20 Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes to Savor the Holiday's Best Flavors
Keep the party going with these turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce dishes.
It's really a shame that Thanksgiving only comes once a year. And while you can definitely make stuffing, turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce (and all of your other favorite sides) any day of the year, no feast compares to the one in November. That's why you and your family go all out on Turkey Day with mains, desserts, and all the fixins'. Once the food coma hits, however, you're left plates piled high with leftovers (upon leftovers). The solution? These easy-to-make Thanksgiving leftover recipes, including crowd-pleasing breakfasts and hearty dinners that the whole family will love.
Rather than settling for boring, bland turkey sandwiches, consider these genius ways to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers. An added bonus: They'll free up some fridge space ... just in time for Christmas cookie season.
Turkey Sandwich
Dress up a slice of your holiday main (turkey!) with layers of lettuce, onion, and a spread of your choice.
Stuffing Meatballs
For flavor-packed meatballs, fold leftover stuffing into a ground beef mixture. Then top with marinara sauce or yesterday's gravy, if you're in the mood for a Thanksgiving do-over.
Get the recipe for Stuffing Meatballs »
RELATED: Leftover Stuffing Recipes to Make After Thanksgiving
Potato Leek Soup
To nail the perfect soup consistency, mix yesterday's mashed potatoes with chicken broth. (FYI: The more garlicky the potatoes, the better.)
Cranberry Hand Pies
One sauce, so many ways: Fill flaky pie pastry with leftover cranberry sauce — homemade works best — for a post-turkey treat.
Creamy Turkey Pasta Casserole
Give leftover turkey a totally different flavor by adding it in this cheesy pasta bake. You can even toss in leftover mushrooms or greens if you have 'em.
Get the recipe for Creamy Turkey Pasta Casserole »
RELATED: The Best Ways to Use Leftover Turkey
Turkey, Cranberry, and Brie Wraps
Wrap all the remainders of your holiday feast— turkey, cranberry sauce, and greens — in this made-for-lunch recipe.
Turkey Sliders with Stuffing Biscuits
If you're skipping Black Friday shopping this year, then spend your day making these Thanksgiving-packed sliders, complete with day-old stuffing, cranberry sauce, and turkey.
Sweet Potato Hummus
For a lighter option, blend chickpeas and sweet potatoes until they reach a hummus-like consistency. Flavor with cinnamon for a sweeter spread, or garlic and cayenne for a kick of heat.
Skillet Turkey Pot Pie
In just thirty minutes, you can transform a few slices of leftover turkey into a hearty skillet meal featuring Thanksgiving's MVP: frozen puff pastry.
Enchiladas Verdes
Swap shredded turkey for chicken to make this Mexican-inspired dish more seasonally appropriate.
Roasted Sweet Potato and Chicken Salad
As long as you didn't only serve mashed potatoes, you can top this protein-packed solid with roasted sweet potatoes.
Cranberry Turnovers
Right after the dinner guests leave, start preparing for the next morning by whipping up a batch of these breakfast-ready turnovers.
Pesto Chicken Salad Croissants
No matter if you made turkey or chicken on Thanksgiving, you can follow this simple step-by-step for a delicious lunch.
Meatball Heroes
Your Black Friday plans? These saucy, cheese-covered meatball subs made from leftover stuffing and a Hallmark Christmas movie marathon.
Leftover Stuffing Waffles
It's a Thanksgiving dream come true: Enjoy stuffing for breakfast by throwing it in your waffle maker and topping with eggs, avocado, or syrup.
Turkey Noodle Soup
A unique take on a classic, use shredded turkey instead of chicken.
Turkey Turnovers with Apricots and Almonds
Turn a roasted bird into the perfect weekend movie snack by using it as the base for a sweet and spicy fruit mixture.
Fried Mashed Potato Balls
Even more decadent than the potatoes served on Thanksgiving, these fried beauties are taken to the next level with bacon and cheddar cheese.
Turkey, Brie, and Bacon Sandwich
Bust out the panini press to make the ultimate post-Thanksgiving sandwich, which includes leftover turkey, cranberry sauce, and cheese.
Chicken Stuffing Casserole
Because any excuse to eat a plate full of stuffing is fine by us. Layer leftover stuffing with chicken (or turkey!) and veggies for a warm casserole.
Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion. She also has a soft spot for feel-good TV, so you can catch her writing about popular shows like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and more.
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