25 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (2024)

When it comes to epic dinners, Thanksgiving just might rank at the very top. We literally spend hours planning the dinner, running errands in preparation for it, and cooking up a storm in the kitchen for days. Then, we end up with a lot of leftovers — which might just be the best part! If you are wondering how to transform those holiday leftovers into something new and delicious (rather than reheating the same turkey dinner for an entire week), then you have come to the right place! We are sharing 25 of our best and most popular Thanksgiving leftover recipes for everything from leftover turkey, leftover cranberry sauce, leftover mashed potatoes, and even mac and cheese.

Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes

Creamy Turkey Orzo Soup

Warm and cozy, creamy turkey orzo soup is wholesome, hearty, filling, and flavourful. Make this delicious one pot meal with leftover turkey in 30 minutes. One of my favorite ways to use Thanksgiving leftovers.

Leftover Turkey Fried Rice

Leftover turkey fried rice with turkey, fluffy rice, scrambled eggs, vegetables, and classic Asian seasonings is a one skillet meal made in just 10 minutes.

Leftover Turkey Stuffed Bell Peppers

Leftover turkey stuffed peppers are a nutritious, wholesome and healthy dinner that you can throw together easily and quickly. A total crowd-pleaser and delicious Thanksgiving leftover recipe.

Turkey Tetrazzini with Spinach

Creamy leftover turkey tetrazzini with spinach is a simple, easy and delicious pasta recipe that is comforting, creamy and cheesy. It's a family favourite.

Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich with Cranberry Sauce

Looking for comfort food in a hand-held serving? You got it! Put those leftovers to good use in this leftover Thanksgiving turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce.

Turkey Potato Chowder

Leftover turkey potato chowder is a creamy, savory, and delicious soup that is loaded with holiday leftovers. Quick and easy, ready in under 30 minutes.

Turkey Enchiladas

Turkey Enchiladas are a cheesy, filling, and comforting meal that is quick and easy to make using a handful of ingredients including leftover turkey.

Turkey Wild Rice Soup

Wholesome hearty one pot leftover turkey wild rice soup is the most comforting way to use leftover turkey from Thanksgiving turkey dinner. So easy to make.

Buffalo Turkey Wraps

Quick easy buffalo turkey wraps with homemade buffalo sauce are flavorful, spicy, and delicious. A healthy lunch that will keep you full until dinner.

Creamy Turkey Gnocchi Soup

Creamy turkey gnocchi soup is the ultimate comfort food — creamy, rich, and delicious, made with good carbs, clean protein, and veggies in 25 minutes.

Coconut Turkey Curry

Coconut turkey curry is creamy, rich, and flavorful. This delicious curry is the perfect recipe to make when you have turkey leftovers, ready in 30 minutes!

Leftover Turkey Salad

This Leftover Turkey Salad is a creamy and filling salad that is quick and easy to make — and your new go-to recipe for using Thanksgiving leftovers!

Leftover Cranberry Sauce Recipes

Cranberry Sauce Oat Bars

These cranberry sauce oat bars are basically date squares made with cranberry sauce. Pretty genius right? These oat bars layers together a soft, chewy and buttery crust, tart yet sweet cranberry sauce, and crumbly pecan and oat topping. The best use of Thanksgiving leftovers!

Leftover Cranberry Sauce Muffins with Oat Streusel Topping

Don't throw away leftover cranberry sauce, instead create leftover cranberry sauce muffins with an oat streusel topping and enjoy for breakfast or dessert!

Cranberry Brie Bites

Cranberry Brie Bites are quick and easy to make with flaky puff pastry, gooey melty brie, and sweet cranberry sauce. The perfect holiday appetizer.

Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce Chicken

Instant pot cranberry chicken is sweet, tart, savory, and delicious. Make this chicken dinner in the pressure cooker in just 30 minutes. So quick and easy!

Cranberry Sauce Swirl Pound Cake

Leftover cranberry sauce swirl pound cake is moist and tender with swirls of cranberry sauce for a sweet and tangy burst of flavour. So easy and delicious.

Cranberry Brie Grilled Cheese

This Cranberry Brie Grilled Cheese features the sweet and tart flavor of cranberry that pairs perfectly with the creamy, slightly funky flavor of brie.

Cranberry Baked Brie

Cranberry baked brie is a sweet and savory appetizer you need to try this holiday season. It's quick and easy, melty and gooey, and so delicious.

Cranberry Meatballs

Cranberry Meatballs are sticky, sweet and tangy. These delicious bites are the perfect holiday appetizer, or a great way to use up leftover cranberry sauce.

Cranberry Sauce Smoothie

Leftover cranberry sauce smoothie is the perfect drink to make with holiday leftovers. Plus, this sweet and refreshing winter smoothie in ready in minutes.

Cranberry Sauce Swirl Cheesecake

Cranberry sauce swirl cheesecake is creamy, smooth, and indulgent. With a gorgeous red swirl on top, it's the perfect holiday dessert for your next party.

Cranberry Sauce Parfait

This Cranberry Sauce Parfait is a light, creamy, and delightful breakfast or dessert during the holidays. A great way to use leftover cranberry sauce!

Leftover Mashed Potatoes Recipes

Mashed Potato Cakes

Mashed potato cakes are light and fluffy inside, crispy golden outside, and so delicious and flavorful. The best way to use up leftover mashed potatoes!

Leftover Mashed Potato Gnocchi

Give your Thanksgiving leftovers new life by turning them into easy and delicious homemade Leftover Mashed Potato Gnocchi!

Skillet Shepherd’s Pie

Skillet shepherd's pie is a savoury and hearty traditional comfort food. With flavourful beef and fluffy potatoes, this cozy meal it will warm you up.

Mashed Potato Soup

Mashed potato soup is one of the best ways to use up leftover mashed potatoes. It’s creamy, cheesy, delicious, and ready in under 30 minutes.

Mashed Potato Casserole

This Mashed Potato Casserole elevates an ordinary batch of creamy mashed potatoes into something divine topped with cheddar, bacon bits, and green onions.

Potato Dinner Rolls

Potato Dinner Rolls are soft, light, and fluffy. These quick and easy dinner rolls are loaded with leftover mashed potatoes and simple pantry staples.

Mashed Potato Balls

Mashed potato balls are a delicious appetizer that is crisp on the outside and soft, tender, and cheesy inside. Best way to use leftover mashed potatoes!

Baked Mashed Potato Spring Rolls

Baked mashed potato spring rolls combines the comforting flavours and textures of creamy mashed potatoes with a crisp crunchy layer of spring roll heaven.

Homemade Potato and Cheese Perogies

Homemade Potato and Cheese Perogies are comforting, delicious, and satisfying. These cheddar pierogi from scratch as easier to make than you think!

Sweet Potato Croquettes

Sweet Potato Croquettes are delicious, flavorful, savory balls of mashed sweet potatoes, cheese, and seasoning — crisp outside and soft and tender inside.

Leftover Stuffing Recipes

Leftover Stuffing Meatballs

This Leftover Stuffing Meatballs recipe is an easy way to turn leftover stuffing from your Thanksgiving dinner into delicious, tender meatballs!

Leftover Mac and Cheese Recipes

Fried Mac and Cheese Balls

Fried mac and cheese balls are crispy on the outside, creamy and cheesy on the inside, and have the perfect crunch. Best way to use leftover mac and cheese.

Planning Ahead?

If you are planning ahead for Thanksgiving leftovers, even before your Thanksgiving dinner, then try any of these recipes and make a big batch to ensure you have leftovers to use in these recipes.

• Turkey -Juiciest Whole Roast Turkey,Roasted Turkey Breast,Instant Pot Turkey Breast, Slow Cooker Turkey Breast,Asian Five-Spice Roast Turkey,Roasted Turkey Legs, orSoy Glazed Braised Turkey Breast with Five-Spice.
• Cranberry sauce -Make Ahead Cranberry Sauce, Baked Cranberry Sauce
• Mashed potatoes-Creamiest Mashed Potatoes,Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream, Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes, Baked Mashed Potatoes, Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes, Cheddar Mashed Potatoes,Mashed Sweet Potatoes, orHealthy Mashed Potatoes.
• Mac and cheese-Baked Mac and Cheese,Stovetop White Cheddar Mac and Cheese, Spicy Mac and Cheese, Cauliflower Mac and Cheese or Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese.

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Did You Make Any of These Thanksgiving Leftovers?

Please leave a comment and rating below, and let me know what you thought of these Thanksgiving leftover recipes. Be sure to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.

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