If you just can't decide what to do with your leftover turkey, you can always freeze it while you decide. While it may be a little dry when you thaw it to use, it's still delicious and healthy. It shouldn't be too hard to choose, however, because there is no shortage of ideas when it comes to using every last piece of a cooked turkey.
Use Chicken Recipes
Perhaps the easiest way to figure out what to do with leftover turkey is to look through your favorite chicken recipes. Turn your plain chicken salad recipe into delicious turkey salad by chopping the leftover turkey into bite-sized portions and adding mayonnaise, apples, grapes, pecans, salt and pepper. The result is a chicken salad you can eat on a sandwich or all by itself.
Another chicken recipe that works great with turkey is enchiladas. Fill flour tortillas with cheese and chopped turkey, roll them, and then cover them with enchilada sauce. You can then bake the turkey enchiladas until they are warm all the way through. If you like spicier foods, before your roll the enchiladas you can simmer the cooked turkey with enchilada sauce or salsa to make more flavorful, moist enchiladas.
Soups and Chilis
Turkey chili can be an easy, healthy alternative to beef chili, and it's a great way to use your leftover cooked turkey. Simply combine turkey, broth, your favorite beans (black beans or pinto beans work great), diced canned tomatoes and the seasonings of your choice. If you like thicker chili, reduce the amount of broth and substitute tomato sauce. Simmer the mixture over low heat for 30 to 45 minutes to create a tasty chili dinner. Serve with homemade cornbread.
One of the easiest dishes to make with leftover turkey is turkey stew. Put your cooked turkey into a large pot, and then add cans of your favorite vegetables. For example, you could include whole kernel corn, black beans, red beans, green beans and diced tomatoes. Of course you can always include fresh vegetables or herbs for additional flavor.
Sandwiches and Salads
Keeping leftover turkey on hand is an easy way to add protein to plain green salads. Consider adding sliced turkey to a spinach salad along with dried cranberries and vinaigrette dressing to make the salad heartier and more filling. If you enjoy chef's salads with bacon, boiled eggs and cheese, then add turkey instead of the usual grilled chicken. Consider adding snap peas or broccoli for extra flavor.
Of course, you can always have turkey sandwiches. Save the money you would normally spend buying lunch meats and have leftover turkey sandwiches instead. If you want to spice things up, add guacamole or hot pepper sauce. Changing cheeses can also make your sandwiches more interesting, so think of having turkey and provolone or turkey and Swiss sandwiches with your leftovers.
Tags: leftover turkey, cooked turkey, your favorite, black beans, chicken salad, Consider adding
