How to Use Your Thanksgiving Leftovers in the Best Way Possible

I always have way too many Thanksgiving leftovers.

No matter who’s coming or how many people show up I always make too much food. And of course, there are only so many days you can eat Thanksgiving leftovers before you just need something different.

I’ve been through post after post looking for the best recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers. There are a lot of compilations and lists of food that I would literally never make (and that my kids would never eat). But I’ve made this list with the best recipes I could find for dishes that your family will actually want to eat! Even the kids!

So whether you’re looking for meals, snacks, or sweet treats, this list has something you’ll love. Let the Thanksgiving leftover extravaganza begin!

The Best Thanksgiving Recipes for Dietary Restrictions

Turkey Cranberry Sliders

These are so easy even the kids could put them together. And after putting in all that hard work to cook Thanksgiving dinner the first time you might want them to!

Thanksgiving Leftovers Turkey Handpies with Puff Pastry

These handpies are all the deliciousness of Thanksgiving wrapped in a golden, flaky puff pastry. Puff pastry is so easy to use and is perfect for these individual servings of goodness.

Thanksgiving Leftovers Turkey and Stuffing Muffins

Okay, seriously. These little muffins are all my favorite parts of Thanksgiving baked into a muffin. A muffin! A quick baking, easy to eat (and carry-to-the-car-with-you) kind of bite. Count me in.

Sausage and Stuffing Balls

You can use your Thanksgiving leftovers to make these yummy sausage and stuffing balls OR you could make them as a Thanksgiving appetizer and forget about the waiting. They’re that good!

Cheesy Thanksgiving Leftovers Mashed Potato Pancakes

I love a good potato cake! This one is simple and, unlike many others, doesn’t combine too many ingredients from your stock of Thanksgiving leftovers. This straightforward recipe is a winner.

Cranberry Pecan Turkey Salad

Finally! Something you don’t have to heat. Let’s be serious… you’ve cooked a lot. Who wants to keep cooking and reheating everey single day? Give yourself a break with this easy (and cold) turkey salad recipe.

Mashed Potato, Cheddar, and Chive Waffles

Am I the only one who thinks the only thing that could be better than potato cakes are potato waffles? Soft on the inside… crispy and cheesy on the outside… YUM.

Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s Pie is always easy and amazing. The fact that you’ll already have everything you need thanks to Thanksgiving leftovers is just an added bonus.

Leftover Turkey Carnitas

Need something that doesn’t resemble Thanksgiving in any way? Have some Mexican inspired leftovers by turning that turkey into delicious carnitas.

Easy Thanksgiving Leftovers Turkey and Wild Rice Casserole

This turkey and wild rice casserole might just help you get back to a little healthy eating after the Thanksgiving splurge. I think we’ll all need a little bit of that before Christmas gets here.

Sweet Potato Biscuits

Sweet potatoes are quitessentially Thanksgiving. Funny enough my kids rarely eat them and I have a ton left. This year these biscuits will be made with those leftovers! And I’ll probably still eat them all by myself.

Getting Ready for Your Holiday Season Now

Turkey, Brie, Bacon, and Cranberry Sandwich

This sandwich is one of the most simple ones I’ve seen. Honestly, my kids are not going to eat a sandwich made with turkey, cranberries, dressing, potatoes, gravy, and however many other layers of Thanksgiving food are in other recipes. Simple and delicious is best. Why complicate it?

Turkey, Cranberry, and Brie Wrap

If you overdid it with the bread over the holiday you might decide to make one of these wraps instead of a sandwich. Still simple, still delicious. But a little healthier.

Spiced Sweet Potato Hummus

Using your leftover sweet potatoes for hummus is genius. Sometimes you just need a snack instead of an actually meal. Post-Thanksgiving dinner is defintely one of those times.

Drop Doughnuts

I’m not going to lie… I did not know you could make doughnuts from potatoes. It makes sense though. If you can make potato cakes, waffles, and dumplings with potatoes then I guess doughnuts isn’t really a stretch. And now that you know about them they have to be on your Thanksgiving leftovers menu.

Thanksgiving Dinner or Thanksgiving Leftovers?

So what are you looking forward to the most? Thanksgiving dinner or Thanksgiving leftovers? I’m really looking forward to Thanksgiving but I’m pretty excited about those doughnuts!

I hope these 15 recipes help you use every morsel of Thanksgiving leftovers in the best way possible.

Have a blessed week friends.

But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Matthew 4.4