Creative Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes: Delicious Ideas for Turkey, Stuffing, and More!
Thanksgiving is a feast filled with joy, gratitude, and an abundance of delicious food. But what happens once the main event is over, and you’re left with a refrigerator packed full of turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and stuffing? Don’t let those precious Thanksgiving leftovers go to waste! Instead, view them as a culinary canvas, ready to be transformed into an array of new, exciting, and incredibly tasty meals. This collection of the best Thanksgiving leftover recipes is designed to not only put every last bit of that turkey and dressing to ingenious use but also to create dishes so flavorful that no one will ever suspect they started as “just leftovers.” From deeply comforting soups and robust main courses to surprisingly creative appetizers and satisfying breakfasts, these recipes are poised to become your new post-holiday favorites, ensuring you look forward to leftovers just as much as the initial holiday meal!
Are you pondering the perfect approach to elevate your Thanksgiving leftovers into a completely new and delicious meal or side dish, ensuring absolutely nothing goes to waste? You’re not alone! For many, myself included, the magic of a traditional turkey meal truly extends into the days that follow, with the promise of transforming those holiday remnants. In fact, I often plan my Thanksgiving cooking to specifically guarantee an abundance of leftovers, making them an integral and cherished part of the holiday experience for my family.
Given the seemingly endless array of recipe options available for post-Thanksgiving dining, it can be quite challenging to know where to begin. That’s precisely why I’ve meticulously curated this collection of the absolute best recipes. These culinary inspirations are guaranteed to delight every palate in your household, leaving everyone craving more and rethinking the potential of what was once considered just “leftover.”
Within the twenty-nine carefully selected recipes detailed below, you’ll discover all the inspiration you need to reinvent your leftover turkey, tangy cranberry sauce, and savory stuffing into a diverse range of incredibly tasty dishes that the entire family will wholeheartedly enjoy. Beyond simply repurposing, you’ll also find innovative recipes that guide you in combining a few of your remaining ingredients to craft entirely new and surprising culinary creations. This guide is your ultimate resource for maximizing flavor and minimizing waste after the big day.
So, banish any worries about what to do with the mountain of food after Thanksgiving dinner. With this comprehensive and delightful selection of recipes, you’ll have more than enough delicious choices at your fingertips. Get ready for your Thanksgiving leftovers to become an anticipated highlight of your holiday season!
This extensive list is thoughtfully organized by typical main ingredient leftovers, making it easy to find what you need. Categories include turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, and gravy. While some ingredients naturally overlap, this structure provides a clear and general guide to help you navigate your post-holiday kitchen adventures.
Feel free to scroll through all the incredible options, or use the convenient table of contents below to jump directly to the specific section you’re looking for.
Turkey Leftover Recipes
BIG TIP: Never underestimate the versatility of leftover turkey! You can effortlessly substitute cooked turkey in ALMOST ANY of your favorite recipes that typically call for chicken. This simple swap opens up a world of culinary possibilities for your post-Thanksgiving meals, from stir-fries to casseroles, making your turkey go further than ever before.
1. Traditional Turkey Noodle Soup (Leftover Meat & Bones)
A true post-holiday classic, this comforting turkey noodle soup is a fantastic way to honor every part of your roasted bird. What makes it truly special is that you can literally make it from the turkey carcass and the savory bits of meat still clinging to the bones – parts that some might mistakenly discard. Once you experience the rich, deep flavor of this broth and the irresistible aroma that fills your home as it simmers throughout the day, you’ll undoubtedly commit to never throwing those precious bones away again. It’s a nourishing, soulful meal perfect for chilly days.
2. Curried Turkey and Rice Soup
This has quickly become my personal favorite way to enjoy leftover turkey in a soup. The aromatic curry powder, combined with the creamy richness of coconut milk, elevates familiar ingredients to an entirely new and exciting level. It’s a vibrant, flavorful, and deeply satisfying soup that tastes so incredible, you’ll want to serve it to guests – and make extra just to have delicious lunches for the rest of the week, as the flavors only deepen and improve with time. It’s a wonderful change of pace from traditional holiday fare.
3. Thai Inspired Turkey Curry
While this recipe also incorporates coconut milk like the previous curried soup, its flavor profile is distinctly different due to the use of a fragrant curry paste instead of Indian-style curry powder. This vibrant Thai-inspired curry is an absolutely fantastic way to utilize leftover turkey (or chicken!) along with any roasted vegetables you might have on hand. You can easily supplement with frozen vegetables like green beans and a few fresh aromatics to create a wholesome and incredibly satisfying meal. Serve it over fluffy brown rice for a complete and utterly delicious one-dish dinner that’s often quicker and tastier than takeout!
4. Thanksgiving Sliders
These delightful Thanksgiving sliders offer incredible flexibility, allowing you to customize them with your favorite holiday leftovers. Pile them high with shredded turkey, a dollop of cranberry sauce, and even a spoonful of savory stuffing. What truly elevates these miniature sandwiches is a brush of seasoned butter sauce over the tops, transforming them into a brand new dish that everyone, from kids to adults, will eagerly devour. They’re perfect for a casual post-holiday gathering or a quick, satisfying meal.
5. Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Pizza
Reinvent your holiday meal with a fun, family-friendly twist: Thanksgiving Leftover Pizza! Start with a homemade pizza crust – you can either use the recipe provided or, for a time-saving option, opt for my super easy homemade crust that doesn’t require a long rise. Then, creatively spread your classic leftovers on top: creamy mashed potatoes, savory stuffing, and tender turkey pieces. Finish it all off with a generous layer of melted mozzarella cheese for a truly unique and irresistible pie that’s perfect for a casual dinner.
6. Thanksgiving Leftovers Eggs Benedict
This recipe presents a truly unique and sophisticated idea for your Thanksgiving leftovers. Imagine transforming your succulent turkey, sweet cranberry sauce, soft dinner rolls, and rich gravy into an elegant and indulgent Eggs Benedict! The preparation is surprisingly simple: lightly toast your leftover dinner rolls, then layer them with generous portions of turkey and cranberry sauce. Top it all with a perfectly poached egg and a generous drizzle of warm gravy instead of hollandaise. It’s an unexpected brunch delight that will impress and satisfy.
The following five recipes all originally call for chicken – but with our “BIG TIP” in mind, simply substitute your delicious leftover turkey (and even other appropriate leftovers) for an even broader selection of creative post-holiday meal choices:
7. Chicken-Turkey Spinach Frittata
Infuse some delightful Mediterranean flavors into your post-holiday meal with this versatile frittata. It’s an excellent vehicle for using up leftover cooked turkey and any other vegetables you might have, filling in with fresh spinach for a truly hearty and nutritious breakfast, brunch, or light dinner. The addition of aromatic garlic and tangy feta cheese makes this dish bright and exciting, proving that leftovers can be anything but boring. It’s quick to prepare and incredibly satisfying.
8. Cheesy Chicken/Turkey Artichoke Dip
Transform your remaining cooked turkey into a warm, bubbly, and utterly irresistible dip perfect for holiday get-togethers or a cozy night in. This luscious recipe features tender artichokes, savory onions, and a blend of delicious cheeses, all coming together in a skillet to create a creamy, flavorful appetizer. Serve it with crusty bread, crackers, or fresh vegetable sticks for a crowd-pleasing dish that makes clever use of your Thanksgiving turkey.
9. Easy Chicken/Turkey Calzones – Ready in 1 Hour
This incredibly adaptable recipe serves as an excellent guideline for using up whatever you have on hand, especially leftover turkey. Start with my easy pizza dough recipe, which is quick to prepare. Then, generously fill the dough with shredded cooked turkey and any leftover roasted or sautéed vegetables you might have. Top with a delicious blend of cheeses, bake until golden brown, and then serve with a side of homemade pizza sauce or roasted tomato sauce for dipping. It’s a satisfying and customizable meal, perfect for a busy weeknight.
10. Cranberry Feta Chicken/Turkey Salad
This vibrant and flavorful salad is a brilliant way to lighten up your post-Thanksgiving meals. Simply substitute your leftover turkey for the chicken in this recipe. If your cranberry sauce is wonderfully chunky, you can even incorporate some of that instead of dried cranberries for an extra burst of seasonal flavor and moisture. The tangy feta cheese adds a delightful, unexpected twist to the traditional holiday tastes. Serve this versatile salad in soft tortilla wraps, crisp lettuce cups for a low-carb option, or as a delightful dip alongside crackers or toasted breads. It’s a refreshing and easy no-cook meal!
11. Slow Cooker Chicken/Turkey Chili
Give your leftover turkey a completely new identity by transforming it into a hearty and flavorful slow cooker chili. This recipe allows you to shift the flavor profile from traditional holiday fare to a vibrant Southwest-inspired dish, incorporating robust chili seasoning, wholesome beans, sweet corn, and diced tomatoes. It’s incredibly easy to pull together, allowing the slow cooker to do all the work, resulting in a deeply satisfying meal. Serve this delicious chili with warm, cheesy quesadillas for an ultimate comfort food experience that tastes nothing like Thanksgiving dinner.
Cranberry Sauce Leftover Recipes
12. Cranberry Crumb Loaves & Muffins
These delectable cranberry crumb loaves and muffins are an absolute must-try for repurposing leftover cranberry sauce. While the recipe is adaptable for dried cranberries or fresh berries, I consistently choose to incorporate leftover cranberry sauce. This creates incredible pockets of moist, tangy, and sweet flavor throughout the baked goods, making each bite a delightful surprise. They’re perfect for breakfast, a snack, or even a light dessert, offering a wonderful balance to rich holiday meals.
MORE: Expand your repertoire! Get this recipe and 11 additional fantastic recipes for different breads that all ingeniously use leftover cranberry sauce here! Discover new ways to bake with this vibrant holiday staple.
13. Thanksgiving Leftovers Salad with Cranberry Sauce Vinaigrette
I absolutely adore the brilliant concept of a refreshing Thanksgiving leftover salad, packed with tender turkey and a medley of roasted vegetables. But the true stroke of genius here is utilizing your leftover cranberry sauce to craft a bright and zesty vinaigrette. This dressing offers a wonderful tartness and a hint of sweetness that perfectly complements the rich flavors of the holiday feast. It’s an incredibly refreshing and light contrast after indulging in all the heavier holiday foods, making it a perfect palate cleanser and a great way to enjoy your leftovers without feeling weighed down.
14. Oat Bars with Cranberry Filling
While this versatile recipe originally features apple butter as the filling, these wholesome oat bars are incredibly adaptable to almost any fruit-based spread. This makes them a perfect candidate for using up your leftover cranberry sauce! Simply swap out the apple butter for your cranberry sauce, spread it generously between the oat layers, and bake to perfection. You’ll be amazed by the delightful flavor variation and the ease with which you can repurpose not just cranberry sauce, but virtually ANY fruit jam, butter, or sauce as a delicious filling for these hearty bars. They are excellent for breakfast or a healthy snack.
15. Cranberry Meatballs with Leftover Cranberry Sauce
Elevate your appetizer game or create a quick, flavorful dinner by using leftover cranberry sauce to craft a wonderfully sweet-and-spicy sauce for meatballs. Whether you opt for homemade meatballs or the convenience of store-bought ones, this sauce is a game-changer. It cleverly uses pantry staples like brown sugar, a touch of hot sauce for a kick, and savory soy sauce, minimizing the need for additional canned goods. This ingenious recipe offers a truly fantastic and easy way to transform that extra cranberry sauce into an unforgettable dish that’s perfect for parties or a family meal.
Mashed Potatoes Leftover Recipes
16. Chicken/Turkey Tomato Shepherd’s Pie
This savory shepherd’s pie offers a delightful twist on the classic, making brilliant use of your Thanksgiving leftovers. It features a creamy, golden layer of leftover mashed potatoes as the irresistible topping, while the rich filling is made with succulent cooked turkey (or chicken). The true innovation here is the flavorful tomato base for the filling, which departs from traditional versions and pairs wonderfully with added vegetables. This recipe is also a perfect opportunity to incorporate any other leftover roasted or cooked veggies you have – you can even add green bean casserole for an extra layer of flavor and texture, creating a truly wholesome and comforting meal.
17. Leftover Mashed Potato Balls
Transform humble mashed potatoes into an exciting appetizer or side dish with these crispy, golden mashed potato balls. Simply combine your leftover mashed potatoes with savory cheese, binding eggs, and fresh scallions for a burst of flavor. Form the mixture into small balls, coat them lightly, and then fry until they are gloriously crisp and golden brown on the outside, while remaining wonderfully soft on the inside. These are an incredibly fun and delicious treat, perfect for dipping in leftover gravy, a spoonful of cranberry sauce, or even a spicy aioli.
18. Leftover Mashed Potato Gnocchi
Prepare to be amazed as your fluffy mashed potatoes are ingeniously transformed into delicate, chewy pillows of gnocchi! This creative recipe provides a sophisticated yet accessible way to repurpose leftovers. Once your gnocchi are prepared, consider making a vibrant sheet pan dinner: toss them with a medley of roasted vegetables for a clever, unique, and incredibly satisfying meal. It’s a wonderful departure from traditional leftover dishes and highlights the versatility of mashed potatoes in a truly elegant way.
19. Mashed Potato Pancakes with Meat Filling
Take your leftover mashed potato cakes to the next level with a delicious and hearty meat filling. Instead of simply frying the potato cakes, create a savory mixture of ground meat (like turkey or beef) and finely diced vegetables. Stuff these flavorful potato cakes with the filling before pan-frying them to a beautiful golden crisp. This offers a different, more substantial twist on typical potato fritters or balls, transforming them into a satisfying meal in themselves or a hearty side dish.
20. Leftover Mashed Potato Cheese & Bacon Cakes
Here’s a wonderfully indulgent and fun way to use up any remaining mashed potatoes you have after the holiday feast. These delectable little pan-fried cakes are elevated with the irresistible additions of savory cheese and crispy bacon. They cook up quickly, forming a delightful golden crust. Serve them for a hearty breakfast alongside fried eggs, or enjoy them as a satisfying side dish with dinner. They’re incredibly versatile and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, perfect for adding a touch of decadence to your post-holiday meals.
Sweet Potatoes Leftover Recipes
21. Cheesy Mashed Sweet Potato Cakes
Elevate your leftover mashed sweet potatoes into delightful and savory cakes with this ingenious recipe. By incorporating creamy cheese, a binding egg, crispy breadcrumbs, and a blend of complementary seasonings, you can effortlessly create perfectly portioned patties. These can then be pan-fried to a golden perfection, resulting in a slightly crisp exterior and a tender, flavorful interior. They make an excellent and unexpected snack, a flavorful side dish for any meal, or even a light lunch option that’s both comforting and creative.
22. Leftover Sweet Potato Turkey Bake
With a little help from your leftover turkey and a touch of cranberry sauce, your mashed sweet potatoes can be transformed into a deeply satisfying and flavorful dinner casserole. This recipe combines the naturally sweet and creamy potatoes with savory turkey, a hint of tart cranberry, and a luscious, creamy cheese sauce. Baked until bubbly and golden, this dish becomes a comforting and complete meal that perfectly balances all the holiday flavors in a brand new, irresistible way. It’s an easy and delicious solution for a post-Thanksgiving dinner dilemma.
23. Sweet Potato Biscuits
Give your homemade biscuits an extra dimension of flavor and a nutritional boost by incorporating leftover mashed sweet potatoes. You only need about a half-cup of the mashed sweet potatoes, making this a perfect way to use up a smaller quantity of leftovers. The sweet potatoes impart a subtle sweetness, a beautiful golden hue, and a wonderfully moist texture to the biscuits, elevating them beyond the ordinary. Save just a little bit of those creamy sweet potatoes to create these tender, irresistible baked goods.
Stuffing/Dressing Leftover Recipes
24. Leftover Stuffing Waffles
This is, without a doubt, my absolute favorite thing to do with leftover stuffing! The process is incredibly simple yet yields truly spectacular results. You merely mix your savory stuffing with a few eggs to bind it, then cook it in a waffle iron with a little oil. The magic happens as the waffle iron transforms the stuffing into beautifully crisp, golden-brown waffles with tender interiors. You can serve them for a unique breakfast alongside fried eggs, but my preferred way is to use them as the base for an incredible leftover dinner – pile them high with slices of turkey, leftover vegetables, and a generous pour of warm gravy. Simply yum!
25. Leftover Stuffing Muffins
With the simple addition of eggs, tender turkey pieces, and fresh spinach, your savory leftover dressing can be brilliantly transformed into these convenient and delicious stuffing muffins. They make a perfect grab-and-go breakfast or a light lunch. This recipe is wonderfully flexible: feel free to swap out the spinach for other leftover vegetables, add some shredded cheese for extra flavor, or even scale the recipe up to create a hearty breakfast casserole. These muffins offer a portable and flavorful way to enjoy the essence of Thanksgiving long after the feast is over.
26. Stuffing Balls with Sausage
These incredibly easy and flavorful stuffing balls make for a perfect appetizer, especially convenient for holiday entertaining. The concept is straightforward: simply combine seasoned ground sausage with your leftover stuffing and a generous amount of cheese (and feel free to add crispy bacon if you’re truly looking to go over the top!). Shape the mixture into bite-sized balls and bake for approximately 25 minutes until golden and cooked through. What’s more, you can make a large batch of these now with your Thanksgiving leftovers, freeze them, and then simply pull them out to bake for Christmas get-togethers when you need a quick, impressive snack.
27. Leftover Stuffing Stuffed Mushrooms
This recipe for leftover stuffing stuffed mushrooms is unbelievably easy and yet remarkably elegant. You literally take your savory stuffing, mix it with just a touch of broth to moisten, and then spoon it generously into mushroom caps. A sprinkle of grated cheese on top before baking creates a golden, bubbly finish. These make a fantastic appetizer for entertaining or a flavorful side dish that comes together with minimal effort, showcasing how simply you can elevate your holiday leftovers.
Gravy Leftover Recipes
You’ve already seen how versatile gravy can be, often used as a delicious topping for many of the preceding leftover recipes. But if you’re looking for another ingenious idea to utilize every last drop of that rich, savory liquid, consider this: you can **always add leftover gravy to any turkey or chicken vegetable soup recipe**! When used instead of a portion of broth, gravy adds an incredible depth of flavor, enriching the soup, and acts as a natural, subtle thickener. It’s a wonderful way to boost the hearty, comforting essence of your soup. Here’s a perfect recipe to try it in:
28. Creamy Turkey Rice Soup
Craving a nourishing, real-food soup that comes together quickly? This creamy turkey rice soup requires only about twenty minutes of hands-on preparation time, making it incredibly accessible for busy post-holiday days. After the initial prep, it gently simmers into a delicious, one-dish dinner in about an hour, allowing you to focus on other tasks. To incorporate your leftover gravy, simply decrease the amount of broth called for in the recipe by the volume of gravy you have. The gravy will add a wonderful richness and depth, enhancing the overall comfort and flavor of this delightful soup.
The Leftover Everyone Thinks of First?
When the thought of Thanksgiving leftovers first crosses anyone’s mind, one classic dish reigns supreme and is almost always the immediate answer: the beloved sandwich! It’s a simple, perfect way to enjoy the familiar flavors all over again, but why not elevate it?
29. Ultimate Leftover Turkey Club
Move beyond the basic leftover sandwich and create the ultimate indulgence with this incredible turkey club recipe. Imagine layers of succulent cooked turkey, crispy turkey bacon for an added layer of flavor and texture, tangy cranberry sauce, creamy mayonnaise, and fresh crisp lettuce, all nestled between slices of your favorite toasted bread. This isn’t just a sandwich; it’s a culinary masterpiece that perfectly encapsulates all the best parts of Thanksgiving in a handheld form. Yes, please!
Even More Holiday Recipes to Enjoy
- 17 Fabulous Cranberry Bread Recipes (including yeast, gluten free & paleo options)
- 20+ Favorite Christmas Cookies and Candies
- Perfect Make-Ahead Christmas Brunch (with Menu Printable!)
