Leftover Smoked Turkey Recipes: 13 Ideas to Repurpose Your Leftovers Today - Jane's Kitchen (2024)

Your smoked turkey was a hit over the holidays. But after a few days, everyone starts groaning about the prospect of yet another well…sandwich.

We get it. No matter how much you love something, it gets tiresome to keep eating it day in and day out.

Perhaps you chucked the rest of your leftovers into the freezer.

Smart move, for that buys you time to use it up accordingly for some tasty leftover smoked turkey recipes.

But if you’re out of ideas of what to do with that extra meat, you’ll be right back where you started – shoving it into the freezer with high hopes for another day.

What you need is a game plan to turn this delicious and versatile white meat into brand new meals that will bring everyone to the table.

Thankfully, these 13 recipes will do exactly that without having them turn on their own turkey tail as soon as they see there’s more of the same for dinner.

Give your extra leftovers a makeover and let them shine in these new creations!

Leftover Smoked Turkey Recipes: 13 Ways to Create a Tasty Repurposed Meal

Whether you just smoked a turkey or you’re turkey trottin’ it out of the freezer, you’ll never have the same old thing when you take those fixin’s and make these tasty recipes!

1. Smoked Turkey Quesadillas

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Let’s kick this list off with something fun and simple: quesadillas!

All you need are tortillas, cheese, some diced onions and jalapenos.

Chop up the turkey and spread the ingredients on top of your quesadilla.

Put it all flat in your pan with a lid on top.

When you see the cheese melting, that’s when you swoop in and fold it over with your spatula.

Serve it with your favorite salsa or some guacamole.

That smoky taste of the turkey will only enhance the flavors.

This would be especially delicious with smoked gouda as the cheese!

2. Turkey Tortilla Soup

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On a cold and frosty night, nothing will warm you and your family up better than big bowls filled to the brim with soup, the remake.

This hearty soup can be made in your slow cooker too.

Just use chicken broth as your base and load it up with corn, black beans, chilies, cilantro, and lime.

Don’t forget the tortillas to top it with at the end as well as plenty of cheese.

If you want to make this soup even more nutritious, add zucchini in there.

It blends beautifully and complements the turkey quite well.

3. Turkey Pot Pie

Another place you’ll find inspiration for a super easy meal that’s right at home is within a pot pie.

Making a pot pie is a smart idea since the creamy sauce inside with all those veggies gives it a fresh new flavor.

Plus, who can resist that flaky pie crust?

No one, that’s who! You’ll absolutely this second dinner when everything is baked up in this new format.

Check out Create Yum who has a great recipe that will help you get this meal on your table tonight!

4. White Turkey Chili

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Want something you can throw in your slow cooker and enjoy later?

White turkey chili made with leftover turkey will be the answer to your prayers!

Just like the white chicken chili that meal planners love, all you need to do is swap the chicken for your turkey.

Simmering amid those white beans, corn, and creamy broth, it’s an easy dinner you can make anytime.

Top it with fresh avocado, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime!

5. Cajun Smoked Turkey Pasta

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Feeling like pasta? Grab your fettucine and get ready to give it a New Orleans twist.

You’ll make it with a creamy alfredo sauce from heavy cream and freshly-grated parmesan.

Then you’ll add that Cajun spice to your recipe and voila!

You’ll have a punchy pasta dish that will have everyone coming back for seconds, and if they have any room left, thirds too!

You can try this one with your leftover tri tip meat as well – oh so good!

6. Smokey BBQ Turkey Pizza

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With old holiday meat, the perfect solution is to make a BBQ turkey pizza.

Just like the California Pizza Kitchen does with BBQ chicken, all you need to do is add your leftovers.

Make your dough from scratch if you have the time. Or pop by the supermarket and get ready-made dough to cut your prep time in half.

Top the pizza with barbecue sauce, mozzarella and a smoked cheese (cheddar or gouda would be divine), and your turkey.

Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving!

7. Cobb Salad

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Freshen up and use a smoked turkey breast recipe done with a wonderful cobb salad.

It eats like a meal with those hard-boiled eggs, crispy bacon, blue cheese, avocados, tomatoes, and lettuce.

This will be even more filling and give you smokey flavors for a protein-rich meal you can feel good about eating.

8. Enchiladas Verdes

When the whole family is grumping that they want Mexican food, you can use up your extra meat and give them what they want all at once.

Enchiladas verdes have an amazing green tomatillo sauce on top (that’s the “verdes” part) along with queso fresco.

Most recipes for enchiladas verdes include some kind of meat such as chicken, beef, or pork, though the star of our show is a perfect fit here.

And speaking of pork, if you have leftover pork chops, you can cut them up and use in this recipe as well.

Check out the above recipe to see how to whip this up!

9. Smoked Turkey Pho

Pho is a noodle dish from Vietnam with a flavorful broth that’s both sweet and savory.

And believe it or not, it’s pretty easy to put together.

This makes it a must for a leftover over smoked turkey recipes list.

You just need rice noodles, your leftover meat slices, and then things to top it off.

You can top your pho with things like fresh herbs like cilantro and mint plus a squeeze of lime, hot sauce, fish sauce, sprouts, and chili peppers.

It’s the perfect place to use up your excess turkey.

Melissa’s recipe from Simply Whisked is super-simple to follow and delicious too!

10. Coconut Curry Smoked Turkey

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And yes, leftovers will be an amazing addition in this Asian sensation! Instead of making coconut curry with chicken, use that turkey up.

This will keep you from ordering takeout when you should be making use of what you’ve got.

With garam masala, coriander, tomato paste, chicken stock, coconut milk, and a few other ingredients, you can put a Thai twist on that turkey.

Serve it over steamed white rice for a meal that makes this once “old meat” really shine!

11. Pasta Bake

Feeling like pasta? Take everything you have left and make a pasta bake.

You just need some pasta, your lean meat, cheese (mozzarella and gruyere work great), broth, and veggies like spinach and mushrooms.

Get the pasta ready and then bake this delight together for a meal made of leftovers that everyone will gobble up.

Super Golden Bakes has a wonderful recipe you can use!

12. Smoked Turkey Tacos

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Breathe new life into that old meat by turning it into tacos.

That’s the best part about tacos – that you can fill them with just about any meats (including your leftover smoked brisket)!

Quickly warm the meat with a little taco seasoning in a pan and then serve it with all those taco toppings you love.

Use salsa, guacamole, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, chopped red onions, jalapenos, and whatever you like.

There’s no wrong way to make these special tacos for dinner tonight!

13. Buffalo Cheese Dip

Got relatives visiting that are hinting around for something to eat?

Buffalo dip can go with a lot of things – see our list here!

But if you make smoked turkey cheese dip and they may never leave.

Ok, bad idea if you want someone to get out, but excellent idea for your next gathering.

In fact, why not invite everyone over to watch the Super Bowl and make this smoky, cheesy delight?

All you need to do is mix your leftover smoked meat with Greek yogurt, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, Frank’s Red Hot and some seasonings, top with blue cheese, and bake.

Get the exact recipe from the National Turkey Federation.

Be sure and check out our list of turkey panini recipes – enjoy your smoky flavor in a hot sandwich as well!

So there you go. Use these recipes to turn something that turned mundane from an “Oh no, not this again” to an “OMG can you make this again and again” moment in your home!

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Leftover Smoked Turkey Recipes: 13 Ideas to Repurpose Your Leftovers Today - Jane's Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

How to cook a hickory smoked turkey? ›

Grill, covered, over indirect medium heat for 1 hour. Tent turkey with foil; grill 1-2 hours longer or until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175°. Cover and let stand for 20 minutes before carving.

How long does it take to cook a turkey on a smoker? ›

Set the smoker to 225° F. Place the turkey on a cooking rack and cook for 8 to 12 hours or until the inner thigh temperature reaches 180° F. Check the temperature of your turkey after 3½ hours. Your turkey must pass through a critical range of 40° F to 140° F in 4 hours or less.

Can you make gravy from a smoked turkey? ›

Here's how to make homemade turkey stock for your turkey gravy: Put the legs (or the neck and tails) on the smoker for an hour. Transfer them to a crock pot with 8 cups water, 1 cup celery, 1 cup carrots, 1 medium yellow onion, and 2 Tablespoons of salt. Cook it on low for 6-8 hours.

How long is leftover smoked turkey good for? ›

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 do you cook a turkey that's already been smoked? ›

Reheating is the quickest and easiest way to cook a pre smoked turkey. Simply put the turkey in a baking dish and heat it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes per pound. If you are cooking it from frozen, you will need to thaw it first.

How do you cook a fully cooked smoked turkey? ›

Place your smoked turkey on the broiler try rack and tent securely with tin foil. Place the trayed smoked turkey in the middle of a 350° F oven and cook for about 1.5 – 2 hours (or until a meat thermometer reaches about 140° F in the center of the breast). Remove the turkey and carve for serving.

Can I eat smoked turkey cold? ›

Defrost your turkey in the refrigerator. For every four pounds of turkey, it takes approximately 24 hours to defrost in the refrigerator. If you want to eat your smoked turkey cold, you can eat it as soon as it is defrosted (it's fully cooked!)

What is the best smoke flavor for turkey? ›

For smoking turkey all year long, try hickory, pecan, and apple smoking wood. Our favorite wood chips and wood chunks are by Western Wood because they are kiln-dried and burn clean. Our favorite pellets for smoking turkey are B&B Pecan pellets or Jack Daniel's Pellets.

How do you keep a smoked turkey from turning black? ›

The ideal temperature to smoke meat on is within 225–250 °F (107–121 °C). If this is not maintained, there is a high chance of the meat turning black and burnt. The temperature can be easily managed if you're using an electric smoker. They are much easier to control and have digital functionality.

When should I pull my turkey off the smoker? ›

Smoking the turkey

Our target temperature for the turkey is a thigh temperature of 160 and a breast temperature of 150 (the turkey will continue to cook when removed from the smoker for a final target temp of 165 for the thigh and 155 for the breast).

What pairs well with turkey? ›

The Best Side Dishes for Cajun Deep Fried Turkey
  • Cornbread Stuffing. Cornbread stuffing is a classic choice that adds a comforting Southern twist to your turkey dinner. ...
  • Sweet Potato Casserole. ...
  • Green Bean Almondine. ...
  • Mashed Potatoes with Gravy. ...
  • Cranberry-Pecan Salad. ...
  • Rice. ...
  • Corn on the Cob. ...
  • Coleslaw.
Nov 6, 2023

What pairs best with turkey? ›

Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Riesling are excellent choices to accompany your turkey dinner. Sauvignon Blanc is a light and citrusy wine that compliments turkey well, as it doesn't overpower the dish's flavor. Chardonnay is a more robust white wine featuring notes of vanilla and butter.

What do you do with a precooked smoked turkey? ›

Place your smoked turkey on the broiler try rack and tent securely with tin foil. Place the trayed smoked turkey in the middle of a 350° F oven and cook for about 1.5 – 2 hours (or until a meat thermometer reaches about 140° F in the center of the breast). Remove the turkey and carve for serving.

What to serve with smoked meat? ›

15 BBQ Sides That Just Might Steal the Show
  • Classic Potato Salad. ...
  • The Best Barbecue Beans. ...
  • Classic Coleslaw. ...
  • Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese Casserole With Cheddar and Gruyère. ...
  • 3-Ingredient Stovetop Mac and Cheese. ...
  • Moist and Tender Brown Butter Cornbread. ...
  • Southern-Style Unsweetened Cornbread Recipe.
Apr 19, 2023

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