30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (2024)

Are you wondering what to do with all that leftover turkey this holiday season? Here are the 30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes you need to try this year.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (1)

This post may contain affiliate links.You can read my full disclosurehere.

Love printables?Sign uphereto access my free resource librarythat has meal planning printables such as shopping lists and favorite meal worksheets.

Thanksgiving is one of my very favorite holidays. It could be because my youngest son was born 2 days before which makes it extra special for me. But, it’s also the tradition of watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, before we enjoy a delicious meal with the family gathered together.

It’s something I look forward to every year. But, what I don’t look forward to is trying to figure out what to do with all that leftover turkey, stuffing, and cranberries, which is why I decided to compile a list of the best recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers. It will not only help me use up all that yummy food from turkey day but may help you out this year as well.

A quick tip: Make your food budget stretch by purchasing your turkey when it goes on sale just before the holidays. I like to purchase an extra turkey to keep in the freezer and use it for many different meals during the holiday season. This is the perfect way to help you save some money on your grocery bill.

Looking for more ways to save on groceries:
  • 6 Easy Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half
  • How to Monthly Meal Plan to Save Time and Money
  • 27 Frugal Meal Ideas When Money is Tight
  • 28 Family-Friendly Dinner Ideas That Cost $5 or Less

How long do Thanksgiving Leftovers Last?

As long as you are keeping your Thanksgiving leftovers refrigerated, they can be stored for up to 4 days without going bad. If you know that they won’t be used up in that amount of time, then toss them in the freezer to enjoy later. They should last for 4-6 months in the freezer.

Looking for more holiday leftover recipes? Here are some easy ways to use up that leftover holiday ham.

You May Also Like:
  • 34 Best Pie Recipes for Thanksgiving
  • 20 Easy and Frugal Fall Desserts
  • 28 Easy Holiday Air Fryer Recipes

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes

Here are 30 of the best Thanksgiving leftover recipes. You will find ways to use up leftover turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and cranberries. Everything from soups, casseroles, and desserts.

Recipes with Leftover Turkey

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (2)

White Bean Leftover Turkey Chili- Served From Scratch

Our new favorite leftover turkey recipe is this warm and comforting White Bean Leftover Turkey Chili. It’s creamy (without cream), flavorful, and can be on the table in just a little over 30 minutes!

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (3)

Leftover Turkey Chili– The Clean Eating Couple

Leftover Turkey Chili is one of the best leftover turkey recipes. Easy to make, healthy, and loaded with flavor – this is a must-try! Make it in your crockpot, instant pot, or on the stove. This simple recipe is perfect for Thanksgiving leftovers.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (4)

Cheesy Baked Turkey Enchiladas– Dish ‘n’ the Kitchen

Turkey Enchiladas are a cheesy baked Mexican-inspired rolled tortilla dish made with leftover turkey, salsa Roja, and a three-cheese blend. They are the perfect way to use up leftover turkey.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (5)

Leftover Turkey Cannelloni– Sustain My Cooking Habit

Put those roast turkey leftovers to use with this recipe for making a delicious batch of leftover turkey cannelloni.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (6)

Cheater” Leftover Turkey Pot Pie– Two Healthy Kitchens

This super-fast “Cheater” Leftover Turkey Pot Pie is ready in less than 20 minutes and leverages tons of shortcuts to make pot pie easier than ever.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (7)

After the holidays, try this leftover turkey recipe for shepherd’s pie. Use turkey leftovers, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and more from Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (8)

Old Fashioned Turkey Tetrazzini– Lana’s Cooking

Turn those Thanksgiving leftovers into one of the most delicious casseroles ever! Combine chopped roasted turkey and pasta with a creamy, cheesy mushroom sauce to create a hearty dinner your whole family will be excited about.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (9)

Leftover Turkey Recipe– The Typical Mom

These super easy and flavorful turkey dumplings are everyone’s favorite way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (10)

Creamy Turkey Casserole– Little Sunny Kitchen

You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for a turkey casserole recipe to use up your leftover turkey. This leftover turkey casserole is packed with pasta, veggies, and turkey chunks, all folded in with a simple, creamy, cheesy, savory sauce. Top your casserole with some buttery Ritz crackers for the perfect finish.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (11)

Turkey Reuben– Kid Tested Recipes

Perfect for those Thanksgiving day carved turkey leftovers. This Turkey Reuben includes melted cheese, yummy sauerkraut, and our homemade version of Russian dressing which combine to make this sandwich a special treat your family is sure to love.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (12)

Turkey Salad Recipe– Dinner at the Zoo

This turkey salad is a blend of diced turkey and colorful veggies, all tossed in a savory creamy dressing. A super easy and delicious way to use up leftover turkey with plenty of options to customize the flavors.

Leftover Turkey Soup Recipes

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (13)

Turkey Stock-The Forked Spoon

Learn how to make turkey stock using the leftover bones, carcass, neck, and giblets from your Thanksgiving turkey. Use it to make nourishing soups and stews or freeze it for later.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (14)

Turkey Noodle Soup– iFood Real

Easy, simple but delicious Turkey Noodle Soup is made with leftover turkey, basic veggies, and pasta. It is ready in about 30 minutes and is a year-round family favorite.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (15)

Turkey and Rice Soup– Julie’s Eats & Treats

Do you have leftover turkey from the holidays? Turn it into this quick and easy Turkey and Rice Soup! It’s thick, and creamy and warms you from the inside out. Loaded with turkey, rice, and carrots and perfectly seasoned for an easy dinner recipe.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (16)

Leftover Turkey Tortellini Soup– Sonshine Kitchen

Don’t let that leftover turkey go to waste this holiday season. Use that, plus a few extra vegetables you may have, to make a delicious soup.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (17)

Turkey Tortilla Soup– Chef Savvy

This super easy Turkey Tortilla Soup is loaded with tons of Mexican flavor and goes great with leftover roasted Thanksgiving turkey.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (18)

Tex-Mex Turkey Soup– Valerie’s Kitchen

Tex-Mex Turkey Soup is a warm and comforting post-holiday meal. This quick and easy turkey soup recipe is a delicious way to make use of your Thanksgiving leftovers.

Recipes with Leftover Stuffing

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (19)

Leftover Stuffing Waffles– If You Give a Blonde a Kitchen

Leftover Thanksgiving stuffing waffles are a perfect (and easy) breakfast to make the day after Thanksgiving.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (20)

Turkey Leftover Stuffing Muffins– Made in a Pinch

This Leftover Turkey Stuffing Muffins Recipe will make your leftovers feel new again.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (21)

Amish Turkey Stuffing– Thrifty Frugal Mom

This delicious turkey stuffing is soft and moist on the inside and delightfully crispy on the outside! It’s made with simple ingredients and is a vintage recipe that you are sure to love.

Mashed Potatoes and Squash Recipes

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (22)

Mashed Potato Croquettes– Platter Talk

Potato Croquettes are the only excuse you need to make too many mashed potatoes this Thanksgiving! You’ll want plenty of leftovers to make this recipe.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (23)

Chocolate Mashed Potato Cake– I Heart Eating

This Chocolate Mashed Potato Cake recipe takes leftover mashed potatoes and turns them into a moist chocolate cake that’s so light and fluffy!

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (24)

Leftover Butternut Squash Pizza– Smack of Flavor

If you have leftover mashed butternut squash from Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, make this creative recipe to use up leftovers. If you’re sick of the same flavors from the holidays and want something different, this savory butternut squash pizza with goat cheese, prosciutto, and balsamic glaze is perfect.

Recipes to Make with Leftover Cranberries

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (25)

Turkey and Cranberry Panini-The Foodie Physician

These delicious Turkey and Cranberry Paninis are nice and toasty on the outside and warm and melty on the inside. They’re utterly irresistible and are the perfect vehicle to use up your leftover Thanksgiving turkey.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (26)

Turkey Cranberry Sliders– Confessions of Parenting

Turkey cranberry sliders are the perfect addition to your leftover turkey recipes. These are simple to make and taste amazing. With the Hawaiian rolls and garlic mustard, you can’t beat this Thanksgiving leftover treat!

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (27)

Cranberry Sauce Quick Bread- Strength and Sunshine

Use up your favorite holiday sauce in this healthy quick bread recipe. This Cranberry Sauce Quick Bread uses homemade cranberry sauce and is gluten-free, vegan, allergy-free, and perfect for breakfast, brunch, a snack, or dessert!

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (28)

Cinnamon Roll Waffles With Cranberry Sauce-Dancing Through the Rain

These Cinnamon Roll Waffles with Maple Cranberry Sauce are the perfect way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers. With delicious fall flavors, this sweet and tart treat will leave you wanting more!

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (29)

Holiday Leftovers Breakfast Casserole-Sense and Edibility

Holiday leftovers are better when they’re baked in a sweet breakfast casserole. The perfect combo of orange and cranberries baked with rolls.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (30)

Leftover Turkey Casserole– Wholesome Yum

Trying to decide what to do with leftover turkey? Make this easy leftover turkey casserole recipe with mayonnaise. Common ingredients & 10 mins prep.

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (31)

Cranberry Puff Pastry Tart-Barley and Sage

These cranberry puff pastry tarts are an easy, savory treat that comes together in just 20 minutes. They’re a great way to use up leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving.

Here are some more easy and delicious recipes to make:
    • 26 Quick and Easy Pork Recipes–Simple pork recipes that are so delicious they will please the pickiest of eaters.
    • 28 Easy Shortcut Rotisserie Chicken Dinner Ideas–Skip takeout and use a $5 Rotisserie Chicken for dinner instead.
    • 35 Quick and Easy Ground Beef Dinner Ideas–simple and inexpensive recipes to get dinner on the table fast.
    • Best 20-Minute Meals for Busy Weeknights–easy dinners that take less than 20 minutes your family will love.
    • 85 Easy Budget-Friendly Meal Ideas–that are kid-friendly and perfect for hectic weeknights.

Don’t forget to sign up for myFree Resource Libraryto grab my meal-planning printables. You will also get access to lots more printables all completely free for you to print out and enjoy!

Follow me onPinterest for more recipes and meal-planning inspiration

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (32)

30 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes - Budgeting for Bliss (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Lilliana Bartoletti

Last Updated:

Views: 6776

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (53 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Lilliana Bartoletti

Birthday: 1999-11-18

Address: 58866 Tricia Spurs, North Melvinberg, HI 91346-3774

Phone: +50616620367928

Job: Real-Estate Liaison

Hobby: Graffiti, Astronomy, Handball, Magic, Origami, Fashion, Foreign language learning

Introduction: My name is Lilliana Bartoletti, I am a adventurous, pleasant, shiny, beautiful, handsome, zealous, tasty person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.