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But a creative spin on your holiday leftovers with this easy Thanksgiving Pizza recipe! With a sweet and smoky cranberry BBQ sauce, leftover turkey, and sharp cheddar cheese, this pizza proves leftovers can become something the whole family actually fights over.
Inspired by my BBQ Pizza recipe, this may just be my favorite recipe for Thanksgiving leftovers.
Kristen's Keys for Thanksgiving Pizza
While an easy (and fun) recipe, I have a few tips to keep in mind to make your leftovers shine!
- Store-bought or homemade pizza dough work. But let's be honest, sometimes after a marathon day of cooking, it helps to take a shortcut.
- Grate your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that stop it from melting as smoothly; fresh-grated cheddar gives creamier, better coverage.
- Cranberry + BBQ sauce is magical. It sounds odd, but mixing a little bit of leftover cranberry sauce with your favorite BBQ sauce and a pinch of smoked paprika or chipotle in adobo sauce is sweet, tangy, and uses up leftover cranberry sauce in the best way.
- Turkey or chicken works here. Leftover roast turkey, Instant Pot turkey breast, or even rotisserie chicken works well here.
How to Make Thanksgiving Pizza
Think of this step-by-step section as me standing in the kitchen with you, giving you little pointers along the way.
- Make Cranberry Barbecue Sauce. To prepare the cranberry barbecue sauce, mix together leftover cranberry sauce with barbecue sauce and a pinch of smoked paprika.
- Assemble Pizza. Roll out a 12-inch pizza crust on a lightly floured surface and transfer to a pizza pan that has been lightly greased. Spread the cranberry barbecue sauce evenly over the crust, top with leftover cubed or shredded turkey, and then a generous layer of shredded cheese.
- Bake. Bake 425°F until cheese is melted and crust is browned. Remove the pizza from the oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and enjoying.
More Leftover Thanksgiving Recipes
Need more ideas for how to transform your Thanksgiving Leftovers? Be sure to check out all my Thanksgiving Leftover recipes or browse a few favorites below.
- Sweet Potato Waffles
- Thanksgiving Egg Rolls
- Pierogi Lasagna
- Southwest Turkey Soup
- Copycat Panera Turkey Sandwich
Thanksgiving Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 pound pizza dough
- ¼ cup leftover cranberry sauce
- ¼ cup barbecue sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, or 1 tablespoon chipotle in adobo
- 1 cup leftover diced chicken or turkey
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425℉ (220℃).
- In a small bowl combine cranberry sauce, barbecue sauce, and smoked paprika.
- Roll out the pizza dough into a 12-inch circle. Top with dough with a thin layer of the prepared cranberry barbecue sauce. Cover the sauce with a layer of leftover shredded turkey and then generously top with the shredded cheese.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes or until cheese is melted and the bottom of the crust is browned.
- Rest for 5-10 minutes prior to slicing.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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!