Inside: You don’t have to eat the same turkey dinner for days. Put your holiday leftovers to delicious use with tips and recipes from top food bloggers.
Wondering what to do with leftover Thanksgiving turkey, ham, roasted vegetables or cranberry sauce? Below are creative, flavorful ways to turn holiday leftovers into exciting new meals so you and your family won’t get bored.
What to Make with Thanksgiving Leftovers
Leftovers are the best part of Thanksgiving for many of us: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce. Rather than reheating the same plate each day, try repurposing those flavors into fresh dishes. Below are favorite ideas that start with leftover turkey and branch out to ham, potatoes, veggies and pie filling.
Turkey Stock
After you pick the carcass clean, simmer the bones, skin and trimmings into a rich homemade turkey stock. It makes an outstanding base for soups, stews and risottos and ensures no part of the bird goes to waste.
Southwestern Turkey Casserole
Give turkey a bold new identity with chili- and cumin-spiced sauce, Hatch chiles, tomatoes and plenty of cheese tossed with pasta and baked with a buttered breadcrumb topping. It’s familiar comfort with a Southwestern twist.
Slow Cooker Southwestern Turkey Stew
Layer Southwest flavors into a hearty slow-cooker stew with turkey, vegetables and beans for an easy, healthy meal that stretches leftovers and delights the palate.
Leftover Turkey and Egg Breakfast Sliders
Transform turkey into a decadent breakfast: layer scrambled eggs, melty cheese, prosciutto, mashed avocado and tomato on soft rolls, then bake as a casserole-style tray of sliders—perfect for brunch crowds.
Turkey Cobb Salad with Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing
Brighten leftovers with a hearty Cobb: turkey, greens, hard-boiled eggs, avocado and blue cheese dressing for a satisfying, fresh lunch or light dinner.
Turkey & Brie Croissant Panini
Make indulgent sandwiches by layering turkey and brie on buttery croissants and grilling until golden. Simple, elegant and ideal for lunch.
Creamy Roasted Vegetable Soup From Leftovers
Turn leftover roasted root vegetables and squash into a silky blended soup. Add stock, a touch of cream and herbs for a comforting lunch or light dinner that feels brand new.
BEST Turkey Salad Recipe
Make a classic turkey salad—like chicken salad but with turkey—mixing mayo, celery, herbs and seasonings. Serve on croissants, toast or over greens for an easy meal.
Leftover Turkey Alphabet Soup
Kids love this comforting alphabet soup filled with turkey, vegetables and small pasta shapes. Serve with grilled cheese or crunchy crackers for a nostalgic family meal.
Sweet Potato Biscuits
Mix leftover sweet potatoes into biscuit dough for flaky, buttery biscuits. They’re excellent for breakfast topped with a fried egg and a smear of cranberry sauce.
Leftover Turkey Bean Soup with Kale
Simmer turkey, dried white beans and greens for a thick, nourishing soup. It’s a big-batch recipe that freezes well and makes weekday lunches easy.
Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Combine turkey, vegetables and gravy, top with mashed potato and bake for a comforting shepherd’s pie that reunites all the holiday elements in one cozy dish.
Leftover Stuffing Hash
Turn stuffing into a crisp skillet hash—pan-fry until crunchy and top with a fried egg for a satisfying brunch or quick dinner solution.
Turkey and Pepper-Biscuit Pot Pie
Fill a casserole with turkey, vegetables and plenty of gravy, then top with pepper-spiked biscuit dough for a rustic pot pie that feeds a crowd.
Creamy Turkey Tetrazzini
Mix turkey with a creamy mushroom sauce and tender pasta, top with cheese and bake for a nostalgic, crowd-pleasing casserole.
Ham Vegetable Barley Soup with Vibrant Basil Pistou
Use leftover ham and bone to make a savory soup with barley and seasonal vegetables. Finish with a bright basil pistou to lift flavors.
Tuscan Turkey Tortellini Soup
Add cheese tortellini to turkey broth with vegetables for a comforting, Italian-inspired soup that’s both quick and satisfying.
Cranberry Coffee Cake with Leftover Cranberry Sauce
Use leftover cranberry sauce in a moist, tangy coffee cake—top with a glaze or almonds for a festive breakfast or dessert.
Country Ham Biscuits with Apricot Butter
Pair leftover ham with tender, lightly sweet biscuits and apricot butter for an irresistible brunch bite that’s easy to share.
Empanadas from Holiday Leftovers
Stuff store-bought pie crust with turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing or vegetables to make handheld empanadas—great for using up a variety of leftovers.
Easy Turkey Pot Pie Soup
All the flavors of pot pie in a cozy soup—thick, creamy and full of vegetables—an ideal midweek meal that stretches turkey into multiple servings.
Thai Red Curry (Perfect for Leftover Turkey)
Swap turkey into a fragrant Thai red curry with coconut milk, vegetables and curry paste for an exotic, fast dinner that masks the “leftover” label.
Creamy Turkey Vegetable Soup
A lightly creamy soup with mushrooms, potatoes, carrots and green beans—finish with fresh tarragon or herbs to brighten the rich turkey broth.
Leftover Mashed Potato Soufflé with Blue Cheese
Turn extra mashed potatoes into an elegant soufflé flavored with blue cheese. It’s a creative way to elevate simple leftovers for a special weekend meal.
Ham Bone Split Pea Soup
If ham was on the table, use the bone to build an intensely flavored split pea soup—creamy, smoky and satisfying when the weather turns cold.
Pumpkin Custard Brûlée
Leftover pumpkin pie filling becomes an elegant pumpkin custard brûlée—baked custard with a caramelized sugar top for a festive dessert or breakfast treat.
Belly Warming Hatch Chile Ham Soup
A nourishing quinoa, black bean and smoky green chile soup featuring leftover ham—healthy, full of texture and easy to prepare with pantry staples.
Southwestern-Style Leftover Ham Casserole
Combine ham, vegetables and smoky chiles with pasta and a cheesy sauce, then bake with a buttery breadcrumb topping for a satisfying casserole.
Turkey Hash
Mix turkey with sweet potatoes or regular potatoes for a skillet hash—make a big batch and top with eggs for weekend breakfasts.
Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes
Form leftover mashed potatoes into patties and pan-fry until crisp for potato pancakes—great as a side or topped with applesauce or smoked salmon for a twist.
Pin it for later!
