There’s more to leftovers than just a turkey sandwich. Think outside the bread with these Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes that prove that maybe your turkey and Thanksgiving side dishes are actually better the day after the holiday. There are over 40 gluten free ideas to use up leftover turkey, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and more. You can turn them into appetizers, main dishes, breakfast, snacks, desserts and everything in between!
After days and hours of prepping and cooking, you’ve feasted. The dishes are washed and the kitchen is cleaned. But now you have a refrigerator filled with Thanksgiving leftovers. Before you get ready to enjoy them, let’s talk about whether they are actually safe to eat.
How long are Thanksgiving leftovers good for?
First, you have to ask yourself if you left the food out too long. It should not be left at room temperature for longer than two hours or you run the risk of it starting to grow bacteria. So get those leftovers wrapped, packaged in storage containers, and into a nice, cold refrigerator as soon as possible.
Or, if you want to keep them longer, transfer everything to airtight containers, wrap them in foil or plastic, and, if the container fit, slide it into a resealable plastic freezer bag.
Most Thanksgiving leftovers, from the turkey to the mashed potatoes to the stuffing will last in the fridge for three to four days, with cranberry sauce being good for up to a week.
You can reheat and rechill as needed, but every time you do that, the food could dry out a little more. So you might just need to moisten things up with a little broth or stock. If you have made turkey stock from your turkey carcass, you are set. Or you can use chicken stock from a box.
However, regardless of whether it’s been a few hours or a few days, if something looks or smells a little off, then toss it. It is not worth taking the chance.
Now that you’ve made sure your leftovers are safe to eat, check out these ideas for what to make with them…
What Can You Make with Thanksgiving leftovers?
Certainly, you can just fix yourself a plate for Round Two of the feast. Or you can make a fully-loaded turkey sandwich heaped high with extra stuffing and smeared with cranberry sauce. But there are so many other ideas to give those leftovers new life!
40+ Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes
Leftover Turkey Recipes
Sure, you can make a turkey sandwich, but there are so many other things you can do with the bird. And in many recipes that call for chicken, you can replace it with your leftover turkey meat.
A steamy bowl of soup is an easy and comforting way to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers. It's loaded with veggies and topped with pie crust pieces.
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Slather your leftover turkey with a tangy mixture of cranberry sauce and barbecue sauce stuff it into sweet potatoes for a comforting sweet and savory dish. Leftover cornbread or stuffing gives it a crispy topping.
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This cozy pasta casserole may call for chicken, but it's perfect to use leftover turkey. It's a classic made gluten free with GF spaghetti and a sauce made thick and creamy with cheese and sour cream.
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With all the ingredients of a classic turkey club sandwich, including bacon, tomato, and avocado, this quiche is so flavorful and satisfying. It's perfect to make if you have extra pie dough.
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With leftover turkey, hearty white beans, and the perfect blend of spices, you have a simmering pot of hearty and healthy comfort food in about 30 minutes with cooked-all-day flavor.
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This dish will bring you back to childhood. While you can make every component from scratch, you can also use the extra turkey and stuffing from your holiday feast.
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A Cajun-spices mixture of shrimp, sausage, and that leftover turkey is stuffed into baked sweet potatoes for a delicious and hearty meal. It's an unexpectedly delicious combo.
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When you are watching football games over Thanksgiving weekend, this is the perfect cheesy dip for snacking. It has everything that makes the classic sandwich so delicious, including bacon and cheese.
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The classic salad gets a fall twist that makes good use of not only turkey, but lots of your leftovers. It's a perfect light lunch after the day of feasting.
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The Bluegrass State classic open face turkey, bacon and tomato sandwich is transformed into a cheesier. It's an upgrade on a basic grilled cheese.
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This hearty and comforting soup is a simple one-pot meal made with only a few simple ingredients, and you can definitely use turkey instead of chicken. It's creamy and healthy too!
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Waldorf-ish Chicken Salad is a classic updated with Greek yogurt, and has the perfect mix of sweet & savory, with juicy grapes and the crunch of walnuts.
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This Tex Mex-style casserole has layers that use leftover turkey combined with enchilada sauce to give you a fabulous meal after Thanksgiving.
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Leftover Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes
Whether you have extra mashed taters, or a few potatoes or sweet potatoes that you didn’t end up cooking, here are some delicious ideas.
When you are tired of turkey, pile some spicy shrimp on top of a pile of mashed potatoes. It's a comforting meal in a bowl.
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A slightly sweet and nutty dip with just a hint of maple and a touch of cinnamon and to enhance the sweet potato flavor. Add it to a platter of carrots, apples, crackers, and more for post-holiday snacking.
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Leftover mashed potatoes keep this lovely love moist and tasty. Spoon some fruit and whipped cream on top, or just enjoy a slice with a cup of coffee or tea.
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Here's another dinner option that gives you a change from all the turkey. Pile your potatoes on top of the classic meat and vegetable casserole for a family-favorite comfort food meal.
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A simple but sophisticated side dish with layers of thinly sliced potatoes and sweet potatoes baked until tender, creamy, and golden. It's a tasty change from the typical Thanksgiving potato sides.
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If you have extra baked sweet potatoes, stuff them with delicious Mexican spiced black beans, pineapple, shredded cheese, and tomatoes. It's a hearty meatless meal.
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A an easy appetizer recipe that will have the crowd cheering. Saucy meatballs are tucked into little sweet potato cups for a fun little bite.
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Shred some leftover potatoes bake them into healthy and satisfying breakfast along with any leftover veggies. Just like a cheesy omelet, but they are so easy to prep and even freeze.
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Work some magic on your mashed potatoes with mashed potato puffs! These loaded potato puffs will breathe some new life into your Thanksgiving leftovers.
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Just sweet potato and eggs make these healthy little bites. Great for breakfast, or make mini ones for the kids to snack on.
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These gluten free muffins taste like sweet potato casserole in breakfast form. Youi'll need some mashed sweet potato to make them.
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Recipes to Make with Leftover Cranberry Sauce or Fresh Cranberries
Whether you’ve made too much cranberry sauce, have an extra can laying around, or didn’t cook up all of the fresh cranberries you bought, you can transform any of those into a delicious breakfast, dinner, dessert, or even party snacks.
Slow Cooker Cranberry Balsamic Beef
A few ingredients, a few minutes and your slow cooker does all the work for this tender, flavorful, fall-apart beef roast. Serve it over leftover mashed potatoes, or even make sandwiches.
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A sweet, savory, sticky appetizer or side dish that everyone from vegans to carnivores will love. Battered and baked bites of cauliflower are coated in a thick cranberry glaze.
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You'll love this perfectly tender and flavorful beef roast that has chopped cranberries in the crust. Spoon leftover cranberry sauce over the succulent slices.
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A moist and tender crumb cake with sweet and tart flavors perfect with a cup of coffee or tea. It has fresh, zesty citrus and bursts of whole cranberries.
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Made with only 3 simple ingredients, including leftover cranberry sauce, it's a delightfully festive twist on a basic balsamic vinaigrette. It's lovely to enjoy the day after Thanksgiving over some leafy greens with your leftover turkey.
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You'll love this festive drink that is infused with fresh cranberries and bursting with bubbles. And with some champagne or sparkling wine or even a splash of vodka, you can easily turn it into a cocktail.
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So delicious and easy to make using leftover cranberry sauce layered over a buttery grain-free shortbread crust. Such a festive treat.
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Subtly spiced, moist and delicious, with golden tops, these are the perfect way to use your leftover cranberry sauce. Great for breakfast or afternoon snack with coffee or tea.
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A yummy pancake to make after Thanksgiving using leftover homemade cranberry sauce. The perfect breakfast to enjoy over the holiday weekend.
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Recipes for Leftover Pumpkin Pie or Pumpkin Puree
Sure you can have a slice of pie for breakfast. But you can also repurpose that pie or you the last remnants of canned pumpkin to make something delicious.
Leftover pumpkin pie nestled between layers of Greek yogurt, with some pecans (or crushed graham crackers or granola) and a drizzle of maple syrup make a fun dessert, breakfast, or snack.
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If you only have a smidge of pumpkin left, turn it into a healthy breakfast. Packed with pumpkin, whole grain oats, and a caffeine kick from real coffee plus the perfect amount of pumpkin pie spice, it's a wonderful morning pick-me-up.
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Use that pumpkin in a savory snack. This is an easy and healthy dip with a twist of lime and hint of spice.
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With just the right amount of pumpkin spice, this rich and creamy smoothie hits all the right notes the day after a big feast. It makes a great breakfast or snack, and if you add some optional dark leafy greens, you'll get a double dose of veggies in a sweet and healthy treat.
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Add some of that extra can of pumpkin to a rich cauliflower cream paired with sage for a seasonal version of the classic fettuccine alfredo. It's lighter comfort food.
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That extra pumpkin can be turned into a hearty breakfast that will last through the entire following week. It's packed with your favorite fall flavors, plus protein and gluten free whole grains.
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Pack next week's lunchboxes with flavors of pumpkin spice with little bursts of chocolate packed into quick, easy, and bite-sized healthy snacks. It's a great idea for leftover pumpkin puree.
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Gluten free pasta is smothered in a velvety, creamy pumpkin sauce for a family-friendly meal. If you have extra turkey, use that in place of the chicken sausage.
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Wonderfully moist from that leftover pumpkin puree and rich with the distinctive taste of hazelnut, these chocolaty and decadent. But with oats and other wholesome ingredient, they actually make a satisfying and healthy breakfast.
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