Maximize Your Thanksgiving Leftovers With These Must-Try Recipes
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Maximize Your Thanksgiving Leftovers With These Must-Try Recipes
When it comes to preparing your Thanksgiving menu, you probably (like all of us) go a little overboard. And that leads to a common annual problem: What to do with the leftovers.
After all, you can only eat so many turkey-and-mashed-potato sandwiches. Just wait until you see these incredibly delicious Thanksgiving leftover recipes. After spending so much time making the best Thanksgiving recipes for your loved ones, you should be able to enjoy the food for more than just one meal. That's why we've put together this list of recipe ideas that call for lots of your Turkey Day ingredients, such as mashed potatoes, roasted turkey, and cranberry sauce. It's impossible to choose a favorite from this roundup that includes sandwiches, casseroles, soups, and much more. We think you'll especially love the leftover Thanksgiving turkey pizza, ultimate leftover turkey club, and stuffed sweet potatoes.
The delicious dishes don't stop there—the turkey cranberry brie grilled cheese and turkey stuffing waffles are seriously out of this world, too. Each one of these recipes makes for the perfect Black Friday shopping fuel. Of course, if you're just spending the day relaxing on the couch, you can definitely still whip up one of these plates. If you have family members traveling in from out of town, they'll be so thankful to wake up the day after Thanksgiving to be served even more delicious bites. In fact, these recipes are so good, you might just enjoy them more than the dinner you ate on November 26.
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Leftover Turkey Pasta Bake
Kick back, relax, and cozy up on the couch with this easy pasta bake. You deserve a night of easy cooking and good food after all that Thanksgiving prep!
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Spiced Sweet Potato-and-Peanut Purée
If you've got leftover roasted sweet potatoes, you can easily blend them into this quick, delicious, spicy soup.
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- 4/61
Potato Gnocchi with Pork Ragù
Leftover mashed potatoes can be easily mixed with some flour and egg into deliciously pillowy gnocchi.
- 5/61
Cranberry-Apple Hand Pies
Even though you're likely stuffed from pie, these cute mini pies will have you thinking twice. Use up any leftover cranberries and apples in this portable, sweet snack.
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Crustless Ham-and-Leek Quiche
This make-ahead quiche is the perfect brunch for your long Thanksgiving weekend. You can swap the ham for any protein (ahem, turkey), and you'll have most of the other ingredients at the ready too.
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- 7/61
Turkey and Wild Rice Soup
This works with leftover turkey or chicken. Wild rice and a touch of heavy cream give this delicious soup both body and flavor.
- 8/61
Sweet Potato Kale Frittata
The whole family will gobble up this delicious and easy frittata that is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
- 9/61
Leftover Turkey, Brie, Bacon, and Cranberry Sandwich
No brie or bacon in the house? Any other cheese or crispy topping will work just fine—that's the beauty of simple, easily customizable recipes like these.
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- 10/61
Turkey Curry Soup
With fresh lime juice and a healthy dollop of red curry paste, this bright soup is just the thing for recovering from Thursday's overly heavy meal.
- 11/61
Mini Carrot Pot Pies
These mini pot pies are an easy midday pick-me-up. Pack in extra leftover veggies for a more colorful bite.
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Leftover Turkey Enchiladas
Pumpkin seeds, cilantro, and spicy chiles give your extra turkey new life and flavor.
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- 13/61
Crispy Rosemary Potato Cakes
An easy used for mashed potatoes, these cakes need just a little panko, chopped onion, and herbs.
- 14/61
Turkey-Cobb Sandwiches
Lighten up! For the salad, use only white-meat turkey and reduce the bacon and blue cheese by half. For the dressing, replace the mayo with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Total savings? Nearly 80 calories and 8 grams of fat per sandwich.
- 15/61
Slow Cooker Turkey Pumpkin Chili
Make use of both leftover turkey and canned pumpkin with delicious fall chili.
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- 16/61
Buffalo Turkey Sandwich
Save this for when you're ready for an anti-Thanksgiving flavored meal. Mild turkey makes a great sub for chicken, and piles of spicy sauce and blue cheese make it mouthwateringly good.
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Sweet-Potato Spoon Bread with Caramel-Pecan Topping
This sweet take on spoon bread makes a delectably rich ending to any meal.
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Harvest Pumpkin Soup
To lighten up this soup, substitute low-sodium chicken broth and use only 3 tablespoons of heavy cream, and you'll save 68 calories, 8 grams of fat, and 453 milligrams of sodium per serving.
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- 19/61
Turkey Sloppy Joes
Classic sloppy joes get a healthy makeover. Making this family favorite dish with ground turkey instead of beef saves fat and calories, and makes it lean enough to enjoy any night of the week.
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Turkey Potpie
Keep it simple by creating a traditional casserole your family already loves: potpie. But this time, swap out the usual pie crust for light, flaky Greek phyllo.
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Moroccan Carrot Soup
This simple spiced carrot soup gets added crunch from toasted pumpkin seeds and a mellow flavor from a drizzle of creamy yogurt.
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- 22/61
Cranberry Turnovers
Use leftover cranberry sauce to create these special breakfast pastries.
- 23/61
Turkey Hash with Sunny-Side-Up Eggs
By using skinless turkey instead of the traditional corned beef, you save 53 calories, 8 grams of fat, and a whopping 606 milligrams of sodium per serving.
- 24/61
Cranberry Pie
Transform boring cranberry sauce into a delectable pie that no one can pass up.
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- 25/61
Shepherd's Pie
This is the quintessential comfort food, with layers of veggies and mashed potatoes. For a leaner option, use ground turkey instead of the traditional lamb or beef.
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Sweet Potato Pound Cake
Country Living-reader Kat Green from Marietta, Georgia, had us drooling with her sweet potato inspiration.
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Sweet Potato Waffles
Linda Owens Surfus, the Country Living reader who created this recipe, recommends grating orange into the batter for extra zest.
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- 28/61
Leftover Cranberry Sauce Overnight Oats
This is a fantastic and healthy way to turn that homemade cranberry sauce into a quick breakfast treat!
Get the recipe at Marisa Moore.
- 29/61
Thanksgiving Turkey Gumbo
This gumbo completely reinvents your turkey leftovers into this New Orleans crossover dish. Serve over a heaping mound of mashed potatoes or rice.
Get the recipe at Half Baked Harvest.
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Turkey and Stuffing Thanksgiving Tacos
These tacos serve two purposes: using up your leftovers and tasting fantastic. Get your favorite Thanksgiving fixings all in one handheld bite.
Get the recipe at Table for Two.
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- 31/61
The Ultimate Leftover Turkey Club
This hearty double-decker sandwich is loaded with leftover turkey, leftover cranberry sauce, and two types of cheese.
Get the recipe at Oh, Sweet Basil.
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Turkey Cranberry Brie Grilled Cheese
Say cheese! Every bite of this grilled-to-perfection sandwich is oozing with goodness.
Get the recipe at Will Cook for Smiles.
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Thanksgiving Leftover Balls
The only way to enjoy leftover stuffing, turkey, and mashed potatoes? Deep fry 'em and dip 'em in leftover gravy. Yum!
Get the recipe at Real Food by Dad.
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- 34/61
Turkey and Brie Croissant Panini
A buttery croissant makes this sandwich extra delicious. Of course, you could also use leftover rolls as the bun, too.
Get the recipe at Striped Spatula.
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Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Believe it or not, these stuffed sweet potatoes are healthy! The dish is gluten-free, paleo-friendly, and Whole30-approved.
Get the recipe at Eat the Gains.
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Thanksgiving Leftovers Quesadilla
Calling all cheese lovers: You'll love this melty meal. It's filled with Cheddar, Asiago, and pepper Jack cheese.
Get the recipe at The Cookie Rookie.
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- 37/61
Egg, Turkey, and Stuffing Muffins With Blender Hollandaise
Treat your holiday guests to a Black Friday breakfast with this recipe. It will keep everyone fueled for a long day of shopping.
Get the recipe at No Spoon Necessary.
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Leftover Turkey Sliders
The beauty about these handhelds? The prep time is only 15 minutes, and the recipe really makes the most of your leftover ingredients.
Get the recipe at Chelsea's Messy Apron.
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Turkey Stuffing Waffles
Low-carb has never tasted so good. As a bonus, each one of these waffles has fewer than 150 calories. (Yes, really!)
Get the recipe at My Life Cookbook.
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- 40/61
Thanksgiving Leftovers Sandwich
As this blogger perfectly puts it, the recipe "is everything you love about Thanksgiving between two slices of bread!" We're sold!
Get the recipe at Home Made Interest.
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Leftover Turkey Casserole
Consider this casserole one of the easiest ways to enjoy your leftovers. Just place everything into a dish, bake it, and devour.
Get the recipe at Dinner Then Dessert.
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Leftover Turkey Salad Sandwiches
Think of this as an upgraded version of a classic sandwich. In fact, swapping chicken for turkey might become your new favorite go-to.
Get the recipe at Recipe Girl.
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- 43/61
Thanksgiving Leftover Hot Pockets
Forget the store-bought Hot Pockets and whip up your own at home. These handhelds—loaded with roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce—are so much more delicious.
Get the recipe at Well Vegan.
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Turkey and Brie Monte Cristo Sandwiches
Serve up these sandwiches on your favorite bread. This blogger chose Italian slices, but any slice will be tasty.
Get the recipe at The Tasty Bite.
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Thanksgiving on a Roll
Basically, this sandwich is your plate from Turkey Day—just mixed together and piled high on a buttery roll. Take a look at all those layers!
Get the recipe at What Should I Make For...
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- 46/61
Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Shepherd's Pie
Use your extra turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy to cook up a crowd-favorite comfort food.
Get the recipe at Baked by Rachel.
- 47/61
Thanksgiving Leftovers Turkey Nachos
If your post Thanksgiving plans include lots of football, you'll need this easy recipe to snack on during the big games.
Get the recipe at Bless Her Heart Y'all.
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Deep Fried Loaded Mashed Potato Bites
Who wouldn't love a fried mashed potato bite loaded with bacon and cheese?
Get the recipe at The Cookie Rookie.
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- 49/61
Thanksgiving Leftovers Croque Madame
This beyond decadent sandwich might be more memorable than the main meal.
Get the recipe at Half Baked Harvest.
- 50/61
Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Pizza
Leftover cranberry sauce (yes, really!) is the unexpected pizza topping we never knew we needed.
Get the recipe at Recipe Runner.
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Cranberry Asiago Turkey Sandwiches
Snack on these super simple sandwiches to fuel you for a day of Black Friday shopping.
Get the recipe at Will Cook for Smiles.
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- 52/61
Turkey, Cranberry, and Almond Salad
For a post-Thanksgiving lunch, put that leftover bird to good use in this turkey-filled take on a chicken salad sandwich.
Get the recipe at Fashionable Foods.
- 53/61
Leftover Holiday Ham Pizza Rolls
These pizza rolls make a great snack. Plus, there's nothing better than the taste of melted cheese and ham.
Get the recipe at Create-Celebrate-Explore.
- 54/61
Creamy Turkey and Noodles
Leftover turkey should never go to waste. Try it in this casserole recipe for one (or two) weeknight dinners.
Get the recipe at Lil' Luna.
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- 55/61
Leftover Thanksgiving Casserole
Your Thanksgiving feast isn't over yet! Make this dish to continue savoring the holiday flavors.
Get the recipe at Life Tastes Good.
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Slow Cooker Turkey Quinoa Chili with Sweet Potatoes and Black Beans
You'll want to start adding chili and quinoa to everything once you taste this delicious meal.
Get the recipe at Well Plated.
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Thanksgiving Pizza
Using a puff pastry sheet, your Thanksgiving leftovers will transform into one of the best pizzas you've ever had.
Get the recipe at The Gunny Sack.
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- 58/61
One-Pot Cheesy Turkey Tamale Pie
Looking to spice up your leftover turkey? This recipe is the answer.
Get the recipe at Half Baked Harvest.
- 59/61
Turkey Barley Soup
The potato and carrot shreds make this a nice, hearty meal.
Get the recipe at The Food Charlatan.
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Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Pesto Panini
Try these sandwiches for a speedy way to use up leftover turkey. They'll be ready in under 15 minutes.
Get the recipe at Damn Delicious.
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- 61/61
Leftover Turkey and Wild Rice Soup
Reach for this warm soup the next time you're spending a chilly fall day indoors.
Get the recipe at Mountain Mama Cooks.
Who said Thanksgiving only lasts for one day?