8 Meals Made With Leftover Chicken and Turkey

by Melody Thacker, in Recipes (No Comments)

Got too much leftover chicken or turkey and need some ideas on what to make with it? Leftover poultry can easily be transformed into a whole new dish. Here are more than 8 meals made with leftover chicken or turkey. Everything from sandwiches, and soups, to main courses.

Chicken and turkey are healthy protein choices that are versatile and tasty. There are so many ways you can prepare poultry. Bake it, fry it, grill it, stew it, slow cook it, and put it into all sorts of dishes. Because this meat is mild flavored it pairs well with just about any type of seasoning or flavoring you’d like, from spicy to savory to sweet.

Making a new meal out of leftover poultry works best if it is baked or broiled and minimally seasoned, but you can find recipes that work well with almost any way that it is originally cooked. Here are more than eight meal ideas for leftover chicken and turkey that are easy but anything but boring.

Leftover Turkey or Chicken Pie

Turkey pie is one of my favorite ways to use up leftover turkey, and it’s very easy. I make it the same as my Mom did. My recipe has 3 main ingredients, diced meat, gravy, and pastry. Of course, you can make this recipe with leftover chicken too if that’s what you have available.  If you are short on meat you can extend or vary the ingredients by adding cooked vegetables such as diced potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, green beans, peas, celery, and onion.

The Easiest Turkey Pie

Quiche is another pie that’s a delicious and easy way to use leftover turkey or chicken.

Turkey Quiche

Chicken or Turkey Sandwiches

Chicken and turkey sandwiches are a popular, easy, and delicious way to eat leftovers.  We always look forward to a turkey sandwich with mayonnaise and cranberry sauce the day after we’ve enjoyed a holiday turkey dinner.

Chicken Salad Sandwich Filling

Chicken and turkey salads are great for lunch at home or to pack for school or work. You can throw this recipe together in no time with just a few ingredients. It’s also easy to customize. Just add in some diced apples or grapes to add sweetness and crunch, or chopped pecans for protein and flavor, or a little buffalo sauce to add heat. Serve on bread, buns, or crackers.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked chicken, diced
• 1/4 cup red and yellow bell peppers, diced
• 1 celery stalk, diced
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp plain yogurt
• Salt and Watkins black pepper to taste

Instructions:
Add chicken, mayonnaise, yogurt, bell peppers, and celery into a bowl and mix well. Add salt and pepper.

Avocado Chicken Sandwich

Ingredients:

• 1/2 avocado
• 1 tbsp sour cream
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 4 slices of your favorite bread or two buns
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup chopped cooked chicken (leftover roast chicken, turkey, or BBQ chicken)

Put the flesh of the avocado in a small bowl together with the lemon juice and sour cream and mash with a fork.

Spread one slice of bread on one side with mayonnaise and the other slice with the avocado mixture. Put the chopped chicken on top of the slice with the mayonnaise and top with the bread covered with the avocado.

The whole family will enjoy this colorful and delicious sandwich.

Turkey Subs

Turkey is on the menu at every sub shop, but why go out when you can make your own? Just slice up some turkey, pile it on a sub roll, and add your favorite toppings. You can keep it simple with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise, dress it up with some mushrooms and Swiss cheese, or add ranch dressing and bell pepper strips for a little kick.

Turkey Chop Suey

Chicken or Turkey Soup

Chicken noodle soup is the ultimate comfort food, and it’s even more wonderful when it’s homemade. I always use the carcus and leftover meat from roasted chicken and turkey to make  soup. The Easy Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup recipes below are ones that you can adjust as needed or even make it up as you go along. Finely diced chicken, chicken broth, and noodles are the key ingredients.

Carrots and celery are some of the most popular vegetable choices for homemade chicken and turkey soup, but you can use any vegetables you like. Just simmer the vegetables in the broth for about 10 minutes, then add the chicken or turkey and uncooked noodles and simmer for 5 more minutes, or until the pasta is cooked.

Easy Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup With Vegetables

Does Homemade Chicken Soup Really Help A Cold?

Chicken or Turkey Fettuccine Alfredo

This recipe is super easy, and tastes delicious!

• 1 1/2 tsp/7.5 mL vegetable Oil
• 1/2 cup/125 mL red bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup/250 mL sliced mushrooms
• 3/4 to 1 tsp/4 to 5 mL Watkins Garlic Powder
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup/125 mL grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 tsp/2.5 mL Watkins Black Pepper
• 2 cups cooked chicken or turkey, diced
• 1 lb/140 g fettuccini or other noodles

Instructions: Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet and add the mushrooms and saute until nearly done, add bell peppers and cook a few more minutes. Add cream and garlic, and heat until nearly boiling. Turn off the heat, and stir in parmesan cheese, stirring until melted. Stir in chicken or turkey. Serve over cooked pasta with more grated parmesan cheese if desired.

If you’re a fan of the instant Pot electric pressure cooker here’s a quick and easy alfredo recipe. Substitute cooked turkey or chicken adding it in near the end.

One Pot Chicken Alfredo

 

Turkey Casserole

The casserole is something of a cliché, but it’s a great dish for using all sorts of leftovers. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can throw together whatever leftovers you have, add some shredded cheese and create your own casserole recipe.

Chicken Tacos

Tacos and fajitas are both excellent dishes for giving leftover poultry a makeover. Use shredded leftover poultry or try this recipe!

Cumin Rubbed Shredded Chicken:

• 1 lb/450 g boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs
• 1 tsp/5 mL Watkins Cumin
• 1/2 tsp/2.5 mL Watkins Chili Powder
• 1/2 tsp/2.5 mL Watkins Sea Salt, ground
• 1/4 tsp/1 mL Watkins Paprika
• 2 tbsp/30 mL Vegetable Oil

Salsa:

• 1 large tomato, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 Anaheim or poblano pepper, diced
• 1/3 cup/80 mL red onion, finely chopped
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 1 tbsp/15 mL Watkins Salsa & Sour Cream Snack & Dip Seasoning
• 1 tbsp/15 mL Watkins Cilantro
• 1 tsp/5 mL Watkins Cumin
• 1 tsp/5 mL Watkins Garlic Powder
• 1 tbsp/15 mL Vegetable Oil

Shredded lettuce and cheese for garnish.

Instructions Chicken: Rub chicken breast with spices. In a large skillet sauté chicken in grapeseed oil. Cook over medium-high heat, turning once, for 10 to 12 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Shred chicken for tacos, enchiladas or fajitas.

Salsa: Combine all ingredients and serve on top of tacos with lettuce and cheese.

Chicken Caesar Salad with Homemade Dressing

Turkey Curry

If you like curried dishes, you’ll love this easy turkey curry. It’s made with ingredients you probably have on hand. Cook up some rice and steam some vegetables for a quick and easy dinner for the family or when unexpected guests drop by.

Turkey Curry ingredients:

• 3 cups leftover cooked turkey, diced
• 1-2 tbsp Watkins curry (depending on your taste)
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 can crushed pineapple, undrained
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1/4 tsp Watkins ground ginger
• 2 cups water
• 2 teaspoons Watkins chicken soup and gravy base
• 1 tbsp Vegetable Oil

Instructions:
Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet and add the onions. Saute until the onions are softened. Then add the curry and ginger and cook for a minute. Then add the flour, water, chicken soup base, and pineapple. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for about 5 minutes. Mix in the turkey and cook for about 10 minutes until the turkey is heated through. Serve immediately with rice.

You’ll also find more recipes for leftover turkey here. Add these recipes to your recipe box, or use them as a starting point to come up with your own unique dishes. You’ll never grimace at the thought of leftover poultry again!

I use and recommend Watkins herbs, spices, seasonings, and other pantry essentials because I love the quality and value.  I’m also an Independent Watkins Consultant and earn money when people purchase through my website.  Thanks in advance if you do!

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