Thanksgiving can be as much about what the kids will eat as it is about the big roast in the center of the table. These 19 turkey recipes cover smoked holiday mains, smaller roasts, crisp meatballs, and plenty of new ways to use the leftovers. Puff pastry, noodles, grilled sandwiches, and crispy patties give familiar turkey a different look from one meal to the next. Choose a centerpiece for Turkey Day, then keep a few easy ideas ready for the family meals that follow.
Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
Ground turkey becomes an easy finger-food option in Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs, using breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, garlic powder, and onion powder. The air fryer cooks the shaped meatballs without needing another large pan on the stove. Serve them with a dipping sauce for a small holiday gathering, or add pasta and sauce for dinner during Thanksgiving week. Their bite-size shape also makes them a practical alternative for kids who would rather skip a large slice of roast turkey.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
Turkey Stuffed Shells with Pesto
Leftover holiday meat takes on a pasta-night identity in Turkey Stuffed Shells with Pesto, with cooked turkey tucked into large shells alongside ricotta and herbs. Mozzarella and pesto bring the Italian-inspired flavors, while baking gives the shells lightly browned edges. This is better positioned for the day after Thanksgiving than the main feast itself. Set the baking dish on the table with a green vegetable when the family wants something entirely different from turkey and gravy.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Stuffed Shells with Pesto
Traeger Smoked Turkey
A smoky centerpiece gives Traeger Smoked Turkey a different place on the Thanksgiving table than an ordinary oven roast. The whole bird cooks on a pellet smoker with seasoning on the outside, leaving the kitchen oven available for sides. Its crisp skin and sliced meat make an impressive platter for the family meal. Plan the smoking time and check doneness with a thermometer rather than rushing this centerpiece when everyone is ready to eat.
Get the Recipe: Traeger Smoked Turkey
Turkey Pot Pies with Puff Pastry
Golden pastry tops make Turkey Pot Pies with Puff Pastry especially inviting when Thanksgiving leftovers need a new look. Cooked turkey, carrots, celery, onion, and peas fill a creamy sauce beneath store-bought puff pastry. Individual baking dishes let each diner break through a crisp lid to reach the filling, although one large dish also works. Save this recipe for a family dinner after the holiday, when leftover turkey and gravy can do much of the work.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Pot Pies with Puff Pastry
Turkey Roll Roast
For a smaller Thanksgiving table, Turkey Roll Roast offers the familiar flavor of roasted turkey without managing an entire bird. Herbs season the rolled roast, which can be sliced neatly and served with mashed potatoes, gravy, and vegetables. The compact format also gives younger diners straightforward pieces to put on their plates. Keep this one in mind when the gathering is small or oven space is tight, and let the meat rest before cutting for better slices.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Roll Roast
Turkey Pot Pie Soup
A spoonable version of a holiday classic, Turkey Pot Pie Soup combines cooked turkey and vegetables in a thick, creamy broth. Carrots and celery help give each bowl the familiar pot pie flavor without preparing a pastry crust. Serve it with biscuits or bread so children can dip pieces into the soup. This makes a useful lunch after Thanksgiving when the refrigerator holds extra turkey and everyone wants a simpler meal than another full roast dinner.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Pot Pie Soup
Turkey à la King
Buttery puff pastry shells hold the creamy filling in Turkey à la King, giving leftover turkey an appealing individual serving style. Mushrooms, peas, peppers, celery, and carrots join the cooked meat in a sauce made with broth and cream. The filling can be prepared before the pastry shells are baked, keeping the final assembly manageable. Serve this on the holiday weekend when guests are still visiting and the family wants a new meal rather than reheated turkey slices.
Get the Recipe: Turkey à la King
Turkey & Apple Grilled Cheese
Tart apple slices add crunch to Turkey & Apple Grilled Cheese, which layers smoked turkey and melting cheese between buttered sourdough bread. Garlic Manchego, mozzarella, and apple chutney bring salty and sweet notes to the sandwich. It is a particularly useful lunch when kids are tired of turkey on an ordinary roll. Cook the sandwiches until the bread is golden, then cut them into halves or strips and serve with a simple bowl of soup.
Get the Recipe: Turkey & Apple Grilled Cheese
Turkey Fried Rice
Instead of another gravy-covered plate, Turkey Fried Rice sends leftover turkey in a completely different direction with rice, garlic, ginger, and soy sauce. The recipe also uses fish sauce for added depth, and the rice cooks in a hot pan for browned bits. Put this on the menu after Thanksgiving when the family wants a quick skillet dinner. Offer familiar toppings or vegetables on the side, and use properly chilled cooked rice for the best texture.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Fried Rice
Broccoli Casserole with Turkey
Broccoli and cooked turkey come together in Broccoli Casserole with Turkey, creating a substantial baked dish that makes use of leftover holiday meat. A creamy, cheesy coating helps the vegetables and turkey share the same casserole dish, so dinner needs little else besides a simple side. It suits the days after Thanksgiving better than the traditional feast. Scoop out individual portions for younger eaters, or serve it family-style when everyone is ready for a different turkey dinner.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Casserole with Turkey
Turkey Tortilla Soup
Tex-Mex flavors give Turkey Tortilla Soup a welcome change from traditional Thanksgiving seasoning, with leftover turkey simmered into a soup meant for toppings. Crispy tortilla strips add texture and make the bowls more interactive for children. Put toppings in separate dishes so everyone can choose what goes on their portion. It is an easy way to extend the turkey into another family meal while making the dinner table look nothing like the holiday spread.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Tortilla Soup
Turkey & Peppers
A colorful spin on the usual holiday turkey, Turkey & Peppers combines lean ground turkey, red bell peppers, onions, and garlic in one skillet. Italian seasoning, fresh parsley, and optional red pepper flakes add flavor, while the peppers stay slightly crisp for extra texture. Ready in 20 minutes and serving four, this easy dish gives Thanksgiving cooking a break from lengthy preparation. Spoon it over rice or mashed potatoes for a family-friendly dinner that brings something different to the holiday table.
Get the Recipe: Turkey & Peppers
Turkey Chaffwich
A waffle-shaped sandwich gives Turkey Chaffwich a playful way to use Thanksgiving turkey and cranberry flavors. Instead of standard sandwich bread, the recipe uses a cheese-based chaffle to hold the filling. The contrast between the savory turkey and tart cranberry element makes this different from a plain leftover sandwich. Serve it for a casual holiday-weekend lunch, especially when the kids want something they can hold rather than another plate of turkey and potatoes.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Chaffwich
Leftover Turkey Mashed Potato Patties
Mashed potatoes and stuffing become a crispy new dish in Leftover Turkey Mashed Potato Patties, with chopped turkey mixed into the patties before cooking. They bring several familiar Thanksgiving flavors into one portion without repeating the entire feast. Offer gravy or cranberry sauce on the side for dipping, particularly for kids who enjoy choosing their own extras. Make these after the holiday when small amounts of several leftovers remain and none is enough for a full meal.
Get the Recipe: Leftover Turkey Mashed Potato Patties
Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Butter and herbs season Air Fryer Turkey Breast, which uses the air fryer instead of occupying the main oven. The smaller turkey cut suits a modest gathering or a second holiday meal when a whole bird would be excessive. Slice the cooked breast and put it beside familiar sides such as mashed potatoes and green beans. Be sure the turkey is cooked to a safe internal temperature and rested before slicing, rather than relying on the exterior color alone.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Turkey Breast
The Best Creamy Turkey Noodle Soup
Noodles make The Best Creamy Turkey Noodle Soup an especially filling way to serve leftover cooked turkey. A creamy broth brings the turkey and vegetables together, while the noodles give younger diners a familiar ingredient in every spoonful. Pair a bowl with toast for a simple dinner after Thanksgiving, when another complicated cooking session is not appealing. If keeping extra soup, remember that noodles can absorb broth during storage and may need more liquid when reheated.
Get the Recipe: The Best Creamy Turkey Noodle Soup
Turkey Salad w/ Cranberries & Walnuts
Sweet dried cranberries and crunchy walnuts give Turkey Salad w/ Cranberries & Walnuts a different texture from most Thanksgiving leftovers. Chopped turkey becomes a creamy salad that can fill sandwiches or wraps, or be served in smaller portions with crackers. This is best for a relaxed lunch once the holiday dinner has passed. Keep it chilled until serving and let children choose bread or crackers as their own way to eat it.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Salad w/ Cranberries & Walnuts
Turkey & Apple Panini
Pressed bread and a savory-sweet filling make Turkey & Apple Panini more interesting than a standard leftover turkey sandwich. Turkey, apple, and sage are paired in a hot sandwich with contrasting textures. The result works well beside a bowl of soup for lunch during the Thanksgiving weekend. Slice the finished panini into smaller pieces for children, or make full sandwiches for the adults who want a more filling meal between family activities.
Get the Recipe: Turkey & Apple Panini
Smoked Turkey Thighs
Dark meat takes center stage in Smoked Turkey Thighs, giving the holiday table an alternative to a full turkey roast or a tray of breast slices. Smoking the thighs creates a distinct flavor and frees the kitchen oven for sides and desserts. Set the cooked portions out with potatoes, vegetables, and gravy so guests can build their own plates. This is a useful choice for a smaller Thanksgiving meal, especially when the family prefers dark turkey meat.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Turkey Thighs