Easy, comforting, warm, gooey. If these are all YOUR favorite things, too, you’ll LOVE this Keto Turkey Tetrazzini Skillet!
Sauteed onions and mushrooms are mixed with flavorful herbs and diced turkey in a creamy, cheesy sauce, and then baked till slightly golden.
If you have leftover turkey, this is a great keto recipe for using up that Thanksgiving turkey!
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Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and a lot of delicious food. And for many, that means turkey. After the big meal, you’re often left with pounds of leftover turkey. Instead of eating plain old turkey sandwiches or turkey casserole day after day, try out some keto-friendly recipes to liven things up With a bit of creativity, you can transform your leftovers into completely new low-carb meals.
Why Try Keto Turkey Leftover Recipes?
Following a keto diet around the holidays can be challenging with all the carby foods. Having tasty keto recipes that use up leftover turkey makes it easier to stick to your low-carb eating plan. Keto turkey recipes allow you to get back on track after indulging on stuffing and pie on Thanksgiving day.
Eating the same leftovers over and over again gets boring fast. Keto turkey recipes breathe new life into the leftovers and make them exciting again. The possibilities are endless when you break out of the sandwich and casserole rut.
Exploring new flavor combinations keeps your tastebuds happy. And cooking keeps you out of the temptation of holiday treats. Staying busy in the kitchen with fresh takes on leftovers occupies your time with satisfaction rather than mindless snacking.
Best Ingredients for Keto Turkey Leftover Recipes
Many classic Thanksgiving flavors pair perfectly with leftover turkey in keto recipes Here are some of the best options for low-carb ingredients to complement turkey
- Non-starchy vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, mushrooms, spinach, zucchini
- Dairy: cream cheese, sour cream, heavy cream, cheeses like cheddar or mozzarella
- Fats: butter, olive oil, avocado oil
- Herbs and spices: rosemary, thyme, sage, garlic, chili powder, cumin
- Low-carb substitutes: almond flour, coconut flour, psyllium husk, zoodles (zucchini noodles)
- Nuts and seeds: pecans, walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds
- Condiments: pesto, salsa, guacamole, horseradish, mayo, mustard
Combining turkey with items from this list allows you to experience new flavors while keeping recipes keto-friendly. Get creative and think outside the box!
Tips for Leftover Turkey Storage
Proper storage of leftover turkey is important for food safety. Here are some tips:
- Store turkey in shallow airtight containers within 2 hours of cooking. This prevents bacteria growth.
- Keep turkey in the refrigerator 3-4 days max. Freeze for longer storage.
- Use turkey giblets and carcass right away for broth. Otherwise toss after 1-2 days.
- Cooked turkey keeps 6 months in the freezer. Ensure no freezer burn.
- Divide turkey into meal-size portions before freezing for easier thawing and use.
- Always thaw frozen turkey in the refrigerator, not on the counter.
- Don’t refreeze thawed turkey. Cook within 1-2 days.
Following safe leftover turkey practices reduces your risk of foodborne illness. Taking proper care of your turkey makes it last longer and stay fresher.
Top 10 Keto Recipes for Leftover Turkey
From comforting casseroles to protein-packed salads, here are 10 delicious keto recipes for leftover turkey:
1. Turkey Chili
Spice up ground turkey with chili seasoning and veggies like peppers, onions, and zucchini. Top with cheese and avocado.
2. Turkey lettuce wraps
Shred turkey and mix with buffalo or ranch sauce. Serve in lettuce leaves for a fresh handheld meal.
3. Turkey mushroom soup
Simmer turkey, mushrooms, onions, and broth seasoned with thyme. Finish with a splash of cream.
4. Turkey Florentine
Bake turkey cutlets topped with spinach, cheese, and garlic cream sauce for a decadent dish.
5. Turkey burrito bowl
Mix turkey with cauliflower rice, cheese, peppers, avocado, and salsa for a Mexican-inspired bowl.
6. Turkey casserole
Combine turkey, broccoli, cream cheese, and cheddar for a hearty casserole.
7. Turkey salad stuffed tomatoes
Mix turkey with celery, onion, mayo, and mustard. Stuff in tomato halves for a tasty salad.
8. Turkey crack slaw
Toss shredded turkey in spicy mayo then mix with shredded cabbage and carrots for a zesty slaw.
9. Turkey avocado boats
Mash turkey with avocado, lime juice, and cilantro. Stuff in avocado halves for a fresh snack or light meal.
10. Turkey soup
Simmer turkey meatballs and veggies like celery, carrots, and cabbage in broth for a soothing soup.
With a variety of cooking methods from baked casseroles to quick lettuce wraps, you can cook up keto turkey recipes for any meal. Change up flavors and ingredients to keep each creation tasting like a whole new dish. Those turkey leftovers will never get boring again!
Keto Options for Turkey Sandwiches
If sandwiches are still your go-to for leftovers, there are plenty of keto-friendly options beyond regular bread:
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Lettuce wraps – Use large lettuce leaves in place of bread for a crunchy lower carb sandwich.
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Portobello buns – Grill or bake portobello mushroom caps to use as turkey burger buns.
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Cheese buns – Make quick keto buns from mozzarella and egg yolks.
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Cloud bread – Whip up airy, bread-like loaves from egg whites, cream cheese, and butter.
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Chaffles – Bake cheese and egg waffles in a mini waffle maker as sandwich “buns”.
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Zucchini slices – Roast or grill slices of zucchini to use in place of regular bread.
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Cucumber rounds – Slices of cucumber make a refreshing low-carb sandwich “bread”.
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Cauliflower thins – Use store-bought cauliflower flatbreads or make your own.
With so many keto-friendly bread options, you can still enjoy leftover turkey sandwiches without the carbs. Get creative with different fillings too like pesto mayo, cranberry sauce, and veggies.
Even More Uses for Leftover Turkey
If you grow tired of all the casseroles and sandwiches, there are alternative ways to use up leftover turkey besides just eating it:
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Turkey broth – Simmer the turkey carcass to make your own nutrient-rich bone broth.
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Turkey pot pie filling – Cook turkey with onions, carrots, celery, and cream for a quick filling. Freeze for pot pies later.
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Turkey tetrazzini – Transform leftover turkey into this creamy pasta dish. Omit the pasta for a keto version.
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Turkey enchiladas – Mix shredded turkey with green chiles, onions, and cheese for an easy enchilada filling.
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Turkey empanadas – Stuff pastry dough with turkey, olives, raisins, and spices for handheld meat pies.
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Turkey tamales – Shred turkey and mix with chili sauce for the filling, then steam in corn husks or banana leaves.
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Turkey breakfast tacos – Scramble turkey with eggs, peppers, onions, and cheese for morning tacos.
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Turkey pizza – Top a keto-friendly pizza crust with turkey, cheese, mushrooms, spinach, and other favorite pizza toppings.
With endless options for cooking, freezing, and repurposing turkey, you can avoid food waste while enjoying delicious keto meals. Those leftovers can star in an array of eclectic dishes beyond boring old sandwiches day after day. Get creative and discover new ways to reinvent turkey!
Keto Turkey Recipes Offer Variety After Holiday Feasts
Holiday meals may center around turkey, but that doesn’t mean the leftovers have to be monotonous. With smart storage, safety practices, and a little creativity, leftover turkey can be transformed into all sorts of delicious keto recipes.
Give these keto turkey dishes a try to add tasty variety, use up leftovers, and keep your low-carb eating on track after feasting. With the endless recipe ideas, you’ll look forward to leftovers rather than dreading days of the same boring meals again and again. Let these recipes inspire you to rediscover new ways to enjoy turkey!
Low Carb Turkey Tetrazzini Skillet Recipe
So, what about the keto Turkey Tetrazzini Skillet recipe?
This is probably one of the most accidental recipes I’ve ever posted here. No, really.
It was one of thos days: “Well, I have this half chunk of mozzarella, and leftover turkey from Thanksgiving (or Easter or whatever it was), a bunch of parsley that won’t make it past tomorrow, and some mushrooms my kids won’t eat anyway…”
And then some Pinterest searching that ended in just making something up. When I searched again later, I saw that there was something called turkey tetrazzini that used similar ingredients, plus pasta.
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So there you have it. Now you know my wackadoodle process of creating recipes for my site.
Truth be told, that’s only part of the story. I’m a single mom of 4 kids, going to school full time for my master’s degree.
So, yeah, I really just have to throw things together sometimes and see what sticks. My kids love me. Ha!
Have more leftover turkey? Here are more keto recipe ideas for using up leftover turkey: Baked Southwest Stuffed Avocados, Low Carb Leftover Turkey Casserole, and this Crunchy Healthy Turkey Salad (leave out the carrots and red pepper if you’re wanting to make it more keto friendly).
But when I have time, I spend hours and hours on one recipe, and that’s normally what makes it into Keen for Keto.
This turkey tetrazzini recipe in a skillet really couldn’t be easier. And instead of finding a replacement for the pasta, I of course just left it out. You won’t miss it. It’s THAT good.
I’m not against keto pasta variations, I just don’t use it much. I love swiching pasta out for spaghetti squash, like in my Keto Spaghetti Squash Alfredo Recipe with Chicken.
Keto Turkey Tetrazzini in a Cast Iron Skillet
One of my favorite things about my cast iron skillet is how heavy it is. Ha! You know I’m kidding.
I love, love, love that I can start a meal in the skillet, LEAVE it in the skillet, and put the whole shebang in the oven to finish it off, including the lid, if needed!
If that’s not a testament to my laziness, I don’t know what is.
Seriously, though. I LOVE my cast iron skillet. Hence my awesome Keen for Keto logo in which I asked my designer to use my clunky, heavy friend.
Sometimes I feel like my cast iron love is a little weird. Like the way people love to love abandoned puppies with half of their tails missing, a limp, and unknown goop dripping from their eyes.
Related: Turkey Leek Soup with Bacon and Broccoli (Instant Pot and stove top instructions)
My cast iron pan gets to lay its greasy self on its stovetop bed all night and day, while my nice, matching, stainless steel pots and pans get hidden away in the cupboards.
I can’t help it. That’s what love does to you.
If you want to get your own (no, you can’t have my greasy old lovable pan), here’s a link for my cast iron pan. And you’ll want a lid, too.
BUT, you totally don’t need a cast iron skillet for this low carb turkey tetrazzini recipe.
You can start it in any old skillet, pour into a baking dish, and bake it that way. Congrats for not being as lazy as me.
LOW-CARB TURKEY CASSEROLE
FAQ
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