The Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes For Turkey, Potatoes And More
On Thanksgiving, there is no such thing as too much leftover turkey or too many unfinished sides. Every part of your holiday feast can be reused within the next few days for next-level lunches and dinners. For all your day-after-turkey-day needs, here are 25 casseroles, sandwiches, soups and more you can make with your Thanksgiving leftovers.
Mashed Potato Quesadillas
Quesadillas are one of the best Mexican dishes to make at home. This easy 10-minute recipe works with any leftover potatoes.
Day After Thanksgiving Paninis
It's important to know how long your Thanksgiving leftovers last. If you want to use it all up before it spoils, consider piling up all your extra food onto slices of crusty white or sourdough bread and baking until good and gooey.
Turkey Noodle Casserole
Comfy, cheesy and cozy casseroles are prime pick-me-up food. This recipe is a turkey take on a traditional tuna noodle casserole for any seafood skeptics.
Turkey Pot Pie
Commonly one of the best things to make with leftover chicken and pantry staples, chicken pot pie is simple to make and sure to warm any hungry belly. For a holiday twist, swap out chicken for leftover turkey.
Sage and Turkey Pot Pie Soup
If not in the mood to bake an entire pot pie, mix all the dish's traditional ingredients in a medium saucepan and top with a crispy cracker made with refrigerated pie crust.
Southwestern Turkey Noodle Bake
Bake leftover turkey alongside melty Mexican cheese, green chiles, tomatoes and onions to give your day-after-Thanksgiving dinner a signature Southwestern kick.
Miniature Leftover Turkey Sandwich
For a sandwich better than mom ever made, stack cold turkey, cranberry sauce, spinach and stuffing on halved dinner rolls. Elevate the easy sammy with homemade sage-infused aioli.
For the Miniature Leftover Turkey Sandwich recipe, click here.
Turkey Chili
A hearty lunch is well-deserved the day after a hectic holiday. We recommend you cook with beans and add leftover turkey into a flavorful pot of piping hot chili.
Thanksgiving Dinner Cupcakes
Cupcakes are made for more than vanilla frosting and boxed cake mix. These buttermilk biscuits are frosted with all your favorite Thanksgiving fixings: stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, turkey and gravy.
Leftover Turkey Taco Crescent Ring
Flaky crescent rolls provide a doughy crust for shredded turkey, cheddar cheese, taco seasoning and veggies to fill when cooking this retro recipe. For best results, bake until bubbly and serve with guacamole.
For the Leftover Turkey Taco Crescent Ring recipe, click here.
Hearty Turkey & Mashed Potato Bake
Covered in crispy fried onions, this turkey and mashed potato bake has a homey feel and creamy taste. Even before preparing this bake, set yourself on the right foot by following one of our best mashed potato recipes.
For the Hearty Turkey & Mashed Potato Bake recipe, click here.
Open-Faced Hot Turkey Sandwiches
If you're running low on bread, opt for this open-faced hot turkey sandwich. If you have more bread than you know what to do with, take your pick from these recipes to finish off a loaf.
For the Open-Faced Hot Turkey Sandwiches recipe, click here.
Leftover Turkey Chowder
Chock full of red potatoes, corn, cooked turkey and bacon, this chowder is peak New Englander lunch. Plus, it's easy to prepare and fully cooks in just half an hour.
Turkey Quesadillas
Thyme, paprika, crushed red pepper and allspice are all part of what makes this turkey take on a historic Mexican meal a post-holiday hit. Didn't make turkey? You can swap out leftover turkey with leftover chicken, ham, pot roast or whatever meat you have in the fridge.
Turkey Cuban Slider Sandwiches
Be warned. You may need to take a nap after snacking on these turkey Cuban sliders made with turkey, honey ham, yellow mustard, swiss cheese and pickles.
Leftover Turkey Paella
Typically made with seafood or chicken, paella can also benefit from perfectly cooked and carved turkey. Flavor yours with an apple sofrito made of apples, fennel and mushrooms.
Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich
Unlike other leftover sandwich recipes, this one calls for piling all the best side dishes and turkey up on a sandwich bun, not a slice of bread. Extra cranberry sauce is also cooked with mustard, ketchup and brown sugar for an unexpected homemade gravy.
Turkey and Stuffing Casserole
Casseroles are among the best holiday dishes to make ahead and freeze. They make for equally easy and filling cooking after the big day too.
BBQ Turkey Sandwiches
Parents listen up, this is one easy lunch kids will actually eat. You will also be glad to know these BBQ turkey sliders take just 20 minutes to prepare and cook. With the extra time, queue up that happy show you've been meaning to binge-watch and relax.
Ultimate Leftover Turkey Panini
Pumpernickel slices star in this ultimate leftover panini. Is it unseasonably warm where you are? This recipe also makes an excellent addition to any picnic basket menu.
Turkey Noodle Soup
Turkey noodle soup is one of the best soups to make in the fall. To taste this turkey noodle soup, cook powerhouse veggies in chicken broth, boil for three hours, add in turkey and noodles, cook for another 15 minutes and enjoy.
Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Nachos
Although the games may have been played Thanksgiving Day, game day food tastes just as good the day after. Case in point, these leftover turkey nachos.
For the Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Nachos recipe, click here.
Turnaround Turkey and Rice
Rice is the unsung hero of your pantry. Lay this flavorful turkey recipe over a bed of plain white rice for an easy and fail-proof way to fill your belly.
Turkey Burgers With Cranberry Chutney and Brie
Counted among our best burger recipes, this turkey burger is topped with a homemade cranberry chutney you can make with any berries left over from yesterday's pie.
For the Turkey Burgers With Cranberry Chutney and Brie recipe, click here.
Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Casserole
It's up to you to decide whether you prepare this leftover casserole the day of Thanksgiving or make it a primetime dish alongside some of the other 101 best Thanksgiving recipes.
For the Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Casserole recipe, click here.
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