The 8 Best Ways To Use Your Thanksgiving Leftovers

Thanksgiving dinner may be the main event, but the leftovers are where you can really get creative. After everyone has gone home and the dishes are finally done, your refrigerator is probably packed with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. However, eating the same reheated meal for three days gets old fast.

Fortunately, Thanksgiving leftovers can become entirely new meals with surprisingly little effort. From crispy breakfasts to upgraded sandwiches, here are some delicious ways to give your holiday feast a second act.

1. Turn Leftover Stuffing Into Crispy Breakfast Bites

Stuffing deserves better than being microwaved into a sad little pile the next morning. Instead, turn it into crispy breakfast patties or bites by mixing it with an egg and forming it into small portions. Bake or pan-fry them until the outside becomes golden and crunchy. 

Serve your crispy stuffing bites alongside eggs, bacon, or fresh fruit for an easy brunch that barely resembles last night’s dinner.

2. Give Turkey the Ultimate Sandwich Makeover

A turkey sandwich is practically a Thanksgiving tradition of its own, but there’s no reason to settle for turkey and mayonnaise. 

Pile sliced turkey onto sourdough with cranberry sauce, stuffing, greens, and a melty cheese like brie or cheddar. Toast everything until the bread gets crisp and the cheese turns gooey. You can also transform the same ingredients into sliders, wraps, or paninis, depending on what you have available.

3. Make Mashed Potatoes Crispy Instead of Creamy

Mashed potatoes are delicious on Thanksgiving, but their texture can become less exciting after a night in the refrigerator. The solution is often to add some crunch.

Mix cold mashed potatoes with cheese, herbs, and an egg before forming them into small patties. Cook them in a skillet until both sides are crisp and golden. Serve your potato cakes alongside eggs for breakfast or use them as a savory side dish with dinner.

4. Transform Cranberry Sauce Into a Sweet-and-Tart Upgrade

That airtight container of cranberry sauce hiding in the refrigerator has much more potential than another turkey dinner. Its combination of sweetness and acidity makes it surprisingly versatile.

Swirl cranberry sauce into yogurt or oatmeal, spread it over toast, or spoon it onto pancakes. For something savory, pair it with brie, goat cheese, or sharp cheddar and serve on crackers. You can even add a spoonful to a grilled cheese sandwich for a festive upgrade.

5. Build a Thanksgiving Leftover Pizza

Pizza is a blank canvas for leftovers, so forget the pepperoni for a night and raid the refrigerator instead. Start with pizza dough, naan, flatbread, or even a large tortilla, then add your favorite Thanksgiving extras.

Try using a thin layer of gravy instead of traditional tomato sauce, followed by shredded turkey, roasted vegetables, and dollops of stuffing. Finish everything with mozzarella or another melty cheese. After baking, drizzle a little cranberry sauce over the top for a sweet-and-savory finishing touch.

6. Turn Turkey and Vegetables Into Cozy Soup

When you’ve reached the point where you can’t look at another turkey sandwich, soup can completely change the experience. Shred leftover turkey and combine it with roasted carrots, green beans, corn, or whatever vegetables survived Thanksgiving dinner.

Add broth, herbs, and your choice of noodles, rice, or beans to create a hearty meal. Soup is particularly helpful when you have only small portions of several dishes left. Make a big batch and freeze a few servings for an easy dinner on a cold night.

7. Make a Thanksgiving-Inspired Breakfast Hash

You can absolutely eat Thanksgiving leftovers for breakfast. A hearty hash is one of the easiest ways to transform several savory leftovers at once.

Chop turkey, roasted potatoes, vegetables, and even stuffing into bite-sized pieces. Toss everything into a hot skillet and cook until the edges become crispy. Top your creation with fried or poached eggs, then add hot sauce, shredded cheese, or fresh herbs. 

8. Build the Ultimate Leftover Pot Pie

Pot pie might be the ultimate destination for Thanksgiving leftovers because practically anything savory can go inside. Combine shredded turkey with leftover gravy and vegetables, then transfer the mixture to a baking dish.

Cover everything with pie crust, puff pastry, or refrigerated biscuit dough and bake until the filling is bubbling and the topping is golden. You can even prepare an extra pie and freeze it for later.

Give Thanksgiving Dinner a Second Act

A refrigerator full of leftovers doesn’t have to mean repeating Thanksgiving dinner all weekend. With a little creativity, yesterday’s turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and cranberry sauce can become pizzas, soups, breakfast hashes, and comforting pot pies.

Mix and match whatever you have available. After all, transforming Thanksgiving leftovers into something unexpectedly delicious is almost as satisfying as the original meal.