30+ Recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers You Just Have to Try (2024)

November 23, 2020 by Leslie 14 Comments

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Looking for unique recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers? Here we’re sharing everything from updated classics to wild (but wonderful) ideas you may never have heard of.

From pot pie to bahn mi and even egg rolls, these 33 recipes might even be better than the original meal.

30+ Recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers You Just Have to Try (1)

Thanksgiving is this week!

And while we, like so many others, are planning the smallest Thanksgiving celebration we’ve ever had…my brain is already thinking about what to do with the leftovers.

Seriously, without the normal amount of guests to help gobble up the food, we’re going to be swimming in turkey.

Of course, there are the classic favorites. Recipes such as turkey hash and turkey sandwiches are simple to pull together and always yummy. But sometimes it’s just as exciting to get creative and pull together something different.

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A Few Tips for Making the Most out of Your Thanksgiving Leftovers

Ad-hoc meals from leftovers can be incredible. In fact, transforming leftovers into new meals is one of my favorite things to do.

And over the years, I’ve found a few items that help make the process much, much simpler. Here are my top five favorites:

Pyrex bakeware sets with lids: Cook your food in them and then then pop the lid on when you’re done. There’s no easier way to clean up!
Freezer Safe Casserole Dish: These are the BEST for leftovers that are getting a little on the old side. Prep your casserole, stick it in the freezer, and then it’s ready to defrost when you want to serve it.
Better Than Boullion is our go-to stock base. And we don’t just use it for soups. Add it to leftover rice with herbs for a change in flavor, or add it to your casseroles in place of salt to make your meal more robust.
Immersion Blender: One of the best ways to transform your leftovers is to puree it and add it to something else – particularly with vegetables. Immersion blenders are the best way to do just that.
Pastry Cutter: Ironically, I can’t imagine a kitchen without a pastry cutter…and I’ve never used it to make pastry! Like the immersion blender above, the pastry cutter is awesome for breaking up larger pieces of food to create a finer texture.

One year I used our pastry cutter to smash together leftover sausage, stuffing, and mashed potatoes to create potato pancakes…OMG those were some good eats.

Then again, there’s always the risk that those creations can turn into an inedible mess. What a waste.

If you’re not feeling quite up to risking a Frankenstein creation of your own, or even if you’re just bored with the same old hash and sandwiches, give one of these unique recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers a try!

30+ Delicious Ways to Use Up Those Thanksgiving Leftovers

The easiest cranberry cream cheese dip recipe

Cranberry cream cheese dip is a ridiculously easy appetizer that's ready in 5 minutes. This spread is everything to love - sweet, tart, salty, and a little bit spicy.

Take it up a notch by using cookie cutters to create a festive holiday shape and you'll look like a genius.

Turkey Meatballs from Thanksgiving Leftovers

Breathe new life into your Thanksgiving leftovers with this easy and delicious recipe that transforms turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes into flavorful turkey meatballs. It's a fantastic dinner idea that's not only creative but also scrumptious.

Cornbread Pudding with Bacon

Perfect as a main course or as a side dish, cornbread pudding with bacon is a sweet and savory way to use up your leftover cornbread, bacon, and cream.

Cranberry Brie Bites

Sweet and tangy cranberries with buttery brie and crescent roll dough come together to make a delicious appetizer that is sure to impress. The step-by-step instructions also make this easy cranberry brie bites recipe simple enough for anyone to make; whether it's ahead of time or at the last minute.