15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (2024)

Thanksgiving leftover recipes are the best ways to utilize the food without getting wasted! No matter what dishes you prepare, there’s one thing almost every Thanksgiving feast has in common: leftovers. Use this list of creative Thanksgiving leftovers recipes to help you get rid of those leftovers in new and exciting yummy ways.

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (1)

When it comes to Thanksgiving leftovers, people seem to fall into two camps. Either you love them and can eat them for days without tiring of them…or you want nothing to do with turkey after the holiday is done.

I somehow manage to straddle those two camps because I love those leftovers just the way they are for about 2 days, and then I’m tired of them before they are done.

I decided to get ahead of the curve this year and research some creative ways to use up those Thanksgiving leftovers so that I can approach this holiday with a plan.

And yeah! Don’t forget to try these delicious no bake Thanksgiving desserts which you will definitely love!

No matter which camp you sit in regarding leftovers, these Thanksgiving leftovers recipes are delicious enough to keep you happy until those leftovers are all gone.

So pile on the mashed potatoes, stuffing, turkey, gravy, and more… you’ll actuallywant to eat them now!

Looking for Thanksgiving Tips? We’ve got you covered!

Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes You Won’t Get Tired of Eating

Whether you are a Thanksgiving leftovers purist or can’t stand to have holiday dinner part 2 (or 3 or 4…), those delicious leftovers simply cannot go to waste!

Also, check these simple pinwheel recipes that will make you crave for more!

Use this variety of Thanksgiving leftovers recipes to keep it interesting when it comes to finishing off those Thanksgiving nibbles.

Gluten-free cranberry turkey enchiladas| Flippin’ Delicious

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (2)

Gluten Free Cranberry Turkey Enchiladas from Flippin’ Delicious

Roasted turkey, creamy gravy, and fresh cranberry sauce are rolled in warm tortillas and topped with lots of cheese to make these Gluten-Free Cranberry Turkey Enchiladas. Yum!

Gluten Free Cranberryu00a0Turkey Enchiladas

Gluten Free Cranberryu00a0Turkey Enchiladas make the perfect day-after-Thanksgiving meal. Roasted turkey, creamy gravy, and fresh cranberry sauce rolled in warm corn tortillas and topped with gooey melted Monterrey Jack cheese.

Read more here.

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (3)

Genius Potato, Turkey, and Stuffing Layered Leftovers | Christina’s Cucina

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (4)

Or, go with a layered version. Double up on your mashed potatoes this year, because you’ll definitely want to use them for this Genius Potato, Turkey, and Stuffing Layered Dish.

Genius Potato, Turkey and Stuffing Layered Leftovers

A fabulous way to create a dish that doesnu2019t taste like leftovers, from Thanksgiving leftovers!

Read more here.

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (5)

Apple Cranberry Quesadillas | Never Enough Thyme

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (6)

Use leftover cranberry sauce to make these sweet Apple Cranberry Quesadillas. Serve with a big dollop of ice cream. This recipe will turn even your cranberry-sauce haters into huge fans.

Apple Cranberry Quesadillas

Apple Cranberry Quesadillas – make a fun, fruit-filled apple cranberry dessert quesadilla from your Thanksgiving leftovers!

Read more here.

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (7)

Thanksgiving Pizza | The Gunny Sac

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (8)

Thanksgiving Pizza may be the best thing I’ve ever heard of. It’s a puff pastry crust topped with mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, green beans, turkey, stuffing, and anything else you’d like to toss on from your Thanksgiving dinner.

I’m ready…bring it on!

Thanksgiving Pizza

This Thanksgiving Pizza recipe is the BEST way to eat Thanksgiving leftovers. It has turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and more all in a puff pastry crust!

Read more here.

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (9)

Gluten-Free Turkey Biscuit Pot Pie | Sugar-Free Mom

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (10)

This Turkey Biscuit Pot Pie can also be made with chicken leftovers. The biscuit topping is super easy and perfectly complements the creamy, savory leftovers.

Gluten Free Turkey Biscuit Pot Pie

Delicious recipe that helps use up all those Thanksgiving leftovers.

Read more here.

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (11)

Thanksgiving Leftover Breakfast Biscuits | How Sweet Eats

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (12)

Who says you have to wait until lunch or dinner the next day to enjoy your leftovers?

With this creative idea, you can pile them high on an English muffin or biscuit, and top with an egg to make these Thanksgiving Leftover Breakfast Sandwiches.

Thanksgiving Leftover Breakfast Sandwiches

You’re going to love this leftovers recipe. It’s the perfect way to use up those Thanksgiving leftovers!

Read more here.

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (13)

Turkey Chowder | Bombshell Bling

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (14)

Turkey Chowder will warm you up in the days after Thanksgiving, and it’ll help you use up all that leftover turkey and stock.

As an added bonus, this recipe is terrific for serving leftovers to those who fall in that camp of not liking them.

Turkey Chowder

This turkey chowder recipe is the perfect thing to make with your Thanksgiving leftovers! It is a simple recipe that is a perfect meal for cold weather!

Read more here.

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (15)

Leftover Turkey Sandwich | Ask Chef Dennis

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (16)

Of course, you have to make a sandwich or two from your Thanksgiving leftovers… but not your run-of-the-mill turkey sandwich. Nope. This is served on toasted sourdough bread and topped with coleslaw.

What To Do With Your Turkey Leftovers

My favorite way to use my Thanksgiving day leftovers are to recreate one of my favorite sandwiches and o turkey pot pies.

Read more here.

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (17)

Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes | Easy Peasy Creative Ideas

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (18)

Have a ton of leftover mashed potatoes? Turn them into Mashed Potato Pancakes! They’re crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. Now that’s creative (and delicious)!

Mashed Potato Pancakes Recipe

Make the most out of Thanksgiving leftovers with these deliciousu00a0mashed potato pancakes with a crisp crust and moist inside!

Read more here.

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (19)

Cheesy Breakfast Stuffing Cakes | Well Plated

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (20)

How about turning them into breakfast?

These simple Cheesy Breakfast Stuffing Cakes are a delicious way to use extra stuffing. Top with bacon and an over-easy egg, and you’ve got a winning breakfast.

Breakfast Stuffing Cakes

Transform leftover Thanksgiving stuffing into savory breakfast stuffing cakes. Crispy on the outside, cheesy on the inside, and perfect with eggs or gravy!

Read more here.

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (21)

Thanksgiving Turkey Quesadilla | Bites of Wellness

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (22)

Who doesn’t love a great quesadilla? Put some turkey, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes and more in these tasty Thanksgiving Turkey Quesadillas.

Thanksgiving Turkey Quesadilla

The perfect way to repurpose Thanksgiving leftovers or just enjoy all the great parts of Thanksgiving dinner anytime of the year in this turkey quesadilla!

Read more here.

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (23)

Sweet Potato and Turkey Hash | Around My Family Table

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (24)

Oh I love a good hash recipe! Use leftover turkey and sweet potatoes to make a hearty Sweet Potato and Turkey Hash for breakfast.

Sweet Potato & Turkey Hash

Sweet potato and turkey hash is the perfect meal to make with leftover turkey and sweet potatoes! Great for breakfast, brunch, or dinner. Best thing is, it’s a 15-minute supper!

Read more here.

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Leftover Tater Tot Turkey Stuffing Hotdish | Dining with Alice

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (26)

Combine tater tots and turkey in this Leftover Turkey Tater Tot Hotdish packed with peas and lots of cheese. This is perfect for anyone who likes a good casserole.

Leftover Turkey Tater Tot Hotdish

Turn your turkey leftovers into a casserole your whole family will love, Leftover Turkey Tater Tot Hotdish!

Read more here.

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (27)

Sushi-Inspired Turkey Rolls | Arts & Crackers

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (28)

Make the leftovers enjoyable by putting a fun spin on them like these Sushi-Inspired Turkey Rolls. They make a leftover dish that even the kids will enjoy.

Sushi-Inspired Thanksgiving Turkey Rolls

Here’s a creative and fun way to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers.

Read more here.

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (29)

Turkey Shepherd’s Pie | Homemade Interest

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (30)

Turkey Shepherd’s Pie will become a new delicious family tradition the day after Thanksgiving. It’s easy to throw together because you already have all the food made!

Turkey Shepherdu2019s Pie

Turkey Shepherdu2019s pie is an easy Thanksgiving leftovers recipe or a simple winter casserole recipe for those cold nights.

Read more here.

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (31)

Aren’t these ideas amazing? When it comes to Thanksgiving leftovers recipes, all you need is a little creativity to come up with truly amazing ways to combine those simple ingredients in new and delicious dishes.

So go ahead and enjoy those Thanksgiving leftovers – any way you want!

15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (32)

More Thanksgiving Inspiration from One Crazy House

  • 23 Thanksgiving Hostess Tips for the Lazy
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  • 15 Crowd-Pleasing Cheese Ball Recipes for Your Next Party
  • 17 Fun Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids
  • Thanksgiving No-Bake Desserts
15 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes You'll Simply Love (2024)

FAQs

How long do Thanksgiving leftovers last in the refrigerator? ›

The answer is simple: leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for three to four days. This means you have until the Monday after Thanksgiving to eat all those delicious leftovers or place them in the freezer to enjoy later. If you store leftovers in the freezer, they will be of best quality within 2-6 months.

What is made from Thanksgiving leftovers? ›

Instead, try turning your leftovers into a casserole, like our turkey divan, our chicken stuffing casserole, or our turkey pot pie; a soup, like our turkey noodle soup, our leftover turkey & wild rice soup, or our homemade turkey stock (made from your turkey carcass); or something lighter or more flavorful than before, ...

What ratio of Americans like leftovers better than the Thanksgiving meal itself? ›

In a recent survey of 2,000 respondents who celebrate Thanksgiving, nearly seven in 10 think a next-day Thanksgiving sandwich tastes better than that day's fresh dinner. Half (49%) agree that the main course makes the best leftovers — more so than the side dishes (23%).

How do you use leftovers creatively? ›

Creative Leftover Ideas for Common Ingredients:

Leftover cooked meats can be incorporated into sandwiches, salads, or pasta dishes, while meat scraps can be #repurposed into flavorful stews or tacos. Leftover rice and pasta can be transformed into flavorful fried rice or baked pasta dishes.

Can you eat cooked turkey after 5 days? ›

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. Turkey can be frozen for 3 to 4 months. Although safe indefinitely, frozen leftovers can lose moisture and flavor when stored for longer times in the freezer.

Are leftovers good after 7 days? ›

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.

What is the day after Thanksgiving usually called? ›

Black Friday, the day following Thanksgiving, has evolved into one of the busiest shopping days in the United States. Contrary to popular belief that the term originated from businesses going from "in the red" to "in the black" in profits after Thanksgiving, it actually traces back to 1960s Philadelphia.

What two food items were not present at the original Thanksgiving? ›

It is also worth noting what was not present at the first Thanksgiving feast. There were no cloudlike heaps of mashed potatoes, since white potatoes had not yet crossed over from South America. There was no gravy either, since the colonists didn't yet have mills to produce flour.

What are 4 commonly consumed foods at Thanksgiving other than turkey? ›

Cornish game hen, goose, duck, ham, beef, salmon, and mushroom recipes make worthy centerpieces for holiday meals.

What food was present at the first Thanksgiving but is rarely eaten now? ›

Fish and Shellfish

Culinary historians believe that much of the Thanksgiving meal consisted of seafood, which is often absent from today's menus.

What is the main meal for most Americans on Thanksgiving? ›

Turkey is the most common main dish of a Thanksgiving dinner, to the point that Thanksgiving is sometimes colloquially called "Turkey Day." Alexander Hamilton proclaimed that "no citizen of the United States should refrain from turkey on Thanksgiving Day", and Benjamin Franklin had high regard for the wild turkey as an ...

What is the average American's favorite Thanksgiving side dish? ›

Mashed potatoes are the front-runner to be on the most plates this Thanksgiving.

What are three ways of using leftovers? ›

15 thrifty ways to use your leftovers
  • Use up leftover cooked pasta in this tuna and cherry tomato pasta salad (pictured). ...
  • Stale bread will also work well in this spiced apple bread and butter pudding.
  • Leftover boiled potatoes can be used to make a potato curry.

What can I do with too many leftovers? ›

Here are some ideas to help with that:
  1. Rice + veggies + eggs = fried rice.
  2. Roast chicken leftovers = chicken salad.
  3. Turn soup into a casserole.
  4. Turn leftovers into tacos or burritos.
  5. Make a pizza.
  6. Whip up a frittata or quiche.
  7. Combine veggies, starch, and protein for a hash.
Oct 23, 2023

What is the leftovers strategy? ›

For quicker cooling, separate big amounts of leftovers into shallow 2-inch containers and cut large pieces of food into smaller pieces. Food should always be covered or in a storage container with a lid sealed to slow the growth of bacteria.

Can you eat stuffing after 5 days? ›

If stuffing is prepared ahead of time, it must be either frozen or cooked immediately. To use cooked stuffing later, cool in shallow containers and refrigerate it within 2 hours. Use it within 3 to 4 days.

Is Thanksgiving food good after 4 days? ›

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday was the last day people should keep Thanksgiving leftovers in the refrigerator. The USDA noted that the food is safe to eat for only four days after initially cooked, if kept properly stored in the fridge.

How long should leftover ham be in the fridge? ›

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ham is good for three to five days in the refrigerator after it is cooked. If you need more time to use up those leftovers, ham will last up to two months in the freezer. The USDA also recommends wrapping up leftovers well.

How long until leftovers go bad? ›

Discard all perishable foods, such as meat, poultry, eggs, side dishes, or casseroles, left at room temperature longer than two hours; one hour in room temperatures above 90 °F. Once leftovers are stored safely, they will remain safe three to four days.

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