What to Do With Leftover Turkey Patties: A Delicious Guide

You grilled up a storm for Thanksgiving or a family gathering, and now you’re left with a mountain of leftover turkey patties. Don’t fret! These versatile patties are a blank canvas for culinary creativity, offering endless possibilities for delicious meals.

Repurposing Leftover Turkey Patties:

1. Sliders and Sandwiches:

  • Mini Turkey Sliders: Slice the patties thinly and layer them on slider buns with your favorite toppings like cranberry sauce, Dijon mustard, and arugula.
  • Classic Turkey Sandwich: Toast some bread, add a layer of mayo, lettuce, tomato, and a juicy turkey patty for a satisfying lunch.
  • Open-Faced Turkey Melt: Top toasted sourdough bread with a turkey patty, melty cheese, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar for a gourmet twist.

2 Salads and Bowls:

  • Chopped Turkey Salad: Dice the patties and toss them with chopped romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and a creamy vinaigrette.
  • Buddha Bowl: Create a colorful and nutritious bowl with quinoa, roasted vegetables, avocado slices, and crumbled turkey patties.
  • Power Greens Salad: Combine spinach, kale, chopped turkey, chopped nuts, and a tangy vinaigrette for a protein-packed salad.

3. Casseroles and Pastas:

  • Shepherd’s Pie: Use leftover mashed potatoes to top a casserole dish filled with ground turkey, peas, carrots, and gravy.
  • Turkey Tetrazzini: Combine cooked pasta, creamy sauce, mushrooms, and chopped turkey for a comforting and flavorful casserole.
  • Turkey Lasagna: Layer lasagna noodles with ricotta cheese, spinach, and a meaty turkey sauce for a hearty and satisfying meal.

4, Soups and Stews:

  • Turkey Chili: Add leftover turkey patties to your favorite chili recipe for a boost of protein and flavor.
  • Turkey Noodle Soup: Simmer leftover turkey in a flavorful broth with vegetables and noodles for a comforting and nourishing soup.
  • Turkey and Rice Soup: Combine cooked rice, chopped turkey, vegetables, and broth for a light and flavorful soup.

5. Creative Twists:

  • Turkey Tacos: Shred the patties and use them as a filling for tacos with your favorite toppings like salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.
  • Turkey Egg Rolls: Fill egg roll wrappers with chopped turkey, shredded vegetables, and a flavorful dipping sauce.
  • Turkey Quesadillas: Layer tortillas with cheese, chopped turkey, and your favorite toppings for a quick and easy lunch or snack.

Tips for Using Leftover Turkey Patties:

  • Shred or chop the patties for easier use in various dishes.
  • Add moisture with broth, gravy, or sauce to prevent dryness.
  • Season with additional herbs and spices to enhance the flavor.
  • Get creative and experiment with different flavor combinations.

Leftover turkey patties can be repurposed into a number of delectable and filling dishes with a little creativity. Therefore, use your imagination and relish the culinary options instead of letting those patties sit in the refrigerator!

Are Turkey Burgers Healthy?

Every once in a while, I crave a meaty and juicy burger. However, when I make an effort to consume less red meat and maintain a leaner diet, ground turkey is always my first choice. It’s like switching from beef meatballs to my favorite turkey meatballs recipe.

Thus, ground turkey is even leaner than ground chicken and has less saturated fat than ground beef, so the answer to the question “Are turkey burgers actually healthy?” is yes.

The only “downside” is that turkey tends to be a lot drier than beef. Here’s my favorite turkey burger recipe that you will definitely be making frequently, but I also have some recommendations for the best turkey burger patty that is completely gluten-free and doesn’t taste bland or dry.

what to do with turkey patties

  • Ground Turkey: For juicier turkey burgers, the ideal lean-to-fat ratio must be chosen. The majority of packaged ground turkey is made up of both dark and light meat, but you should choose one that is about 2093 percent lean and 7% fat. This makes for a moist and succulent texture. Furthermore, ask the butcher to use the same mixture used for burger patties if you purchase ground turkey from them.
  • Mayonnaise: A small amount of mayo adds moisture and acts as a binder for the patties. Use the brand of your choice, or give my easy homemade version a try—it tastes ten times better and has no strange ingredients!
  • Dijon Mustard This simple combination of Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce adds a savory, umami flavor that will have everyone begging for seconds. Just so you know, not all brands of gluten-free Worcestershire sauce are gluten-free, so be sure to scroll down to the recipe card where I’ve linked the brand I use.
  • Seasonings: Add some fresh garlic, kosher salt, and black pepper to complete the flavor profile. However, if you’d like to switch up some of the flavors, I’ve included a few options below.

Find the printable recipe with measurements below

what to do with turkey patties

How To Make Turkey burger patties

Make the patties. Mix the ground turkey, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper with your hands. Then, divide the mixture evenly to form 4 large patties. To avoid uncooked patties, flatten them out a bit so they’re not super tall and dense. Plus, they do shrink quite a bit when cooking!.

what to do with turkey patties

Cook the patties. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil. Cook the patties for approximately 5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Unlike beef patties, turkey burgers need to be completely cooked through. If you’d like, you can use an instant-read thermometer to check if they’ve reached an internal temperature of 165°F.

what to do with turkey patties

This TURKEY BURGER recipe is juicy, healthy and easy to make!

FAQ

How do you jazz up store bought turkey burgers?

Don’t be afraid to load up your turkey burgers! Think about pairing flavors that will go well with the lighter turkey meat and the seasoning mixture you’ve used. I love topping my turkey burgers with goat cheese, roasted red peppers, arugula, a sunny-side-up egg, and spicy aioli.

Are turkey burger patties healthy?

If you’re looking to reduce calories for weight loss, either lean ground turkey or lean ground beef are healthy choices. Keeping tabs on saturated fat for heart health? Lean ground turkey is the better pick by a slim margin.

What condiment goes with turkey burgers?

Aioli is usually a condiment for dipping fries, but don’t be afraid to slather some on a burger too. Aioli is a great complement to turkey burgers because it adds creaminess and richness to the lean turkey meat. There are a lot of varieties of aiolis these days, but you can’t go wrong with a classic garlic aioli.

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