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Healthy Thanksgiving Leftover Ideas

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These Healthy Thanksgiving Leftover Ideas are the perfect way to transform basic Thanksgiving leftovers into unique meals! From leftover turkey to leftover veggies, these ideas are quick, healthy, and packed with flavor, so you can enjoy Thanksgiving leftovers without any waste.

Leftover turkey quesadillas with shredded turkey, black beans, and corn.

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These Healthy Thanksgiving Leftover Ideas can make boring leftovers fun again! After Thanksgiving dinner, you might find yourself with tons of leftovers. However, eating the same thing for the next week might not sound that appetizing.

That's where these recipes come in handy! You can use every bit of leftovers so that there's no waste. This list is packed with recipes that use leftover turkey, veggies, potatoes, rice or stuffing, and even cranberry sauce! If you want to learn how to create healthy dinner recipes from leftover Thanksgiving food, these recipes are the way to go.

Why You'll Love These Recipes

  • Less prep: These recipes are super easy to make because you've already made most of the food required!
  • Fun twist: Instead of simply reheating leftovers, you can add them to these recipes to make leftovers a little more exciting and flavorful.
  • No waste: Instead of throwing away leftovers, you can reinvent them. No more food waste!

Leftover Turkey Breast Recipes

Here's how to get creative with leftover roasted turkey breast in these delicious recipes:

Turkey Quesadillas

456 CAL 15 MIN
Turkey quesadillas with shredded turkey, black beans, peppers, and cheese cooked in flour tortillas with cilantro and salsa.
Add a cozy flair to a Mexican-inspired meal with these Turkey Quesadillas! Instead of ground turkey, shred some leftover turkey and use it in this recipe. Shredded turkey is combined with seasonings, sautéed onions and peppers, and wrapped up in gooey, cheesy quesadillas. It's a unique spin on leftover turkey that you'll have on repeat.

Slow Cooker Turkey Soup

327 CAL 4 HOURS, 10 MIN
Slow cooker turkey soup with shredded turkey breast, egg noodles, carrots, celery, and onions.
This Slow Cooker Turkey Soup is a great way to turn your leftover Thanksgiving turkey into something cozy and delicious. With a mix of veggies, beans, and savory spices, it's the perfect comforting dish that practically makes itself in the slow cooker!

Slow Cooker Turkey Tacos

354 CAL 4 HOURS, 5 MIN
Shredded turkey tacos with red onion, cilantro, dried cranberries, and crumbled cheese on soft flour tortillas.
Slow Cooker Turkey Tacos are a fantastic way to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey! Instead of cooking the turkey in the slow cooker, you'll toss the leftover turkey into the slow cooker with the spices and salsa verde. Just reduce the cooking time, and you're good to go! Once it's ready, place the turkey meat on some tortillas with your favorite taco toppings like sour cream, guacamole, or even a dollop of cranberry jalapeño relish for a festive twist!

Easy Turkey and Butternut Squash Chili

293 CAL 35 MIN
Turkey butternut squash chili with tomatoes, butternut squash, ground turkey, and sliced green onions.
This easy Turkey and Butternut Squash Chili is a perfect way to repurpose leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Instead of ground turkey, you'll use leftover shredded or chopped turkey as the protein base. Then, you'll add the turkey to butternut squash and a flavorful mix of spices for a cozy and satisfying meal!

Spinach Turkey Tortellini Soup

437 CAL 40 MIN
Spinach tortellini soup in a bowl with ground turkey, spinach, white beans, and tomatoes in a white bowl.
Spinach Tortellini Soup with Turkey is a great way to use leftover Thanksgiving turkey. This recipe uses ground turkey but you can swap it out with leftover turkey. Then, you'll add spinach, white beans, and tortellini for a hearty, comfort food meal that's both healthy and satisfying!

Rotisserie Chicken Taco Bowls

458 CAL 30 MIN
Rotisserie chicken taco bowl with black beans, bell peppers, onions, guacamole, and tomatoes.
Ditch the chicken, grab some leftover turkey, and make these Rotisserie Chicken Taco Bowls with Cilantro Lime Quinoa! Layer the turkey over a bed of cilantro lime quinoa, add your favorite veggies, and top with a squeeze of lime and salsa.

Healthy Taco Soup

306 CAL 4 HOURS, 5 MIN
Healthy taco soup with black beans, pinto beans, shredded chicken, cilantro, and cheese.
This Healthy Taco Soup is just as delicious with leftover turkey instead of chicken! Shred or chop the turkey and add it to the soup base with the beans, tomatoes, and seasonings. Let it all cook together, and you'll have a cozy, flavorful bowl of soup ready in no time.

Mediterranean Chicken Salad

149 CAL 15 MIN
Mediterranean chicken salad with cucumbers, roasted red peppers, dill, parsley, and red onion in a bowl with lettuce on the side.
Swap in turkey for chicken in this tasty lunch recipe. Use it for sandwiches, wraps, salads, and more. It's also a great option for using up leftover dinner rolls.

How to Prepare Leftover Turkey for Using in Recipes

Here's an easy way to prep leftover turkey to use in your favorite leftover recipes:

  1. Remove any remaining meat from the turkey carcass.
  2. If you have big chunks of meat, you can chop them up or shred them.
  3. Store leftover turkey meat in the fridge for a couple of days to use in your favorite recipes.

Pro tip: Don't throw away the turkey carcass! You can make your own turkey broth by simmering the bones in water along with spices and veggies for a few hours to make a delicious broth to use in soups and stews.

Leftover Veggie Recipes

Don't overlook all those delicious leftover veggies. Here are some creative ways to use your leftover vegetables.

Baked Roasted Vegetable Ziti

365 CAL 50 MIN
Roasted Vegetable Baked Ziti with melted cheese in a white casserole dish.
The Baked Roasted Vegetable Ziti is the perfect way to use up those leftover Thanksgiving veggies. The leftover veggies are tossed with pasta, marinara sauce, and plenty of mozzarella for a cozy and nutritious dish!

Honey Balsamic Roasted Vegetable Bowls

359 CAL 40 MIN
Honey balsamic roasted vegetable bowls with potatoes, peppers, onions, Brussels sprouts, carrots, and farro.
These Honey Balsamic Roasted Vegetable Bowls transform leftover Thanksgiving veggies into hearty, filling bowls! The recipe calls for a mix of hearty vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, and Brussels sprouts, but you can easily swap in whatever you've got left over. Toss everything in a delicious honey balsamic glaze and roast until caramelized. You can add some rice, tzatziki, hummus, or anything else you like to make these bowls your own!

Lemon Brussels Sprout Pasta

420 CAL 20 MIN
Lemon Brussels sprouts and Parmesan pasta with whole wheat spaghetti , shaved Brussels sprouts, lemon, white beans, and Parmesan cheese.
The Lemon Brussels Sprouts and Bacon Pasta is a delicious way to repurpose your leftover Thanksgiving Brussels sprouts! This recipe combines leftover Brussels sprouts with crispy bacon, parmesan cheese, a touch of fresh lemon juice, and high-fiber pasta for a light yet flavorful pasta dish.

Wild Rice Salad

324 CAL 55 MIN
Wild rice salad with acorn squash, cranberries, arugula, and a lemon dressing.
This easy salad is a great way to use up any roasted vegetables and leftover rice from your holiday meal. Add any leftover nuts, dried cranberries, or cheese from your appetizer board.

Mediterranean Bowls

504 CAL 30 MIN
Mediterranean Bowls with chicken, cucumbers, red peppers, feta cheese, sweet potatoes, and tahini dressing.
Swap in your leftover vegetables for the freshly roasted vegetables in this delicious chicken and rice bowl with Mediterranean dressing.

Here are some more great ideas for using up leftover cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, and more.

Slow Cooker Cranberry Pork

343 CAL 4 HOURS, 10 MIN
Slow cooker cranberry pork roast with sliced pork and a cranberry honey sauce on a wooden plate.
The Slow Cooker Cranberry Pork recipe is a perfect way to use up leftover cranberry sauce! Lean pork roast is simmered in a slow cooker with leftover cranberry sauce for a slightly sweet and tangy flavor. Serve it over some mashed potatoes or polenta for a comforting holiday-inspired meal.

Turkey Pinwheels

412 CAL 10 MIN
Turkey pinwheels with cream cheese, dried cranberries, cheddar cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes wrapped in a tortilla and sliced into pinwheels.
These Turkey Pinwheels combine turkey, spinach, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and dried cranberries. However, you can swap out the dried cranberries and use leftover cranberry sauce instead! Then, roll everything up in a tortilla for a quick, satisfying appetizer or make-ahead lunch.

Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash

245 CAL 30 MIN
Sweet potato hash with sweet potatoes, zucchini, onions, peppers, and a fried egg on a plate with sliced sausage.
This Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash is perfect for using up any leftover sweet potatoes from Thanksgiving! Everything is cooked in a skillet, along with veggies of your choice, turkey sausage, and eggs for a hearty breakfast. Top it with cheese, avocado, or any of your favorite toppings!

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos

293 CAL 40 MIN
Sweet potato tacos with black beans, cauliflower, avocado, and cilantro served in corn tortillas.
Skip the meat and make these Sweet Potato Tacos with Black Beans! Grab any leftover sweet potatoes and roast them up with black beans, vegetables, and spices. Pour everything into taco shells and add your favorite toppings for a fun twist on leftover Thanksgiving sweet potatoes!

Chicken Quinoa Bowls

482 CAL 50 MIN
Chicken quinoa bowls with sliced grilled chicken, pico de gallo, cilantro, lime, and chili lime dressing.

Chicken Quinoa Bowls are a healthy, flavorful dish that combines grilled marinated chicken breasts with steamed quinoa, fresh vegetables, and lots of toppings.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are so many fun ways to use leftover turkey. Here are some other creative ways to use leftover turkey:

  • Turkey enchiladas
  • Turkey sandwiches
  • Turkey casseroles
  • Turkey shepherd's pie
  • Turkey pot pie

Pro tip: If you have a recipe that uses chicken, you can swap it out with leftover turkey!

Many of these recipes, like quesadillas, taco bowls, and soups, are great for kids! You can customize toppings or flavors to suit their taste preferences.

More Recipe Ideas

Looking for more recipe ideas? Try these next.

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