Easy and Unique Ways to Use Leftover Turkey

Thanksgiving is great for leftovers. Some of my most creative meals come from day-old turkey. Below I have listed three ways to use your turkey and side dishes to have delicious meals.

1. Turkey Wraps

Buy some whole wheat tortillas and use your Thanksgiving dinner leftovers in a cool wrap. Start by layering some thin strips of turkey (about 1/4 cup) down the middle of the tortilla, cover with a couple spoonfuls of cranberries, stuffing, mashed potatoes and drizzle some gravy over everything. Tuck the ends in, fold the tortilla up and eat! The combination may not sound great, but is so filling and easy to do. You can either heat the turkey up, serve it cold, whichever your preference is. I warm my own turkey and sides up so I have a warm dinner or lunch the next day. Of course, if you do not like wheat, you can also use flour or corn tortillas. If you do not like cranberries, just spread a little mayonnaise or salad dressing over the tortilla to enjoy a different taste. Just one warning: warm your tortilla up or it may crack and break when rolling for the wrap.

2. Turkey Soup

Who does not like to eat soup on a cold night? It is a very fulfilling meal that is easy to heat up, or you can freeze it for another night. Making soup from your Thanksgiving turkey is easy! I just use leftover gravy from my mashed potatoes, add cubed turkey, leftover vegetables (I serve mixed vegetables on Thanksgiving) and some seasoning to taste. If your gravy is too thick, just add some water and perhaps some more flavoring to thin it out. If it is too thin, just add some cornstarch or flour (make sure it is smoothed before adding!) to the gravy to your liking. Did you not make enough gravy? You can just buy a jar or two of turkey gravy at the store and still use your leftovers! Served with leftover dinner rolls, this is a warming dinner on a cold night. Another variation is to add cooked wide egg noodles for a turkey noodle soup, or white rice for a turkey and rice soup. If you do plan to freeze your soup, make sure it is in an airtight container and leave a bit of room to allow for expansion when thawing.

3. Turkey Quesadillas