14 Delicious Recipes to Transform Your Thanksgiving Leftovers

Thanksgiving is a time for family, gratitude, and of course, indulging in a feast. But what do you do with all those leftovers? Don’t let them go to waste! In this blog post, we’ll explore 15 creative and mouthwatering recipes that will transform your Thanksgiving leftovers into delightful meals. Let’s get cooking!

If you’re looking for Thanksgiving Appetizers ideas, here are 10 Easy and Delicious Thanksgiving Appetizers to Impress Your Guests.

Turkey Cranberry Sliders

Ingredients:

• Leftover turkey slices
• Slider buns
• Cranberry sauce
• Baby spinach or arugula
• Mayonnaise

Instructions:

1. Toast the slider buns until lightly golden.
2. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on the bottom halves of the buns.
3. Top with turkey slices, a dollop of cranberry sauce, and a handful of baby spinach or arugula.
4. Place the top bun over the filling and secure with a toothpick.
5. Enjoy!

Stuffing-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

 Ingredients:

• Portobello mushrooms
• Leftover stuffing
• Shredded cheese (optional)
• Fresh herbs for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Remove the stems from the portobello mushrooms and scrape out the gills.
3. Fill each mushroom cap with a generous amount of leftover stuffing.
4. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top if desired.
5. Bake for about 15-20 minutes until the mushrooms are tender and the stuffing is heated through.
6. Garnish with fresh herbs before serving.

Cranberry BBQ Turkey Pizza

Ingredients:

• Prepared pizza dough or store-bought crust
• Leftover turkey, shredded or sliced
• Cranberry sauce
• BBQ sauce
• Shredded mozzarella cheese
• Red onion, thinly sliced
• Fresh cilantro for garnish

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven according to the pizza dough package instructions.
2. Roll out the dough onto a baking sheet or pizza stone.
3. Mix equal parts cranberry sauce and BBQ sauce in a bowl and spread it over the dough as a base.
4. Layer the turkey, red onion, and shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly.
6. Garnish with fresh cilantro and enjoy your unique pizza creation!

Thanksgiving Leftover Panini

Ingredients:

• Sliced leftover turkey
• Leftover stuffing
• Cranberry sauce
• Sliced cheese of your choice (cheddar, Swiss, etc.)
• Bread or rolls
• Butter or olive oil for grilling

Instructions:

1. Preheat a panini press, grill pan, or skillet.
2. Assemble the sandwich by layering turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and cheese between two slices of bread or rolls.
3. Brush the outer sides of the bread with melted butter or olive oil.
4. Grill the sandwich until golden and crispy, and the cheese is melted.
5. Slice and serve with a side of leftover gravy for dipping.

Sweet Potato Pancakes

Ingredients:

• Leftover mashed sweet potatoes
• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Milk or buttermilk
• Eggs
• Butter or oil for cooking
• Maple syrup or honey for serving

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, combine leftover mashed sweet potatoes, flour, baking powder, milk or buttermilk, and eggs. Mix until smooth.
2. Heat a non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat and add butter or oil.
3. Scoop the sweet potato batter onto the skillet and spread it into pancakes.
4. Cook until bubbles form on the surface, then flip and cook until golden brown on both sides.
5. Serve with a drizzle of maple syrup or honey for a delightful breakfast or brunch.

Turkey and Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:

• Leftover turkey, shredded
• Leftover vegetables (carrots, green beans, etc.)
• Turkey broth (or chicken broth)
• Herbs and spices to taste

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, combine shredded turkey, leftover vegetables, and enough turkey broth to cover.
2. Season with herbs and spices, bring to a simmer, and let the flavors meld.

Turkey and Cranberry Stuffed Crescent Rolls

Ingredients:

• Leftover turkey, shredded
• Cranberry sauce
• Crescent roll dough

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven according to the crescent roll package instructions.
2. Roll out the dough and fill each triangle with shredded turkey and a dollop of cranberry sauce.
3. Roll up the crescents and bake until golden brown.

Sweet Potato and Turkey Hash

Ingredients:

• Leftover sweet potatoes, diced
• Leftover turkey, chopped
• Onion, diced
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a skillet, sauté diced onions in olive oil until translucent.
2. Add diced sweet potatoes and chopped turkey, cooking until golden brown.
3. Season with salt and pepper, and serve with a fried or poached egg on top.

Stuffing Waffles with Gravy

Ingredients:

• Leftover stuffing
• Gravy

Instructions:

1. Preheat your waffle iron.
2. Press leftover stuffing into the waffle iron and cook until crispy.
3. Serve with warm gravy drizzled on top.

Turkey and Stuffing Stuffed Bell Peppers

Ingredients:

• 4 large bell peppers
• 2 cups leftover turkey, shredded
• 1 cup leftover stuffing
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup turkey gravy
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking dish with parchment paper.
2. Cut the tops off the bell peppers and remove the seeds and membranes.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine the shredded turkey, stuffing, half of the cheese, and the turkey gravy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Stuff each bell pepper with the turkey and stuffing mixture, then sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
5. Place the stuffed bell peppers in the prepared baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the peppers are tender and the cheese is melted and golden.
6. Serve hot and enjoy!

Cranberry Turkey Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Ingredients:

• 8 slices of bread
• 2 cups leftover turkey, sliced
• 1 cup leftover cranberry sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• Butter for spreading

Instructions:

1. Preheat a skillet or griddle over medium heat.
2. Take a slice of bread and spread cranberry sauce on one side. Layer turkey slices and mozzarella cheese on top, then cover with another slice of bread.
3. Butter the outsides of the sandwich and place it on the preheated skillet or griddle.
4. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
5. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make additional sandwiches.
6. Cut the sandwiches diagonally, serve warm, and enjoy the gooey goodness!

Leftover Turkey and Cranberry Salad

Ingredients:

• 4 cups mixed salad greens
• 2 cups leftover turkey, shredded or sliced
• 1/2 cup leftover cranberry sauce
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette

Instructions:

1. In a large salad bowl, combine the mixed greens, turkey, cranberry sauce, chopped pecans, and crumbled feta cheese.
2. Drizzle the balsamic vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat.
3. Serve the leftover turkey and cranberry salad as a light and refreshing meal.

Pumpkin Pie Milkshake

Ingredients:

• 1 slice leftover pumpkin pie
• 2 cups vanilla ice cream
• 1/2 cup milk
• Whipped cream and cinnamon for topping (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a blender, combine the leftover pumpkin pie, vanilla ice cream, and milk.
2. Blend until smooth and creamy.
3. Pour the pumpkin pie milkshake into glasses.
4. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon if desired.
5. Enjoy this delightful and creamy treat!

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Ingredients:

• Leftover mashed sweet potatoes
• All-purpose flour
• Egg
• Salt
• Butter
• Sage leaves

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the leftover mashed sweet potatoes, flour, egg, and a pinch of salt.
2. Mix until a dough forms and is no longer sticky. Add more flour if needed.
3. Roll the dough into long ropes and cut into bite-sized pieces.
4. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
5. Drop the gnocchi into the boiling water and cook until they float to the surface, about 2-3 minutes.
6. In a separate pan, melt butter over medium heat and add a few sage leaves.
7. Add the cooked gnocchi to the pan and sauté until lightly browned.
8. Serve hot with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

Don’t let your Thanksgiving leftovers go to waste! With a little bit of creativity and a few simple ingredients, you can transform your post-holiday meals into culinary delights. From turkey cranberry sliders to sweet potato gnocchi, these innovative recipes will take your leftovers to a whole new level. So, roll up your sleeves, get into the kitchen, and enjoy the deliciousness of Thanksgiving all over again. Happy cooking!