45 Delicious Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Retro Housewife Goes Green (2024)

Leftover Turkey

Use these delicious turkey recipes to use up all of that turkey meat you have leftover. These recipes can also be used with chicken and some can use ham.

45 Delicious Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Retro Housewife Goes Green (1)

Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Pesto Panini

Photo Credit: damndelicious.net

This loaded panini is one of the perfect ways to use up your leftover Thanksgiving turkey!

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Easy Turkey Pot Pie Recipe

This simple pot pie can use leftover turkey, chicken, or ham. Be sure to throw in some leftover veggies as well.

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SAVORY CREPES with THANKSGIVING TURKEY & STUFFING

Photo Credit: butterwithasideofbread.com

Looking for a breakfast that not only tastes great but also helps to clear out some of the Thanksgiving leftovers in the fridge? TheseSavory Crepes with Turkey and Stuffingare fantastic additions to the menu!

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Thanksgiving Leftovers Crescent Dough Bombs

Photo Credit: www.sizzlingeats.com

Need an easy recipe to use up some of yourThanksgiving leftovers? TheseThanksgiving Crescent Dough Bombsare the perfect bakedlunchorappetizer recipeto use up leftover turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and sweet potato casserole.

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Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Pizza

Photo Credit: www.bakedbyrachel.com

Homemade pizza crust topped off with mashed potatoes, turkey, stuffing, and more!

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Leftover Turkey Recipe

Photo Credit: cookthestory.com

This Leftover Turkey Pho Recipe is ready in under 15 minutes but you’d never know it. It has a huge depth of flavor, just like traditional Pho.

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Thanksgiving Leftovers Quiche Recipe

Photo Credit: www.sizzlingeats.com

ThisThanksgiving Leftovers Quiche recipefeatures cooked leftovers from a turkey holiday dinner. The addition of sweet potato casserole and cranberry sauce makes this quiche both sweet and savory.

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Leftover Turkey-Cranberry Monte Cristo Sandwiches

Photo Credit: noblepig.com

Leftover turkey becomes next-level deliciousness with these Leftover Turkey-Cranberry Monte Cristo Sandwiches.

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Turkey Enchiladas

Photo Credit: www.lecremedelacrumb.com

Easy cheesy turkey and black bean enchiladas! Perfect for using up leftover turkey!

45 Delicious Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Retro Housewife Goes Green (10)

Crockpot Turkey Chili Recipe

Photo Credit: www.passionforsavings.com

This crockpot turkey chili is a really easy way to use up some leftovers without much cooking involved.

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Turkey Corn Chowder Recipe

Photo Credit: www.cookincanuck.com

This turkey corn chowder recipe is my family’s favorite leftovers recipe. It’s hearty, satisfying, and healthy.

Thanksgiving Monte Cristo with Apricot Cranberry Dipping Sauce

Photo Credit: lifewithdee.com

Tired of turkey sandwiches or simply want to take it to a new level, try this Thanksgiving Monte Cristo. Add an apricot cranberry dipping sauce and you’ve got something truly special.

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Cheese Waffles With Creamed Ham

You can make these delicious waffles with ham, turkey, or chicken!

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Turkey Tetrazzini

Photo Credit: www.julieseatsandtreats.com

Your family will love this turkey tetrazzini recipe using up your leftover turkey.

Leftover Mashed Potatoes

Not sure how to use mashed potato leftovers? Try these delicious recipes.

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Homemade Gnocchi

Photo Credit: www.theartofdoingstuff.com

You'll want to make extra mashed potatoes to be sure you have some leftovers to make this homemade gnocchi.

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Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes

Photo Credit: www.justataste.com

Transform spare spuds into this quick and easy recipe for Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes!

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Mashed Potato Soup

Photo Credit: www.katiescucina.com

Mashed Potato Soupis a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes. This quick-cooking soup comes together in 30 minutes with just 6 ingredients. Even better, your family will never know they are eating the leftover mashed potatoes!

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Mom's Potato Rolls

Photo Credit: laurenslatest.com

Potato rolls are fluffy, soft, slightly sweet, and nearly perfect in every way! Plus, if you have leftover mashed potatoes, this is a great way to get rid of them!

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Fried Mashed Potato Balls

Photo Credit: www.mantitlement.com

TheseFried Mashed Potato Ballsare super creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside! A perfect appetizer recipe for using up leftover mashed potatoes!

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Easy Shepherd's Pie

Photo Credit: www.fivehearthome.com

Easy Shepherd's Pie is a one-pan skillet dinner loaded with savory ground beef and colorful veggies. And it's the perfect recipe for using up those leftover mashed potatoes!

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Leftover Mashed Potato Cakes + Apple Syrup

Photo Credit: mytherapistcooks.com

A perfect sweet+savory use for leftover mashed potatoes. These cakes fry quickly and the apple syrup is done by the time the potatoes are!

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Loaded Mashed Potato Bake

Photo Credit: foxeslovelemons.com

This Loaded Mashed Potato Bake casserole is the most delicious way to use up leftover mashed potatoes. It’s loaded with bacon, cheese, and sour cream!

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Pierogi Lasagna Rolls

Photo Credit: ourtableforseven.com

Lasagna rolls stuffed with mashed potatoes and cheese! Comfort food at its best.

Leftover Sweet Potatoes

While sweet potatoes can be used in some of the mashed potato recipes these recipes are made just for sweet potatoes and are so good!

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Sweet Potato Pancakes

Photo Credit: www.seriouseats.com

Leftover mashed sweet potatoes are not easy to reheat and serve without turning them too dry or worse, scorching them on the bottom of a pan. Instead of trying, use them as the base for moist, tender, and delicious pancakes for breakfast.

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Sweet Potato Biscuits Recipe

Photo Credit: homecookingmemories.com

Looking forThanksgiving leftover recipes?This easySweet Potato Biscuits recipeuses leftover sweet potato casserole – even if you make it withmarshmallows on top!

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Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

Photo Credit: thelemonbowl.com

Shepherd’s pie gets a flavorful twist with whipped sweet potatoes scented with maple and orange zest. Comfort food you can feel good about eating.

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Sweet Potato Spudnuts

Photo Credit: www.spoonforkbacon.com

Sweet Potato Spudnuts or Potato donuts are the lightest and fluffiest donuts you may ever eat.

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Spiced Cornmeal Sweet Potato Waffles

Photo Credit: brooklynsupper.com

Make breakfast wonderful with this delicious sweet potato waffle recipe made with aromatic spices, cubed sweet potatoes, and nutty cornmeal.

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Sweet Potato Croquettes

Photo Credit: whiteonricecouple.com

Crispy and flavorful, these sweet potato croquettes are a great way to enjoy this popular tuber. Kids love snacking on these! Think of them as a sweet potato hash brown.

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Sweet Potato Rolls

Photo Credit: numstheword.com

These rolls are a great way to use up old sweet potatoes or new sweet potatoes.

Leftover Stuffing/Dressing

No matter if you call it dressing or stuffing these are great ways to use up any you have leftover.

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Mashed Potato & Stuffing Patties

Photo Credit: pocketchangegourmet.com

TheseMashed Potato and Stuffing Pattiesare the perfect recipe to use up not only stuffing but also mashed potatoes.

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Leftover Stuffin' Muffins

Photo Credit: www.budgetbytes.com

These great little muffinsare a super flexible way to combine your leftovers into a “new” meal and avoid Thanksgiving burnout.

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Leftover Stuffing Waffles

Photo Credit: www.justataste.com

Transform leftover stuffing into Leftover Stuffing Waffles! This favorite Thanksgiving side gets repurposed into a hot, crispy canvas perfect for topping with cranberry sauce, gravy or even a fried egg.

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Turkey & Stuffing Turnovers

Photo Credit: www.afamilyfeast.com

Turkey & Stuffing Turnovers are a delicious (and easy!) way to use your Thanksgiving dinner leftovers to create a second meal your family will love!

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StuffingFrittata

Photo Credit: mylastbite.wordpress.com

The perfect post-Thanksgiving brunch recipe.

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Turkey, Stuffing and Cranberry Sausage Rolls

Photo Credit: culinaryginger.com

Turkey, Stuffing and Cranberry Sausage Rolls are a great use of Thanksgiving & Christmas turkey leftovers all rolled up in flaky puff pastry.

Leftover Cranberry Sauce

It doesn't matter if it's homemade cranberry sauce or store-bought, these recipes are great for using any you have leftover.

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Cranberry Cream Cheese Danish Recipe

These cranberry cream cheese danishes are made using crescent roll dough making them easy to whip up.

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Vintage Cranberry Banana Bread

This vintage recipe makes a delicious and unique banana bread using leftover cranberry sauce.

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Vintage Cranberry Glazed Ham Recipe

Leftover cranberry sauce makes an amazing glaze for ham and is so easy to make.

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Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies With Almond Glaze

Photo Credit: lovelylittlekitchen.com

If you do, these cranberry thumbprint cookies are perfect for that last bit of cranberry sauce that didn’t get gobbled up.

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Leftover Cranberry Sauce and Apple Crisp

Photo Credit: www.justataste.com

This quick and easy recipe stars a simple crisp topping crumbled over green apple splices tossed with leftover cranberry sauce.

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Leftover Cranberry Sauce Coffee Cake (with Coffee Glaze)

Photo Credit: foodmeanderings.com

This delicious cake is an amazing way to use up any leftover cranberry sauce.

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Cranberry Pecan Crusted Salmon

Photo Credit: peasandcrayons.com

Snag some yummy leftover cranberry sauce to whip up this sweet + savory salmon! This Cranberry Pecan Crusted Salmonmakes a perfect post-Thanksgiving lunch or dinner!

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Cranberry Noel Recipe

This delicious and light dessert uses leftover cranberry sauce and whipped cream.

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Cranberry Balsamic Glazed Cauliflower Wings

Photo Credit: cupcakesandkalechips.com

Cranberry Balsamic Cauliflower Wingsare greatgluten-free appetizersfor Thanksgiving or Christmas, or a tasty veggie side dish any time.

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Cranberry Sauce Grilled Cheese

Photo Credit: www.kelseysappleaday.com

This grilled cheese is like that brie en croûte appetizer everyone always loves, but you get your own entire sandwich. Gooey, melty cheese, perfectly toasted bread, and sweet-tart cranberry sauce–it’s just so right.

45 Delicious Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Retro Housewife Goes Green (2024)

FAQs

How long do Thanksgiving leftovers last in the refrigerator? ›

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.

Can I eat week old stuffing? ›

Leftover Stuffing and Gravy

Stuffing — which is often soaked through with meat drippings — shouldn't be consumed after a maximum of two days in the fridge. The same two-day rule should be applied to the gravy, which should always be brought to a rolling boil to properly kill bacteria before serving again.

How long is it safe to eat leftover turkey? ›

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. Turkey can be frozen for 3 to 4 months. Although safe indefinitely, frozen leftovers can lose moisture and flavor when stored for longer times in the freezer.

What is made from Thanksgiving leftovers? ›

Instead, try turning your leftovers into a casserole, like our turkey divan, our chicken stuffing casserole, or our turkey pot pie; a soup, like our turkey noodle soup, our leftover turkey & wild rice soup, or our homemade turkey stock (made from your turkey carcass); or something lighter or more flavorful than before, ...

Can you eat cooked turkey after 5 days? ›

Snyder points to the USDA FoodKeeper app for best guidance: The tool notes that refrigerated, cooked turkey should be eaten within 4 days. Eat frozen turkey leftovers within 6 months for premier quality.

Is 5 days too old for leftovers? ›

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.

Can I eat 2 week old stuffing? ›

Place it in a sealed container and store it in the refrigerator. Use or freeze the stuffing or stuffed poultry parts within 3 to 4 days. The leftover stuffing may be reheated in the microwave or in an oven set no lower than 325 °F. Use a food thermometer to make sure the center of the stuffing reaches 165 °F.

Can I eat 6 day old leftovers? ›

According to the FDA Food Code, all perishable foods that are opened or prepared should be thrown out after 7 days, maximum. No leftovers should survive in your fridge for longer than that. Some foods should be even be thrown away before the 7 day mark.

Why does stuffing go bad so fast? ›

People have a habit of leaving the food out on the buffet table long after the meal is finished. If turkey, stuffing, or gravy is left out at room temperature (40 to 140°F) for over 2 hours it may no longer be safe to eat. Bacteria prospers at this temperature, increasing the risk of foodborne illness.

Is a 3 year old frozen turkey still good? ›

Frozen Turkey

Turkeys can be kept in the freezer indefinitely. However, cook turkeys within 1 year for the best quality.

Can you eat 10 day old turkey? ›

Turkey typically lasts up to four days in the fridge before it goes bad. It can be stored in the freezer for up to four months before it starts to lose its flavor and texture.

Can you eat turkey 5 days after Thanksgiving? ›

Turkey: 3-4 days.

Eat turkey within three to four days of cooking. If you use the turkey in a new dish like a soup or casserole, only consume within those initial four days. Another option is freezing the cooked turkey. Turkey can last up to four more months if frozen.

What two food items were not present at the original Thanksgiving? ›

It is also worth noting what was not present at the first Thanksgiving feast. There were no cloudlike heaps of mashed potatoes, since white potatoes had not yet crossed over from South America. There was no gravy either, since the colonists didn't yet have mills to produce flour.

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 was the original Thanksgiving dish? ›

The first Thanksgiving banquet consisted of foods like venison, bean stew and hard biscuits. And while corn and pumpkin had their place on the table, they hardly resembled the cornbread stuffing and pumpkin pie we feast on today.

Do leftovers last 7 days? ›

Typically, leftovers will safely last for three to four days if they're refrigerated within two hours and packed in an airtight container. According to the Mayo Clinic, after this time frame, illness-causing bacteria are more likely to grow, even in the cold environment of a refrigerator.

How long is turkey stuffing good for in the fridge? ›

Dressing/stuffing: Like turkey, if stored properly, stuffing or dressing will be safe to eat for three to four days after cooking. It will last for about a month if stored properly in the freezer. Cranberry sauce – homemade and store-bought: Homemade cranberry sauce lasts seven to 10 days.

How long does leftover mashed potatoes last? ›

How Long You Can Keep Leftover Mashed Potatoes. Mashed potatoes should easily last three to five days in the fridge if stored correctly and within two hours of cooking. This means ensuring there isn't any moisture buildup under the lid that could encourage the growth of bacteria.

Is it safe to eat Thanksgiving leftovers on Monday? ›

The Monday after Thanksgiving means anything still in the refrigerator needs to go. This is your last chance to eat it, freeze it or dump what's left of the leftovers.

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