Thanksgiving is by far one of the best holidays. Besides family, food, and football, the next best thing about Thanksgiving is the Thanksgiving Day leftovers. This year, instead of repeating your same Thanksgiving Day plate for multiple days in a row, (boring) get creative with these Thanksgiving leftover recipe ideas.
Thanksgiving Leftover Recipe Ideas
#1 Baked Stuffed Avocados
One of the easiest ways to repurpose Thanksgiving leftovers is to stuff everything into an avocado and bake it. Some great go-to filling options include dried cranberries, roasted potatoes, and shredded Thanksgiving turkey. You can even top it off with some chopped nuts or pumpkin seeds for an added crunch. Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl then scoop into halved avocados. Make sure the pits are removed then fill each avocado half with a generous portion of your homemade filling. Drizzle with olive oil and a dash of salt and pepper then bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Seve and enjoy!
#2 Layered Thanksgiving Leftover Soup or Homemade Turkey Pot Pie
Who says the only thing you can make with leftover Thanksgiving Day turkey is a basic batch of bone broth? Thanksgiving leftovers provide the perfect ingredients for a lovely layered fall soup. Gather whatever is leftover from your Thanksgiving Day feast – mashed potatoes, stuffing, turkey – and bake it in the oven for about 30 minutes or until it is hot all the way through. Top with a scoop of leftover gravy and maybe even an over-easy egg or two. If you prefer something more hearty, gather all of your Thanksgiving Day leftovers and bake up a homemade turkey pot pie using all of that extra pie dough for your homemade apple and pumpkin pies.
#3 Pan-Seared Stuffing Pancakes
If pancakes are popular in your household, then repurpose leftover Thanksgiving stuffing and use it to whip up a stack of fluffy pan-seared stuffing pancakes. Add an egg to the leftover stuffing and mix it up with a handful of grated cheese for a savory flavor. Make pancakes as you would traditional pancakes then sauté them in a pan until crispy on both sides. Serve with a side of bacon, breakfast sausage, or both. It is the holidays after all so why choose one when you can have both?
#4 Thanksgiving Breakfast Burritos
In a rush to hit the stores for all of that Black Friday shopping? You will need to fuel up first. Try some breakfast burritos perfect for all of those turkey leftovers. Simply select a tortilla wrap then choose your favorite Thanksgiving Day side dishes, top with turkey or an egg and you have a complete meal perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a delicious and nutritious on-the-go snack.
#5 Thanksgiving Breakfast Frittata or Quiche
If you accidentally purchased one too many cartons of eggs for all of that holiday baking, put them to good use the day after Thanksgiving with a Thanksgiving Breakfast Frittata. The best part about a frittata or quiche is that anything goes. The ingredients can be as unique as your Thanksgiving Day menu, so raid the fridge, grab the eggs and channel your culinary creativity to create a mouthwatering masterpiece.
#6 Thanksgiving Leftovers Breakfast Hash
After Thanksgiving dinner, get excited for Black Friday brunch with a recipe for Thanksgiving Leftovers Breakfast Hash. Incredibly delicious and super simple to make, just throw all of those Thanksgiving leftovers into a skillet and simmer. Include ingredients like dressing, gravy, potatoes, roasted vegetables, and turkey. Top with a fried egg and a splash or two of hot sauce and you have the ultimate day after Thanksgiving breakfast or brunch recipe.
#7 Thanksgiving Leftovers Pizza
Pizza is a favorite food loved by many and what better way to watch all of those college football games than with a slice (or two) of Thanksgiving Leftover Pizza. Simply select a base for your crust like a cauliflower pizza crust or another grain-free option. Spread on a sauce like homemade gravy, mashed potatoes, or sweet potatoes, but avoid cranberry sauce as its concentrated flavor can muddle the other flavors of your meal.
Next, add some cheese or skip it. Chef’s choice! Finally, shred some turkey or slice up some leftover Brussel sprouts then pop in the oven and bake at 350 degrees until the pizza is golden brown. Add some leftover greens from that fall harvest salad or a spoonful of cranberry sauce for a savory topping and you have a Thanksgiving leftover recipe everyone will enjoy. Someone pass me a slice!
#8 Thanksgiving Leftovers Waffle Sandwich
Imagine everything you love about the Thanksgiving Day menu except in a waffle. It sounds delicious, right? Carve up some turkey, grab those green beans, slather on some sweet potatoes, and top with some of that homemade cranberry sauce and enjoy a Thanksgiving Leftover Waffle Sandwich. (You’re welcome).
This year, skip the same old boring leftover turkey sandwiches and instead, get creative when repurposing Thanksgiving leftovers with these Thanksgiving leftover recipe ideas. Holiday leftovers have never been so creative or delicious!
