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15 Creative Ways to Use Leftovers from Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving dinner is a time for family, love, and delicious food. But after Thanksgiving dinner comes the inevitable question: what to do with all of your leftovers? Don’t worry – there are many creative ways to make a second meal from the tasty items that remain from your feast.

Here are 15 recipes to help you use up your Thanksgiving leftovers:

1. Leftover Turkey Soup

Easy Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe • Salt & Lavender

You can easily turn that leftover turkey into a savory soup using a few simple ingredients like onions, carrots, celery, and some broth and seasonings. You can add some leftover potatoes and vegetables for a heartier soup if you’d like.

2. Turkey Cranberry Quesadillas

Recipe: Turkey, Cranberry, Brie Quesadilla - Eating With Erica

These quesadillas are an easy way to repurpose your Thanksgiving leftovers into something new and delicious. Layer turkey, cranberry sauce, cheese, and scallions between two flour tortillas, then toast them in a hot skillet until golden brown.

3. Turkey Hash

Paleo Ground Turkey Hash with Squash and Peppers - Our Salty Kitchen

Reheat your leftover potatoes and vegetables with some onions and garlic, then stir in bite-sized pieces of turkey for an easy breakfast hash. Serve it with a fried egg, andd you’re good to go!

4. Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

Turkey Shepherd's Pie

This dish combines all the best flavors of Thanksgiving dinner with some classic shepherd’s pie ingredients. Layer your leftover potatoes and vegetables in a baking dish, then top it off with shredded turkey and cheese. Bake until golden brown, and you’ll have a delicious meal soon!

5. Turkey Pot Pie

Dad's Leftover Turkey Pot Pie Recipe

This easy pot pie recipe turns your Thanksgiving leftovers into classic comfort food. Layer in some frozen puff pastry, turkey, carrots, celery, and peas. Top it off with gravy and cheese for a delicious treat.

6. Thanksgiving Quinoa Bowls

DIY Greek Inspired Quinoa Bowl - Real Food Whole Life

These quinoa bowls combine some leftover turkey and vegetables with quinoa, feta cheese, and a light vinaigrette for an easy, healthy meal.

7. Turkey Enchiladas

Black Bean Turkey Enchiladas Recipe: How to Make It

Shredded turkey, cilantro, onions, and cheese make these enchiladas the perfect way to use leftover turkey. Roll them up in soft tortillas and top them with your favorite enchilada sauce for a tasty dish that the whole family will love.

8. Turkey Salad Sandwiches

Cashew Turkey Salad Sandwiches Recipe: How to Make It

Make a simple sandwich filling by combining diced turkey, celery, mayo, salt, and pepper. Spread it on your favorite sandwich bread for a classic lunch.

9. Turkey Noodle Casserole

Turkey Noodle Casserole Recipe - Savory Nothings

Layer some cooked egg noodles with leftover turkey, vegetables, and cheese in a baking dish. Top it off with a savory sauce and bake until golden brown. This is a great meal to make and freeze for later.

10. Turkey Fried Rice

Turkey fried rice

Leftover cooked rice is the perfect base for this easy-fried rice recipe. Sauté some onions, ginger, garlic, carrots, and peas with your leftover turkey in a hot skillet. Then add the cooked rice and seasonings and stir until everything is combined.

11. Turkey Pot Stickers

Turkey Pot Stickers Recipe | Cooking Light

These pot stickers make the perfect appetizer or snack! Fill some wonton wrappers with a mixture of turkey, cabbage, carrots, and scallions. Then steam or fry them until golden brown.

12. Cranberry Brie Grilled Cheese

Ocean Spray Recipes - Cranberry, Brie and Chicken Toastie | Ocean Spray®

This decadent sandwich is great for using up your leftover cranberry sauce. Layer some brie cheese, cranberry sauce, and turkey between two slices of bread, then toast in a hot skillet until melted and golden brown.

13. Cranberry Compote

Cranberry Sauce with Apples - Culinary Hill

This quick compote recipe takes just minutes to simmer cranberries, sugar, and orange juice together until the cranberries have softened. Serve over toast or yogurt for a delicious breakfast or snack.

14. Spiced Cranberry Sauce

Spicy Red Pepper Cranberry Relish Recipe - NYT Cooking

Give your cranberry sauce some extra flavor with this simple recipe. Simmer it with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and ginger for a flavorful twist.

15. Cranberry Margaritas

Mistletoe Margarita Recipe - Christmas Margarita! - Chenée Today

Make these festive margaritas with your leftover cranberry sauce and tequila for an easy happy-hour drink. Combine the cranberry sauce, tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur until smooth. Serve over ice for a refreshing twist on a classic cocktail. With these recipes, you’ll never be stuck with a boring plate of leftovers again! Whether you’re looking for recipes to use your Thanksgiving leftovers or simply craving something new and delicious, these recipes will satisfy you.

Jeremy D. Mena
Alcohol geek. Future teen idol. Web practitioner. Problem solver. Certified bacon guru. Spent 2002-2009 researching plush toys in Miami, FL. Won several awards for exporting tar in Libya. Uniquely-equipped for managing human growth hormone in Libya. Spent a weekend implementing fried chicken on the black market. Spoke at an international conference about working on carnival rides in Miami, FL. Developed several new methods for donating jack-in-the-boxes in Edison, NJ.