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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    12 Creative Ways to Transform Your Thanksgiving Leftovers

    By Emmeline Kemperyd updated November 26, 2025 · Published November 27, 2024 · Leave a Comment

    Thanksgiving leftovers can often feel like a chore to deal with, but they can also be a chance to get creative in the kitchen. Instead of just reheating the same dishes, consider transforming those familiar flavors into something new and exciting. From savory casseroles to unique soups sandwiches, there are plenty of ways to give your leftovers a fresh twist.

    Instant Pot Turkey Soup

    A bowl of Instant Pot Turkey Soup.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This soup is packed with turkey and has a refreshing lemon flavor that really brightens it up. It's a great way to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers, with a completely different flavor profile from your big turkey dinner.

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    Turkey Burgers

    A turkey burger.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Air Fryer Turkey Burgers are a quick and easy way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers. With just a few simple steps and 10 minutes in the air fryer, you can enjoy a juicy burger without any chopping.

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    Leftover Turkey Hash with Potatoes & Carrots

    Leftover Turkey Hash with Potatoes & Carrots
    Photo Credit: always use butter.

    Leftover Turkey Hash is a quick dish that turns your Thanksgiving leftovers into something delicious in under 20 minutes. With crunchy carrots and crispy potatoes, this meal is perfect for a cozy night in.

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    Brie Grilled Cheese with Turkey

    Brie Grilled Cheese with Turkey
    Photo credit: Midwest foodie

    This Turkey Brie Grilled Cheese is a delicious twist on the classic sandwich. Packed with turkey, fresh greens, creamy Brie cheese, and a touch of whole grain mustard, it's a great choice for lunch any day of the week.

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    Leftover Turkey Soup with Black Beans and Corn

    Healthy Leftover Turkey Soup with Black Beans and Corn
    Photo Credit: Bowl of Delicious.

    Transform your leftover Thanksgiving turkey into a delicious Southwestern soup with black beans and corn. This dish is full of fresh flavors from lime juice and cilantro, along with spices like smoked paprika and cumin, and it can be made anytime using rotisserie chicken.

    Get the recipe

    Grilled Cheese Thanksgiving Leftovers Sandwich

    Grilled Cheese Thanksgiving Leftovers Sandwich
    Photo Credit: An Edible Mosaic.

    This grilled cheese turns your holiday leftovers into something special. Packed with turkey, sweet apple, tart cranberry sauce, plenty of Tillamook cheese, and crispy sage, it gives a fresh twist to your leftovers.

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    Leftover Turkey Puff Pastry Pie

    Leftover Turkey Puff Pastry Pie
    Photo Credit: An Edible Mosaic.

    This puff pastry pie with turkey, mashed potatoes, broccoli, and cheese sauce is a simple and tasty way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers. This dish is a great option for turning your holiday meal into something entirely new and very satisfying!

    Get the recipe

    Leftover Turkey & Mashed Potato Pie

    Leftover Turkey & Mashed Potato Pie
    Photo Credit: Life as a Strawberry.

    This casserole combines turkey pot pie and Shepherd's pie, creating a comforting dish. It's a great way to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey and mashed potatoes.

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    Leftover Boiled Potato Casserole

    Leftover boiled potato casserole.
    Photo Credit: always use butter.

    Leftover boiled potatoes can be turned into a delicious casserole that captures the classic baked potato flavors. This dish is creamy, cheesy, and super simple to prepare.

    Get the recipe

    Leftover Turkey Frittata

    Leftover Turkey Frittata
    Photo Credit: Life as a Strawberry.

    Leftover Thanksgiving turkey can be transformed into a delicious frittata with just a few simple ingredients. Toss in some mushrooms, veggies, and goat cheese for a quick and satisfying holiday breakfast that you can easily adapt to what you have available.

    Get the recipe

    Leftover Turkey Salad

    Leftover Turkey Salad Recipe
    Photo Credit: Tried and True Recipe.

    This turkey salad is a mix of tangy and creamy flavors, with a hint of sweetness from dried cranberries. It's a great way to use up leftover turkey after Thanksgiving.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Turkey Pumpkin Chili

    Slow Cooker Turkey Pumpkin Chili
    Photo Credit: This Healthy Table.

    This turkey pumpkin chili is a comforting dish perfect for chilly fall evenings. It's a great way to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers!

    Get the recipe

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    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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