21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (2024)

Looking for healthy and delicious recipes for turkey to celebrate this holiday or thanksgiving days? Here I share some easy turkey recipes that your family will love to eat.

If you are on a weight loss journey, include a source of fatty protein in your diet as it helps maintain muscle and makes you feel full. Then, I am sure that you must eat chicken breast foods as it is one of the recommended sources of protein for weight loss. However, have you considered it as an alternative to turkey?

Yes, you can take turkey recipes to replace chicken. Turkey is also a great source of protein that makes you full for a long day. These healthy turkey recipes are so tasty and easy to prepare and you can take as a meal or appetizer in this thanksgiving or holidays or parties.

21. Lemon Thyme Turkey Patties

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (1)

These lemon thyme turkey patties are so delicious, easy to make and the perfect dish for dinner that takes only 30 minutes to prep.
Get the recipe here.

Related: Keto Meal Prep Recipes

20. Turkey Soup

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (3)

This healthy leftover turkey soup is delicious, simple to prepare on any holiday or occasion. It is made with a few simple ingredients and turns out a flavorful satisfying recipe for lunch or dinner.
Get the recipe here.

Suggested Soups:
Weight Watchers Soup RecipesKeto Soup RecipesFall Soup RecipesCheddar Broccoli Soup RecipeMinestrone Soup Recipe

19. Marinated Turkey Breast

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (4)

This roasted marinated turkey breast is a delicious and flavourful dish that is perfect for any holidays or thanksgiving days. It is one of my favourite turkey recipes for celebrating!
Get the recipe here.

Related Thanksgiving Ideas:
Thanksgiving Appetizer IdeasKeto Thanksgiving RecipesThanksgiving Side Dish RecipesThanksgiving Dessert RecipesThanksgiving co*cktail Ideas

18. Turkey Meatballs

Turkey meatballs are tasty, delicious, the best appetizer to celebrate this holiday or occasion or thanksgiving days.
Get the recipe here.

Suggested: Keto Appetizer Ideas

17. Teriyaki Turkey Rice Bowls

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (6)

This delicious teriyaki turkey rice bowl makes a healthy meal prep recipe that your whole family will love!
Get the recipe here.

Related: Meals Under 200 Calories

16. Turkey Roll-ups With Cranberry And Pecan

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (7)

These healthy turkey roll-ups with cranberry and pecan are creamy, sweet, salty, crunchy high protein snacks is one of the best and easy turkey recipes that takes only 5 minutes to prepare.
Get the recipe here.

Suggested: High Protein Snack Ideas

15. Air Fryer Turkey Burgers

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (8)

These Air Fryer Turkey Burger are tasty, delicious and full of amazing flavor that makes you crazy during these thanksgiving holidays.
Get the recipe here.

Related Air Fryer Ideas:
Air Fryer Chicken RecipesAir Fryer Vegan MealsWeight Watchers Air Fryer Recipes

14. Cheesy Turkey Casserole

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (9)

This turkey noodle casserole is cheesy, flavorful and packed with simple ingredients and is ready in just 30 minutes. It is one of the best turkey recipes Thanksgiving leftovers, but makes a great comfort food dinner any time of year!
Get the recipe here.

Suggested: Keto Casserole Recipes

13. Turkey Lettuce Wraps

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (10)

Turkey lettuce wraps are easy to make with simple ingredients and it is great for meal prep or appetizers to enjoy these holiday dinners with friends or families.
Get the recipe here.

Related: Keto Wraps Ideas

12. Instant Pot Turkey Chili

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (11)

Instant pot turkey chili is a healthy and delicious one pot meal that is made with black bean, Pinto bean & extra lean ground turkey. Easy to make this recipe is perfect for dinner or lunch.
Get the recipe here.

Suggested Instant Pot Ideas:
Instant Pot Meal IdeasKeto Instant Pot RecipesInstant Pot Chicken RecipesInstant Pot Dump Dinner RecipesInstant Pot Mexican Recipes

11. Stuffed Poblano Peppers

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (12)

Stuffed poblano peppers are rich, delicious and flavorful that you must try this holiday.
Get the recipe here.

Related: High Protein Meal Prep Recipes

10. One Pot Penne Pasta With Turkey And Spinach

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (13)

One pot pasta with turkey and spinach makes a delicious and healthy recipe that is ready in just 30 minutes of meal prep.
Get the recipe here.

Suggested: Keto Pasta Recipes

9. Turkey Leek Soup With Bacon And Broccoli

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (14)

Turkey leek soup with bacon and broccoli is flavorful, delicious and great for meals and keto diet.
Get the recipe here.

Related: Keto One Pot Meals

8. Turkey Quinoa Spinach Casserole

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (15)

Turkey quinoa spinach casserole makes you full for a long day, budget friendly and perfect to use up leftover quinoa, freeze and make ahead.
Get the recipe here.

Suggested: Weight Watchers Meal Prep Recipes

7. Turkey Meatloaf

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (16)

Turkey meatloaf is moist, packed with flavor, light and delicious appetizer to enjoy any parties or occasions or holidays.
Get the recipe here.

Related: Low Carb Holiday Recipes

6. Turkey Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (17)

Turkey taco stuffed sweet potatoes is a quick and easy meal for thanksgiving dinner. This is one of my favourite delicious turkey recipes that you will love to taste.
Get the recipe here.

Suggested: High Protein Dinner Recipes

5. Juicy Roast Turkey

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (18)

Juicy roast turkey is easy to prepare, holiday staple and it’s sure to impress family and friends!
Get the recipe here.

Related: Keto Crockpot Recipes

4. Sage and Apple Turkey Burgers

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (19)

Sage and apple turkey burgers are such tasty and delicious appetizers to celebrate this Christmas or thanksgiving day.
Get the recipe here.

Suggested: Tasty Apple Recipes

3. Turkey Cheddar Apple Butter Panini

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (20)

Turkey cheddar apple butter panini is an amazing meal for lunch or dinner that you need to try during these fall days.
Get the recipe here.

Related Fall Ideas:
Fall Dinner RecipesDelicious Fall Dessert RecipesKeto Pumpkin RecipesKeto Pumpkin Dessert RecipesFall Breakfast RecipesFall Cookie Recipes

2. Baked Turkey Meatballs With Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (21)

Baked Turkey Meatballs With Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce makes a fabulous dish that you take as an appetizer or side dish in any parties or holidays.
Get the recipe here.

Suggested: Keto Comfort Foods

1. Turkey Rice Casserole

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (22)

This turkey rice casserole is a healthy and perfect way to use up your leftover Thanksgiving and Christmas turkey. It takes only 15 minutes to prepare and one of the best turkey recipes during these holidays.
Get the recipe here.

21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (23)

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21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (24)
21 Healthy Turkey Recipes That You'll Love | Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can I eat leftover turkey after 7 days? ›

How long do the turkey and trimmings stay safe in the refrigerator or freezer? The answer is simple: leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for three to four days. This means you have until the Monday after Thanksgiving to eat all those delicious leftovers or place them in the freezer to enjoy later.

How long is leftover turkey good for in the refrigerator? ›

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. Turkey can be frozen for 3 to 4 months. Although safe indefinitely, frozen leftovers can lose moisture and flavor when stored for longer times in the freezer.

How to make leftover turkey juicy? ›

Simply heat your oven to 300 degrees, put the carved meat in a baking dish, and add some chicken broth or turkey stock to the pan. The meat will absorb some of the liquid as it heats, making it nice and juicy. Cover the pan tightly with foil and place it in the oven until the meat is hot, 20 to 30 minutes.

How many people will a 10 pound turkey feed? ›

4 to 6 people = 4- to 9-lb. turkey (If you can't find a bird that small, you can get a slightly larger bird that will allow for more leftovers. Or cook a turkey breast for a smaller group.) 8 to 10 people = 8- to 15-lb.

Is a 3 year old frozen turkey still good? ›

Frozen Turkey

Turkeys can be kept in the freezer indefinitely. However, cook turkeys within 1 year for the best quality.

Can I freeze cooked turkey after 3 days? ›

If your turkey has been properly handled, you can refrigerate and eat it for up to four days. If you are planning to freeze it, it's best to freeze it within one day of cooking for optimal texture and taste. However, leftover turkey can be frozen after three days and it will be fine.

How to freeze Thanksgiving leftovers? ›

Once you've removed the meat from the bone, package it in your freezer-safe containers. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states you can keep cooked poultry dishes frozen for four to six months. However, remember that the longer you leave food in the freezer, the more flavor it may lose.

How long can a butterball turkey stay in the refrigerator? ›

A thawed turkey may be kept in the refrigerator (40 degrees F or below) up to 4 days before cooking. Frozen Whole Turkeys and Frozen Whole Turkey Breasts need to be thawed before cooking. Thaw Fully Cooked Baked and Smoked Turkeys via the refrigerator method.

How long can a turkey be frozen before it goes bad? ›

In both cases, you'll want to store the turkey in the deepest part of the freezer. When properly stored, raw turkey pieces should stay good in the freezer for up to 9 months, while whole raw turkeys last for a year when frozen. Cooked turkey pieces last in the freezer for 4–6 months.

Why does leftover turkey taste different? ›

Though it's especially obvious in leftover fish and poultry, discerning connoisseurs can pick out the WOF bouquet in most reheated meats. These flavors are the result of a series of chemical reactions that begins with the deterioration of specific kinds of fats known as polyunsaturated fatty acids, or PUFAs.

Is it okay for turkey to be a little pink? ›

The best way to be sure a turkey — or any meat — is cooked safely and done is to use a meat thermometer. If the temperature of the turkey, as measured in the thigh, has reached 180°F. and is done to family preference, all the meat — including any that remains pink — is safe to eat.

How do you add moisture to leftover turkey? ›

Add moisture

Splash the turkey with a bit of leftover broth or stock and cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes. The aluminum foil will prevent moisture from evaporating too quickly and the low temperature will help prevent the turkey from losing flavor.

What size turkey for 6 adults with leftovers? ›

For smaller gatherings, Jessie recommends scaling up to 2 pounds per person to maximize leftovers (more on that later). “For four to six people, 11 to 13 pounds is a good range,” Jessie says. (Most of our recipes call for a 12-to-14-pound bird.)

How big of a turkey do I need for 7 guests? ›

Turkey size is important since it will determine how big of a helping each guest gets—not to mention how much will be left for Thanksgiving leftovers. Once you know the exact number of attendees, use this formula: Number of guests x 1.25. You'll want to plan on about 1.25 pounds of turkey per person.

Is turkey safe to eat after 6 days? ›

Eat cooked turkey and dishes made with it, such as soup or a casserole, within 3 to 4 days. Freeze leftovers to store them for longer. Reheat all leftovers to at least 165°F before serving or eating.

Can I keep a fresh turkey in the fridge for 6 days? ›

Buy a fresh turkey one to two days before the day you plan to cook. If there is a 'best-by' or 'use by' date on the manufacturer's label, then you can keep fresh poultry, unopened, in the refrigerator until that date.

Is it safe to cook a turkey that has been in the fridge for a week? ›

Once the turkey is thawed, you can keep it in the refrigerator for one to two additional days before cooking.

Is cooked turkey good after 2 weeks? ›

Snyder points to the USDA FoodKeeper app for best guidance: The tool notes that refrigerated, cooked turkey should be eaten within 4 days. Eat frozen turkey leftovers within 6 months for premier quality.

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