Make the most of Thanksgiving leftovers with classic and creative recipes starring leftover turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, pie dough and more!
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Thanksgiving is the ultimate feast. You get to indulge in all your cherished family recipes and all the Thanksgiving desserts. But the best part is, the fun doesn’t have to end once you’ve eaten all the pumpkin pie and cleared the table. With these creative leftovers recipes, you can savor the flavors of Thanksgiving long after the feast is over. From reinvented turkey dishes to exciting ways to use leftover mashed potatoes and everything in between, these recipes will ensure that no leftover goes to waste.
So this year, instead of reheating the same plate day after day, let’s get creative and transform those Thanksgiving leftovers into delicious dishes that will leave your taste buds wanting more!
Leftover Turkey
Your Thanksgiving turkey has had its shining moment, but now it’s time for an encore. Learn how to transform those turkey leftovers into mouthwatering dishes. From classic turkey sandwiches to savory pot pies, I’ve got you covered.
- The Best Leftover Turkey Salad: This is a reader-favorite with over 200 5-star reviews! It takes minutes to make, only requires a few pantry staples and stars a not-so-secret ingredient that takes it over the top. Serve it on rolls or in lettuce cups for the ultimate post-Thanksgiving meal.
- Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Sliders: These hot turkey and cheese sandwiches star soft Hawaiian rolls loaded with stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and leftover turkey. Best of all, they’ll be on your post-holiday table in 20 minutes or less.
- Leftover Turkey Pot Pie with Cheddar Biscuit Crust: This one-pan meal stars a biscuit crust loaded with cheese and scallions. It’s a delicious way to savor the holiday flavors all over again.
- 30-Minute Leftover Turkey Chili: All you need is 30 minutes to go from yesterday’s leftovers to today’s reinvented meal-in-a-bowl.
- Quick Leftover Turkey Soup: This hearty, cozy soup recipe is loaded with fresh veggies and herbs.
- Easy Turkey Tetrazzini: This warm and cozy casserole stars shredded leftover turkey, veggies and pasta in a garlicky cheese sauce.
Stuffing Reinvented
Stuffing doesn’t have to be a one-hit-wonder. Discover inventive ways to repurpose leftover stuffing into a whole new meal with recipes for crispy stuffing waffles and stuffing muffins with turkey.
Leftover Stuffing Waffles: Top these hot and crispy waffles with cranberry sauce, gravy or a scoop of mashed potatoes.
Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey and Stuffing Muffins: This recipe makes use of not one, not two, but three (and potentially four) of Thanksgiving’s biggest hits: turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy.
Leftover Mashed Potatoes
Leftover mashed potatoes often get overlooked, but they are a blank canvas for culinary creativity. Discover recipes that turn this humble side into the star of the show.
- Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes: This hot, crispy stack is made with just four ingredients and can be customized with your choice of mix-ins. Not a fan of cheddar? Swap in your cheese of choice. Got spare turkey, too? Chop it up and add it to the mix.
- Leftover Mashed Potato Gnocchi: Leftover mashed potatoes are the ultimate shortcut for homemade gnocchi. Add a little flour and an egg, and we are in business. It’s really as simple as mixing everything together, rolling the dough into ropes then slicing them into gnocchi nuggets.
- Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Muffins: A crispy hash brown-inspired crust with a fluffy mashed potato middle. All you need is cheddar and chives to spin those spare spuds into something spectacular!
- Leftover Mashed Potato Balls: These pillowy potato balls are loaded with cheese and onions, but chopped leftover turkey would also be a welcome addition.
- Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Waffles: Fantastically fluffy yet simultaneously crunchy waffles. Add some shredded cheddar and sliced scallions to the equation and breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner is served.
Desserts
Wondering what to do with that lingering cranberry sauce and extra pie dough? I’ve got you covered with these creative and delicious recipes that give your Thanksgiving leftovers new life.
Leftover Cranberry Sauce and Apple Crisp: This simple recipe stars a crisp topping crumbled over apple slices tossed with leftover cranberry sauce.
Leftover Pie Crust Fries: Make the most of Thanksgiving pie dough scraps by turning them into pie crust fries! Pair with a creamy no-bake cheesecake pumpkin dip for the ultimate dessert.
- Turkey: For turkey, it’s a good practice to consume it within 2-4 days when refrigerated and within 2-6 months when frozen. Turkey is often the most versatile and durable leftover, but its longevity depends on how well it’s stored and frozen.
- Stuffing: Most types of stuffing can be refrigerated for 3-4 days or frozen for 1-2 months. Like turkey, it depends on the ingredients used in your stuffing. Seafood or meat-based stuffings, for instance, might have shorter storage times.
- Mashed Potatoes: Mashed potatoes can be refrigerated for 3-4 days or frozen for 10-12 months. Be sure to give them a good mix when reheating, as they can sometimes become a bit dry after freezing.
- Cranberry Sauce: Cranberry sauce can be refrigerated for 7-10 days or frozen for 1-2 months. It has a longer shelf life compared to some other leftovers due to its acidity.
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Absolutely delicious used dill/onion from the garden did add a little salt and pepper. In the fridge to allow flavors to blend but preview taste husband said is a keeper.
I’m thrilled to hear that you and your husband enjoy the recipe, Tammy!
This recipe is actually a Polish dish that my grandmother has been making for many years. They taste absolutely wonderful. The only difference is my grandmother doesn’t use chives and you can shred the potatoes for a different texture.