Leftover Turkey Stir Fry

Name: Leftover Turkey Stir Fry
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 lb leftover turkey; ½ cup red bell pepper (chopped); ½ cup onions (chopped); 1.5 cups broccoli cuts; ½ cup olive oil; ½ tsp black pepper; ½ tsp curry; ½ tsp bouillon powder; 1 tbsp coconut aminos; ½ tsp smoked paprika; salt (to taste)

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This leftover turkey stir fry recipe is a great way to use up all the leftover turkey from your Thanksgiving celebration. Full of delicious stir fry vegetables and tender turkey, it's the perfect healthy meal to enjoy after the holidays. It's also great for meal prep and is ready in just 20 minutes!

❤️ Why you'll love it

If you enjoy a nice Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey and are overwhelmed by the mountain of containers in your fridge, this is a great recipe to put those turkey leftovers to good use!

It's full of delicious vegetables and spices and will transform leftover turkey pieces into something extraordinary. Plus, it’s quick and simple, the perfect easy dinner on those busy weeknights!

🥘 Equipment Used

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To make this leftover turkey stir-fry, you will need a cutting board, knife, large bowl, large skillet, and a spoon or spatula for stirring.

🧾 Ingredients Used

Leftover Turkey: I basically remove as much leftover turkey meat as I can from the roast turkey and cut into smaller pieces. I used my hand to shred it but you can use a knife if you prefer.
Vegetables: Red bell pepper, onions, and broccoli cuts.
Olive oil: I prefer to use olive or avocado oil for sautéing vegetables.
Spices: Use coconut aminos, black pepper, curry, bouillon powder, smoked paprika, and salt to flavor this healthy recipe.

🔪 How To Make Leftover Turkey Stew

Chop the red bell pepper and onions and microwave the frozen broccoli cuts for a minute.
Shred the turkey in a bowl and set aside.
Pour the olive oil in a skillet and set to medium heat.
Add the onions when heated and stir till it gets tender.
Add the bell peppers and broccoli cuts and stir.
After a minute, add the black pepper, curry and smoked paprika and mix together.
After 5 minutes, add the turkey and stir.
Allow it to simmer a bit, then add the bouillon powder and coconut aminos.
Only add more salt if needed.
Let simmer on medium heat for 5 more minutes.
Serve and enjoy!

🥫 Storing and Reheating

Store leftover turkey stir fry in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can also freeze it for later, but since the meat has already been cooked twice, it's best to enjoy fresh.

💭 Tips and Variations

Garnish your stir fry with some lime wedges, coriander leaves, red pepper flakes, or even sliced spring onions for a pop of color.
Use sesame oil instead of olive oil to add a deep, nutty flavor.
Get creative with the spices! Feel free to use white pepper, sesame seeds, chili flakes, or your other favorite spices.
Add more veggies! This turkey stir fry is a wonderful way to sneak in some extra veggies. Feel free to add your favorite stir fry vegetables, like bell peppers, napa cabbage or regular green cabbage, green onions, green beans, leftover brussels sprouts, snow pea pods, and more.
If the stir fry gets dry, feel free to add a splash of homemade turkey broth.
This recipe can work with leftover chicken instead of turkey. Just follow the same steps, but use leftover chicken meat instead of diced turkey.

🍽️ What can I eat this recipe with?

I love to eat this with cauliflower rice or shirataki rice as it makes a great meal prep dish. We usually have plain cauliflower rice in the fridge most days, and I like to just scoop up some of this turkey stir fry, drizzle some more oil and spices and I have a full, delicious meal ready in no time.

I also like to serve this leftover Thanksgiving turkey stir-fry recipe with these other holiday dishes!

👩‍🍳 Frequently asked questions

How long does leftover cooked turkey last in the fridge?

Cooked turkey can last for about four days in the fridge. It's important to refrigerate the meat within 2 hours of cooking to avoid growing harmful bacteria.

What to do with overcooked turkey?

If your holiday turkey roast came out really dry, you need to add moisture. Add the turkey meat to soups, curries, or stir-fries, and make sure you add a little extra chicken or turkey broth to rehydrate it! Don't microwave or bake it, as that will make the turkey dry out even more.

How can you make leftover turkey taste great?

The problem with leftover turkey, especially the white meat, is how quickly it dries out! That means you need to add moisture (and spices) to make it feel tender and flavorful once again. I like to make this leftover turkey stir fry with the most amazing vegetables, spices, and coconut aminos. It comes together very quickly and has a ton of flavor. You can also add the leftover turkey to your favorite soups and stews, like this keto turkey soup.

📚 Related Recipes

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