Leftover Turkey Fried Rice is inspired by a Chinese takeout favorite, but with an all-American twist. Use leftover Thanksgiving turkey to make a filling, delicious one-pan meal in less than 30 minutes!
Wondering what to make with leftover turkey in your fridge? I mean sure, a sandwich will do just fine. But what happens when you’re craving something a little more satisfying?
Save this recipe for Leftover Turkey Fried Rice because I promise, you will want to return to it year after year. I grew up eating different variations of fried rice, and although the takeout version was a rare treat, my dad’s homemade version inspired my Rotisserie Chicken Fried Rice. It’s one of my all-time most popular recipes, and for good reason! To me, it’s just hard to beat a steaming bowl of freshly made fried rice.
Be sure to also try my other Asian-inspired post-Thanksgiving recipes: Leftover Turkey Spring Rolls and Leftover Turkey Ramen Bowls.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- A one-pan recipe? Say no more. If your kitchen was a disaster after the holiday feast (or you just don’t enjoy washing more dishes than you have to) you’ll appreciate how everything is easily cooked in a single skillet.
- Rice is a staple ingredient in my kitchen because it’s so versatile and affordable. The holiday season can be pricey, so this is meant to be a more budget-friendly meal if you want to splurge on other things.
- It’s savory, filling, and delicious. Enough said!
Leftover Turkey Fried Rice Ingredients
- Cooked white rice. The best rice for fried rice is chilled, day-old rice. If you’re cooking fresh rice, adjust the cook time accordingly, and just be aware it might have a denser, less chewy or fluffy texture. Leftover rice has less moisture so it doesn’t stick or clump the way fresh cooked rice will.
- Leftover turkey. Use white meat, dark meat, or a combination. Cut or chop the turkey into small bite-sized pieces. This fried rice recipe also works great for any small remnants that aren’t big enough for a turkey sandwich or other uses.
- Butter, and a small amount of cooking oil if you’re using something other than a nonstick skillet
- Onion and garlic
- Mixed vegetables, like a frozen mix of peas, carrots, and corn. See below for additional recommendations or swaps.
- Green onions
- Eggs
- All Purpose MSG Seasoning or salt, white pepper, and black pepper (or other general seasoning of your choice)
- Low sodium soy sauce. Swap for tamari if you need a gluten-free option.
- Toasted sesame oil
- Chili oil, sesame seeds, or any other garnish you like to include
I want this turkey fried rice recipe to be as simple and easy as possible. So while there are certainly fancier ways to make fried rice, I think this is still a great way to work through some Thanksgiving leftovers and make enough to feed the whole family.
You can easily customize your version by adding or swapping different vegetables. Here are my top picks:
- Mushrooms, especially shiitake mushrooms for extra umami (savory) flavor
- Small broccoli florets or stems
- Shelled edamame
- Shredded green or red cabbage
- Green beans
- Bell peppers. To be honest, this is not my personal favorite for fried rice, as I just don’t love the flavor or texture. However, we include them in almost every other stir fry we make so if you have one and want to use it, go ahead!
For equipment, try to use the biggest skillet you have. I know not everyone owns a wok and I truly don’t think one is necessary to make good fried rice. But a heavy nonstick skillet will make it much easier to cook this recipe without scorching the rice. We often make fried rice on our Blackstone Griddle, and it works like a charm. But with as cold as it is in most of the United States during the winter, I recommend cooking on a stovetop indoors.
How to Make Leftover Turkey Fried Rice
This cooking process comes together quickly once you start. Make sure you have all your ingredients prepped and ready to go. Note that there’s no need to reheat the leftover rice first, it’s going to go straight into the skillet!
Follow these steps to get the best results for your Leftover Turkey Fried Rice:
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. If it’s not a nonstick skillet, add a small amount of cooking oil if needed, then add the diced onion.
- Sauté for 5-6 minutes or until translucent and fragrant. Then add the minced garlic and cook for about one more minute.
- Add the frozen vegetables and stir them around so they fully thaw. Once combined, push all of the vegetables over to one half of the pan. Add the butter and let it melt most of the way before adding the rice (see the photo below).
- Use the back of your spatula to press the rice into the pan, flattening it out and breaking apart any large clumps. Add in the soy sauce and sesame oil and stir until all the rice is coated and evenly colored.
- Clear an opening in the middle of the pan and crack the eggs into the empty space. Use your spatula to break apart the yolks and cook the scrambled eggs. Roughly chop the cooked eggs into small pieces and fold into the fried rice mixture to evenly distribute.
- Finally, stir in the leftover turkey and half of the green onions. Let the fried rice cook, stirring often, until the turkey is heated through, at least 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a serving dish and garnish with the remaining green onions.
All that’s left to do is serve and enjoy!
If this is your first time making fried rice, check out my tutorial in my post for Rotisserie Chicken Fried Rice. It has even more tips to help you get the best results.
Serving Suggestions
The perfect way to enjoy this Leftover Turkey Fried Rice is while it’s steaming hot! Seriously, there’s nothing better than that first bite with all the flavors mixed together to coat each grain of rice.
But if you want to spruce it up a little, sprinkle sesame seeds or drizzle some chili oil on top. If you’re not a fan of spicy food, skip this and maybe add a small sprinkle of extra MSG for umami flavor instead.
You can consider this an all-in-one meal but pair it with any side dishes you enjoy. If you have other leftover vegetables or side dishes from your Thanksgiving festivities, there’s no rule that says you can serve them alongside this Asian-inspired fried rice recipe!
Storing and Meal Prep Tips
If you have leftovers of these turkey leftovers…it’s a bit redundant but it’s fine! You can seal the leftover turkey fried rice in an airtight container and place it in the fridge for a few days. To reheat, simply transfer it to a microwave-safe dish and heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through, until fully warmed.
This leftover turkey recipe can be a great option for meal prep, especially if you have to return to work starting on Monday (or sooner). If needed, you can freeze leftovers by sealing tightly in a freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible, label the bag, and lay it flat. It will store up to three months. To thaw, transfer it to the fridge the day before you plan to eat the turkey fried rice. Then just follow the same microwave reheating steps mentioned above.
Street Smart Nutrition Tip: Food safety is not the most glamorous topic, but it’s important! Turkey should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F. As long as leftover meat is stored properly, meaning they cool quickly and are held below 40 degrees F, turkey can be stored for 3-4 days according to the USDA. If you reheat again, this Leftover Turkey Fried Rice can be stored an additional 1-2 days in the refrigerator.
Leftover Turkey Fried Rice
Equipment
- large nonstick skillet or wok
- heat-proof spatula
- cutting board and sharpened knife
- measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked white rice
- 2 cups leftover turkey, chopped, white meat and/or dark meat
- 1 small yellow onion, diced, or about 1 1/4 cups
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups frozen vegetables, such as peas, carrots, and corn
- 3 green onions, sliced
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tbsp butter, salted or unsalted
- All Purpose MSG Seasoning, or salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 1/2-2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- toasted sesame seeds, chili oil, MSG, for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. If it's not a nonstick skillet, add a small amount of cooking oil if needed, then add the diced onion. Sauté for 5-6 minutes or until translucent and fragrant.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for about one more minute. Add the frozen vegetables and stir them around so they fully thaw. Once combined, push all of the vegetables over to one half of the pan. Add the butter and let it melt most of the way before adding the rice
- Use the back of your spatula to press the rice into the pan, flattening it out and breaking apart any large clumps. Add in the soy sauce and sesame oil and stir until all the rice is coated and evenly colored.
- Clear an open space in the middle of the pan and crack the eggs into it. Use your spatula to break apart the yolks and cook the scrambled eggs. Fold into the fried rice mixture to evenly distribute.
- Finally, stir in the leftover turkey and half of the green onions. Let the fried rice cook, stirring often, until the turkey is heated through, at least 2-3 minutes.
- Remove from heat and transfer to a serving dish and garnish with the remaining green onions. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
I’d love to hear if this becomes one of your new favorite leftover turkey recipes! Leave a rating or comment to let me know what you think. And if you saw this recipe too late to try it out this year, be sure to save it for next time!
And as always, thanks for stopping by the Street Smart Nutrition blog! You can find more and follow along on Instagram and YouTube, and don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter so you never miss a new post. Cheers to more fearlessly nourishing meals!
