15 Easy Turkey Recipes To Gobble Up for Thanksgiving & Beyond

Averie SunshinePublished: Nov 09, 2025

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15+ Turkey Recipes including Thanksgiving Mains, Repurposing Turkey Leftovers, & Everyday Dinners Using Turkey! 🦃🍴 This roundup is your one-stop guide for all things turkey! Whether you’re making a whole turkey for classic Thanksgiving or Christmas feasts, or just a turkey breast for smaller gatherings, or want to make turkey in a slow cooker, these turkey recipes are simple, family-friendly, and SO tasty!

A whole roasted turkey garnished with herbs and orange slices is placed on a platter, with hands preparing to serve it. Bowls of cranberries and vegetables are nearby.

Tips and Tricks for Making the Best Turkey Recipes

  • Thawing Takes Time. Plan 1 one day for every 5 pounds of turkey to thaw it safely in the refrigerator, making sure to give yourself extra time by a day or so. Meaning, don’t try to start thawing your 20-pound Thanksgiving turkey on Tuesday before the big day Thursday. You need to start on Sunday, at the absolute latest, and Saturday would be better.
  • Thaw Properly. Make sure you place the bird on a cookie sheet, in a roasting pan, or something to catch the water while in your fridge. It’s a big and awkward and if you have a second fridge in the garage or basement, you got lucky.
  • Choose the right pan or roasting dish. Whether you’re making a classic roast turkey for Thanksgiving or a simple turkey breast for dinner, using a sturdy roasting pan or sheet pan with a raised edge helps catch all the juices and keeps cleanup easy. I’ll outline specifics in each recipe post!
  • Don’t skip the preheat. For crispy turkey skin or evenly cooked pot pies, always preheat your oven. Most turkey recipes cook between 375–425°F, so getting your oven hot ahead of time makes all the difference.
  • Store leftovers properly. Cooked turkey keeps well for up to 5 days in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer. Repurpose it in soups, casseroles, or sandwiches for easy, stress-free meals later in the week. Make sure to see below for lots of leftovers ideas!

The Best Easy Turkey Recipes

Roasted chicken garnished with slices of orange and herbs on a serving platter.

Foolproof Oven Roasted Turkey

A juicy, flavorful, herb-roasted turkey recipe that's never dry and cooks with no basting, no brining, and no stress!
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A whole roasted turkey garnished with herbs and lemon slices, held by a person with red nail polish. Cranberries and peas are visible in the background.

Oven Roasted Citrus Turkey

A juicy, flavorful roasted turkey stuffed with aromatics and coated with citrus herb butter so it's never bland or boring!
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Sliced turkey breast with gravy on a white plate, served with mashed potatoes and asparagus.

Slow Cooker Turkey Tenderloin

A set-it-and-forget-it recipe ideal for smaller crowds this holiday!
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Sliced roasted turkey breast on a plate with lemon slices and herbs, surrounded by dishes of mashed potatoes and stuffing.

Baked Turkey Breast

The perfect option when you don't need a whole bird but still want tender, juicy meat with a crispy skin and big flavor!
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Slow Cooker Turkey Breast on a plate with gravy being poured on top.

Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

A hands-off recipe that's always delicious and excellent for making turkey gravy!
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Ways to Use Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey 🦃

Turkey Tetrazzini - Wondering what to do with your leftover Thanksgiving turkey? This rich casserole features al dente spaghetti, a decadent cream sauce, tender vegetables, cheese, and of course your extra turkey! It's EASY to make and may be even better than your Thanksgiving feast! You can also sub leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken!

Leftover Turkey Tetrazzini

Al dente spaghetti, a decadent cream sauce, veggies, cheese, and leftover turkey combine for a comfort food meal everyone loves!
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Turkey Pot Pie - Hearty, creamy, comforting, perfect for chilly weather, and EASY to make! Use leftover shredded TURKEY OR CHICKEN in this homemade pot pie recipe loaded with potatoes, carrots, celery, peas, and juicy chunks of meat. Use store bought refrigerated pie crust and a shredded rotisserie chicken to save even more time!

Easy Turkey Pot Pie

Hearty, creamy, and perfect for chilly weather, this turkey recipe ensures none of your meat goes to waste!
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Turkey and Cheese Sliders - Juicy turkey, Swiss cheese, and cranberry sauce all nestled in soft Hawaiian rolls that are brushed with butter and topped with poppy seeds for the BEST turkey sliders! FAST, EASY, and takes advantage of leftover turkey! Deli turkey also works.

Turkey and Cheese Sliders

Turkey + Swiss cheese + cranberry sauce + Hawaiin buns = The perfect sweet, savory sliders! Ideal for parties, gamedays, or easy meals.
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Turkey Wild Rice Soup - Take advantage of leftover holiday turkey, and make this rich, creamy, and very hearty soup! Made with an array of vegetables, seasonings and herbs, and of course plenty of wild rice and turkey! EASY, ready in an hour, and made in one pot! No turkey? Use leftover or rotisserie chicken. Comfort food the whole family will love especially when the weather is chilly!

Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup

A family-friednly soup that's EASY, ready in an hour, and made in one pot!
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Bowl of chicken noodle soup with vegetables and a spoon.

Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup

A slight twist on a classic soup that's fuss-free, filling, and nutritious!
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Thanksgiving Leftovers Turkey Crescent Rolls — Looking for a recipe to use a variety of your Thanksgiving leftovers? These stuffed crescent rolls are QUICK and EASY to make using leftovers from your Thanksgiving dinner including turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy! It’s a flexible recipe so feel free to use the leftovers you have on hand to make these crescent roll rollups.

Leftover Turkey Crescent Rolls

My favorite way to use Thanksgiving leftovers! Quick, easy, and SO delicious!
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Thanksgiving Crunchwrap Supreme — Not sure what to do with all of those Thanksgiving leftovers? Turn them into Thanksgiving Crunchwraps! A soft flour tortilla and crunchy corn tostada base is piled high with your favorite Thanksgiving leftovers including turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and more before sealing them, toasting, and dunking them in gravy. Leftovers never tasted so good!

Thanksgiving Crunchwrap

Who needs Taco Bell? Load a tortilla with all your holiday leftovers, and dunk it in gravy! You'll never go back.
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Ground and Sliced 🥪 Turkey Recipes

Healthy Turkey and Vegetable Stir Fry with veggies in a pot.

Ground Turkey Stir-Fry

An EASy, versatile stir-fry ideal for using leftover veggies and ready in 25 minutes!
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A pot of hearty chili with ground meat, beans, and tomatoes.

Healthy Turkey Chili

A true crowd-pleaser that cooks in one pot in 30 minutes. Add your favorite toppings, and enjoy!
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A bowl of rotini pasta salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, yellow bell peppers, black olives, onions, and basil, with a fork and a lemon slice nearby.

Turkey Basil Pasta Salad

A cold salad that provides a nice break from heavy holiday meals. Enjoy it all year long!
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A plate of breakfast casserole garnished with diced ham and red sauce, with additional servings and condiments in the background.

Monte Cristo Casserole

All the flavors of a classic Monte Cristo sandwich but in breakfast casserole form!
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