Don’t wish to eat one other chew of leftover turkey after the vacation? I received you! Make turkey freezer meals with the leftovers to be able to purchase your self a while and avoid wasting cash.
From soups to salads to sandwiches to burritos to flautas to casseroles, there’s no finish to the tasty methods you need to use up leftover turkey. You’re going to want you had cooked an even bigger hen!
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Obtained turkey? As in, numerous leftover turkey from a big meal?
It appears that evidently yearly is totally different. One 12 months you may not have a sufficiently big turkey at Thanksgiving, and there actually are not any leftovers to talk of.
Different years? You might need turkey popping out your ears. Oh boy! What must you with all that turkey?
Personally, I’ll take slices of turkey breast on rye bread with a slather of mayo and a sprinkling of salt. In the event you’ve by no means tried this combo, you should. It’s tremendous easy, however so superb.
However then what?
When you’ve exhausted the “reheat and eat” and the plain sandwich choices, whaddya do? It’s necessary to not let that turkey go to waste.
Why It Issues
Utilizing up leftover turkey helps you keep away from meals waste. Meals waste prices us in some ways, however the way in which you’ll really feel it most at house is in your pocket e book. In the event you can cease losing meals, you may divert funds to extra wanted areas, apart from groceries.
Making turkey freezer meals saves you time. In the event you take a couple of minutes after the feast to prep the leftover turkey for freezing, you need to use it in every kind of recipes (like all those that decision for cooked rooster) within the weeks to return. You’ll save a lot time over the vacations!
It’s scrumptious! Leftover turkey will be scrumptious if it’s ready nicely. Don’t let it sit behind the fridge. Freeze it immediately for those who can’t burn up the leftover turkey inside 2 to three days.
Thanksgiving is about being grateful. Letting leftover turkey go to waste appears counter to the entire level of Thanksgiving. Let’s lengthen this harvest of bounty to some extra meals — even for those who freeze them for later.
Ideas for Storing Leftover Turkey
How lengthy is leftover turkey good for within the fridge?
Ready meals is sweet within the fridge for as much as 4 days. In the event you cook dinner your turkey on Thursday, it ought to be fit for human consumption by Monday.
Can leftover turkey be frozen?
Freezing your turkey leftovers is an effective way to keep away from waste and provides your self a break from turkey.
In the event you simply don’t wish to cope with it proper now, stash all of it within the freezer. Trim the meat off the bones and bundle it nicely in freezer luggage or hermetic containers. You may even bundle the bones to make inventory at a future date. Simply don’t neglect you’ve received it within the freezer.
In per week or two, you may thaw the turkey and use it in your favourite recipes that decision for cooked and chopped rooster or turkey.
Are you able to freeze turkey after 3 days?
The freezer doesn’t magically make meals brisker. It solely slows the enzyme motion. In the event you freeze your turkey quickly after cooking, it’s best to have a strong 2-3 days to make use of it after thawing.
Nevertheless, for those who freeze your turkey close to the tip of the 4-day window, you’ll must be sure you use it instantly whenever you do pull it from the freezer.
Try this nice information about Meals Security Fundamentals from the USDA.
Recipes for Leftover Turkey
Any recipe that requires cooked rooster will be an effective way to make use of up leftover turkey and it’s excellent to incorporate in an at-home salad bar. However there are additionally a great deal of recipes you may add turkey to.
I’ve curated these leftover turkey recipes in such a manner which you could freeze both the turkey prepared so as to add, all of the prepped components as a equipment, or the prepped dish in its entirety.
While you make freezer meals with leftover turkey, you save time and keep away from meals waste! Listed below are a few of our faves:
Freeze the Turkey Prepped to Add to These Recipes
Chilly salads and sandwiches aren’t sometimes good candidates for freezing. However, you may chop, shred, or slice your leftover turkey after which freeze it in meal-size packages to make use of within the following recipes.
Ginger-Sesame Turkey Salad
Dish up a scrumptious salad made with cooked turkey breast and tossed with a tangy ginger-sesame dressing.
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Cranberry Hen Salad
With tender rooster breast, celery, dried cranberries, and a tangy poppy seed dressing, this basic Cranberry Hen Salad is a deal with!
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Hen Salad Sandwiches with Cucumber
Able to rise up and go? Be certain that to economize in your lunch invoice by packing up some straightforward Hen Salad Sandwiches with crisp, crunchy cucumbers.
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Hen Salad Lettuce Wraps
Take pleasure in a easy, scrumptious rooster salad loaded with apples and almonds on this straightforward recipe for Hen Salad Lettuce Wraps.
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Hen Salad Membership Sandwiches
Sandwich Night time will develop into one thing tremendous particular whenever you high creamy rooster salad with bacon on this Hen Salad Membership Sandwich.
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Orchard Hen Salad
Take pleasure in contemporary fruits, spicy scallions, crunchy almonds, and tender rooster on this scrumptious and refreshing Orchard Hen Salad. Good for sandwiches, salads, or lettuce wraps.
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Cajun Hen Salad
This creamy rooster salad will get a kick from a customized mix and crunch from crisp celery. It’s nice in lettuce wraps or on rolls.
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Curry Hen Salad Lettuce Wraps
Take pleasure in a lunch or dinner filled with taste with this Curry Hen Salad served in Lettuce Wraps. It’s very make-ahead and tremendous scrumptious.
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Chipotle Turkey Baguettes
Layer tender turkey with lettuce, tomato, and a creamy chipotle mayo for a tasty chipotle turkey baguette sandwich that can rival the most effective sandwich retailers!
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Turkey Cheddar Soften with Grilled Onions and Spicy Mayo
Melted cheddar, thick-sliced turkey, grilled onions, and spicy mayo mix right into a scorching and filling sandwich. So good!
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Turkey and Ham Cobb Salad
A Cobb Salad is stuffed with taste so it by no means want be boring. This one with ham and turkey will get dressed up with bacon and leeks.
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Italian Hen Pasta Salad
Busy night time? Seize a bowl of this make-ahead Italian Hen Pasta Salad. It’s straightforward to make and filled with taste.
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Hen Bacon Ranch Salad
Take pleasure in a cool and straightforward lunch or dinner with this Hen Bacon Ranch Salad. It’s stuffed with rooster, bacon, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers.
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Hen & Raspberry Salad
Tender rooster, juicy raspberries, and tangy goat cheese get collectively to occasion on this easy but flavorful Hen & Raspberry Salad. No want for a restaurant salad in the present day whenever you’ve received this occurring!
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Hen Caesar Sandwiches
Hen Caesar Baguette Sandwiches are simply what you count on – fast and easy deliciousness tucked into French bread. They’re a enjoyable, moveable twist on a classic basic.
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Asian Hen Noodle Salad
Cool off with this tremendous straightforward, tremendous make-ahead Asian Hen Noodle Salad. It’s stuffed with crisp, crunchy veggies, hearty rooster, and a tasty dressing.
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Recipes to Make as a Equipment
Some recipes do higher frozen as freezer meal kits. That’s to say, some or the entire parts are packaged and frozen recipe-ready, to be assembled later.
Making a freezer meal equipment with leftover turkey is an effective way to avoid wasting your self time whereas additionally giving your self versatility in including contemporary components or ensuring noodles don’t go soggy.
These leftover turkey recipes are nice for making into kits:
Hen Minestrone
This straightforward rooster minestrone soup mixes up in minutes with simply 5 primary components. It is scrumptious and filling with out feeling heavy, excellent any time of 12 months for lunch or dinner.
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Turkey and Rice Soup
Turkey and Rice Soup is likely one of the greatest consolation meals, that includes turkey, rice, spicy sausage, and veggies. Good for vacation leftovers!
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Creamy Hen Pasta with Bacon
This Creamy Hen Pasta dish is sauced with sherry with cream and dotted with bacon, tomatoes, and peas. It’s completely scrumptious!
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Spaghetti Squash Jambalaya
Spaghetti Squash Jambalaya simply could also be considered one of my favourite low carb recipes. Scorching and spicy with a contact of sweetness from the squash, it’s the proper wholesome supper.
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Pulled Hen Sliders
Pulled rooster with a do-it-yourself seasoning mix makes for excellent occasion meals or a simple dinner of Pulled Hen Sliders. These Hen and Cheese Sliders are the proper dinner for busy nights – made in about half-hour for those who use the strain cooker!
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Candy and Bitter Shredded Hen Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
Let your sluggish cooker do the work with a simple candy and bitter pulled rooster filling excellent for sandwiches and wraps. This easy crockpot recipe will prevent money and time!
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Hen Burrito Bowls
Overlook the flamboyant taco store and it is excessive priced burrito bowls. You can also make your individual — higher and for much less! Pack these Hen Burrito Bowls with Chipotle Crema for lunch this week.
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Hen Fried Rice
Obtained leftover cooked rooster and rice? Then you definitely’ve received the makings of an awesome meal. This rooster fried rice is tremendous straightforward to make and higher than takeout!
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Sheetpan Nachos
Feed a crowd and your starvation for loaded nachos multi function fell swoop. This Sheetpan Nachos recipe can have you set for fulfillment.
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Moo Shu Hen
Moo Shu Hen is a simple and scrumptious meal which you could make forward to freeze. A riff on conventional Moo Shu Pork, rooster lightens the dish, whereas flour tortillas make issues straightforward.
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Recipes You Can Freeze
The perfect type of freezer meal is the type which you could make in its entirety and stash within the freezer for an evening sooner or later.
These straightforward dinner recipes are excellent for prepping with leftover turkey:
Scorching Turkey Pesto Sandwiches
Scorching Turkey Pesto Sandwiches are tremendous enjoyable sandwiches to make. These Turkey Pesto Panini are uber-comforting, freezer-friendly, and nice for potlucks! Seize the recipe and get urgent these gooey, tacky, scrumptious, pesto-infused sandwiches.
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Bitter Cream Hen Enchilada Casserole Recipe
Boost your night with this scorching and tacky Hen Enchilada Casserole. You may whip it up in a flash — and make an additional to freeze.
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Inexperienced Hen Enchiladas with Cream Cheese
Enchiladas are an ideal meal. Don’t purchase frozen and don’t exit. Make these at dwelling and benefit from the financial savings and the wonderful taste.
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Selfmade Hen Enchiladas with Roasted Chiles
Internet hosting a crowd? Serve two massive pans of do-it-yourself rooster enchiladas with freshly roasted chiles. No crowd? No drawback. Stash one pan within the freezer for one more time.
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Creamy Turkey Enchiladas
Fold cooked turkey into corn tortillas and high with this creamy do-it-yourself sauce for the most effective turkey enchiladas ever to fulfill Thanksgiving leftovers.
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Freezer Burritos
Ever been tempted by the contents of the frozen meals aisle? It will likely be straightforward to simply say NO whenever you’ve made your individual do-it-yourself burritos for the freezer.
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Hen Flautas Recipe
Much like taquitos, flautas are little flutes of tortilla rolled and full of one thing scrumptious, on this case, seasoned rooster and cheese.
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Turkey Pot Pie with Straightforward Biscuit Topping
Turkey, greens, and gravy make a luscious filling for a simple biscuit topping on this easy turkey pot pie.
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White Bean Hen Chili
This straightforward white bean rooster chili comes collectively shortly however is filled with taste.
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Hen Pesto Pizza
Take pleasure in a more healthy pizza night time this week with this do-it-yourself Hen Pesto Pizza with Contemporary Avocado that includes a complete wheat crust.
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Hen and Biscuit Pizza
This 30-minute pizza has a fast biscuit crust and a scrumptious alfredo fashion sauce topped with rooster and cheese. Like rooster and biscuits on pizza.
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Hen Gumbo Soup
Hen Gumbo Soup, that childhood favourite from the red-labeled can is now inside your attain – do-it-yourself, tastier, and higher for you!
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Grandma’s Hen Noodle Soup Recipe
This Hen Noodle Soup Recipe, identical to Grandma used to make, is a simple and economical dish. Fire up a pot of rooster broth with tender egg noodles, chunks of tender rooster, and slivers of contemporary greens.
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BBQ Hen Pizza with Bacon & Pineapple
Make Pizza Night time out of this world this week with a BBQ Hen Pizza with Bacon & Pineapple – so easy, good, and filled with taste. Simply be sure you make multiple.
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Scorching Hen Sub with Bacon
These Hen Bacon Subs disappear lickety cut up at my home. They’re the proper scorching rooster sandwich, really easy to assemble and really freezer-friendly.
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Hen Divan with Curry
This freezer-friendly, curried rooster and broccoli casserole is absolutely do-it-yourself. No canned soups or packaged mixes on this Hen Curry Casserole. Simply good, actual meals.
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Spicy Hen Dip
This Spicy Hen Dip is out of this world. Creamy, tacky, spicy, and stuffed with tender rooster items, this dip will please youngsters and adults alike.
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Hen Fajita Burrito
Hen Fajita Burritos are filling, flavorful, and filled with peppers, onions, and jalapeños. They make an awesome lunch, snack, or dinner which you could make forward and freeze.
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Creamy Hen Stuffed Shells
A creamy, tacky, rooster filling accentuates this straightforward pasta dish. Make a double batch to freeze for one more time.
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Creamy Hen Noodle Soup
Get cozy this season with a bowl of this Creamy Hen Noodle Soup. It comes collectively shortly with simply 5 primary components.
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Hen Florentine Casserole
This scrumptious one-dish model of Hen Florentine includes a creamy Mornay sauce, chopped spinach, campanelle noodles, and tender rooster. It is a scrumptious pasta bake that deserves a spot in your common rotation.
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Methods to Make Frozen Grilled Hen Strips
You should buy frozen grilled rooster strips on the grocery retailer, or you may take a couple of minutes to cook dinner and freeze your individual. Get monetary savings and benefit from the comfort!
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Turkey Inventory
Use turkey leftovers to cook dinner up a pot of inventory to make use of in soups, stews, and rice dishes.
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Hen Taco Soup
Loaded with tender rooster breast, numerous veggies, taco spices, and a wealthy rooster inventory, this straightforward recipe for Hen Taco Soup is one you’ll like to serve each for straightforward weeknight suppers or fancier Cinco de Mayo celebrations. It is prepared in lower than half an hour!
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What do you suppose?
What’s YOUR favourite recipe to make use of up leftover turkey? How will you utilize what’s left?
This submit was initially revealed on November 22, 2021. It has been up to date for content material and readability.
