There’s nothing like coming together with loved ones to enjoy a traditional golden roast turkey on Thanksgiving. However, if you go all out and roast a whole turkey for your centrepiece, chances are that you won’t be able to eat it all, or even all your sides and trimmings. But this is a blessing in disguise. The leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner can be just as delicious as the meal itself. Rather than viewing your leftovers as a hindrance that is clogging up your fridge, you should view them as versatile and useful ingredients that can be used to create all kinds of mouth-watering recipes.
Safe to keep for a few days in the fridge or even a few months in the freezer, Thanksgiving leftovers can be used for making more than just the obvious turkey sandwiches. Below are seven delicious leftover turkey recipes. Ranging from casseroles to pies, risottos, snacks, salads, and more, they’ve all been tried-and-tested by our expert team.
1. Turkey melts
It might seem an obvious leftover turkey recipe, but our turkey melts are far superior to any bog-standard turkey sandwich. The key is adding lots of oozy melted cheese, chopped up pickles, and a dash of mayonnaise. We promise it will be the best leftover turkey sandwich you’ve ever tasted.
2. Thanksgiving casserole
An easy way of using up all your leftovers, a Thanksgiving casserole is quick and simple to prepare. Baked in a large baking dish, just use your turkey, stuffing and veg as the bottom layer, mash up any leftover potatoes for the top layer, and sprinkle with cheese before baking in the oven. It’s bound to become your household’s new favourite meal.
3. Leftover pot pie
Cook your leftover turkey with onions, carrot, celery and chicken stock, and bake it in pastry until golden brown. Buying ready-made pastry saves you precious time, and it tastes best served with lashings of gravy, and a pile of creamy mash.
4. Turkey salad
If you’re looking for a healthy leftover turkey recipe, nothing beats a simple, yet delicious, turkey salad. You can use any combination of fresh veg you like, and your favourite dressing. Just top it all off with a generous scattering of shredded turkey, and enjoy a sumptuous festive meal without any guilt.
5. Turkey leftover pizza
If you really fancy getting creative, this quirky leftover turkey recipe is the one for you. Start with a regular pizza base, but use thick turkey gravy instead of tomato sauce, and top it with turkey, potatoes, cranberry sauce, and anything else you have left over. Then just cover it in cheese, and bake for around 15 minutes until the pizza is golden brown, and the cheese is bubbling away nicely.
6. Turkey and mushroom risotto
Chicken and mushroom might be the more famous combination, but turkey and mushroom go together just as well. Simply grab some risotto rice, onion, and stock, and stir over low heat until creamy and perfectly cooked. Hearty and comforting, it’s the ideal recipe for cosy nights in with your special someone.
7. Thanksgiving stuffed potato skins
The ultimate delicious finger food, leftover turkey potato skins are bound to go down a storm at your next party or gathering. Creamy and fluffy on the side, and satisfying crunchy on the outside, all you need is some halved baked potatoes. Just scoop out some of the potato flesh from each half, and fill them with turkey, cranberry, and stuffing. Once prepared, all you need to do is top them with grated cheese, and bake them in the oven for another 10-to-15 minutes.
High-quality Thanksgiving turkey products
As you can see, there are so many delicious ways to use your leftover turkey - you just need to be a bit creative at Prime Gourmet, we offer an array of different frozen, sliced, and even pre-cooked turkey products.
Those who don’t like spending hours in the kitchen - or maybe don’t have the right equipment to cook a proper roast dinner – are invited to order our pre-cooked roast turkey bundle. Including a perfectly seasoned, golden roasted New Zealand turkey that is big enough to feed eight to 10 hungry people, along with 1kg of our signature homemade stuffing, and a litre of premium veal stock gravy, it contains all you need to enjoy a magical celebration at home.
Keen home chefs are also encouraged to try out our frozen, tender-basted whole turkeys from Tegel, one of New Zealand’s leading turkey producers, while our succulent grilled turkey breast slices mean you can enjoy sumptuous turkey all year round. Ideal for throwing into sandwiches, salads, wraps, and more, every slice is packed with flavour and goodness.