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EASY THANKSGIVING LEFTOVER RECIPES: 15 Delicious Ways to Use Leftovers

Vee

Thanksgiving dinner may be over, but your refrigerator probably isn’t.

If you have leftover turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and vegetables, don’t throw them away simply because Thanksgiving is finished.

With a little creativity, leftovers can become completely different meals.

Here are easy Thanksgiving leftover recipes and ideas to try after the holiday.

  1. Classic Turkey Sandwich

Layer sliced turkey with:

It’s simple and requires almost no cooking.

  1. Turkey Wrap

Use leftover turkey in a tortilla with:

Roll it up for an easy lunch.

  1. Turkey Soup

Turn leftover turkey into a comforting soup.

Add:

It’s a great way to use small pieces of leftover meat and vegetables.

  1. Turkey Salad

Chop leftover turkey and combine with a simple dressing.

Add:

Serve in bread, lettuce cups or with crackers.

  1. Turkey Casserole

Combine leftover turkey with vegetables and a creamy sauce.

Top with breadcrumbs or another topping and bake until hot.

  1. Thanksgiving Leftover Bowl

Layer:

Warm the ingredients and serve as a simple leftover bowl.

  1. Mashed Potato Cakes

Turn leftover mashed potatoes into patties.

You can mix in ingredients such as:

Cook until heated through and lightly browned.

  1. Turkey Quesadillas

Fill tortillas with:

Cook until the tortilla is crisp and the filling is hot.

  1. Turkey Pasta

Add chopped turkey to pasta with a simple sauce.

This is especially useful when you have only a small amount of turkey left.

  1. Turkey Fried Rice

Chop leftover turkey into small pieces and add it to fried rice with vegetables.

It’s a great way to turn Thanksgiving leftovers into something that feels completely different.

  1. Leftover Stuffing Patties

Shape leftover stuffing into small patties and cook until heated through.

Serve as a side dish or with leftover turkey.

  1. Turkey and Vegetable Pie

Combine leftover turkey and vegetables with a creamy filling.

Top with pastry and bake until golden and hot.

  1. Thanksgiving Leftover Sliders

Put turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce into small rolls.

These are especially useful for feeding children or serving at a casual family lunch.

  1. Turkey Breakfast Hash

Chop turkey and combine it with potatoes and vegetables.

Cook everything together in a pan.

Top with an egg if desired.

  1. Leftover Thanksgiving Soup

Almost any suitable leftover vegetables can be turned into soup.

Combine them with broth and leftover turkey for an easy post-Thanksgiving meal.

How Long Do Thanksgiving Leftovers Last?

Don’t treat leftovers as something that can sit in the refrigerator indefinitely.

Refrigerate perishable foods promptly, use shallow containers where appropriate for faster cooling, and follow current food-safety guidance for storage and reheating.

When in doubt about whether a food has been stored safely, it is better to discard it.

Make a Leftover Plan Before Thanksgiving

One of the easiest ways to avoid food waste is to think about leftovers before you cook.

Have containers ready.

Think about which dishes can become:

That way, leftovers become part of your meal plan rather than an afterthought.

Thanksgiving Leftovers Can Make the Next Few Days Easier

One of the best things about Thanksgiving leftovers is that they give you a break from cooking.

A little planning can turn one large Thanksgiving meal into several simple family meals.

And sometimes, the leftover turkey sandwich is just as satisfying as the original dinner.

For more Thanksgiving planning inspiration, see our complete Thanksgiving Ideas for Families guide.

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