Even when we don’t host a big group for Thanksgiving, I still go all out and prepare a big turkey with several side dishes.
My philosophy is that if I’m going to spend two days cooking, I want to be able to take a few days off afterwards and enjoy some leftovers. The problem I run into every year is that sometime around dinner of day two, I’m tired of having a repeat of the same meal.
You see, in sheer laziness, I layer all of the leftovers into a casserole dish, bake it, and continue eating from it until it’s gone or I’m so sick of eating the same thing I shove it to the back of the fridge where it is forgotten until we smell something strange every time we open the fridge door.
This year I decided to go in search of some more creative leftover recipes so that I could still make use of the extra food that’s already prepared without getting bored with the flavors.
Thanks to the ingenuity of several different cooks, I found a great variety of recipes that transform traditional Thanksgiving fare into exotic and delicious new dishes. Here are my favorites.
Creative Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes
Looking for ways to reinvent your Thanksgiving leftovers? Check out these creative recipes for a fresh take on turkey, cranberry sauce, and more.
Leftover Turkey Recipes
Turkey Cranberry Sliders
This Instant Pot Turkey Chili is a delicious way to use leftover turkey. It's Tex-Mex flavor is amazing anytime, not just post-Thanksgiving.
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Healthy Turkey Tetrazzini
This Healthy Turkey Tetrazzini is a lightened-up version of the classic dish. It’s made with turkey, zoodles, and a creamy Parmesan cheese sauce. This dish is perfect for a weeknight meal or to serve to guests.
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Turkey Shepherd’s Pie with Cauliflower
Turkey Shepherd’s Pie with Cauliflower is a great way to use Thanksgiving leftovers, or make it with chicken if you prefer.
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Leftover Turkey-Cranberry Monte Cristo Sandwiches
Leftover turkey becomes next-level deliciousness with these Leftover Turkey-Cranberry Monte Cristo Sandwiches. You almost can’t wait to get up the next day and make them!
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Instant Pot Turkey Chili
This Instant Pot Turkey Chili is a delicious meal that’s the perfect cold weather meal. Not only is it a hot, delicious dish, but it has just the right amount of heat from the spices too.
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Leftover Mashed Potato Recipes
Transform those mashed potatoes into something entirely new with these clever recipes.
Leftover Mashed Potato Rolls
Leftover Mashed Potato Rolls are a sweet and delicious way to use up any flavor of leftover mashed potatoes. Our #1 favorite way to use up leftovers!
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Mashed Potato Puffs
Work some magic on your mashed potatoes with mashed potato puffs! These loaded potato puffs will breathe some new life into your
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Loaded Mashed Potato Cakes
These loaded mashed potato cakes are the perfect use for leftover mashed potatoes! So crispy on the outside and fluffy inside.
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Leftover Stuffing Recipes
Leftover Stuffing Cakes
Transform extra Thanksgiving stuffing into easy leftover stuffing cakes. Crisp on the outside, cheesy on the inside, and perfect with eggs.
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Leftover Stuffing Muffins
Use up your Thanksgiving leftovers in these customizable savory Leftover Stuffing Muffins. The perfect grab-and-go breakfast!
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Leftover Stuffing Quiche Recipe – Food.com
A tasty and creative I came up with to use up holiday leftovers!
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Leftover Sweet Potato Casserole Recipes
Sweet Potato Casserole Muffins for #SundaySupper
The Thanksgiving feast has ended. Everyone is full and their annual cravings are satisfied. All the leftovers are carefully packed and put away. The next morning you open the fridge
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Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes: Sweet Potato Biscuits Recipe
Looking for Thanksgiving leftover recipes? This easy Sweet Potato Biscuits recipe uses leftover sweet potato casserole – even if you make it with marshmallows on top! I know everyone is saying it, but I’m gonna say it too:
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Sweet Potato Pancakes
Sweet Potato Pancakes – Made from leftover sweet potato casserole, these delicious pancakes are some of the best pancakes you will ever eat!
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I hope you’ve found some inspiration to bring new life to your leftovers from Thanksgiving!
While those look good I make sure I buy just enough to eat one more time. I hate leftovers and hardly ever eat something two days in a row.
Those recipes look delicious. I would love some stuffing today!
Most creative leftover recipes I have ever seen. I am going to have to try the Sheppard’s Pie, sounds delicious.
Hi Corinne –
We were on our way home from Grandma’s and stopped for lunch and their special was a turkey sandwich. We were like… REALLY?!?!?!
These are great creative ways to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner over and over again. Hugs, Holly
These look delicious, I am going to have to try the stuffed peppers
Mashed potato spring rolls sound really interesting. I will have to take some time and look through all of these again. I feel the same way as you do with the leftovers. It is better to be a little creative.
We don’t usually do anything with our leftovers. We just eat it that way. Well the adults do, the kids don’t eat leftovers.These are some great ideas.
Mashed potato spring rolls sound interesting! I was just thinking about something similar this morning as I was deciding on how to eat turkey for lunch and dinner.
Those really are creative leftovers. All we really had leftover this year was turkey so I envision a lot of soup and pot pies. P
I honestly thought I would get to come up with some leftover recipes, but there is not much left over and everyone is already fighting over what is left.
My favorite is turkey shepherds pie.
They all sound amazing! I just wish I had taken some leftovers home last night
Very creative! this is definitively very useful,I am sharing around. We don’t know what to do with all the leftovers, and your suggestions are way better that reheating
These look fabulous, and are very unique. I am definitely going to give them a try!
Perfect timing for me, we’ve got a LOT of leftovers, as I’m sure many do and I was so wondering what to make out of them that would be original and tasty too. 😉
Such wonderful ideas and I’m really eyeing that cranberry Monte Cristo sandwich.
I always need ideas for left overs instead of just using them the same way every year! thanks for the tips!
I’m intrigued. I think I am going to check out the Mashed Potato Spring Rolls recipe first!!
These are great ideas. I am thankful I don’t have to deal with leftovers, we have a potluck style Thanksgiving dinner and most of the food disappears.