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

Table of Contents
Leftover Turkey Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Pesto Panini Easy Turkey Pot Pie Recipe SAVORY CREPES with THANKSGIVING TURKEY & STUFFING Thanksgiving Leftovers Crescent Dough Bombs Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Pizza Leftover Turkey Recipe Thanksgiving Leftovers Quiche Recipe Leftover Turkey-Cranberry Monte Cristo Sandwiches Turkey Enchiladas Crockpot Turkey Chili Recipe Turkey Corn Chowder Recipe Thanksgiving Monte Cristo with Apricot Cranberry Dipping Sauce Cheese Waffles With Creamed Ham Turkey Tetrazzini Leftover Mashed Potatoes Homemade Gnocchi Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes Mashed Potato Soup Mom's Potato Rolls Fried Mashed Potato Balls Easy Shepherd's Pie Leftover Mashed Potato Cakes + Apple Syrup Loaded Mashed Potato Bake Pierogi Lasagna Rolls Leftover Sweet Potatoes Sweet Potato Pancakes Sweet Potato Biscuits Recipe Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie Sweet Potato Spudnuts Spiced Cornmeal Sweet Potato Waffles Sweet Potato Croquettes Sweet Potato Rolls Leftover Stuffing/Dressing Mashed Potato & Stuffing Patties Leftover Stuffin' Muffins Leftover Stuffing Waffles Turkey & Stuffing Turnovers StuffingFrittata Turkey, Stuffing and Cranberry Sausage Rolls Leftover Cranberry Sauce Cranberry Cream Cheese Danish Recipe Vintage Cranberry Banana Bread Vintage Cranberry Glazed Ham Recipe Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies With Almond Glaze Leftover Cranberry Sauce and Apple Crisp Leftover Cranberry Sauce Coffee Cake (with Coffee Glaze) Cranberry Pecan Crusted Salmon Cranberry Noel Recipe Cranberry Balsamic Glazed Cauliflower Wings Cranberry Sauce Grilled Cheese FAQs References

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!

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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

What should you do with leftovers from Thanksgiving that has sat out for longer than 2 hours? ›

If foods have been left out for more than two hours, discard items to prevent foodborne illness.

What ratio of Americans like leftovers better than the Thanksgiving meal itself? ›

In a recent survey of 2,000 respondents who celebrate Thanksgiving, nearly seven in 10 think a next-day Thanksgiving sandwich tastes better than that day's fresh dinner. Half (49%) agree that the main course makes the best leftovers — more so than the side dishes (23%).

How do you deal with leftovers on Thanksgiving? ›

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.

Is it safe to eat cooked turkey after 5 days? ›

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.

Is it okay to eat cooked turkey left out overnight? ›

The exact time period cooked turkey can sit out depends on a few different factors. As a rule of thumb, if your meat has been out in the temperature danger zone for more than two hours, even after being refrigerated, throw it out. If the turkey was just cooked and is cooling down, try to put it away within two hours.

Which president refused to celebrate Thanksgiving as a national holiday? ›

While Thanksgiving technically isn't a religious holiday, the “giving thanks” part of it struck Jefferson as being far too religious for his tastes. As our nation's third president, he stirred controversy by refusing to recognize Thanksgiving.

What is the main meal for most Americans on Thanksgiving? ›

Turkey is the most common main dish of a Thanksgiving dinner, to the point that Thanksgiving is sometimes colloquially called "Turkey Day." Alexander Hamilton proclaimed that "no citizen of the United States should refrain from turkey on Thanksgiving Day", and Benjamin Franklin had high regard for the wild turkey as an ...

What is America's least favorite dish at Thanksgiving and what percentage? ›

"For the third year in a row, cranberry sauce takes first place as the most disliked traditional Thanksgiving food. Over 31% of respondents, 82 million American adults, do not want cranberry sauce for their Thanksgiving dinner.

Why do Thanksgiving leftovers taste better? ›

As you wait, the aromas diffuse through this big bird and even the inside tastes better. In the case of leftovers, what you've done is actually chopped up the pieces and put some broth on top of that. So when it cools, it picks up the aroma and the flavor of the broth and becomes tastier than the first time around.

What do you do after you eat Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Here are ideas for the family to enjoy after the big feast.
  1. Create a Thanksgiving tablecloth or sign a pumpkin. ...
  2. Go for a walk. ...
  3. Get out the board games. ...
  4. Play touch football. ...
  5. Share family stories. ...
  6. Plan a scavenger hunt. ...
  7. Puzzle fun. ...
  8. Pumpkin tic-tac-toe.

What do people do after Thanksgiving dinner? ›

7 Fun Things to Do After Thanksgiving
  • Host a game night. Ask guests to bring their favorite board game. ...
  • Head outdoors. ...
  • Create a family scrapbook. ...
  • Write thankful letters. ...
  • Decorate for the holidays. ...
  • Volunteer together. ...
  • Organize a talent show.

How long can Thanksgiving leftovers sit out? ›

How to Properly Store Thanksgiving Leftovers. Hot or cold foods at room temperature should be left out no longer than two hours—that number goes down to one hour when the temperature is over 90 degrees. If food has been left out for more than two hours, it's best to throw it away.

What do you do with food that is left out for too long? ›

Myth: You shouldn't put hot foods in the refrigerator.

Perishable foods should be put in a refrigerator that is 40 degrees or below within 2 hours of preparation. If you leave food out to cool and forget about it after 2 hours, throw it away.

How long can you eat leftovers sitting out? ›

TWO HOURS is the MAXIMUM time perishable foods should be at room temperature (ONE HOUR at temperatures 90 degrees F and higher). This INCLUDES the time they're on the table during your meal. Just ONE bacterium, doubling every 20 minutes, can grow to over 2,097,152 bacteria in 7 hours!

What are the rules for leftovers? ›

Refrigerate or freeze leftovers within two hours of preparation (or one hour on days over 90º F) to reduce the chance of bacteria growing. Any perishable foods sitting out at room temperature for longer than two hours should be discarded.

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