I love Thanksgiving dinner, but honestly? The day after might be my favorite part. There are 26 ridiculously good ways to turn all those containers in your fridge into something that tastes completely new and amazing. From cozy soups to crispy, cheesy bites, I've got you covered.
1. Leftover Cranberry Sauce Muffins
Cranberry sauce might play a supporting role at the big dinner, but in these muffins it is the star of the show. The texture is spot on with that perfect combo of tender, moist, and crumbly. The sweet, tangy flavor of your leftover sauce really gets a chance to shine.
2. Leftover Turkey Salad With Cranberry Vinaigrette
Let's take a little break from all the rich, heavy dishes and focus on this beauty. I know salads aren't always the most exciting thing on the table, but this one definitely is. It features baby spinach, turkey, crumbled goat cheese, avocado slices, pomegranate seeds, candied pecans, and a bright cranberry vinaigrette.
3. Creamy Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
This shepherd's pie uses up all the best parts of your Thanksgiving dinner. The inside is a creamy, delicious mix of leftover turkey and tons of veggies. Let's be real, the best part is that crispy potato crust made from your leftover mashed potatoes.
4. Thanksgiving Leftovers Quesadilla
Got tortillas? Skip the plain old sandwich and make a quesadilla instead. It's just as easy, but the results are a million times better. These are filled with turkey, cheese, sage, and cranberry sauce for the perfect sweet and savory bite.
5. Fried Mashed Potato Balls
Trust me, these mashed potato balls are the appetizer you didn't know you needed. I am absolutely blown away by how incredibly yummy they are. You start by mixing your leftover spuds with cheese, chives, and bacon, which is already a win. Then you roll them up, coat them in breadcrumbs, and fry them until perfectly golden. How amazing is that?
6. Leftover Turkey Tacos
These turkey tacos are the Thanksgiving meets Tex Mex mashup you didn't know you were missing. Perfectly seasoned shredded turkey gets piled into soft tortillas with cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, avocado, and sour cream. I could honestly eat these all day long.
7. Leftover Cranberry Sauce Bars
Get ready for another dessert that will totally knock your socks off. These cranberry sauce bars are soft, chewy, and incredibly delicious. With a buttery base and a sweet, ooey gooey cranberry filling, they are absolutely spectacular.
8. Thanksgiving Leftover Wontons with Cranberry Salsa
This recipe gives your classic Thanksgiving flavors a wonderful Asian twist. A mix of turkey, stuffing, cream cheese, and gravy is stuffed into wonton wrappers and fried until perfectly crisp. If that sounds too rich, don't worry, the sweet, tart, and spicy cranberry salsa is the perfect balance.
9. Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup
Chicken noodle soup is a classic comfort food we all adore. During Thanksgiving season, swap that chicken for turkey. Trust me, this soup is just as cozy and comforting as the traditional version. The best part is you finally get to use up all that leftover meat.
10. Leftover Stuffing Waffles
Turn that leftover stuffing into the most delightful breakfast you'll have all week. Just mix it with eggs and chicken stock and suddenly you have a brilliant waffle batter. Genius, right? Want to clear out even more leftovers? Serve these waffles with your extra cranberry sauce and a drizzle of gravy.
11. Leftover Cranberry Sauce and Apple Crisp
Granny Smith apples and leftover cranberry sauce team up to create the ultimate fall dessert. I'm talking a crumbly, buttery oat topping over a crisp and fruity filling. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and watch it disappear in seconds.
12. Turkey Cobb Salad
Looking for something a little lighter after that huge meal? This cobb salad is a total lifesaver. It's packed with hearty chunks of turkey, apples, pecans, and cranberries that taste just like autumn on a plate. Toss it with some greens and give your stomach a well deserved break.
13. Low Carb Cajun Leftover Turkey Gumbo
This isn't your grandma's classic Southern gumbo. It delivers a serious punch of Cajun spice and flavor, but it's so much easier to make, especially with Thanksgiving leftovers. It combines leftover turkey with spicy sausage and plenty of hearty herbs and seasonings.
14. Leftover Turkey Panini
Grab that panini press from the back of the cupboard because you need this sandwich in your life. It gets perfectly crispy on the outside while staying tender inside, which is a truly mouthwatering combo. Inside you'll find turkey, bacon, cranberry sauce, sage, goat cheese, and melty Muenster.
15. Turkey Enchiladas
Just look at how colorful and bright these enchiladas are! You can tell just by looking at them that they're going to be amazing. They're filled with turkey, beans, jalapenos, shredded cheese, cotija cheese, and pepitas. These enchiladas are mega loaded in the best way possible.
16. Leftover Turkey Chili
Here's another amazing way to use up that extra turkey, because there is always extra turkey. This chili combines ground turkey with beans, tomato sauce, veggies, and seasonings for something truly flavorful. Pile on some cheddar, scallions, and a dollop of sour cream and you are set.
17. Leftover Pumpkin Pie Milkshake
Last but certainly not least is an extraordinary milkshake for an extraordinary you. Made with milk, leftover pumpkin pie, and ice cream, this milkshake is so freakin' delicious it might make you emotional. Whoever thought to blend leftover pie into a milkshake is a pure genius.
18. Turkey Cranberry Wrap
I am such a sucker for a good wrap. I think they are so underrated. If you love them like I do, you'll go crazy for this one. Chunks of turkey, cream cheese, lettuce, and cranberry sauce are all rolled up in a soft tortilla for a healthy but delicious burrito ish dish. It's light and refreshing, just what you need after a heavy meal.
19. Turkey Dumpling Stew
You've loved chicken and dumplings, so why not give turkey a turn? This stew is comfort food through and through. It's full of flavorful bits of turkey and fluffy dumplings in a rich, herby broth. It's exactly what a cold November night calls for.
20. Leftover Roast Turkey Soup
Need something cozy to chase away the chill? I've got you. This soup is packed with chunks of turkey and vegetables swimming in a rich, creamy broth. One spoonful will warm you right up and make your heart happy. Honestly, throw in all the veggies you can find.
21. Leftover Turkey Pot Pie
Pot pies are basically a warm hug in food form. You get that rich, creamy filling loaded with meat and veggies all tucked under a buttery, flaky crust. Using Bisquick keeps the whole thing ridiculously simple. One bite and you'll feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
22. Kentucky Hot Brown
We are not done with leftover turkey sandwiches yet! The Kentucky Hot Brown is something completely different and just as delicious. It layers leftover turkey over white bread with lots of melty cheese in a rich mornay sauce. Top it all off with bacon, tomatoes, and even more cheese, and say hello to your new favorite sandwich.
23. Leftover Turkey Tetrazzini
Who can say no to a creamy, dreamy tetrazzini? I know I can't. The sauce is made from cream of mushroom soup, milk, and a whole lot of cheese, which makes it outrageously rich. It's what makes this pasta dish so completely addictive.
24. Leftover Turkey Sandwich
Okay, let's start with the one everyone thinks of first. This isn't a sad pile of turkey shoved between two slices of bread. Oh no. This sandwich is cheesy, gooey, and I'm pretty sure it might just outshine the actual holiday meal itself.
25. Cornbread Pudding
Have a ton of cornbread left over? This recipe is exactly what you need. Loaded with fresh herbs, green onions, and cheese, this pudding will absolutely blow your taste buds away. It gets all crisp on the outside with a soft, custard like center.
26. Leftover Thanksgiving Pizza
No matter the day or the occasion, pizza is always a good idea. This time, swap your usual toppings for all those Thanksgiving leftovers. I'm talking stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and turkey, the works. You already know these flavors go great together, so it's guaranteed to be a hit.