38 Quick-Fix Turkey Recipes For All The Busy Bees

By Southern Living Editors
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
If you’re looking for new ways to incorporate a lighter meat into your diet, look no further. Turkey adds abundant flavor and protein to any dish. Still light in its consistency, turkey can transform any recipe into a healthy and delicious dish.

Let’s face it, there’s not much turkey can’t do. Sliced, shredded, smoked, and ground, there’s endless ways to serve this classic main. Want to make meal prep a breeze? Take your leftover holiday turkey or roast a turkey at the beginning of the week to create simple meals that will last you the whole week. Our collection of easy turkey recipes transforms your everyday bird into tasty sandwiches, soups, and casseroles. These recipes are perfect for a light lunch, a busy weeknight dinner, or a quick and healthy snack. Turkey is the star of the show in these easy and tasty dishes.
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Slow-Cooker Peas-and-Greens Soup with Turkey Sausage

Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Peas-and-Greens Soup with Turkey Sausage

Turkey sausage is a hearty addition to this tasty soup.

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Turkey Salad Recipe

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Turkey Salad Recipe

Take your leftover turkey and transform it into our best-ever Turkey Salad.

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Leftover Turkey Hash

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Leftover Turkey Hash

Breakfast is served—eggs are sunny side up with a side of turkey hash.

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Leftover Turkey Casserole

Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Torie Cox Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Recipe: Leftover Turkey Casserole

No one can resist the tastiness of this creamy, turkey casserole.

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Turkey Meatballs

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Turkey Meatballs 

Pair these tender meatballs with your choice of pasta or rice for a one-pan supper.

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Turkey, Apple, and Brie Sandwich Recipe

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Turkey, Apple, and Brie Sandwich Recipe

Crisp apple slices add a fresh crunch to this classic turkey sandwich.

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Turkey, Brie, and Fig Pressed Sandwiches

Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs

Recipe: Turkey, Brie, and Fig Pressed Sandwiches

These elegant sandwiches are perfect to make for a weekday lunch.

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Smoked Turkey-and-Andouille Gumbo Recipe

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Smoked Turkey-and-Andouille Gumbo Recipe

Smoked turkey adds a hearty flavor to this classic gumbo.

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Turkey Grilled Cheese Recipe with Gruyere and Caramelized Onion

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Turkey Grilled Cheese Recipe with Gruyere and Caramelized Onion

Not your ordinary grilled cheese, this delicious sandwich is packed with turkey, caramelized onions, and Gruyère cheese.

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Leftover Turkey Quesadillas

Recipe: Leftover Turkey Quesadillas

Containing only five ingredients, these simple quesadillas are made for your busy weeknights.

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Turkey-Noodle-Poppy Seed Casserole Recipe

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Turkey-Noodle-Poppy Seed Casserole Recipe

Leftover turkey got a delicious Southern makeover with this casserole dish.

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Turkey, Pesto, and Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich Recipe

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Turkey, Pesto, and Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich Recipe

Turkey and pesto come together to create a savory sandwich masterpiece.

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Turkey and Pimiento Cheese Sandwich Recipe

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Turkey and Pimiento Cheese Sandwich Recipe

To make this Southern-approved, we spread pimiento cheese on our turkey club.

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Wedge Salad with Turkey and Blue Cheese-Buttermilk Dressing Recipe

Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Wedge Salad with Turkey and Blue Cheese-Buttermilk Dressing Recipe

Cubed turkey adds protein to this simple wedge salad.

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Healthy Turkey Lasagna

Hector M Sanchez

Recipe: Healthy Turkey Lasagna

Turkey adds a healthy twist to this delectable lasagna.

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Gumbo-Style Turkey Soup

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Gumbo-Style Turkey Soup

Shredded turkey makes its flavorful debut in this spicy gumbo.

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Smoky Turkey-and-Sweet Potato Chili

Photo: Daniel Agee; Food Styling: Karen Rankin; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Smoky Turkey-and-Sweet Potato Chili

Hot and savory flavors are in every bite of this delicious chili.

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Turkey Tortellini Soup with Greens

Greg Dupree

Recipe: Turkey Tortellini Soup with Greens

Ready in under 30 minutes, this luscious soup is filled with healthy greens and shredded turkey.

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Turkey-and-Collard Green Stew Recipe

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton

Recipe: Turkey-and-Collard Green Stew Recipe

Warm up to this yummy and savory soup during those winter days.

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Ranch Turkey Burgers Recipe

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Ranch Turkey Burgers Recipe

Ground turkey is transformed into this juicy buttermilk burger.

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Turkey Panini

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Turkey Panini

Take your holiday leftovers and craft them into this melted turkey panini.

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Turkey and Spinach Meatball Sandwiches Recipe

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Turkey and Spinach Meatball Sandwiches Recipe

Turkey and spinach form together to create a healthy and filling sandwich.

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Nutty Turkey Cutlets

Recipe: Nutty Turkey Cutlets

A crushed pecan coating adds crunch and nutty flavor to skillet-cooked turkey cutlets. Serve with a green salad.

Cooking Video: Nutty Turkey Cutlets

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Strawberry-Turkey-Brie Panini

Recipe: Strawberry-Turkey-Brie Panini

Strawberries and basil give each bite of this savory cheese-filled sandwich a garden-fresh taste. Red pepper jelly adds a hint of heat.

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Spice-Rubbed Grilled Turkey Tenderloins

Recipe: Spice-Rubbed Grilled Turkey Tenderloins

Brown sugar and spices―cumin, red pepper, ginger, and coriander―make a savory rub for grilled turkey tenderloins. For a simple side, throw some asparagus or other veggies on the grill while it’s still hot.

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Toasted Pecan, Cranberry, and Gorgonzola Turkey Burgers

Recipe: Toasted Pecan, Cranberry, and Gorgonzola Turkey Burgers

Combine toasted pecans and Gorgonzola cheese with ground turkey for a dressed-up, healthy burger. Serve burgers with three-ingredient Cranberry Mustard and baby spinach on a toasted bun.

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Turkey Scaloppine

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Turkey Scaloppine

Thin cuts of meat such as turkey cutlets cook quickly with Italian-style scaloppine preparation. Dredge the cutlets in flour and Cajun seasonings, sauté in olive oil, and drizzle with a simple white wine sauce. Serve with sautéed zucchini slices.

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Layered Cornbread-and-Turkey Salad

Southern Living

Recipe:Layered Cornbread-and-Turkey Salad

Layer crisp yellow bell peppers, tomatoes, cornbread, Swiss cheese, and bacon. Then mix with a tangy buttermilk-Parmesan-peppercorn dressing and chill until dinnertime.

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Turkey Piccata

Recipe: Turkey Piccata

For a savory, citrus-fresh meal, cook flour-dredged turkey cutlets in a hot skillet and top with a simple lemon-white wine sauce and salty capers. Garnish with fresh parsley.

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Mediterranean Turkey Cutlets and Pasta

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Mediterranean Turkey Cutlets and Pasta

Cooked quickly in a skillet, Greek-seasoned turkey cutlets are the perfect accompaniment to fettuccine with sautéed red onion, tomatoes and olives.

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Turkey, Bacon, and Havarti Sandwich

Recipe: Turkey, Bacon, and Havarti Sandwich

This recipe stacks deli turkey, mild Havarti cheese, roasted red bell peppers, bacon slices, and balsamic vinaigrette a fresh sourdough loaf. Substitute Muenster or Swiss cheese for Havarti if that’s what you have on hand.

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Bourbon-Cranberry Turkey Tenderloin

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Bourbon-Cranberry Turkey Tenderloin

Cranberry sauce, brown sugar, bourbon, and orange rind coat this tenderloin before it’s grilled and again afterward. Serve orange slices for a surprising, fresh side dish.

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Crispy Ginger-and-Garlic Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Recipe: Crispy Ginger-and-Garlic Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Lettuce wraps are a healthy way to please eaters of all ages. These feature a medley of Asian flavors―shiitake mushrooms, teriyaki, peanut putter, sesame oil, hoisin sauce―mixed with ground turkey.

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Turkey-Artichoke-Pecan Salad

Recipe: Turkey-Artichoke-Pecan Salad

Toss turkey, artichoke hearts, green onions, chopped toasted pecans, and feta cheese in simple red wine vinaigrette for an easy, fresh way to use leftover turkey. Serve this main-dish salad with pita bread.

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Creamy Tex-Mex Cornbread Bake

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Creamy Tex-Mex Cornbread Bake

Use ground turkey and low-fat soup and milk to lighten up this hearty casserole.

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Tex-Mex Turkey Burgers