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    Home » Recipes » Thanksgiving Recipes

    Delicious Things to Do With Thanksgiving Leftovers

    Published: Nov 25, 2015 · Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022

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    Are your Thanksgiving leftovers still staring at you from the back of the fridge? Turn them into something brand new! These easy recipes are perfect for using up leftover Thanksgiving turkey, sides, and more.

    Graphic with four photos of recipes that use Thanksgiving leftovers. this recipe

    Alright: You did it. You pulled off a magnificent Thanksgiving feast (YAY, YOU!) The turkey was juicy, the mashed potatoes were soft and pillowy, the cranberry sauce was...cranberry-y? Whatever. You nailed it.

    But now, you're faced with the age-old question:

    WTF am I supposed to do with all these leftovers?

    While you can certainly throw a full plate of leftovers into the microwave for Thanksgiving dinner 2.0, eating the same meal over.and.over.and.over. for the next four days gets old real quick. And as proud members of the don't-love-leftovers club, we always prefer reimagining our holiday leftovers into a new and exciting dish.

    PS - Still need to plan your Thanksgiving menu? Check out our Thanksgiving HQ for our best tips, sample menus, and a free planning workbook!

    How long do Thanksgiving leftovers last?

    The USDA recommends eating or freezing any leftovers within 4 days. Most leftovers will last up to 4 months in an airtight container in the freezer without losing flavor (if you're using one of our Thanksgiving recipes, check the Recipe Notes for details on how long each dish will keep in the fridge and freezer).

    Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours

    On Thanksgiving day, be sure to package and store any leftovers relatively quickly after eating dinner. Per the USDA, cooked food should not be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours. When food sits on the counter too long, it can enter what's called the "danger zone," where bad bacteria thrive.

    Recipes specifically made for Thanksgiving leftovers

    These recipes were developed especially to use various Thanksgiving leftovers, from the roast turkey to the potatoes to the cranberry sauce. You can follow them exactly as written for easy cooking!

    Potato gnocchi in a shallow white bowl.

    Leftover Mashed Potatoes Gnocchi (With Video!)

    This fan-favorite recipe uses leftover mashed potatoes (cold and straight out of the fridge is fine!) to make quick, pillowy gnocchi that are perfect in your favorite sauce or tossed with some butter and leftover herbs.

    See the recipe
    Mashed potato cakes on a wooden cutting board.

    Mashed Potato Cakes

    Rework those leftover potatoes into these light, fluffy mashed potato cakes. Add some cheese (cheddar or parmesan are both great!) and herbs for extra flavor, then pan-fry until golden and serve with plenty of sour cream for dipping.

    This recipe comes from our friends Sam and Dan at Ahead of Thyme!

    See the recipe
    A slice of turkey frittata.

    Leftover Turkey Frittata

    Throw extra turkey into this easy frittata! Sauté some veggies in a cast iron skillet with your turkey, pour an egg-and-cheese mixture over the top, and bake for a quick breakfast. Includes a ton of notes and substitutions to help you use whatever ingredients you have!

    See the recipe
    Turkey and mashed potato pie.

    Leftover Turkey & Mashed Potato Pie

    This cozy recipe is a cross between a turkey pot pie and a shepherd's pie (traditionally made with beef). Cook some veggies in a large pot with your leftover turkey, build a quick sauce with some chicken or turkey stock, and cover it all with leftover mashed potatoes. Bake until golden and enjoy!

    See the recipe
    Turkey stock in a black pot.

    Homemade Turkey Stock

    Use any leftover turkey drippings to make your own stock! Throw turkey pieces into a large pot with carrots, onion, celery, and a few herbs, then add water and simmer for a few hours to draw out a ton of flavor. Use the stock right away or freeze it to use in soups and sauces all year round!

    See the recipe
    Pouring syrup over a stack of french toast.

    Cranberry Brie Stuffed French Toast

    Sandwich some leftover cranberry sauce and a creamy brie between a few slices of challah bread, dunk it in a quick egg mixture, and pan fry it up for a delicious post-holiday brunch.

    See the recipe
    Spoon stirring cranberry mayonnaise in a glass bowl.

    Cranberry Mayonnaise

    This savory sauce is perfect for elevating a quick sandwich. Just stir your leftover cranberry sauce into a bit of mayonnaise, add a few things (like salt and lemon juice) to balance the flavors out, and slather on a sandwich with some leftover turkey (bonus points if you add some creamy brie!)

    See the recipe
    Three cranberry oat bars in a stack on a white table.

    Cranberry Sauce Oat Bars

    These easy cranberry oat bars start with a soft, buttery crust. Add a layer of your leftover cranberry sauce, then top with a quick pecan and oat crumble for a perfect holiday dessert!

    This recipe comes from our friends Sam and Dan at Ahead of Thyme!

    See the recipe
    Cranberry grilled cheese sandwiches in a stack on a white plate.

    Cranberry Brie Grilled Cheese

    These easy grilled cheese sandwiches use leftover cranberry sauce, creamy brie, and shredded mozzarella. Leftover turkey is great in this recipe, too!

    See the recipe
    Drizzling honey over a stack of pumpkin biscuits.

    Easy Pumpkin Biscuits (Video)

    Stuck with half a can of pumpkin purée after your Thanksgiving feast? Turn it into a big batch of flakey biscuits for weekend brunch! The perfect post-Thanksgiving comfort food.

    See the recipe

    Recipes that have easy swaps for leftovers

    These recipes weren't specifically developed as Thanksgiving leftover recipes (they'll sometimes call for rotisserie chicken, for example, or have a mashed potato component listed as part of the recipe) but they are super versatile and very leftover-friendly! We've added "how to swap" notes to each of the descriptions below to help you easily adapt each of these dishes.

    Potato pierogi on a white plate.

    Potato and Cheese Pierogi

    Stuff any leftover mashed potatoes into these easy homemade pierogi! Cook the pierogi immediately or freeze them for several months. Serve with plenty of sour cream for dipping!

    How to swap: Use your leftover mashed potatoes in place of the potato filling in this recipe.

    See the recipe
    Creamy pasta in a large saucepan.

    30 Minute Creamy Chicken Spinach Pasta

    Throw leftover turkey into this quick, alfredo-inspired pasta! Ready in under an hour with of fresh spinach (or any veggies you have on hand!)

    How to swap: Use diced leftover turkey in place of the shredded chicken in this recipe.

    See the recipe
    Orzo soup in a white bowl.

    Pesto Chicken Orzo Soup

    This quick soup needs just a few ingredients for a grown-up spin on classic chicken noodle soup.

    How to swap: Use diced leftover turkey instead of the chicken in this recipe.

    See the recipe
    Pot pie in a large cast iron skillet.

    Skillet Chicken Pot Pie

    This easy pot pie is assembled and baked in a big cast iron skillet. Use the homemade pie crust as written or grab a store-bought crust to save time!

    How to swap: Use leftover diced turkey instead of the chicken in this recipe.

    See the recipe
    Chicken salad on a lettuce wrap.

    Turkey Apple Salad Lettuce Wraps

    Craving something a little lighter after too much Thanksgiving-ing? Serve this easy turkey salad in fresh lettuce wraps! Fresh diced apples make this recipe feel bright and refreshing.

    How to swap: Use leftover diced turkey instead of the chicken in this recipe.

    See the recipe
    Turkey and avocado sandwich with a fried egg on a white table.

    The Ultimate Turkey Avocado Sandwich

    There are turkey sandwiches, and then there are TURKEY SANDWICHES. This recipe brings the flavor with fresh avocado, a quick herb aioli, toasted rye bread, and a fried egg.

    How to swap: Use sliced leftover turkey instead of deli turkey.

    This recipe comes from our friend Eden at Sweet Tea & Thyme!

    See the recipe
    Arugula salad with pears and walnuts on a white plate.

    Arugula Salad with Pears and Walnuts

    This quick arugula salad recipe takes just a few minutes to make. With a quick homemade dijon dressing!

    How to swap: Use leftover turkey instead of the grilled chicken in this recipe.

    See the recipe
    Chopped salad on a white platter.

    Cilantro Turkey Chopped Salad

    Here's another tasty option if you're in an I-NEED-VEGETABLES mode after your turkey day spectacular. Fresh greens, tomatoes, and corn tossed with a creamy avocado dressing.

    How to swap: Use leftover diced turkey instead of the shredded chicken in this recipe.

    See the recipe
    Mushroom spinach lasagna on a white plate.

    Mushroom Spinach Lasagna

    This easy spinach lasagna has a creamy mushroom and parmesan sauce. It freezes well (perfect for meal prep!) and is a perfect blank canvas for any leftover turkey. (I've also added leftover spinach dip to the sauce before - works like a charm!)

    How to swap: Stir leftover diced turkey into the mushroom sauce just before assembling the lasagna.

    See the recipe
    Turkey chili in a small brown bowl.

    Turkey, Corn, and Black Bean Chili (Video)

    This easy turkey chili is ready in under an hour with just a few spices and pantry staples! It's hearty, cozy, and perfect with a variety of extra veggies (leftover roasted sweet potatoes or squash are great in this soup!)

    How to swap: Omit the ground turkey in this recipe; add leftover diced turkey when you add the beans and corn to the chili.

    See the recipe
    Two turkey sandwich halves stacked on top of each other.

    Lightened Up Turkey Salad Sandwiches

    The grapes here are surprising, but delightful - they lend a great pop of sweetness that goes perfectly with creamy Greek yogurt and the deep, cozy flavor of pumpernickel bread.

    How to swap: Use leftover diced turkey instead of the chicken in this recipe.

    See the recipe

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    More Thanksgiving Recipes

    • Small Batch Cinnamon Rolls (Makes 6)
    • Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Dried Cranberries and Goat Cheese
    • Crusty Cranberry Pecan Bread (No Kneading)
    • Cranberry Brie Stuffed French Toast

    I'm Jessie, and I like to talk about food. Tag your recipes #LifeAsAStrawberry on social media to share your creations! Learn about our team!

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    1. Dave Hurd

      December 14, 2015 at 10:05 pm

      My favorite use for Turkey Day leftovers is to sautee the stuffing, scramble some eggs with it and serve it up in a burrito wrap. Yummo with cranberry wasabi!

      Reply
      • Jessie

        December 16, 2015 at 4:51 pm

        I love that idea! We did an awesome breakfast hash this year with our leftover stuffing and turkey, but I never thought to put it all in a burrito. I'm totally trying that!

        Reply
    2. Rhonda

      November 28, 2015 at 1:24 pm

      Thanks for the awesome ideas and recipes!

      Reply

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