Recipe This | Air Fryer Leftover Turkey Recipes (2024)

Tis the season for leftover turkey air fryer recipes. If you have an air fryer and are looking for something delicious for your leftover turkey, then we have you covered.

We have everything from air fryer burgers to air fryer turkey pot pie to air fryer turkey pizza and much more.

This delicious list of easy air fryer leftover turkey recipes is updated for thanksgiving and Christmas 2022 and happy holidays!

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Table of Contents

Air Fryer Turkey Leftovers

Today I wanted to share with you what I do with my turkeyleftovers and what I cook with my leftover turkey in the air fryer.

If you are new here, you probably don’t know about how obsessed I am with turkey leftovers.

In fact, I love the leftover turkey recipes that I make more than I love eating the turkey as part of a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

I get excited by how many awesome turkey leftover meals I can make and how frugal I can be with a single turkey.

Or I also hunt for discounted turkeys after Christmas that I can freeze and then make into leftover turkey meals later.

One Boxing Day I managed to get a huge amount of turkeys, but sadly, I have not been this lucky since:

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Dominic rolls his eyes when he sees me getting excited overleftover turkey, but soon changes his look to a smile when I load his dinnerplate with yet another delicious air fryer turkey meal.

If you are sat there browsing the internet wondering what on earth you are going to do with your turkey leftovers, then look no further than my round up of a mix of the best ever air fryer leftover turkey recipes.

There is a bit of everything, so I am sure you will find something that fits in with your leftover turkey and ingredients you have in your pantry.

If you don’t have an air fryer yet, this is the Philips one we have used for many years for cooking our air fryer leftover turkey dishes.

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Plus, as well as our free newsletter, we also have a free air fryer mini course. It is ideal for air fryer beginners or those that want to get more confident with their air fryer. The free course runs for 5 days with a new lesson delivered each day to your inbox.

What To Cook With Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey?

My mum used to use the same saying all the time to me as a kid. She would roll her eyes when she thought I was being indecisive and say “Samantha the world is your oyster”.

I think of that saying when I think of the zillions of different things that you can cook with leftover turkey.

Like with leftover chicken and other leftover meats, there is so many opportunities for delicious recipes.

You can make pies, burritos, casseroles, a stir fry, a sausage roll, sandwiches, pastas and so much more.

Though my biggest go to is a turkey version of air fryer bubble and squeak or air fryer leftover turkey burgers.

Though you can also freeze your leftovers and then make air fryer frozen turkey burgers later.

What To Do With Leftover Sliced Turkey?

My favourite option for sliced turkey is to serve it as it is cold, as you are stood in front of the fridge, wondering what bigger snack you are going to make yourself.

Then a Plan B would be sandwiches or do dice it and make into warm sandwiches or even better a turkey salad.

Best Ever Leftover Turkey Recipes

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Below you will find all our popular air fryer leftover turkey recipes. You can also scroll to the bottom for a quick list of links in case you are in a hurry.

Do share in the comments below what you have made in the air fryer with your leftover turkey and which of our air fryer leftover turkey recipes you have enjoyed the most.

#1 Air Fryer Turkey Pizzas

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This leftover turkey pizza idea is a no fuss way of using up your leftover turkey.

Get some mini pizza bases, then load up with tomato sauce, turkey slices, a little cheese and some cherry tomatoes.

Then air fry for 7 minutes at 170c/340f and they are amazing.

#2 Air Fryer Turkey Hash

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I love this for a quick gather of ingredients that you can air fry together to quickly warm up your leftovers.

You can load into the air fryer leftover turkey, baby potatoes, sprouts, stuffing, veggies or whatever you have that you want to use up.

I did this for a few days after thanksgiving last year for breakfast and it was great to just grab a few items and then air fry them.

I cooked our air fryer turkey hash for 5 minutes at 180c/360f.

#3 Air Fryer Turkey Burgers

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This is the most eaten turkey leftover recipe in the Milner house. Grab your leftover turkey bits and pieces, make into turkey burger patties, coat in breadcrumbs and air fry.

These cute turkey burgers also cook well from frozen too.

#4 Air Fryer Stuffing Muffins

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These stuffing muffins are delicious and use up leftover turkey stuffing along with other turkey roast leftovers. They are made in a similar way to our air fryer egg cups and are perfect for brunch or taking to work.

#5 Air Fryer Leftover Turkey Pie

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I love this layered turkey pie that is cooked in silicone cake pans in the air fryer. You will love how easy it is to assemble this turkey pie and how you can do it with turkey or any other leftover roast dinner.

#6 Air Fryer Moist Maker

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If you love Friends, then you will be a big fan of the moist maker. But it gets better, you can make the turkey sandwich, which is known for its gravy layer, in the air fryer.

You can also use this as the base for some leftover turkey alternatives to air fryer grilled cheese too.

#7 Air Fryer Calzone

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If you have not heard of a calzone before, then think of it as a pizza that is folded over and kind of looks like a homemade pasty.

The best thing about a calzone is that it makes a fantastic use of leftover turkey and you can load your calzone up with turkey.

#8 Air Fryer Yorkshire Pudding Wrap

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And of course, you can use the Yorkshire pudding wrap as a basis for roast turkey leftovers wrap. Simply swap roast beef for roast turkey and you are all set.

And there you have it, the best stuff to do with leftover turkey! Of course, I am sure your brain is going at a million miles per hour, thinking about other ways you can use your leftovers and hopefully we have given you some inspiration.

Recipe This | Air Fryer Leftover Turkey Recipes (13)

Reheating Thanksgiving Foods In The Air Fryer

Before you jump off the sofa and go and make turkey leftovers, you can also use the air fryer to reheat your leftovers. This is perfect if you just want to warm up your turkey and don’t want to make it into something new.

You can reheat your turkey in the air fryer and then make it into a salad, or just enjoy warm turkey slices.

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Air Fryer Turkey Leftovers Quick Links

  • Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
  • Air Fryer Stuffing Muffins
  • Air Fryer Leftover Turkey Pie
  • Air Fryer Moist Maker
  • Air Fryer Turkey Calzone
  • Air Fryer Yorkshire Pudding Wrap

Can’t read it now? Then pin it for later!

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Recipe This | Air Fryer Leftover Turkey Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you make leftover turkey moist? ›

Simply heat your oven to 300 degrees, put the carved meat in a baking dish, and add some chicken broth or turkey stock to the pan. The meat will absorb some of the liquid as it heats, making it nice and juicy. Cover the pan tightly with foil and place it in the oven until the meat is hot, 20 to 30 minutes.

How do you reheat turkey legs in the air fryer? ›

Once they have cooled, place leftover turkey legs in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat: To reheat them in the air fryer, set your air fryer to 350 degrees F and lightly spray or coat the basket with oil. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until heated through.

Should turkey be room temp before air frying? ›

Before cooking

For an evenly cooked turkey, bring it to room temperature before air frying. This helps prevent the outside from cooking too quickly while the inside remains undercooked. Additionally, trussing the turkey – tying its legs and wings close to its body – can help it keep its shape and aid with even cooking.

How long should you air fry leftovers? ›

Place on the frying plate inside the air-fryer basket and set the temperature to 350° F. Air-fry for 3 minutes, flip, and heat for an additional 3 minutes until the outer skin is crispy.

Why does leftover turkey taste different? ›

Though it's especially obvious in leftover fish and poultry, discerning connoisseurs can pick out the WOF bouquet in most reheated meats. These flavors are the result of a series of chemical reactions that begins with the deterioration of specific kinds of fats known as polyunsaturated fatty acids, or PUFAs.

Why is my turkey tough after cooking? ›

Of course the longer the turkey is cooked, the more the proteins are denatured and the meat gets tougher. Connective tissues are not digestible and are too tough to bite through before they are cooked. After the cooking process, the collagen tripe helices are destroyed and the collagen becomes soft gelatin.

How do you make leftovers moist? ›

Option 1: Oven

This method takes the most time but is the best option for moist, succulent leftovers. Set your oven to 250°F (120°C). Add meat to a baking tray, followed by a dash of oil or butter. Cover with aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out.

How do you keep turkey legs from burning? ›

Problem: The turkey is burning. Solution: Aluminum foil is your friend. If you notice that the turkey is browning too quickly, tent it with aluminum foil to redirect the heat away from the skin. You might have to pick off some extra-black skin, but at least you've prevented a disaster.

How do you reheat turkey legs without drying them out? ›

The best way to reheat turkey is in a 350°F oven.

Place the turkey pieces in a baking dish and drizzle with a few tablespoons of stock and/or butter. Cover the dish with foil and heat in the oven at 350°F for about 30 minutes.

How long does it take to air fry an 11 lb turkey? ›

Set air-fryer temperature to 400° F. Cook 45-60 minutes, about 7-10 minutes per pound, until a food thermometer inserted registers 165° F. Let stand for 10 minutes before carving.

How long does it take to air fry an 18 lb turkey? ›

Air fry for 10 mins per pound or until 165 degrees internal temperature. Spritz every 20 minutes with apple juice. Carve, serve, and enjoy!

What size air fryer for a turkey? ›

The air fryer I am going to be using to deep fry a turkey without oil is the Masterbuilt 20 Quart 7-in-1 Outdoor Air Fryer. You can cook up to a 20lb turkey in this air fryer!

How do you reheat leftover turkey without drying it out? ›

Place the turkey pieces in a baking dish and drizzle with a few tablespoons of stock and/or butter. Cover the dish with foil and heat in the oven at 350°F for about 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can microwave the sliced turkey (cover with a damp paper towel) in a microwave-safe dish at 50% power in 1-minute intervals.

Can you air fry leftover meat? ›

Air fryers aren't just for cooking — they're also excellent tools for reheating leftovers, especially when you want to bring a little crunch back to something that was once crispy.

How do you warm up leftover turkey without drying it out? ›

How do you reheat turkey without drying it out? The best way to make succulent, delicious leftover turkey is to create some steam and let the turkey warm up gently in the oven. This low and slow method is also great for feeding a crowd, because you can heat up many slices at once.

Can you air fry leftovers? ›

Reheating food in an air fryer can be a quick and easy way to enjoy your leftovers. With the right temperature and time settings, you can reheat a variety of foods, from chicken tenders to pizza, while keeping them crispy and flavorful.

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