Are you cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving this year or hosting? You are bound to end up with leftover turkey. With recipes estimating over 1 pound per guest, there is always turkey left at the end of the Thanksgiving meal.
I have hosted Thanksgiving three times so far and I am sure I have more to come. Yet, I have to admit, I was super nervous cooking the turkey my first time. However, I later realized, cooking a turkey is super easy. You just need to prep your turkey and pay attention to the meat thermometer and timing. My first bird turned out juicy and succulent. My guests raved I even sent home leftover bags with several of my guests. However, I still ended up with piles of turkey I was left eating for days after and the plain turkey was getting old after Black Friday.
So what is a girl to do? Find some amazing recipes to use your turkey up! I love saving money and since Thanksgiving day turkey isn’t cheap, I hate wasting any bit of it!
And I am a turkey lover! My husband… Not so much! So I am left eating the majority of our leftovers. However, we are about to convert you with some of our leftovers, with my two boys.
Need a few ideas so that yummy, juicy bird does not go to waste? Here at I Heart Frugal we believe in using as much of the food as possible, in order to continue with our frugal living habits, which saves you money!!!
Left Over Turkey Recipes:
1. Turkey Sandwich – Load up your favorite bread (I love multi-grain), add a little mayo, tomato, lettuce, and cheese (I like provolone with turkey) and you’ve got lunch or dinner that is bound to be a winner!
Pro Tip: Taking leftovers for lunch is a HUGE money-saver!
2. Turkey Soup – Now that the weather is getting colder, everyone loves to warm up with a yummy bowl of soup. Use your bird to replace the meat in any chicken soup recipe or use the turkey bone to make your own broth and enjoy in any recipe that calls for broth!
3. Turkey Pot Pie- Sick of the regular old chicken pot pie? Why not use turkey? Make a basic dough or Pillsbury biscuits, add some veggies and cream of chicken soup and bake them up! Homemade pot pie doesn’t have to be difficult! Here is an amazing pie crust recipe from All Recipes to try with your pot pie!
4. Cold Turkey Salad – Add your turkey to lettuce, dried cranberries, walnuts, blue or feta cheese! Top with a little raspberry vinaigrette dressing and you will have a dish even the kids will love! (We will have to skip the dressing for my oldest son. He likes everything plain!)
5. Hot Turkey Salad – Yum! This is a recipe my Great-Grandma used to make!
Quick Recipe: Add 3 Cups diced turkey, 1 cup thinly sliced celery, 1 cup shredded cheese, 1/4 cup chopped black olives, 1 tablespoon chopped onion, 1 teaspoon salt, 2/3 cup Miracle Whip and stir! Sprinkle with shredded cheese and top with crushed potato chips.
6. Give Away Leftovers – than the gift of giving during the holiday season. Buy some freezer bags and send your guests home with some leftovers of their own! They will leave happy and you will cut down on wasted food! A win, win!
Leftover Turkey Recipes Conclusion
Whatever it is you do with your Turkey, this year, I’m wishing you a joyful, peaceful Holiday Season with good food, good family and good friends and love in your hearts! Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
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