When it comes to Thanksgiving leftover recipes, you need only the best recipes. Hence, we compiled these tried-and-true turkey day ideas, from sides to desserts – and everything in between. Thanksgiving isn’t the same without the classics, so we have everything you need, from turkey to stuffing to mashed potatoes, as well as plenty of gravy to go with them, including some extra special dessert recipes! After all, it’s one of our favorite times of the year.
Whether you’re new to roasting or a seasoned pro looking for new ideas, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about turkey rubs, dry brining, and how long to thaw a turkey! And don’t just thank us yet. If you have leftovers from one of these giant Thanksgiving feasts, you will be very glad you have them. So, listed below are some of the best recipes for your Thanksgiving feast, garnished with tips to help you along the way:
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1. Leftover Turkey Stuffed Peppers
Image and Recipe by aheadofthyme
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 45 mins
Servings: 4
Ingredients: 12
A nutritious, wholesome, and healthy leftover dinner that you can throw together quickly and easily is turkey stuffed peppers. In this recipe, colorful bell peppers are stuffed with roasted turkey, vegetables, herbs, and cheese. It’s a good way to get your veggies while also using up any leftover turkey, making it an absolute crowd-pleaser!
2. Thanksgiving Leftover Pumpkin Waffle
Image and recipe by runningtothekitchen
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 5 mins
Servings: 4
Ingredients: 14
There is no doubt that Thanksgiving leftovers are the best part of the holiday. Here’s a breakfast sandwich recipe using leftover turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. Make it even better by adding some cheese to the pumpkin waffles and melting it before you add the filling, and voila! You have a perfectly delicious and effortless breakfast in front of you.
3. Brussels Sprouts Flatbread
Image and recipe by realsimple
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Servings: 35
Ingredients: 8
Whether it’s a weeknight holiday gathering or any party, this seasonal flatbread definitely stands out as a winner. The recipe comes together quickly since it uses store-bought pizza dough and Brussels sprouts cooked entirely on flatbread. It tastes just as good warm as it does at room temperature, so don’t worry about serving it straight from the oven, just pair it with a glass of dry white wine, and you have the perfect combination to impress your guests!
4. Turkey Stroganoff
Image and recipe by savortheflavour
Prep Time: 25 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Servings: 6
Ingredients: 12
A creamy turkey stroganoff recipe is one of the best ways to use up leftover turkey for a weeknight dinner. It takes less than an hour to prepare this simple comfort food for dinner tonight. Additionally, It sure is excellent for using up leftover turkey and gravy from Thanksgiving night. If served with noodles, this dish will always be a success.
5. Leftover Thanksgiving Stuffing Frittata
Image and recipe by dadwithapan
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Servings: 8
Ingredients: 9
Could anything else make breakfast even more epic? Using leftover stuffing, sausage, and bacon – this leftover Thanksgiving frittata is ready in 10 minutes. Make this recipe extra special by adding some extra jalapeno to customize it on your own. With this method and your own combinations of veggies, no leftover stuffing frittata will be the same! This makes this perfect breakfast after a long day of shopping on Black Friday.
6. Thanksgiving Leftovers Crescent Dough Bombs
Image and recipe by sizzlingeats
Prep Time: 6 mins
Cook Time: 13 mins
Servings: 16
Ingredients: 5
Looking for an easy recipe to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers? Using leftover turkey along with stuffing, cranberry sauce, and sweet potato casserole, this Thanksgiving Crescent Dough Bomb recipe makes an easy-baked appetizer or lunch. Baked golden perfection into a muffin tin, these Thanksgiving leftovers are encased in a warm, buttery, flaky crescent dough. A mouthful of familiar holiday flavors explodes from each handheld bite. Serve them with warm turkey gravy to enhance their flavor! And there you have it – a total delight to enjoy!
7. Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes
Image and recipe by justataste
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 5 mins
Servings: 12
Ingredients: 8
With this quick and easy-to-make recipe for Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes, you can transform leftover spuds into something delicious! It doesn’t matter if it’s the winter season, a spring bash, or just any regular weeknight; leftover mashed potatoes don’t have to be boring reheated leftovers. With some leftover turkey, add cheddar cheese (or whatever cheese you prefer) to make it an absolute winner. Alternatively, add some chopped chipotles in adobo if you’re looking for more heat.
8. Leftover Pie Parfaits
Image and recipe by sweetcsdesigns
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 5 mins
Servings: 1
Ingredients: 4
A delicious, buttery, decadent fruit pie is one of our favorite holiday treats, but there is almost always a lot of pie left over. You can transform leftover pie into a delicious, addictive leftover pie parfait the next morning! With its crunchy topping and creamy yogurt, this is a delicious way to use leftovers! Which is ready in 10 minutes. In addition to yogurt, you could use whipped cream or ice cream for a more indulgent dessert!
9. Thanksgiving Leftovers Bagels
Image and recipe by spicesinmydna
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 5 mins
Servings: 1
Ingredients: 6
Having Thanksgiving leftovers is the only thing better than Thanksgiving dinner. To prepare this recipe, you’ll need an everything bagel, mashed potatoes, stuffing, turkey, and two runny eggs. It’s slathered with cream cheese mixed with cranberry sauce to add a savory and sweet combination, making it a delicious breakfast – definitely not your healthiest, lightest breakfast, but it’s totally worth it.
10. Thanksgiving Leftovers Quesadilla
Image and recipe by thecookierookie
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Servings: 2
Ingredients: 5
You’ll win everyone over this Thanksgiving if you serve your turkey leftovers as quesadillas! There are just so many ways to use up leftover food at the big feast, and this Three-Cheese Turkey, Cranberry, and Sage Quesadilla are one of them. Instead of a sandwich, try this Thanksgiving leftover recipe! Which is novel, budget-friendly, and easy to make – saving us time and winning us hearts!
11. Thanksgiving Leftovers Bacon Provolone Pita Pockets
Image and recipe by boulderlocavore
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 0 min
Servings: 1
Ingredients: 8
Do you want an easy and yummy way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers? With a few new ingredients, Thanksgiving Leftovers Bacon Provolone Pita Pockets make a mouthwatering sandwich, which is a really fun one to make! You can layer ingredients easily, and the pita flavor doesn’t overpower the sandwich, allowing the ingredients to shine. You can make these sandwiches with Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce (or gel if your family likes it), bacon, and smoked provolone cheese. It’s a unique way to use up leftover turkey that you’ll cherish throughout the season.
12. Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich
Image and recipe by aheadofthyme
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 5 mins
Servings: 1
Ingredients: 7
Once Thanksgiving is over, the focus shifts to the leftovers! In a week, you can only eat so many classic turkey dinners. Take advantage of Thanksgiving leftovers by making this delicious and festive leftover turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce, which is absolutely drool-worthy good. It’s a handheld serving of comfort, with the best holiday ingredients like turkey, cranberry sauce, bread, cheese, and greens – added according to your preference, making it your go-to appetizer for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
13. Turkey Soup
Image and recipe by recipegirl
Prep Time: 25 mins
Cook Time: 1 hour 45 mins
Servings: 6
Ingredients: 15
Using this recipe, you can make the best turkey soup ever. The recipe is full of good veggies (carrots, butternut squash, parsnips, and peas) combined with pasta and white beans, making it completely hearty and filling. With this healthy and steamy soup, you and your family can enjoy the flavors of the season and the vegetables!
14. Baked mashed potato spring rolls
Image and recipe by aheadofthyme
Prep Time: 1 hour 10 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Servings: 40-50
Ingredients: 12
Have you ever heard of baked mashed potato spring rolls? In other words, we’re talking about the comforting flavors and textures of creamy mashed potatoes topped with a layer of crispy, crunchy goodness. There’s something about this combination that works really well and is a total winner! As a bonus, these spring rolls are baked, so you don’t have to spend time frying each one. Simply put them in the oven and flip them over to have delicious, convenient, and flavourful potato spring rolls!
15. Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Stuffed Shells
Image and recipe by bakedbyrachel
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Servings: 4
Ingredients: 9
Thanksgiving leftovers, with a twisted surprise of jumbo pasta shells filled with moist leftover turkey and your favorite fixings! Featuring cheesy mashed potatoes and turkey-filled shells with stuffing and gravy, this leftover Thanksgiving stuffed shells recipe is full of your favorite flavors of the season. A wonderfully comforting and flavorsome meal to make with your holiday leftovers.
16. Creamy Leftover Turkey Pasta
Image and recipe by supergoldenbakes
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Servings: 4
Ingredients: 15
Use up your leftover Thanksgiving turkey with this Creamy Leftover Turkey Pasta. Besides being quick, easy, and delicious, it’s also slimming-friendly! as the cream is replaced by half-fat creme fraiche or reduced-fat sour cream (making it just as creamy but slightly less calorific). Additionally, if you don’t have leftover turkey, this recipe also works great with chicken. Toss handfuls of spinach into the creamy orzo and stir until it wilts. Sprinkle with Parmesan and season to taste.
17. Leftover Turkey Taquitos
Image and recipe by carolynscooking
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Servings: 16-20
Ingredients: 10
Turkey tacos are a favorite way to use leftover turkey, and they’re so easy to make! Served crispy – the turkey is rolled up and tossed in delicious adobo sauce. It goes without saying the taquitos themselves are fantastic, but the toppings, such as crema and cotija cheese, elevate the experience. With this recipe, you can customize it to your liking, and it’s hard to mess up! If you want spicy taquitos, add more peppers, change the cheeses, use chicken instead of turkey, and switch up the spices. Feel free to do whatever you want!
18. Asian Turkey Salad
Image and recipe by recipegirl
Prep Time: 25 mins
Cook Time: 0 min
Servings: 4
Ingredients: 18
Making an Asian turkey salad is a great way to use leftover turkey – a light and refreshing main dish salad. Even though the recipe appears to have a long ingredient list, it’s likely to be stuff you already have on hand, so you can make this recipe pretty easily. The dressing for the salad is made by blending together rice vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and a few other ingredients, making it flavourful and healthy. Also, you can substitute roasted chicken for roasted turkey in this Asian Turkey Salad, making it Asian Chicken Salad all year round!
19. Curry Turkey Pot Pie
Image and recipe by foodiecrush
Prep Time: 50 mins
Cook Time: 1 hour
Servings: 8
Ingredients: 15
With a creamy, curry-spiked sauce and the best tender, flaky, buttery crust, this turkey pot pie recipe will keep your leftover Thanksgiving turkey going strong. Diced turkey, potatoes, onions, carrots, and peas are the main ingredients of this leftover turkey pot pie, but it’s the crust that gives it its soul. This turkey pot pie is topped and based on a simple, buttery, no-fail butter crust, which makes it the perfect antidote for leftover Thanksgiving turkey, especially if you’re tired of turkey sandwiches.
20. Leftover Turkey Cranberry Mini Pies
Image and recipe by savortheflavour
Prep Time: 1 hour 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Servings: 6
Ingredients: 12
If you are looking for an appetizing way to use up leftover turkey from Thanksgiving, then you should definitely try this turkey cranberry pie recipe! When combined with leftovers, the pies are layered in an inventive way, creating a dish everyone will enjoy. Served with the right side dish, such as a salad or a low-calorie smooth textured soup, or crusty bread. Make this recipe interesting throughout the seasons by experimenting with vegan and gluten-free alternatives.
21. Leftover Turkey Enchilada Recipe
Image and recipe by foodmeanderings
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Servings: 12
Ingredients: 12
Simple, healthy, and delicious – These Leftover Turkey Enchiladas are one of my favorite healthy leftover turkey recipes. The dish is particularly popular after big holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter and is a delicious alternative to leftover turkey, loaded with veggies and Mexican flavors! Serve it warm and garnish with additional chopped fresh cilantro, salsa, and sour cream, if desired.
22. Ground Turkey Tacos With Sweet Potato
Image and recipe by foodfolksandfun
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Servings: 6
Ingredients: 12
Fall is the perfect time to try these easy Ground Turkey Tacos With Sweet Potato. These gluten-free, delicious tacos are bursting with flavor and are easy to make! With the sweet and spicy combination of the sauce and sweet potatoes brought to this unconventional taco dish, it’s genuinely awesome. With black beans added, these tacos are a little more filling. All the flavors in this dish blend together beautifully, making it the perfect dinner any night of the week.
23. Leftover Turkey Stir Fry
Image and recipe by theroastedroot
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Servings: 2
Ingredients: 10
Easy and quick Leftover Turkey Stir Fry using broccoli, bell pepper, onion, ginger, garlic, and leftover turkey. This is a wonderful way to use up leftovers! You can also add soy sauce, red chili sauce, curry paste, wasabi, garlic, and ginger to make it extra flavourful! When ready, serve with some overcooked rice and add sea salt for the ultimate comfort meal!
24. Leftover Turkey Chili
Image and recipe by thecleaneatingcouple
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Servings: 6
Ingredients: 15
One of the best leftover turkey recipes is leftover turkey chili! This recipe is healthy and loaded with flavors! Which can be made in a crockpot, an instant pot, or on the stovetop. You can make it with white or dark meat – from Pumpkin Chicken Chili to Healthy White Chicken Chili to Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Chili. Along with being hearty and delicious, it’s also very easy to make and freezer friendly, making it the perfect recipe for Thanksgiving leftovers.
25. Turkey Banh Mi
Image and recipe by realsimple
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Servings: 2
Ingredients: 15
With this easy banh mi recipe, you can transform leftover Thanksgiving turkey into a fun snack! This flavorful version of the beloved Vietnamese sandwich gives it a Thanksgiving makeover. While traditionally made with pork, this variation is packed with leftover turkey, pickled vegetables, creamy mayo, and crusty bread. All the rest of the ingredients can be easily adapted. Let’s say goodbye to the traditional Thanksgiving turkey sandwich and replace it with this one, as it might just become a new tradition.
26. Turkey & Stuffing Air Fryer Egg Rolls
Image and recipe by persnicketyplates
Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Servings: 12
Ingredients: 18
Turkey leftovers can get pretty boring pretty quickly, but these Thanksgiving egg rolls are anything but boring! It’s the perfect way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers, and it also makes an easy and unique weeknight meal! You can either dip it in gravy or serve it with cranberry sauce. You could also serve these egg rolls with baked mac & cheese, roasted green beans, and chocolate lush for dessert.
27. Leftover Turkey Casserole
Image and recipe by magnoliadays
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 45 mins
Servings: 9
Ingredients: 18
In this recipe, leftover turkey and stuffing are combined to make an easy casserole. This dish is quick, creamy, and delicious, with layers of noodles, vegetables, spinach, herbs, ricotta, and cheese, combined with the leftover turkey. Sprinkle with fresh parsley or serve it with any leftover cranberry sauce for a hearty-delicious and satisfying meal.
Let us know how your Black Friday turns out since nothing tops off a long shopping day like an easy, quick meal. If you make any of these mouthwatering, flavorsome dishes, we’d love to hear about it. Happy Thanksgiving Season! 🙂
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