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

A next-day Thanksgiving sandwich tastes better than the freshly served dinner, according to 66 percent of 2,000 U.S. residents surveyed by research group OnePoll in mid-November.

What foods make great leftovers? ›

  • Meatloaf. Though meatloaf is often restricted to the weeknight dinner table, it is a powerhouse leftover. ...
  • Lasagna. Sure, there's nothing better than lasagna coming out of the oven hot with bubbling cheese. ...
  • Pulled Pork. ...
  • Beef Stew. ...
  • Chili. ...
  • Frittatas, Quiches and Tarts.

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 is America's least favorite dish at Thanksgiving and what percentage? ›

According to its Thanksgiving 2023 Food Survey, cranberry sauce was the least liked (31.49%) of the traditional dishes.

How much does the average American family spend on Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Most expensive 2023 Thanksgiving dinner

The Western region, which includes California, comes in at a close second, with an average classic Thanksgiving dinner cost of $63.89.

What are the top 10 tips for leftovers? ›

Here are Love Food Hate Waste's 10 top leftover tips:
  • Get them into the fridge within two hours. ...
  • Eat them within two days. ...
  • Freeze your leftovers. ...
  • Label your leftovers. ...
  • Eat me first. ...
  • Take them for lunch. ...
  • Mix and match. ...
  • A little bit can go a long way.
Nov 23, 2016

How do you jazz up leftovers? ›

1) Transform last night's leftovers into a new meal.
  1. Rice + veggies + eggs = fried rice.
  2. Roast chicken leftovers = chicken salad.
  3. Turn soup into a casserole.
  4. Turn leftovers into tacos or burritos.
  5. Make a pizza.
  6. Whip up a frittata or quiche.
  7. Combine veggies, starch, and protein for a hash.
Oct 23, 2023

What is the most uneaten food? ›

The 8 most wasted foods & how to save them
  1. Potatoes. ...
  2. Bread. ...
  3. Rice. ...
  4. Bananas. ...
  5. Apples. ...
  6. Leafy greens. ...
  7. Milk. ...
  8. Cheese.

How do you decolonize Thanksgiving dinner? ›

According to Hooley, one of the most straightforward actions people can take to decolonise their Thanksgiving includes supporting Indigenous land acknowledgments and land back movements.

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.

What is turkey tetrazzini made of? ›

Try this American classic turkey casserole—turkey Tetrazzini—a hearty pasta bake that includes sautéed mushrooms, a cheesy creamy sauce, leftover turkey, peas, and egg noodles.

What is the most traditional Thanksgiving menu? ›

The classic Thanksgiving dinner includes old-time favorites that never change: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, and pie. But the way these dishes are made or added to is everchanging because of food trends and different dietary requirements.

How many side dishes should you have for Thanksgiving? ›

How many dishes should I serve with the turkey? For 4 people, choose 1-2 appetizers and 3 sides. For 8 people, choose 1-3 appetizers and 3 sides. For 16 people, choose 2-3 appetizers and 3 or more sides.

What percentage of people prefer Thanksgiving leftovers? ›

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

How many Americans eat leftovers? ›

72% of Americans say they enjoy eating leftovers. For many, their weekly diet always consists of leftovers. In fact, the survey found the average weekly diet is made up of five home-cooked meals, three leftover meals, three takeout meals and three meals out at restaurants.

What is the average American's favorite Thanksgiving side dish? ›

Mashed potatoes are the front-runner to be on the most plates this Thanksgiving.

What percentage of Americans eat turkey for their Thanksgiving meal? ›

According to the National Turkey Federation, an estimated 88 percent of Americans consume Thanksgiving turkey each year. Per the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), this translates to more than 46 million turkeys eaten on Thanksgiving.

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