Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes
Nov 23, 2023
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Thanksgiving leftovers? Honestly, that is the best part of Thanksgiving! After a full day (or days!) of cooking, it feels downright magical to turn those containers full of leftover turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing into new (and delicious!) meals without breaking a sweat.
Our Favorite Leftover Thanksgiving Recipes
After hours and hours of cooking to prepare Thanksgiving dinner, I love being able to rely on leftovers to feed my family for days. But we aren't talking about a boring sandwich or plate of reheated food, these easy recipes transform your leftover turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, stuffing, and cranberry sauce into new creations that will make you look forward the leftovers more than Thanksgiving itself.
1. Turkey Tetrazzini
There could not be a more classic leftover Thanksgiving recipe than Turkey Tetrazzini! This creamy comforting casserole is made with a homemade mushroom sauce that ensures even dried-out leftover turkey will still be delicious.
2. Thanksgiving Egg Rolls
This fun handheld recipe uses it all! Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy! Hands down is one of the most fun recipes to use up those Thanksgiving leftovers.
3. Copycat Panera Turkey Sandwich
There is NOTHING boring about this turkey sandwich. Roasted turkey, sharp cheddar, and thin apple slices are piled on top of cranberry walnut bread for the BEST turkey sandwich you have.
4. Southwest Turkey Soup
If you are looking for a completely different flavor profile from Thanksgiving dinner, this is the recipe for you. It comes together quickly and features a richly spiced, creamy tomato broth filled with southwest flavor.
5. Sweet Potato Pancakes
Use your leftover sweet potato casserole in place of the sweet potato puree to make insanely delicious pancakes or sweet potato waffles. Bonus: Top the pancakes or waffles with leftover warm cranberry sauce for a 2-in-1 leftover recipe.
6. Thanksgiving Pizza
If you like BBQ Chicken Pizza, you will love this leftover Thanksgiving pizza. Made with leftover turkey and leftover cranberry sauce, it is a little sweet, a little spicy, and incredibly tasty!
7. Pierogi Lasagna
If you like pierogi, you will LOVE this Mashed Potato Lasagna! Layers of mashed potatoes between sheets of tender pasta that are all covered in cheese. It has to be one of my favorite Thanksgiving leftover recipes.
8. Turkey Club Wrap
Swap out the deli turkey meat for thinly sliced or shredded turkey and this wrap and enjoy a tasty lunch the day after Thanksgiving.
9. Baked Brie
Top baked brie with a scoop of leftover cranberry sauce instead of fig jam for a delicious, and festive appetizer. It is the perfect snack for watching football or decorating the Christmas tree.
10. Swedish Meatballs
Swedish Meatballs are a great recipe to use leftover stuffing. In place of the bread and milk called for in the recipe, replace them with 1 cup of leftover bread stuffing. The stuffing adds tremendous flavor.
11. Hidden Veggie Cheese Quesadilla
Add a thin layer of leftover baked butternut squash to a cheese quesadilla. It is a simple "mom-hack" I use all the time to get in a few extra veggies in my kids' diet.
12. Turkey & Cranberry Quesadilla
Spread a tortilla with leftover cranberry sauce, and top it with leftover turkey and shredded cheese to make a cheesy turkey quesadilla. This is one of my favorite, simple ways to use Thanksgiving leftovers.
13. Mashed Potato Cakes
These potato cakes are a super easy recipe using leftover mashed potatoes. They are creamy, cheesy, and irresistibly good. Serve this Thanksgiving leftover recipe as a side dish or a vegetarian entree.
14. Instant Pot Turkey Noodle Soup
Starring leftover turkey, tender noodles, and a creamy, savory broth, this turkey noodle soup comes together in under 30 minutes to deliver pure comfort!
15. Potato Tacos
Add some taco seasoning to leftover mashed potatoes and you are well on your way to enjoying a simple unique taco. And while mashed potatoes in tacos may sound odd, trust me--it works!
More Easy Ideas for Thanksgiving Leftovers
If the above recipes weren't enough, check out some of more quick and simple ways to use your Thanksgiving Leftovers.
- Leftover Instant Pot Ham or Baked Ham? Use one of my favorite leftover ham recipes to transform it into something new.
- Swap Turkey for Chicken: Use leftover turkey in any recipe calling for leftover rotisserie chicken.
- Turkey Stock: Do not throw your turkey carcass away! Instead, use it to make the most delicious stock! It can be used immediately or frozen to use throughout the next few months in any recipe calling for chicken stock. Follow my recipes for instant pot chicken stock or stovetop chicken stock and simply swap out the chicken bones for the turkey carcass.
- Croutons: Leftover stuffing makes the MOST flavorful croutons ever! Break up leftover stuffing into small chunks and place onto a greased baking sheet in a single layer. Broil for 2-3 minutes per side until golden. Use the stuffing croutons to add a punch of flavor to your salad.
- Sweet Potato Smoothie: A smoothie that tastes like sweet potato pie? Sign me up!
- Tater Tot Casserole: Replace the tater tots with leftover mashed potatoes for a quick and easy version of Shepherd's Pie.
Tips on Storing Thanksgiving Leftovers
- Practice Food Safety: I highly recommend packaging and refrigerating (or freezing) your leftovers as soon as the meal has ended. Leaving food sit at room temperature for longer than 2 hours can allow for bacteria to quickly develop.
- Storage Length: While every recipe varies, the majority of Thanksgiving dishes can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month. I highly recommend packaging and refrigerating or freezing your leftovers as soon as the meal has ended. This will help to ensure your food remains safe.
- Enjoy within 3-4 Days. It is best to use Thanksgiving leftovers within 3-4 days of preparing or within 3 days after defrosting if frozen.
More Thanksgiving Resources
I hope these Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes gave you the inspiration to put your leftovers to good use! If you have any other creative ideas for leftovers, I would love for you to share them with us all below in the comments. xo-Kristen
So many of these look divine. I wouldn't mind having any of them on Friday and all have that quality that says "I'm comfort food - dig in" Have a wonderful holiday.
Thanks so much Laura! I hope you have a very blessed holiday as well!
So many great ideas! I'll be referring back to this in a couple of days!
I hope you enjoy every bite!
So many great recipe options! These will come in handy!
I sure hope they do!