Before the Thanksgiving menu is locked in, it helps to have choices for the main meal, leftovers, and hungry guests who stop by. These turkey recipes include a whole roast, a slow-cooker breast, casseroles, soups, sandwiches, and make-ahead pinwheels. Pick a centerpiece, then keep a few quicker dishes on hand for lunch or another round at the table.
Turkey Tetrazzini
When the oven door opens, Turkey Tetrazzini brings a crisp breadcrumb top and creamy mushroom sauce to the table. The six-serving casserole takes 57 minutes and uses cooked turkey, spaghetti, mushrooms, Parmesan, broth, and half-and-half. It works well after the main holiday meal, when leftover turkey needs a different shape, or as a make-ahead dinner for a busy Thanksgiving week evening.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Tetrazzini
Maple Glazed Turkey Breast
With a glossy maple-mustard finish, Maple Glazed Turkey Breast gives a smaller group a turkey centerpiece without a whole bird. The recipe takes 1 hour and 40 minutes and yields 16 servings, using a 2½-pound breast, maple syrup, mustard, olive oil, and dried herbs. Slice it for dinner, then save extra pieces for sandwiches or soup over the next few days.
Get the Recipe: Maple Glazed Turkey Breast
Turkey Pinwheels
Neat spiral slices make Turkey Pinwheels easy to set out before guests sit down. The recipe makes 12 and takes 1 hour and 15 minutes, including chill time, with tortillas rolled around turkey, cream cheese, dried cranberries, green onions, mozzarella, and romaine. Prepare them ahead, keep them chilled, and bring them out for a Thanksgiving-week lunch, appetizer tray, or snack between errands.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Pinwheels
Roasted Turkey with Cranberry Stuffing
Carved at the table, Roasted Turkey with Cranberry Stuffing makes the centerpiece and side dish part of one meal. An 8-to-9-pound turkey roasts for 2 hours and 20 minutes total and serves eight, with bread cubes, dried cranberries, apple, celery, herbs, and cashews tucked into the stuffing. It suits a holiday dinner when you want a classic bird with sweet-tart filling on the same platter.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Turkey with Cranberry Stuffing
Turkey Bolognese
Sunday supper can take its time with Turkey Bolognese, a tomato-based sauce that simmers ground turkey with onion, celery, carrots, garlic, crushed tomatoes, and balsamic vinegar. The eight-serving recipe takes 1 hour and 15 minutes, and its sauce can be made ahead or frozen. Spoon it over pasta for a filling dinner, then keep the remaining portions ready for another meal during the holiday week.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Bolognese
Turkey Soup
Steam rises from Turkey Soup as cooked turkey, carrots, celery, onion, and thyme simmer in turkey or chicken stock. Couscous makes the eight-serving soup more substantial, and the recipe takes 45 minutes from start to finish. It is an easy way to use leftover turkey for lunch or a lighter dinner, with enough to portion and freeze if the holiday weekend leaves extra.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Soup
Turkey Cranberry Sliders
Once the tray comes out, Turkey Cranberry Sliders pair savory turkey with cranberry sauce and Swiss cheese inside soft Hawaiian rolls. Twelve sliders take 45 minutes, including the bake, and a buttery poppy-seed topping gives the buns a golden finish. They fit on a snack table or work as a casual dinner when guests arrive between holiday plans, and the assembled rolls can be prepared ahead.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Cranberry Sliders
Crockpot Turkey Breast
While the slow cooker handles the long stretch, Crockpot Turkey Breast cooks with cranberry sauce, orange juice, and dry onion soup mix into a six-serving main dish. The total time is 6 hours and 15 minutes, with only 15 minutes of prep. Start it earlier in the day, then slice the tender turkey for dinner and keep leftovers for sandwiches or a quick casserole.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Turkey Breast
Turkey Pot Pie
Beneath its flaky crust, Turkey Pot Pie has cooked turkey, carrots, celery, peas, mushrooms, and herbs in a creamy filling. The eight-serving pie takes 55 minutes, using refrigerated crust along with broth, milk, butter, and flour. It gives leftover turkey a full dinner place at the table, especially when there is not enough meat for another roast but plenty for a hearty pie.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Pot Pie
Thanksgiving Casserole
The day-after plate gets a fresh start with Thanksgiving Casserole, which bakes cooked turkey with toasted bread cubes, celery, red onion, broth, parsley, and thyme. It takes 47 minutes and serves eight, making it useful when the refrigerator holds turkey and bread from the holiday meal. Bring it out for lunch or dinner when the family wants the familiar flavors in one baked dish.
Get the Recipe: Thanksgiving Casserole
Turkey Chili
As the pot simmers, Turkey Chili builds a hearty meal from ground turkey, kidney beans, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, garlic, broth, and Mexican seasoning. It takes 45 minutes and serves eight, with avocado, sour cream, cilantro, or red onion available for topping. Keep it in mind for the days around Thanksgiving when the schedule is full, and a one-pot dinner can feed everyone with little fuss.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Chili
Turkey Sliders
At 27 minutes total, Turkey Sliders turn sliced leftover turkey into a dozen warm sandwiches with Havarti cheese and party rolls. Melted butter, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, dried onion, and poppy seeds season the tops as they bake. Serve them for lunch, game-day snacking, or a casual Thanksgiving-week dinner with a simple side salad when the main meal is still a few days away.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Sliders
Turkey Meatloaf
Sliced for the table, Turkey Meatloaf combines ground turkey with sun-dried tomatoes, feta, breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, and marjoram under a ketchup glaze. The eight-serving loaf takes 1 hour and 15 minutes, and it can be made ahead or frozen in slices. Pair it with mashed potatoes or vegetables for a filling dinner, then reheat a piece when the holiday week gets busy.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Meatloaf