3 Lunch Ideas for Leftover Turkey [VIDEO]

Repurpose leftover turkey into these nutritious and delicious lunches 

Turkey leftover ideas are by CEO, Andrea Holwegner. Scroll down to watch the full video from her featuring the ideas! Intro and body are written by Liana Greenshields, Student in the Dietetics Specialization program at the University of Alberta. 

Cooking a whole turkey dinner takes time and effort, and also comes with a lot of leftovers. Instead of eating the same dinner for days after your feast, why not spice up your lunch and use some leftover turkey in different and creative ways? 

In this blog post, we will go over how to cook a whole turkey, key turkey nutrition facts, and 3 creative ways to include turkey leftovers in your lunch the next day!  

How to Cook a Whole Turkey 

Recipe from AllRecipes.com. Click here to view the original recipe. 

Number of servings: 24 

What You Need 

• 1 medium onion, chopped 
• 1 celery stalk, chopped 
• 1 medium carrot 
• 1 (12 pound) whole turkey 
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt 
• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper 
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 
• 3 tablespoons butter 
• 4 sprigs fresh rosemary 
• ½ bunch fresh sage, chopped 

How to Make the Turkey Recipe 

1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. Place the carrot, celery, and onion in a large roasting pan. 
3. Pat the outside and inside of the turkey dry with paper towels. 
4. Place the turkey breast-side up on top of the vegetables in the roasting pan. 
5. In a small bowl, combine the salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Season the inside of the turkey with ⅓ of the mixture and fold the wing tips under the bird. 
6. In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Once melted, add the rosemary and sage and cook until fragrant (about 1 minute). 
7. Reserve the melted butter, and place the rosemary and sage inside the cavity of the turkey. Then, tie the turkey legs together with twine. 
8. Brush the melted butter over the turkey and season with the other ⅔ of the salt mixture. 
9. Bake the turkey uncovered in the preheated oven until it is no longer pink at the bone, and the juice runs clear. This should be about 3 hours. To ensure it is cooked, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh near the bone, where it should read 180 degrees Fahrenheit. 
10. Once cooked through, remove from the oven and allow it to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.

Turkey Nutrition Facts 

Much like chicken, turkey has both dark and white meat which both have slightly different nutrient profiles. If you consume a 3 ounce serving of turkey without the skin, the nutrition facts are as follows: 

• 145 calories 
• 25 grams of protein 
• 4 grams of fat 
• 0 grams of carbohydrates 
• 0 grams of fibre 
• 0 grams of sugar 

While both the skin and dark meat of turkey are higher in fat than white meat, they are also higher in vitamins and minerals, which overall makes turkey a tasty and nutritious option. Turkey is a great source of the following vitamins and minerals: 

• Vitamin B6 
• Vitamin B12 
• Niacin 
• Choline 
• Selenium 
• Zinc

Keep in mind that turkey is usually enjoyed with a gravy, which could be high in both saturated fat and sodium. Limiting the amount of salt you add to your meal while being conscious of how much gravy you use will help you reap the benefits of turkey while keeping your sodium in check! 

Three Great Lunch Ideas for Leftover Turkey 

Eating the same turkey dinner for days after the big meal can get old. Luckily, these creative lunch ideas can help you avoid the repetitive dinners for both you and your family! This Thanksgiving, keep this post in mind and make the most of your delicious dinner. 

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