles for a delicious Thanksgiving leftovers dinner.

For the Turkey Stroganoff with Mushrooms and Cranberries recipe, click here.