What to do with Thanksgiving Leftovers (20 Ideas)

Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes

Thanksgiving is coming up soon, which means it will be time for leftovers! I love Thanksgiving dinner, and I love these easy to prepare dishes featuring Thanksgiving leftovers just as much. Now you can keep enjoying the results of all your holiday cooking for days to come. Below you’ll find 20 easy and creative recipes using leftover turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce. Dishes include soups, sandwiches, salads, savory pies, and even 2 breakfast dishes!

[Note: this is an update to an earlier post, adding 12 more leftovers recipes!]

Best way to store Thanksgiving leftovers to use in these recipes

Here are my recommendations on how to store your leftovers that you can use in my recipes:

• Turkey – remove any leftover cooked meat from the bone, chop into smaller pieces and place in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. (I like to use a zip top baggie.) Can also be frozen for up to 1 month.
• Stuffing – remove any leftovers from inside the turkey, and place in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Can also be frozen for up to 1 month.
• Mashed potatoes – store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I wouldn’t recommend freezing, as they can become watery.
• Gravy – store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Can be frozen for up to 3 months.
• Cranberry sauce – store in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Most cranberry sauces will last for around 14 days in the refrigerator, so how long it will keep depends on when you made it. Can be frozen for up to 3 months.

How long are Thanksgiving leftovers good?

How long your Thanksgiving leftovers will last depends on what they are. Most will last 4 days in the refrigerator, and anywhere from 1 to 4 months in the freezer. See details by type of food above.

Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey – 16 Recipes

Kentucky Hot Browns are an ideal way to use leftover turkey. They’re an open-faced turkey sandwich topped with sliced juicy tomatoes, bubbly cheese sauce and crispy bacon. Comfort food at its best!

Here’s another turkey sandwich idea – a Turkey, Chutney and Cheddar Panini (you can substitute leftover cranberry relish for the mango chutney and change the cheese to Havarti or Provolone):

This French Canadian Tourtière Meat and Potato Pie calls for both cooked turkey and mashed potatoes:

This savory Turkey, Mushroom Pie with a Spinach-Brown Rice Crust is an easy to prepare, healthy and clever way to use up leftovers, including roast turkey and rice.

Simply substitute leftover cooked turkey for the cooked chicken in these 12 amazing, quick and easy recipes:

Artichoke and Chicken Chowder

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Pesto Chicken with Pasta

Mexican Beans and Rice with Chicken

Chicken Enchiladas Suizas

Crustless Southwestern Chicken Pie

Curried Chicken Bites

Tarragon Chicken Salad

Chicken, Blueberry and Mango Salad

Chicken, Artichoke Heart, Quinoa and Brown Rice Salad

Chicken and Orzo Salad

Curried Chicken Pasta Salad

Thanksgiving Leftover Stuffing – 2 Recipes

My favorite way to use up leftover stuffing is in these 2 creative and yummy breakfast dishes.

Cheesy Baked Eggs with Leftover Stuffing

Leftover Thanksgiving Stuffing and Gravy Eggs Benedict

Thanksgiving Leftover Mashed Potato Recipe

Leftover mashed potatoes are the perfect crust for my Shepard’s Pie.

Thanksgiving Leftover Cranberry Sauce Recipe

I created this bold and beautiful Cranberry Vinaigrette to use up leftover cranberry sauce. You can prepare it with cranberry relish, chutney, sauce or even frozen cranberry cocktail!

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