Learn how to make this easy and tasty morning meal , plus mark 9 more originative ideas for how to put special turkey to delicious role .
Rachel Marek . Prop Styling : Gabe Greco
commemorate whenleftoverswould get the royal intervention by being tucked inside a tin foil swan ? These daytime , extra servings tend to get a fair amount of shade for taking up cute icebox material estate , for being boring ( we get it : the samecasseroleon repeat for 3 dinners in a row gets banal ) , and potentially resulting in excessfood wasteif you ca n’t wreak your way through them in time .
Credit:Rachel Marek. Prop Styling: Gabe Greco
Still , if you ’re going to all the effort of whipping up an ambitious meal , you might as well do your future self a favour and empower yourself some preciousmeal prep . All nine chefs we spoke to jibe that Thanksgiving leftovers are precious cargo and are worth lionise in a new existence .
“ Thanksgiving Day remnant might just be the greatest leftover in human history . I have always loved making ‘ to - go ’ plates after everybody has eaten and before we start cleaning , ” say James Dibella , bodied executive chef at Link & Pin , The Cellar , and Duckworth ’s in Charlotte , North Carolina .
It ’s a generous motion to apportion , but be sure to arrange aside some turkey for yourself , suggests Michael Manoocheri , music director of solid food and potable at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa in San Diego , California : “ Turkey ’s versatility in picky LET you get originative with flavors and textures . Plus , leftovers mean minimal cookery for the next couple of days . ”
Credit: Jacob Fox
Leftover Republic of Turkey recipesallow you to think beyond the received vacation plate and transmute those cozy flavors into something fresh . Plus , “ this keeps that holiday spirit going , ” adds Jacob Jasinski , executive chef and food for thought and beverage film director for The Chanler at Cliff Walk in Newport , Rhode Island . ( By the way , theUSDArecommends freezing or consuming leftovers within 4 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , so we always make it our missionary work to use them up by Cyber Monday . )
Sylvia Casares , the source of “ The Enchilada Queen Cookbook ” and the chef / owner of Sylvia ’s Enchilada Kitchen in Houston , Texas look forwards to leftover turkey recipe so much , “ I always make two bird to ensure I have enough extra ! ”
9 of the Best Leftover Turkey Recipes, According to Chefs
For other holiday orSunday dinners , we have you covered with ourleftover pulled porc , remnant ham , andleftover volaille recipes . And come Thanksgiving , our panel of nine creative chef have your back with the telephone line - up of leftover turkey recipes below .
When Eric Rowse , lead chef - instructor of Culinary Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education in Los Angeles , California has extra turkey on bridge player , he accommodate , “ I do n’t want to eat a reheated Thanksgiving dinner party . I desire the flavors in a unexampled shape to make the family experience it ’s something newfangled . I want to ‘ chef ’ it up”—and the estimate below explain just how to ( well ) follow suit .
Still , if you prefer to eat it straight up , stick around to the closing to discover the best way to reheat turkey . A few tiny item make all the difference between juicy , just - as - good - as - reinvigorated roasted meat vs. ironical and problematic joker .
Credit:Kelsey Hansen
Turkey and Potato Hash
“ I do not wake up up early on Black Friday to hound for heap . Instead , I normally stay back and make brunch , ” confirm Jose Danger , executive chef at Teatro Restaurant eatery at The Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami , Florida .
The best Black Friday brunch , and one of the tastiest leftover turkey recipes , consort to Danger , Manoocheri , and Derek Piva , executive chef at Tu Tu ’ Tun Lodge in Gold Beach , Oregon?Turkey and Potato Hash . fillip : Making a remnant turkey recipe the next morning will make you more fridge place soon after the feast .
Dice or shred leftover turkey , then conflate that with sautéed diced onions and black pepper as well as leftover roast potato or sweet potato — or blanched regular hexahedron of either tuber . time of year as trust and top with nut fix your way . ( Danger digs afluffy scramble , while Piva preferspoached , and Manoocheri is intofried ballock . ) Drizzle withgravyif you like .
Turkey and Waffles
For brunch or breakfast for dinner party , Rowse recommends “ a Thanksgiving version of chicken and waffle . ”
Start by warm the Meleagris gallopavo in a frypan with a splash of gravy , ” especially if the Meleagris gallopavo was on the dry side initially , ” Rowse pronounce . Then reheat a scoop shovel of dressing in awaffle ironso it is crispy on the exterior and still moist on the inside . If stuffing was n’t on the menu or if you finished it at the feast , cooked frozen waffle orhomemade waffleswork , too . ( OurCornmeal Buttermilk Waffleswould be particularly fitting . ) Pile the gravy - poached Republic of Turkey on top of the waffles , and twin this with a side salad garnished with a few French fried onions if you go on to have them on hand for thegreen bean casserole , Rowse says
Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Sandwich
Of course , no round - up of leftover bomb recipe would be ended without what Ziggy Gruber , chef , owner , and delimaven at Kenny & Ziggy ’s New York Delicatessen Restaurant and Bakery in Houston , Texas deems “ The outstanding Holiday Sandwich , Charlie Brown . ”
Simply warm up the leftover kernel accompany to the instruction below ( see “ How to Reheat Leftover Turkey Like a Chef ” ) , then layer it on cranberry sauce - slathered challah bread with a couple spoon of stuff , if you have that in the fridge , Gruber notify .
If you favor a creamy Riffian on theleftover turkey sandwichtheme , follow Dibella ’s lead and cube any leftover white sum Republic of Turkey . Add it to a large bowl alongside mayonnaise or Greek yogurt , chop celery , diced Allium cepa , a drizzle of honey , and candied Carya illinoinsis . Season as desired and love tuck inside a croissant or between two slices of goner for a “ simple but delicious turkey salad sandwich that will delight for a few days after the Thanksgiving hangover . ” ( OurTarragon Chicken Salad with Cranberriesoffers a dear guide regarding the ratios . )
Turkey and Cranberry Barbecue Flatbread
For lunch , dinner , or a bite while watching football or play plank games , ditch deliverance and try Manoocheri ’s sweet , savory , and smoky Turkey and Cranberry Barbecue Flatbread . It ’s a hitting with Kyd and adults alike , and “ theflatbread formatis easy and turns leftovers into something impudent and satisfying , ” he tell us .
Combine 1 cup leftover cranberry sauce with ⅓ cupbarbecue sauce , then spread this on store - purchase flatbread , pita , or naan . Top with chopped leftover turkey , thinly - slice cerise onion plant , and slices of impertinent mozzarella or brie cheese . broil on a sheet goat god at 350 ° F until the crust is crisp and the Malva sylvestris is melty . If you have some fresh rocket salad in yourcrisper drawer , crown each flatbread with a smattering for a outburst of insolence and a pleasant peppery note .
Turkey Enchiladas
The biggestThanksgiving food trendof the year is to embrace global savor at the vacation mesa , so why not keep that expedition going with your remnant turkey ? Casares is angry aboutTurkey Mole Enchiladas , which will take your taste perception buds on a little head trip to Mexico — no passport command .
If you or any of your fellow buffet car recollect turkey errs on the “ boring ” side , trim up the protein in warmly - spiced groyne sauce will quickly rewrite its reputation . Plus our shortcut mole tastes complex , yet only takes less than 20 minutes to recreate . geminate a scoop of mol - sauced meat with crumbled queso fresco or finely - shred Monterey jack cheese inside corn tortilla , then roll , add to a casserole pan , and broil for about 30 minutes at 350 ° F.
Turkey Tacos
Continuing on with the Mexican - inspired theme , both Piva and Jasinski say that they often make turkeytacosfor at least one meal on the weekend after Thanksgiving .
For a cultural blending , use ourPeruvian - Style Chicken Tacosas a guide ; just put back the ground chicken with shredded turkey . Or for “ a flavorful , vibrant twist that contribute a bit of brightness to the Thanksgiving flavors , ” Jasinski advocates for layer pan gravy - poached shredded turkey inside warm corn tortillas alongside pickle onion , diced alligator pear , and refreshed cilantro .
Turkey Pot Pie
From here on out , anticipate acomfort foodfest . ( It is almost officially wintertime , after all ! ) Rowse is a inviolable proponent of converting leftover turkey into a pot Proto-Indo European or shepherd ’s pie , as this formatting give up you to keep the kernel moist while using up other fillip ingredients , like flirt Solanum tuberosum or sweet potatoes , roast veggie , and gravy . If you do n’t have any redundant spuds to dollop on top , opt for Gruber ’s favored , refrigeratedpuff pastry dough , or Piva ’s selection , pie crust .
contain out ourTurkey Dinner Shepherd ’s Piefor a dish that puts a thumping 3 cup of leftover turkey to good use of goods and services , or swap Meleagris gallopavo for Gallus gallus in our fan - favoriteDeep - Dish Chicken Pot Pieor individualChicken Pot Pierecipes .
Turkey Congee
Festive season is also prime time for enjoying conge , aka juke joint in Cantonese , which is a cozy and popular type of zesty rice porridge that has been a staple fibre in many Asian homes for hundred — and is now a go - to comfort nutrient worldwide .
“ Jook is a comforting post - Thanksgiving tradition that transubstantiate leftover turkey and Timothy Miles Bindon Rice into a creamy , flavourous porridge , ” explains Jeremy Shigekane , executive chef at Prince Waikiki in Honolulu , Hawaii .
Simmer remnant turkey and Elmer Rice in chicken orturkey stockuntil the Elmer Leopold Rice breaks down and creates a thick , velvety grain . To finish , stir in some sliced mushroom-shaped cloud and chop green onions , Shigekane say . To crank up the indulgence even more , try scooping your congee / jook joint over a portion of warm leftover stuffing , he suggests , for “ a delicious style to use up even more holiday goodness ! ”
Kelsey Hansen
Turkey Soup
Keep that stock and Republic of Turkey handy and mate them up in a pot of soup , Casares and Manoocheri pop the question .
Casares adores sopa de fideo , which starts by brown rugged long - issue pasta in a pot in some liquid butter . Add the stock or fund , then mix in minced garlic , cumin , and dice bell peppers , as well as the extra turkey . Simmer for 10 minutes for a bowl that ’s “ so satisfying , ” according to Casares .
For a Tex - Mex twist , Manoocheri advocates for arouse togetherLime Chicken Tortilla Soupwith Republic of Turkey and turkey stock instead of chicken . “ It ’s thaw and satisfying , and the Southwestern flavor cater a welcome change from the traditional Thanksgiving roof of the mouth , ” Manoocheri says .
How to Reheat Leftover Turkey Like a Chef
To showcase inside sandwiches or taco or to enjoy on its own on a dental plate of leftovers for round two over the weekend , all of the chef we spoke to agree that the microwave is your biggest enemy .
“ The worst path to reheat remnant Thanksgiving turkey is by merely locate it in the microwave oven without any added wet . This will likely dry out the essence significantly , and leave it tough and unappetizing . seek to avoid long , uninterrupted microwave oven warming fourth dimension , ” Dibella state .
If you select to micro-cook your leftover meat , cut the joker into thin slices or small pieces , and opt to heat it in short bursts ( say , 1 - minute geological fault ) at 50 % power “ with added broth or bunce to retain moisture , ” Dibella adds .
The effective means to reheat turkey is low and slow in the oven , the chefs say . Place turkey in a baking mantrap and insure it with a routine of broth or windfall , or a tap of butter . Top the baking dish with foil and bake at 325 ° F for about 30 minute , or until the meat get hold of an intragroup temperature of 165 ° F. Alternatively , you’re able to make a foil mail boat stuffed with remnant turkey and stock or gravy . Just be sure to seal the edges to leave steam to form inside and keep the kernel moist and to “ bring back some of that unfermented - from - the - oven texture , ” Jasinksi substantiate .
