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    Home » Thanksgiving

    12 Leftover Recipes That Are Even Better Than Thanksgiving Dinner

    By Emmeline Kemperyd updated November 25, 2025 · Published November 25, 2025 · Leave a Comment

    These 12 leftover recipes turn your Thanksgiving feast into exciting new meals. From savory casseroles to hearty soups, these dishes make the most of what you have, ensuring nothing goes to waste. Enjoy the flavors of the holiday in fresh and creative ways!

    Leftover Turkey Soup with Black Beans and Corn

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

    Leftover Thanksgiving turkey can be transformed into a delicious Southwestern turkey soup with black beans and corn. This soup is full of fresh flavors from lime juice and cilantro, along with spices like smoked paprika and cumin, plus peppers and onions for extra taste. It's a great way to use up turkey, and you can easily make it with rotisserie chicken any time of the year. Plus, it freezes well, so you can enjoy it later.

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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 and easy way to use up your turkey dinner leftovers in just under 20 minutes. This dish combines crunchy carrots and crispy potatoes, creating a satisfying meal that feels like comfort food. It's a great option for busy nights when you want something delicious without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

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    Leftover Turkey Frittata

    Leftover Turkey Frittata
    Photo Credit: Life as a Strawberry.

    Leftover Thanksgiving turkey can be transformed into a delicious frittata that's perfect for breakfast. By mixing in mushrooms, vegetables, and goat cheese, you create a hearty meal that's simple to make. This dish is flexible, allowing you to use whatever ingredients you have available.

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    Leftover Turkey Puff Pastry Pie

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

    Leftover turkey puff pastry pie is a great way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers. This dish combines turkey, mashed potatoes, broccoli, and cheese sauce all wrapped in flaky pastry. It's simple to prepare and turns your holiday meal into something new and exciting.

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    Brie Grilled Cheese with Turkey

    Brie Grilled Cheese with Turkey
    Photo credit: Midwest foodie

    Turkey Brie Grilled Cheese takes a classic sandwich to a whole new level. Packed with sliced turkey, fresh greens, and plenty of melted Brie cheese, it's a delicious twist on the usual grilled cheese. A touch of whole grain mustard adds just the right amount of flavor. This is a great choice for a quick and satisfying lunch.

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    Grilled Cheese Thanksgiving Leftovers Sandwich

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

    This Grilled Cheese Thanksgiving Leftovers Sandwich turns your holiday leftovers into something special. Packed with turkey, sweet apple, tangy cranberry sauce, plenty of Tillamook cheese, and crispy fried sage, it's a delicious way to enjoy what you have left. It's a fun twist on traditional leftovers that you won't want to miss.

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    Turkey Burgers

    A turkey burger.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Air Fryer Turkey Burgers are a quick and easy meal that you can whip up in no time. With just a few simple steps and only 10 minutes in the air fryer, you can enjoy a delicious burger without any chopping. The use of powdered seasonings keeps things simple, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice adds extra juiciness to the patties. This is a great option for busy nights when you want something tasty without a lot of work.

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    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 leftover turkey, turning it into something warm and comforting. Perfect for chilly days, this dish is simple to make and full of deliciousness.

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    Slow Cooker Turkey Pumpkin Chili

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

    This is a hearty dish perfect for cool evenings. It combines turkey and pumpkin in a way that brings comfort and warmth to your table. This meal is simple to prepare and is great for using up leftover turkey, making it a practical choice for busy nights.

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    Leftover Turkey Salad

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

    This turkey salad is a great way to use up leftover turkey. It has a nice balance of tangy and creamy flavors, with a hint of sweetness from dried cranberries. It's perfect for a quick lunch or a light dinner, making the most of your holiday leftovers.

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    Leftover Turkey Stew with Mashed Potato Dumplings

    Leftover Turkey Stew with Mashed Potato Dumplings
    Photo Credit: Foodess.

    This creamy turkey stew is a great way to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey. It features fluffy dumplings made from mashed potatoes, making it a comforting and satisfying meal. With ingredients like onions, carrots, and herbs, this dish is both healthy and delicious. It's perfect for those chilly nights when you want something warm and filling.

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    Leftover Turkey & Mashed Potato Pie

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

    This casserole combines the flavors of turkey pot pie and Shepherd's pie, creating a comforting dish that's perfect for using up leftover Thanksgiving turkey and mashed potatoes. It's simple to prepare in a Dutch oven or cast iron skillet, making it a great option for busy nights. This dish is a delicious way to enjoy those holiday leftovers in a new and satisfying way.

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    More Thanksgiving Recipes

    • Thanksgiving Smoked Turkey
      Thanksgiving Prep Checklist: These Dishes Need to Be On Your Table!
    • Spicy honey glazed turkey.
      Make One of These Turkey Recipes for Your Best Thanksgiving Yet
    • Charred cabbage with maple pecans.
      8 Plant-Based Thanksgiving Dishes That Are Anything But Boring
    • Cheesy potatoes.
      21 Cozy Potato Sides That Belong on Your Thanksgiving Table

    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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