Don’t waste the time, effort, and food—turn your Thanksgiving leftovers into delicious new meals. These creative recipes repurpose leftover turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and more into fresh dishes the whole family will enjoy.
Thanksgiving is over, but that doesn’t mean the good food has to stop. Instead of reheating the same plate day after day, use simple techniques to transform your leftovers into exciting, budget-friendly meals.
Repurposing side dishes and proteins into new recipes saves money and stretches your cooking efforts further. With a few small tweaks you can refresh flavors and textures so every meal feels new.
This year, give your family fresh, creative meals by reimagining classic Thanksgiving dishes. Below you’ll find a wide range of ideas—from soups and casseroles to sandwiches and baked goods—so you can mix and match based on what you have on hand.
The 42 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes
Each year I enjoy turning leftover holiday food into brand-new recipes, and I’m excited to share favorites that work well for every appetite. The list offers flexible recipes that let you substitute ingredients you already have.
Related: If you need to freeze leftover turkey, check meal prep posts for helpful tips.
The key to successful leftover cooking is to think of leftovers as base ingredients. Change seasonings, add a new sauce, or swap a cooking method (bake, fry, mash, or grill) and you’ll create something entirely different. For example, leftover turkey becomes soups, enchiladas, sliders, casseroles, or breakfast sandwiches; stuffing can be baked into croquettes, used to stuff vegetables, or turned into savory bites; mashed potatoes are perfect for croquettes, pies, or potato-crusted dishes; and cranberry sauce becomes muffins, swirls in quick breads, or a bright chutney.
Below is a curated and organized collection of 42 mouth-watering ideas grouped by leftover type so you can quickly find inspiration based on what you have in your fridge.
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Have fun experimenting—thanksgiving leftovers are an annual opportunity to try something new in the kitchen. Keep things interesting by letting family members vote on their favorites. And if you have a unique leftover idea, share it in the comments so others can try it too.
This post was originally published on 11/23/18 and updated on 11/26/19 and 11/14/24.
Save the Thanksgiving Leftovers recipes for later!
42 Mouth-Watering Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes the Whole Family Will Love
Have more leftovers than you know what to do with? If reheated plates are getting boring, transform Thanksgiving leftovers into new, easy dishes using these ideas.
Leftover Turkey Recipes
From soups and casseroles to enchiladas and sliders, here are many ways to make leftover turkey shine.
Air Fryer Thanksgiving Egg Rolls
Tender turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing wrapped in a crispy shell—serve with cranberry sauce or gravy for dipping.
Thanksgiving Poutine
Leftover Thanksgiving Sliders with Turkey
Layer turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce on slider buns for a handheld favorite.
Leftover Stuffing Recipes
Stuffing can become flavorful bites, casseroles, or fillings—don’t let it go to waste.
Mashed Potato Leftovers
Turn mashed potatoes into croquettes, pancakes, or a potato-crusted pie.
Leftover Cranberry Sauce Recipes
Cranberry sauce makes great muffins, breads, and bright condiments to pair with savory dishes.
Save the Recipes with Thanksgiving Leftovers for later!
Enjoy experimenting with these ideas and make your leftovers feel brand new. Happy cooking!