48 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes

Your search for Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes ends here, because we’ve rounded up 48 of the best dishes to make after the Holiday meal has been served and packed away in the fridge. Give leftovers new life, and you won’t get tired of them until they are all gobbled up.

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I start with leftover turkey recipes, then I move on to crowd-favorite sides, like mashed potatoes, green beans, and so on, listing easy, tried-and-true dishes your family (and any lingering Holiday company) will love the next day. I hope you find this list super helpful, especially after a full day in the kitchen when you want to maximize your time and money. These recipes are fantastic, versatile, and scalable!

How to Store Thanksgiving Leftovers

Before making any Thanksgiving leftover recipes, let’s review the USDA recommendations for food storage so leftovers won’t get lost in the back of the fridge. Be sure to review this detailed chart for safe storage.

• The 2-hour Rule: refrigerate perishable items within 2 hours of removing them from the oven or refrigerator. It’s best to put leftovers away as soon as you’re done serving.
• Reheat to 165˚F: Reheat leftovers to 165˚F on a food thermometer. Sauces, soups, and gravies should be reheated to a rolling boil.
• Cooked turkey and other meats: store in airtight containers or zip-top bags for 3–4 days in the fridge, or freeze for up to 3 months.
• Side dishes – Things like stuffing, mashed potatoes, veggies, and casseroles will keep refrigerated for 3–5 days, or freeze for up to 6 months.
• Desserts: Cakes and pies without fruit or dairy can stay at room temperature. Anything with fruit, cream, custard, or dairy fillings should be refrigerated.

Before we go on, here’s a peek at one of our typical Thanksgiving dinners. I call it the Olympics of food, and I am here for it! I especially love it when we have Thanksgiving leftovers to take home.

Leftover Turkey Recipes

Let’s get to it! You’ll love these easy and tasty recipes for using leftover Thanksgiving Roast Turkey or Spatchcock Turkey meat. You can use the meat and carcass. In most recipes, it’s ok to swap turkey for chicken 1:1, since they taste so similar.

• Turkey Stock
• Turkey in Gravy
• Turkey Chili
• Turkey Crepes
• Avocado Turkey Salad
• Tetrazzini
• Turkey Florentine Pasta
• Turkey Pot Pie Soup
• Turkey Noodle Soup

Thanksgiving Stuffing Leftover Recipes

If you have any leftover Stuffing, It re-crisps and reheats perfectly, or try one of these recipes with your leftover stuffing.

• Stuffing Muffins – Scoop into a muffin dish and bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes for the perfect stuffing muffins on the go.
• Stuffing Waffles – spread into a hot waffle iron (no extra oil needed) and cook until crisp. Serve with poached eggs or leftover turkey gravy.
• Stuffed Mushrooms filling
• Breakfast Casserole – instead of potatoes
• Stuffed Peppers
• Meatloaf – replace bread crumbs
• Freeze it: place in a zip-top bag and freeze for 2-3 months, and re-crisp in the oven.

Leftover Mashed Potato Recipes

Mashed potatoes and Gravy make a great base for many meat entrees, and also as a topping for casseroles. Don’t miss all the creative ways to use leftover mashed potatoes:

• Pierogi
• Potato Gnocchi
• Shepherd’s Pie topping
• Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
• Mashed Potato Waffles – Spread in a waffle maker and heat until crispy.
• Mashed Potato Pancakes
• Freeze Potatoes – Transfer to a freezer-safe zip-top bag, press out extra air, seal, and freeze up to 2 months.

Leftover Thanksgiving Vegetable Recipes

Roasted Vegetables leftovers, like Boiled Corn, Green Beans, and Roasted Carrots, are so versatile to toss into a recipe to create delicious dishes!

• Vegetable Beef Soup
• Easy Taco Soup
• Borscht Recipe
• Roasted Beet Salad
• Corn Chowder
• Creamy Carrot Soup
• Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
• Sweet Potato Soup
• Frittatas
• Sweet Potato Salad
• Vegetable Soup
• Fried Rice (and swap chicken with turkey)

Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry Sauce makes the best Thanksgiving leftover recipes, because it’s the taste of the season, and ready to make in place of jelly or jams in baked goods, marinades, or spread on toasted slices of Sourdough Bread.

• Apple Roses
• Baked Donuts with Jelly
• Manchego Cheese Bites
• Pancake Toppings
• Dutch Baby Topping
• Grilled Cheese add-in
• Thumbprint Cookies

Thanksgiving Bread Leftover Recipes

Whether you served rolls or slices of crusty bread, don’t miss these creative ways to use leftover bread from Thanksgiving.

• Homemade Croutons
• French Toast Casserole
• Sourdough Croutons
• BLT Sandwich
• Bread Pudding
• Smoked Salmon Canapes
• Easy French Toast

This list of 48 Thanksgiving leftover recipes makes it easier than ever to enjoy every bite of your Thanksgiving meal. So let us know in the comments what your favorite Thanksgiving leftover recipes are after the big Holiday meal!

Best Christmas Recipes to Try this Year

After Thanksgiving is all said and done and the leftovers are eaten, I begin to plan for Christmas, so here are some of my favorite recipes to celebrate the Holiday season:

• Baked Ham
• Beef Brisket
• Lasagna
• Sweet Potato Casserole
• Brussels Sprouts
• Persimmon Pomegranate Salad
• Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
• Prime Rib with Horseradish Sauce