25 Delicious Recipes To Transform Your Thanksgiving Leftovers (2024)

With a big Thanksgiving meal comes a ton of leftovers. From turkey to cranberries to pounds of mashed potatoes, there's always something left over! And let's be honest, we can only eat turkey and potatoes so many times. These recipes take all those leftovers and turn them into meals you'll love! To find the recipes, click on the green hyperlinks in each description.

Thanksgiving Pizza

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Okay, this Thanksgiving Pizza is a game changer! Your favorite dough is topped with mashed potatoes, cheese, turkey AND cranberries. Wow! We’re definitely trying this recipe with our leftovers! Find the recipe here.

Cranberry Carrot Muffins

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Leftover carrots and cranberry relish make for a decadent muffin makeover. They may not be your typical chocolate chip, but they’re a savory treat you will love. Find the recipe here.

Deep Fried Green Beans

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What better way to eat up leftover green beans than by frying them?! You’ll love the crunch of these fried green beans! Find the recipe here.

Potato Cakes With Fried Egg

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This recipe is the perfect morning fuel for a day full of shopping. The potato cakes are made with leftover mashed potatoes and then topped with a fried egg, turkey, gravy and corn. Yum! Find the recipe here.

Second Day Fried Stuffing Bites With Cranberry Sauce Pesto

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We’re pretty sure the only thing better than stuffing is fried stuffing. Dipped in a cranberry sauce, these little bites are out of this world and will definitely transform those boring leftovers. Find the recipe here.

Eggs Benedict On Stuffing Cakes

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A Thanksgiving twist on Eggs Benedict, this recipe is definitely one that will wow all your out-of-town guests. The cakes are made with leftover stuffing for a delicious and mouth watering pairing with the eggs. Find the recipe here.

Mashed Potato-Cheddar Cakes

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These Smashed-Potato Cheddar Cakes are topped with a warm cranberry and apple sauce for the perfect fall flavors. This recipe is another unique way to use up those leftover mashed potatoes. Find the recipe here.

Pretzel Mashed Potato Bites

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These little bites will definitely add a lot of flavor and crunch to your leftover Thanksgiving mashed potatoes. The potatoes are scooped into small balls, rolled in crushed pretzels then fried to golden perfection. Find the recipe here.

Stuffed Meatloaf

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This meatloaf is made with your own homemade stuffing packed right in the middle of it. Talk about a hearty meal! We love this one. Find the recipe here.

Day After Dip

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Perfect for an afternoon snack after a morning full of shopping, this day after dip combines leftover sweet potatoes with white beans and parmesan. Dip your favorite crackers in it for a savory treat! Find the recipe here.

Spinach And Three Cheese Ravioli

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Ravioli is an excellent variation on the classic spaghetti night. Plus, it’ll use up all that leftover spinach no one ate at Thanksgiving. Find the recipe here.

Scallion Pancakes

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These Scallion Pancakes are topped with leftover turkey and cranberry sauce for a wide range of delicious flavors. Seriously, your tastebuds will be surprised by this combination. Find the recipe here.

Vegetable Samosas

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These fried puff pastries are stuffed full of mashed potatoes and vegetables. This way, you won’t get sick of eating all those leftover veggies. You’ll have a crunchy, flaky crust that gives way to a soft, savory filling. Find the recipe here.

Cranberry Sauce Over Pound Cake

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Use up leftover cranberries on top of a piece of sweet pound cake. The tart cranberries are the perfect topping, especially when paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Find the recipe here.

Sweet Potato Soup

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Using leftover mashed sweet potatoes, this soup has excellent flavor. Combined with a bunch of spices, your tastebuds will definitely be happy. Find the recipe here.

Stuffing-Stuffed Mushrooms

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These mushroom caps are stuffed full of your favorite leftovers, turkey and stuffing. This different take on Thanksgiving leftovers gives you some vegetables to go along with that hearty stuffing and turkey. Find the recipe here.

Cream Of Asparagus Soup

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This soup uses up leftover asparagus stems to make a warm, hearty soup you’ll love. This soup is the perfect cuddle buddy on those cold winter nights. Find the recipe here.

Leftover Pumpkin Pie Brulee

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All you need for this recipe is leftover pumpkin pie and sugar. How easy is that! It may taste like pumpkin pie, but it is definitely a delicious twist. Find the recipe here.

Golden Crushed Potatoes

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These Golden Crushed Potatoes are super easy to make and will use up all those potatoes you thought you’d need. Sprinkled with olive oil and salt, the potatoes are simple, yet delicious. Find the recipe here.

Sweet Potato Squares

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These Sweet Potato Squares also used leftover mashed sweet potatoes to make a sweet dessert. Topped with oats, chocolate chips and nuts, you get a sweet cake-like square with a crunchy topping. Find the recipe here.

Thankful Shepherd’s Pie

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Almost all of your Thanksgiving leftovers can go into this Thankful Shepherd’s Pie. Stuffed full of mashed potatoes, vegetables and turkey, this pie is a must try. Find the recipe here.

Pumpkin Parfaits

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What’s better than pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving?! These parfaits give you that pumpkin flavor you love long after Thanksgiving has ended. It uses pumpkin puree, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and candied walnuts. Yum! Find the recipe here.

Thank Goodness It’s Over Bruschetta

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Brushcetta is topped with cranberry sauce and blue cheese for a unique, but delicious combination of flavors. It’s simple to make and will put those leftover cranberries to good use. Find the recipe here.

Mashed Potato Cakes

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Warning: you may even like these more than regular mashed potatoes once you try them! Leftover mashed potatoes are coated in flour and fried on the skillet for delicious potato cakes. Find the recipe here.

Stuffing Frittata

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This recipe uses leftover stuffing for a twist on a classic breakfast frittata. The hearty helping of stuffing pairs well with the eggs and spices. Find the recipe here.

25 Delicious Recipes To Transform Your Thanksgiving Leftovers (2024)

FAQs

What is a creative way to eat 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, ...

Which Thanksgiving dish is best as leftovers after the Thanksgiving holiday? ›

Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole

This is one of those clear-out-the-fridge kind of meals. It combines a whole bunch of leftovers, including turkey, stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes, and gravy into one casserole dish.

How to deal with Thanksgiving leftovers? ›

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

Apparently I'm in the minority, as this poll reported that 80 percent of Americans prefer the leftover version.

What are the 10 creative ways to use leftovers? ›

10 Creative Ways To Repurpose Leftovers
  • Frittata. Combine leftover vegetables, meats or cheeses with beaten eggs, and cook them in a skillet to make a delicious frittata. ...
  • Stir-Fry. ...
  • Casserole. ...
  • Pizza. ...
  • Soup or Stew. ...
  • Quesadilla or Wrap. ...
  • Salad. ...
  • Stuffed Peppers.

What is a good alternative Thanksgiving dinner? ›

25 Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas
  • 01 of 25. Artichoke Hearts Gratin. ...
  • 02 of 25. Roasted Pumpkin Soup. ...
  • 03 of 25. Roasted Pumpkin and Goat Cheese Crostini. ...
  • 04 of 25. Apple Pie Shot. ...
  • 05 of 25. Citrus Turkey Brine. ...
  • 06 of 25. Bacon-Wrapped Pork Medallions. ...
  • 07 of 25. Tangy Honey-Glazed Ham. ...
  • 08 of 25.
Oct 3, 2023

What is the least favorite dish for Thanksgiving? ›

"For the third year in a row, cranberry sauce takes first place as the most disliked traditional Thanksgiving food. Over 31% of respondents, 82 million American adults, do not want cranberry sauce for their Thanksgiving dinner.

What is the least favorite side dish for Thanksgiving? ›

According to the poll by Tastes Better from Scratch, green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole were the least-liked Thanksgiving side dishes.

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.

How do you recover the day after Thanksgiving? ›

How to recover from a Thanksgiving feast
  1. Don't try to “make up for” your feast with a famine. ...
  2. Give away the leftovers! ...
  3. Forego the food courts on post-Thanksgiving shopping days. ...
  4. Don't forget your water bottle. ...
  5. Keep up with exercise. ...
  6. Get plenty of sleep.
Nov 25, 2023

What is the rule for leftovers? ›

2 + 2 + 4 rule . You'll want to refrigerate or freeze your food within 2 hours of cooking. Store your food in dishes that are 2” or less so they can cool safely. Eat leftovers within 4 days.

Why do Thanksgiving leftovers taste better? ›

The flavor compounds – the herbs, the spices, the reactions that take place during cooking, sort of cool back and depending on how you have cooled and refrigerated your food, actually get back into the food and get trapped into the starches and the proteins.

Which president refused to celebrate Thanksgiving as a national holiday? ›

While Thanksgiving technically isn't a religious holiday, the “giving thanks” part of it struck Jefferson as being far too religious for his tastes. As our nation's third president, he stirred controversy by refusing to recognize Thanksgiving.

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

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. Turkey is at the center of the classic Thanksgiving feast. Today we eat domesticated turkeys, which come from wild turkeys, a species only native to the Americas, making the bird an all-American entrée.

How do you make leftovers exciting? ›

Make A Salad

Build a bed of greens (lettuce, kale, baby spinach, or arugula) or grains (wheatberries, lentils, quinoa, or farro). Top with any leftover meats, cheeses, cooked vegetables, or eggs. Top with a homemade vinaigrette or store-bought dressing, toss everything together, and you're good to go!

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.

How long are Thanksgiving leftovers good for? ›

What are some guidelines for storing leftovers? The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service recommends throwing out refrigerated leftovers after three to four days. If foods are kept in the freezer, they can usually still be consumed for three to four months.

What to do with leftovers you don't like? ›

What to do with leftover food
  1. Don't throw them out. Whether you're eating at home or out at a restaurant, don't let leftover edible food go to waste in the trash or compost bin. ...
  2. Make them tomorrow's lunch. Saving leftovers is a quick way to pack a low-effort lunch. ...
  3. Reinvent them. ...
  4. Freeze them. ...
  5. Swap them. ...
  6. Prevent them.

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