Leftover cranberry sauce and turkey are transformed into the perfect sweet and spicy base for a BBQ Turkey Pizza.
Pizza is a Friday night tradition in our house.
To me pizza is a fabulous way to re-purpose leftovers. You can take a little bit of leftovers and transform them into a filling and fun dinner for your family.
And with Thanksgiving being on a Thursday and pizza night being on a Friday, a Leftover Thanksgiving pizza just makes sense.
My spin on a BBQ Chicken Pizza, is the ULTIMATE way to recreate leftovers!
Barbecue Turkey Pizza
I love Thanksgiving MOST for the leftovers.
I mean, there is nothing wrong with Roast Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, and Sweet Potato Casserole, but transforming those leftovers into something new and interesting is what makes my taste buds most excited.
Leftover cranberry sauce makes a perfect base for a sweet and spicy barbecue sauce. And that BBQ sauce becomes the perfect topping for a Turkey Pizza.
How to make Thanksgiving Pizza
Step One: Prepare Pizza Crust
- I use my homemade pizza crust but a store bought crust works just as well.
Step Two: Prepare Leftover Cranberry Barbecue Sauce
- Mix together equal parts leftover cranberry sauce with your favorite barbecue sauce.
Step Three: Prepare Turkey Pizza
- Spread pizza dough out to 1/2 inch crust on round pizza pan.
- Spread cranberry barbecue sauce evenly over crust.
- Spread leftover turkey, evenly over the sauce .
- Top generously with shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
Step Four: Bake Turkey Pizza
- Bake at 425 degrees until cheese is melted and crust is browned.
Notes On Thanksgiving Pizza
- You can use store bought pizza dough in place of homemade dough.
- Both leftover chicken and turkey work in this recipe for BBQ Pizza.
- If you don’t have leftover cranberry sauce or barbecue sauce make your own in one step by combining 1/2 cup fresh cranberries, 1/2 cup tomato sauce, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon paprika and 1 tablespoon Chipolte sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce and cook for 20 minutes, or until reduced.
- An even easier short-cut to making Cranberry BBQ Sauce, is to simmer 1/2 cup fresh cranberries, 2 tablespoons maple syrup and 1 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce together until cranberries have burst–about 20 minutes.
- You can also just omit the cranberries and use your favorite barbecue sauce for a BBQ Chicken or Turkey Pizza.
- Cheddar cheese, Colby jack, sharp white cheddar and even Gouda cheese are great options for the cheese on this pizza.
- You can make this BBQ Chicken Pizza, gluten-free by using this Gluten-Free Pizza Crust from Gluten Free on a Shoestring.
More Leftover Thanksgiving Recipes
- Gluten Free Sweet Potato Waffles
- Thanksgiving Egg Rolls
- Pierogi Lasagna
- Southwest Turkey Soup
- Copycat Panera Roasted Turkey, Apple, and Cheddar Sandwich
Leftover Thanksgiving Pizza Recipe
Thanksgiving Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 pound Pizza Dough
- 1/4 cup leftover cranberry sauce
- 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 tablespoon chipolte in adobe sauce
- 1 cup leftover diced chicken or turkey
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the pizza dough.
- In the meantime, combine cranberry sauce, barbecue sauce, and chipolte together in saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Roll out dough and then top with cranberry barbecue sauce, leftover meat and finally cheese.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes or until cheese is melted and bottom of crust is browned.
Kristen Chidsey
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I LOVE this! Such a good idea to mesh the cranberry and bbq flavors- but on a pizza?! Genius.
Isn’t it a fun mash-up?
I’m now regretting that we didn’t have cranberry sauce this Thanksgiving…
LOL!!! Next year for sure!! Of maybe you need to make some sauce now 😉
Turning leftovers into pizza topping is genius!
It is pretty fun and tasty!
I’m collecting recipes for my turkey leftovers…this looks wonderful! I’ll use chicken when we run out, but I’m going to enjoy the turkey while it lasts!
I am going to enjoy the turkey as well while it lasts! Enjoy this recipe Michelle. The BBQ suace is so fun!
You know, I’d been thinking about making a cranberry BBQ sauce but not to then go with leftover turkey on a pizza – love this idea!
Thanks Caroline! I am so happy I inspired you to think of a new way to use your sauce 🙂
This sounds amazing! I would never have thought to repurpose cranberry sauce into a pizza sauce and top it with turkey! Love this idea!
Thanks Hezzi! It is a great way to use up more than one leftover 🙂
What a fabulous pizza! I think this could be a new post-Thanksgiving tradition!!
I think it SHOULD be a new post-Thanksgiving tradition!
Love that smoky flavor!