5 Easy, Delicious Recipes to Use Up Thanksgiving Leftovers (and Save You All Week Long)
The day after Thanksgiving always sneaks up on me. I wake up feeling like I cooked enough food to last us at least three full days… and yet by dinnertime my kids are already asking, “What’s for dinner?”
Part of me wants to point to the mountain of Tupperware in the fridge and say, “This is what’s for dinner!” But the truth is: even when the feast is over, everyone still wants to eat real meals. Ha!
If you missed it, I shared my full Thanksgiving menu—the exact one I’ve made three years in a row—along with some thoughts on finding our identity in Christ through this season of gathering and serving. You can read it here:
Now, once Thanksgiving is over and the leftovers are packed neatly away, I love having a handful of go-to meals ready. These recipes turn the familiar flavors of Thanksgiving into something new, fun, and genuinely delicious. And with groceries so expensive right now, it feels good to know we’ll use every last bite.
Below are five of my very favorite ways to stretch Thanksgiving leftovers into dinners (and breakfasts!) that make the days afterward feel easy and enjoyable.
1. Leftover Turkey Sliders on Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
These are always a hit. I grab a pack of Hawaiian sweet rolls with my Thanksgiving groceries on purpose because I know what’s coming.
Pull apart the rolls, layer on leftover turkey, a slice of cheese if you want, and—here’s the magic—a spoonful of cranberry sauce. Trust me: the sweet-tart cranberry with savory turkey is absolute chef’s kiss.
If you want to add a little flourish, brush the tops with melted butter and bake for 5–8 minutes. Perfect for lunch or a quick, cozy dinner.
2. Cranberry Sauce Swirl Muffins
Recipe: https://ohsweetbasil.com/leftover-cranberry-sauce-muffins-with-streusel-topping-recipe/
If you have leftover cranberry sauce (or even if you don’t!), these muffins are soft, festive, and just plain delightful. The cranberry swirl adds brightness, and the streusel topping? Totally worth the extra step.
These make an easy breakfast or snack, and they freeze wonderfully.
3. Savory Breakfast Casserole with Leftover Stuffing
Recipe: https://www.sweetandsavorybyshinee.com/leftover-stuffing-breakfast-casserole/
If you’ve never turned leftover stuffing into a breakfast casserole, prepare to be amazed. It’s hearty and flavorful and couldn’t be easier to throw together.
Sometimes I brown a little sausage and fold it in—highly recommend. It reheats beautifully, making it perfect for busy mornings when everyone is still coming down from the holiday.
4. Turkey Pot Pie (Made Simple!)
Recipe: https://www.spendwithpennies.com/turkey-pot-pie/
This recipe is cozy, colorful, and so satisfying. It’s also incredibly flexible. If you don’t want to bother with pie crust, I often skip it and use frozen biscuits instead.
My shortcut method:
- Make the filling according to the recipe.
- Transfer to a 9×9 baking dish.
- Top with nine frozen biscuits.
- Bake until the biscuits are golden and cooked through.
It’s comfort food in a pan—and no one will suspect it started with leftovers.
5. Shepherd’s Pie with Leftover Mashed Potatoes
Recipe: https://www.thewholesomedish.com/the-best-classic-shepherds-pie/
On the rare occasion that we actually have leftover mashed potatoes, this shepherd’s pie is my go-to. It’s rich, flavorful, and cozy in the very best way. Using pre-made mashed potatoes cuts the prep time in half.
The whole dish feels like a warm, delicious reset after a week of cooking.
6. Turkey Roll Ups with Crescent Rolls
Recipe: https://www.stonegableblog.com/chicken-or-turkey-crescent-rolls-leftovers-perfect-solution/
These are perfect for dinner because they pack protein for those little ones, but also wrap it up in crescent roll dough (which they never say no to). They are really easy to make, and if you are making crescent rolls for Thanksgiving dinner, you can easily just buy a two-pack and use the second one for this recipe.
Why I Love Using Every Last Bite
With grocery costs as high as they are, it feels especially meaningful to use what we have and stretch the Thanksgiving feast into several more meals. These recipes help ensure nothing goes to waste—and that the time and care poured into Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t stop blessing your family once the dishes are washed.
