Maybe you go a great deal on whole chickens, picked up a rotisserie at the store, or got a huge Turkey for Thanksgiving. Regardless, there are lots of fun ways to save your bird for other meals. For us, chicken and turkey are fairly interchangeable, so don’t be afraid to make some turkey and dumplings instead of with chicken and vice versa. Here are some of our favorite leftover chicken recipes for an entire week of meals with shredded chicken.
A year ago my second daughter was born. A sweet family we had known for years dropped off a large rotisserie chicken, some veggies, and bread to help cover meals for us, especially since our daughter was a home birth.
But I felt like I was eating chicken for days.
And itwas the same feeling I get every Thanksgiving — the never ending turkey syndrome.
But since I had just given birth, I needed some really easy meal ideas that didn’t keep me on my feet for a long period of time or that I could quickly whip up. So it was mission of mine to curate a list of recipes that use shredded chicken (because that’s what it would be once I tore it with my bare hands off the bone).
And now, it’s a common meal plan in our home to buy a whole chicken or turkey and use it in various ways throughout the entire week. Because it’s easy. In fact, it’s also a great way to ensure that all of the food in our fridge gets used.
What to do with leftovers from whole chickens and turkeys
The first thing I always do it rip the meat off the bones and put it in a storage container. Not only does this mean I am doing the prep work for all my favorite shredded chicken recipes, but it also means that I can go ahead and use the bones to make homemade broth.
Which in turn helps with making some of the other meals for the week.
Plus, if you’re worried about the chicken going bad, all of the shredded portions can be frozen and put away to pull out when you’re ready to make on of the leftover chicken recipes below.
Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup
One of our favorite meals after a big chicken is a healthy and hearty chicken noodle soup. It’s a great way to use your fresh, homemade broth and a comforting meal with tons of veggies.
Ethiopian Inspired Chicken
We recently made this and varied it ourselves, making our own spice similar to berebere. My Indian, Ethiopian, and Thai food loving husband approved so much that he couldn’t stop talking about it and begged me to make it again this week.
Chicken Wraps
A quick and simple lunch idea is to throw together some tasty lettuce and veggies wraps with your turkey or chicken. In fact, throw in some of the cranberry sauce you may have leftover from your Thanksgiving meal and it’s quite a tasty lunch creation.
Chicken & Dumplings
The simple way to make chicken and dumplings is to boil your chicken/turkey stock that you made from the bones, toss in biscuits torn in thirds, and add your shredded chicken. Season it as desired. It’s an extraordinarily easy dumpling recipe.
White Chicken Chili
Our familyloves chili. In fact, so much so that it’s my 10 month old’s favorite food. So shake up your normalchili recipeand make this variation with this zesty chicken chili recipe.
Chicken Penne Ricotta Bake
While meat was never a part of my original recipe, my husband kindly mentioned that i should maybe add some to this really tasty dish. And so, I did. Just take about a cup of shredded chicken and layer it on top of the noodles to make this delicious meal evenheartier.
Wedding Soup
What a great way to get lots of veggies and fill up your tummies with a delicious meal. And especially because when you get to the end of the week you may be running low on chicken, this is a great appetizer too to go with a pasta dish.
A few bonus ways to use that turkey & leftover chicken
Barbecue Chicken Dip Cups
Mexican Lasagna
Tetrazzini
Kara is an author and advocate for positive, grace-filled parenting. She is homeschooler to her 5 children living on a farm in New England. She believes in creative educational approaches to help kids dive deeper into a rich learning experience and has her degree in Secondary Education & Adolescent Childhood Development. She is passionate about connecting with and helping other parents on their journey to raise awesome kids!
FAQs
The answer is simple: leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for three to four days. This means you have until the Monday after Thanksgiving to eat all those delicious leftovers or place them in the freezer to enjoy later. If you store leftovers in the freezer, they will be of best quality within 2-6 months.
What is made from Thanksgiving leftovers? ›
Instead, try turning your leftovers into a casserole, like our turkey divan, our chicken stuffing casserole, or our turkey pot pie; a soup, like our turkey noodle soup, our leftover turkey & wild rice soup, or our homemade turkey stock (made from your turkey carcass); or something lighter or more flavorful than before, ...
How long is leftover turkey good for? ›
USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. Turkey can be frozen for 3 to 4 months. Although safe indefinitely, frozen leftovers can lose moisture and flavor when stored for longer times in the freezer.
What is the day after Thanksgiving usually called? ›
Black Friday, the day following Thanksgiving, has evolved into one of the busiest shopping days in the United States. Contrary to popular belief that the term originated from businesses going from "in the red" to "in the black" in profits after Thanksgiving, it actually traces back to 1960s Philadelphia.
What is the rule for leftovers? ›
Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away.
What are 4 commonly consumed foods at Thanksgiving other than turkey? ›
Cornish game hen, goose, duck, ham, beef, salmon, and mushroom recipes make worthy centerpieces for holiday meals.
What foods make great leftovers? ›
- Meatloaf. Though meatloaf is often restricted to the weeknight dinner table, it is a powerhouse leftover. ...
- Lasagna. Sure, there's nothing better than lasagna coming out of the oven hot with bubbling cheese. ...
- Pulled Pork. ...
- Beef Stew. ...
- Chili. ...
- Frittatas, Quiches and Tarts.
It is also worth noting what was not present at the first Thanksgiving feast. There were no cloudlike heaps of mashed potatoes, since white potatoes had not yet crossed over from South America. There was no gravy either, since the colonists didn't yet have mills to produce flour.
Is a 3 year old frozen turkey still good? ›
Frozen Turkey
Turkeys can be kept in the freezer indefinitely. However, cook turkeys within 1 year for the best quality.
Can you eat leftover turkey on the 5th day? ›
Eat turkey within three to four days of cooking. If you use the turkey in a new dish like a soup or casserole, only consume within those initial four days. Another option is freezing the cooked turkey. Turkey can last up to four more months if frozen.
If properly stored, raw turkey can last in the fridge for 1–2 days, while cold cuts last up to 5 days. How long does cooked turkey last in the fridge? If you have leftovers that include cooked turkey, you can expect those to last in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.
Why should people eat chicken instead of turkey on Thanksgiving? ›
It's Easier
I cannot emphasis how much easier cooking a chicken is than cooking a turkey. With turkey you need a bigger pan, more seasoning, more time to thaw, more time to brine, more time to roast, and more time to contemplate all your life choices while it's in the oven. Chicken is the easy, uncomplicated choice.
Can you feed chickens mashed potatoes? ›
In the wild, they wouldn't have this handed to them in such a great quantity. And there's the key to the question, can chickens eat mashed potatoes. They can, but everything should be offered in moderation. Offering too much of any food besides layer feed, free range grasses and bugs, can lead to stomach upset.
Can chickens eat stuffing mix? ›
Stuffing. Some family recipes include ingredients such as chestnuts, bacon and chopped nuts. But most stuffings consist of bread, onion, celery, seasonings and salt. While chickens adore bread, you'll want to avoid feeding them your stuffing leftovers.
What is the best way to reheat Thanksgiving leftovers? ›
Transfer the turkey and mashed potatoes into oven-safe dishes, add a little stock to the turkey and butter to the potatoes, and cover both dishes. Reheat them together for about 30 minutes at 350°F. You're winning the leftover dinner game right now.
What should you do with leftovers from Thanksgiving that has sat out for longer than 2 hours? ›
If foods have been left out for more than two hours, discard items to prevent foodborne illness.
When should Thanksgiving leftovers be thrown out? ›
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service recommends throwing out refrigerated leftovers after three to four days. If foods are kept in the freezer, they can usually still be consumed for three to four months.
How do you decolonize Thanksgiving dinner? ›
According to Hooley, one of the most straightforward actions people can take to decolonise their Thanksgiving includes supporting Indigenous land acknowledgments and land back movements.
