This leftover turkey bolognese is everything a good bolognese should be: hearty, rich, and full of flavor. The only difference is that it’s made with leftover turkey from your holiday meal. This is an excellent way to give those turkey sandwiches a break!
This turkey bolognese is one of my favorite ways to transform leftover turkey dinner into something completely new and crave-worthy. The sauce is rich and comforting, with shredded turkey melting right into a deeply savory tomato base, so it feels hearty and satisfying, not at all like leftovers.
The flavor builds slowly and deliberately—soft onion and garlic create a fragrant foundation, while carrot and red bell pepper add natural sweetness and body. Crushed tomatoes and tomato paste bring depth, a splash of red wine rounds everything out, and a touch of honey balances the acidity, making the sauce mellow and well-rounded. The turkey absorbs all of those flavors as it simmers, giving the sauce a tender, meaty texture that clings beautifully to pasta.
Tossed with your favorite noodles and finished with parmesan and fresh basil, this bolognese feels cozy, familiar, and entirely intentional. It’s exactly the kind of comforting reset I want after a big holiday meal—easy, flavorful, and proof that turkey leftovers can be just as exciting as the original dinner.
What red wine should I use for a bolognese?
You can use whichever red wine you prefer. Since you’ll only need ½ cup for this recipe, you may want to choose a bottle you’ll want to continue sipping with dinner.
How long does turkey bolognese last?
This depends on how long ago you cooked the turkey. If it’s freshly cooked turkey, the bolognese will last up to 4 days in a container in the fridge. You can also freeze leftover turkey bolognese in an airtight container for 2-3 months.
Leftover Turkey Bolognese Recipe
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Ingredients
- ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ▢ 1 medium onion (finely minced)
- ▢ 1 medium red bell pepper (minced)
- ▢ 1 medium carrot (minced)
- ▢ 3 cloves garlic
- ▢ 5.5 ounce can tomato paste
- ▢ ½ cup red wine (or water)
- ▢ 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- ▢ 2 cups shredded turkey
- ▢ 1 teaspoon honey
- ▢ 1 teaspoon EACH: sea salt and pepper
- ▢ ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ▢ Cooked pasta, chopped basil, and parmesan cheese (to serve)
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a medium-sized pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and brown, about 8 minutes. Add the bell pepper and carrot and continue to cook until both are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 medium onion, 1 medium red bell pepper, 1 medium carrot, 3 cloves garlic
- Add the tomato paste to the pot and let it cook until it starts to caramelize, about 3 minutes. Pour the red wine or water into the pan and scrape to remove any bits that are stuck on the bottom. 5.5 ounce can tomato paste, ½ cup red wine
- Add the crushed tomatoes, shredded turkey, honey, salt, pepper, and oregano and bring the pot to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer gently, partly covered to reduce splatters, for 15 minutes. 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes, 2 cups shredded turkey, 1 teaspoon honey, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon EACH: sea salt and pepper
- Serve on a bed of pasta with basil and a little parmesan. Cooked pasta, chopped basil, and parmesan cheese
Slow Cooker Method
- Follow steps 1 and 2. Then, pour everything from the pan into your crockpot, add the crushed tomatoes, shredded turkey, honey, and oregano and stir everything together. Set your crockpot to cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours. When the turkey Bolognese is ready, season it to taste with sea salt and pepper.
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here .
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More leftover turkey recipes
For more inspiration, check out all of our turkey dinner leftovers recipes !
Leftover Turkey Pizza
Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Butter Turkey Curry
Best Homemade Turkey Soup Recipe (made with leftover turkey!)
Leftover Turkey Bolognese Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion , finely minced
- 1 medium red bell pepper , minced
- 1 medium carrot , minced
- 3 cloves garlic
- 5.5 ounce can tomato paste
- ½ cup red wine , or water
- 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 2 cups shredded turkey
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon EACH: sea salt and pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- Cooked pasta, chopped basil, and parmesan cheese , to serve
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a medium-sized pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and brown, about 8 minutes. Add the bell pepper and carrot and continue to cook until both are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 medium onion, 1 medium red bell pepper, 1 medium carrot, 3 cloves garlic
- Add the tomato paste to the pot and let it cook until it starts to caramelize, about 3 minutes. Pour the red wine or water into the pan and scrape to remove any bits that are stuck on the bottom. 5.5 ounce can tomato paste, ½ cup red wine
- Add the crushed tomatoes, shredded turkey, honey, salt, pepper, and oregano and bring the pot to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer gently, partly covered to reduce splatters, for 15 minutes. 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes, 2 cups shredded turkey, 1 teaspoon honey, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon EACH: sea salt and pepper
- Serve on a bed of pasta with basil and a little parmesan. Cooked pasta, chopped basil, and parmesan cheese
Slow Cooker Method
- Follow steps 1 and 2. Then, pour everything from the pan into your crockpot, add the crushed tomatoes, shredded turkey, honey, and oregano and stir everything together. Set your crockpot to cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours. When the turkey Bolognese is ready, season it to taste with sea salt and pepper.
https://www.theendlessmeal.com/crock-pot-leftover-turkey-bolognese/
