This easy Smoked Turkey Chowder is a delicious way to use up Thanksgiving leftover turkey. Made in a single pot, it’s lightly creamy with a warm, smoky flavor, and loaded with tender sweet potatoes!
Leftover smoked turkey legs are a delicious treat that can be used in a variety of mouthwatering recipes With their succulent meat and intense smoky flavor, smoked turkey legs make for extremely versatile leftovers Read on for 15 amazing ways to transform those leftover legs into appetizing meals and snacks.
1. Smoked Turkey Leg Soup
This hearty and comforting soup is a fantastic way to use up leftover smoked turkey legs Simply simmer the legs in chicken or vegetable broth along with veggies like carrots, celery, onion and potatoes Once cooked, remove the meat from the bone and shred or chop it before adding it back to the soup. Season with salt, pepper and herbs like thyme or sage. Serve with crusty bread.
2. Smoked Turkey Leg Sandwiches
Turn leftover turkey legs into flavorful sandwiches. Remove the meat from the bones and shred it. Sauté some onion and bell pepper in olive oil. Add the shredded turkey, bbq sauce and sprinkle on some cheese. Pile it all on bread or rolls for a delicious sandwich.
3. Smoked Turkey Leg Hash
Make a savory turkey leg hash by dicing up potatoes, onion, bell pepper and the leftover turkey meat. Sauté everything in a skillet with olive oil, herbs and seasonings. Top with a fried egg for a hearty breakfast or brunch.
4. Smoked Turkey Leg Quesadillas
Jazz up quesadillas with those turkey legs. Shred the meat and combine it with sautéed onion, peppers, beans and cheese. Stuff the mixture into tortillas and cook until the cheese melts. Serve with guacamole, salsa and sour cream.
5. Smoked Turkey Leg Tacos
Shred the turkey meat and spice it up with taco seasoning. Fill corn or flour tortillas with the turkey along with crispy lettuce, tomato, avocado, cheese and chipotle mayo. These flavorful tacos make for a fun taco Tuesday meal.
6. Smoked Turkey Leg Stir Fry
Slice the turkey meat and stir fry it in a skillet with lots of veggies like broccoli, carrots, snap peas and onions. Toss everything with soy sauce, sesame oil and serve over rice or quinoa. It’s a healthy and tasty way to use those legs.
7. Smoked Turkey Leg Casseroles
Incorporate shredded turkey leg meat into delicious casseroles like turkey tetrazzini. Combine the turkey with egg noodles, mushroom soup, peas, Parmesan and cheddar cheese. Top with breadcrumbs or fried onions and bake until bubbly.
8. Smoked Turkey Leg Enchiladas
Make flavorful enchiladas with leftover turkey legs. Wrap tortillas around a filling of shredded turkey, cheese, peppers, onions, beans and enchilada sauce. Arrange the enchiladas in a baking dish, top with more sauce and cheese then bake until hot and gooey.
9. Smoked Turkey Leg Pot Pie
For this creative pot pie, cube or shred the turkey leg meat and mix it with cooked veggies like carrots, peas and potatoes in a creamy sauce. Pour the filling into a pie crust and top with a second crust or puff pastry before baking to golden brown perfection.
10. Smoked Turkey Leg Chili
Add diced turkey leg meat to your favorite chili recipe. Sauté it with onions, peppers and spices then add canned beans, crushed tomatoes, broth and chili powder. Simmer everything until thickened and flavorful. Top with shredded cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips.
11. Smoked Turkey Leg Flatbread Pizza
Top flatbread, naan or pizza dough with leftover turkey, tomato sauce, cheese and veggies for an easy pizza. Just bake until the crust is crisp and cheese is melted. Add any other favorite toppings like mushrooms, peppers or olives.
12. Smoked Turkey Leg Nachos
Make nachos extra hearty by topping tortilla chips with shredded turkey legs, beans, salsa, guacamole, jalapeños and gooey melted cheese. Bake or broil until heated through for loaded party nachos.
13. Smoked Turkey Leg Salad
Incorporate diced turkey leg meat into delicious main dish salads. Try pairing it with mixed greens, nuts, dried cranberries, apples and blue cheese. Whisk together a dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon and herbs.
14. Smoked Turkey Leg Egg Rolls
For a fun appetizer, wrap shredded turkey, shredded veggies and cheese in egg roll wrappers. Brush the edges with egg wash, roll up and fry until crispy. Serve with a sweet and sour or other dipping sauce.
15. Smoked Turkey Leg Sliders
Pile sliced or chopped turkey leg meat onto mini slider buns along with melty cheese, pickles, lettuce, tomato and special sauce. Serve these tasty little sandwiches at your next party or potluck. They make great appetizers or even a fun dinner.
Leftover smoked turkey legs can be transformed into so many different dishes from soups and sandwiches to pizzas and tacos. Get creative with seasonings and mix up ingredients to keep meals exciting and delicious. With this variety of recipes, you’ll look forward to having those flavorful leftovers.
Easy Turkey Chowder Recipe
Whenever our family spends Thanksgiving at our own home, you can bet that we’re enjoying a smoked turkey. Blake gets up before the sun to prepare the smoker for another delicious bird to grace our table. And the big bonus? It makes for especially awesome turkey leftover recipes!
This easy Smoked Turkey Chowder is packed with flavor, an irresistible bowl that features leftover turkey. It’s perfectly lightly creamy, loaded with tender sweet potatoes, and has just a touch of chipotle heat. It’s warm comfort through and through!
We first enjoyed a smoked turkey many years ago, when extended family joined us at our house for Thanksgiving dinner. It was our first time hosting the big meal, and in the middle of piecing together a menu, picking up bottles of wine, and strategizing the seating in our very small dining room, I decided that there was no way I’d be adding a baked turkey to my to-do list!
Smoked turkey it was! And Blake was more than happy to take it on. He definitely enjoys Thanksgiving day, watching football and tending to a turkey on our Big Green Egg!
Ohhhhhh, what a little smoke can do to that poultry!
Everyone loved it, and the next day I made this smoked turkey chowder. It was another holiday weekend hit!
I’m a super fan of leftover turkey. Here are a few more of my favorite leftover turkey recipes: Swap out chicken for turkey in my (almost famous!) Chicken Wild Rice Soup. Add it to Turkey Pot Pie Soup. Or a childhood favorite of mine, Leftover Turkey Casserole!
This easy leftover turkey chowder comes together with a handful of kitchen staples, a bunch of fresh veggies, and BACON!
- Unsalted butter
- Bacon – Because bacon makes everything better!
- Vegetables – I used celery, yellow onion, red bell pepper, carrots, and canned corn.
- Mushrooms – Use fresh, not canned, for the best flavor and texture.
- Garlic
- Chipotle powder – For a warm, smoky flavor. Add as little or as much as you like!
- All-purpose flour
- Chicken broth – I always use reduced-sodium.
- Sweet potato – Peeled and cut into cubes.
- Half and half – Lends a creaminess to the chowder.
- Soy sauce – This may seem like a random ingredient but I love to add it to many of my soups. It adds a salty flavor with more depth.
- Fresh parsley & thyme – Fresh herbs make this soup extra wonderful.
- Smoked turkey – Leftover Thanksgiving turkey works perfectly for this! If you don’t have smoked turkey, substitute regular turkey – the soup will still be great!
- Salt & pepper
How to Make Smoked Turkey Chowder with Sweet Potatoes
Since we’re using leftover turkey, this chowder recipe is especially easy to make. It’s just a matter of cooking a few slices of bacon, adding some vegetables, and then simmering until everything is tender!
- Cook the bacon and vegetables. Melt the butter in a heavy pot and cook the bacon until it begins to brown. Add the celery, onion, red pepper, mushrooms, carrots, and garlic. Cook until the onion is completely softened. Sprinkle in the chipotle powder, then the flour. Stir until it starts to bubble.
- Add the broth. Stirring constantly, turn up the heat to bring it to a low boil for a minute. Then reduce heat and add the remaining ingredients, except for the turkey.
- Add the turkey. After the sweet potato is tender, add the turkey and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Serve. Add salt and pepper as needed. Serve with crackers or warm, crusty bread.
It’s hard to go wrong with this recipe because it’s so versatile. Switch things up if you like!
- Can I make this with regular turkey? While I’m partial to the smoked turkey flavor, you can absolutely make this with an oven-baked turkey. You won’t get that smoky flavor, of course, and may want to increase the other seasonings for flavor – but the rest of the recipe will still work!
- Swap the turkey for chicken or ham. You can easily adapt this recipe if you have leftover ham or chicken as well. Just swap the turkey for ham (smoked ham would be amazing here) or chicken (including rotisserie chicken)!
- Use the seasonings and vegetables you have on hand. Get creative with your seasonings or simply add the vegetables you have on hand, like regular potatoes instead of sweet potatoes. Cumin and green chili are great ways to add flavor as well. I often add extra ground chipotle or stir in some hot sauce when I’m craving heat.
I like to serve a bowl of steaming smoked turkey chowder with some crackers or crusty bread. The crusty bread is my favorite because it helps you soak up every warm, smoky bite of the chowder.
When I’m craving more flavor, I like to add a little more chipotle powder or stir in some hot sauce.
I’ve found this soup requires no other sides but if you want a lighter meal, you can easily do a soup and salad combo with a fresh green side salad!
HOW TO COOK A PRE SMOKED TURKEY LEG THAT WILL FALL OFF THE BONE
FAQ
How long does smoked turkey leg last in fridge?
Are smoked turkey legs already cooked?
How do you reheat leftover turkey legs?
How do you get crispy skin on smoked turkey legs?