If you want 10 thanksgiving leftover recipes that turn the day after Thanksgiving into easy meals, you are in the right place. The fridge is full, the turkey is sliced, and nobody wants another plain plate of the same dinner.
This guide gives you ten complete recipes, one for each kind of leftover in the fridge. You will find sandwiches, muffins, a stromboli, sliders, a bake, a pizza, egg rolls, soup, potato cakes and a sweet finish, each with quantities, a method, swaps and storage. Pick the recipe that matches what you have left, and dinner is sorted for the days ahead.
1. Classic Turkey Sandwich
A good day after sandwich is not just cold turkey between bread. Layers of sliced turkey, cranberry sauce and stuffing bring back the whole Thanksgiving plate in one handheld lunch, and crisp lettuce adds freshness against the sweet tart cranberry.
Butter two slices of sturdy bread and spread one with 2 tablespoons cranberry sauce and the other with 1 tablespoon mayonnaise. Layer 150g sliced turkey, 3 tablespoons stuffing, a spoon of warm gravy and a lettuce leaf, then press gently and cut in half. Swap the bread for a roll, or the turkey for chicken, and eat at once or wrap and chill for up to a day.
2. Turkey Stuffing Muffins
Stuffing muffins turn two leftovers into one neat, portable lunch. Turkey folded through seasoned stuffing bakes into crisp edged muffins that hold together well, and a spoon of cranberry sauce in the centre keeps them moist. They suit lunchboxes, work lunches and a quick snack.
Heat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius and grease a 12 hole muffin tin. Mix 2 cups stuffing, 1 cup diced turkey, 1 beaten egg and 3 tablespoons stock, then spoon into the tin and bake for 20 minutes until golden. Swap stock for gravy, or add chopped herbs, and keep in the fridge for 3 days or freeze for a month.
3. Leftover Turkey Stromboli
A stromboli wraps the whole Thanksgiving plate into a flaky, sliceable loaf. Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and cheese rolled in pizza dough bake into a golden crust with a warm, savoury filling, and it feeds a crowd easily. Serve it warm, cut into thick slices.
Roll 500g pizza dough into a rectangle on a lined tray. Spread 3 tablespoons cranberry sauce, then layer 2 cups shredded turkey, 1 cup stuffing and 1 cup grated mozzarella. Roll up, seal, brush with beaten egg and bake at 200 degrees Celsius for 25 minutes. Swap mozzarella for cheddar, and chill leftovers for 3 days.
4. Cranberry Turkey Sliders
Sliders turn leftover turkey into a party bite that suits a crowd. Small rolls, warm turkey and a sweet, spicy cranberry sauce make each one easy to pick up, and a tray of twelve disappears. These sliders suit a party table, where the best cowboy caviar recipe makes a fine dip beside them.
Warm 2 cups shredded turkey with 2 tablespoons gravy in a pan. Stir 3 tablespoons cranberry sauce with 1 teaspoon sriracha, then fill 12 small rolls with turkey, a spoon of sauce and a little shredded cabbage. Warm the rolls for 5 minutes, and serve at once. Swap sriracha for mustard, and chill leftovers for 2 days.
5. French Onion Turkey Bake
A French onion bake gives leftover turkey the comfort of a casserole without a long cook. Sweet onions, turkey and cheese baked under a crisp topping taste rich and homely, and the dish uses up turkey, gravy and a little cheese. It is a good choice for an evening.
Soften 2 sliced onions in butter for 15 minutes, then stir in 2 cups diced turkey, 1 cup gravy and 1 teaspoon thyme. Tip into a baking dish, top with 1 cup grated Gruyere and a handful of breadcrumbs, and bake at 190 degrees Celsius for 25 minutes. Swap Gruyere for cheddar, and keep leftovers in the fridge for 3 days.
6. Turkey Potato Pizza
Pizza night is an easy way to use turkey, mashed potato and cheese together, and children like this one best. A crisp base, a thin layer of potato, turkey and cheese, and a drizzle of gravy make a filling supper from odds and ends. It is ready in half an hour, with no dough to prove.
Spread 1 cup mashed potato over a pizza base, then top with 1.5 cups shredded turkey, 1 cup grated mozzarella and 2 tablespoons gravy. Bake at 220 degrees Celsius for 12 to 15 minutes until the cheese bubbles and the edge crisps. Swap mozzarella for cheddar, or add sweetcorn, and eat fresh.
7. Turkey Brie Egg Rolls
Egg rolls are a crisp way to use turkey, cranberry sauce and cheese in one bite. The filling stays soft and sweet inside a golden wrapper, and a cranberry dip ties the whole plate together. These egg rolls belong on a table of gameday appetizers, where guests can pick them up warm.
Mix 2 cups shredded turkey, 100g diced brie and 3 tablespoons cranberry sauce. Place 2 tablespoons of filling on each of 12 egg roll wrappers, fold in the sides, roll and seal with water. Fry in hot oil for 3 minutes per side until golden, then drain. Swap brie for Camembert, and eat the same day.
8. Turkey Carcass Soup
Soup is the best use for the turkey carcass, since it turns bones into a rich, warming meal. Simmering the carcass with vegetables gives a deep broth, and shredded turkey stirred back in makes it filling. It is the recipe to save for the third day, when the sliced turkey is gone.
Place the carcass in a pot with 2 carrots, 2 celery sticks, 1 onion and 2 litres of water. Simmer for 2 hours, strain, return the broth to the pot with 2 cups shredded turkey, 1 cup noodles and salt. Cook 10 minutes more. Swap noodles for rice, and chill for 3 days or freeze for 2 months.
9. Potato Stuffing Cakes
Potato and stuffing cakes turn two soft leftovers into something crisp and golden. Mashed potato binds the stuffing together, the cakes fry up with a crunchy outside, and a spoon of cranberry sauce or gravy on top finishes them. They work as a supper, or as a side with fried eggs.
Mix 2 cups mashed potato, 1 cup stuffing and 1 beaten egg, then shape into 8 cakes. Fry in butter over medium heat for 4 minutes per side until golden and crisp. Swap the egg for a spoon of flour if the mix is soft, and keep cakes in the fridge for 2 days, reheating in a hot pan.
10. Cranberry Sweet Potato Parfait
A parfait is a sweet, simple finish for cranberry sauce and sweet potato left over from the feast. Layers of mashed sweet potato, cranberry sauce and whipped cream look pretty in a glass, and the tart cranberry cuts through the rich potato. It needs no baking, so it suits a tired cook.
Spoon 1 cup mashed sweet potato into 4 glasses, top with 2 tablespoons cranberry sauce each, then add whipped cream and repeat the layers once. Chill for 30 minutes before serving, and scatter a few chopped pecans on top if you like. Swap cream for yoghurt, and eat within a day, as the cream softens.
Conclusion
Ten recipes are plenty to clear the fridge without wasting a good meal. Start with the sandwiches and sliders while the turkey is freshest, then move to the bake, soup and cakes as the week goes on, and finish with something sweet.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How long do Thanksgiving leftovers keep in the fridge?
Most cooked leftovers keep for 3 to 4 days in the fridge, stored in shallow, covered containers and chilled within 2 hours. Reheat them until steaming hot, and throw away anything left out for more than 2 hours. The FoodSafety.gov guidance on keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold explains the temperature rules in full.
Can leftover turkey be frozen?
Yes, sliced or shredded turkey freezes well for up to 2 months in a sealed bag or container, with as much air pressed out as possible. Freeze it in portions you will use at once, label the bag with the date, and thaw it overnight in the fridge before reheating until steaming hot.
How do I reheat turkey without drying it out?
Warm sliced turkey gently in a covered pan with a spoon of gravy or stock, over low heat, until just hot through. The added liquid keeps the meat moist, while high heat or a long microwave blast dries it out. Stir once, check the centre is hot, and serve at once.
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