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Food & Recipes

Thanksgiving Leftovers Have Never Tasted So Good — 14 Easy and Delicious Recipe Ideas

These fun dishes are sure to become a part of your holiday traditions!

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The big feast may get all the attention on Thanksgiving, but there’s another part of the holiday to be grateful for: leftovers! And while we enjoy reheating a plate of roast turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and more, there are also so many ways to transform those leftovers into fun new dishes. We love getting creative in the Woman’s World test kitchen and have whipped up all sorts of ideas from classic casseroles to spicy enchiladas, Asian-inspired noodles and more. And here we’ve gathered our favorite Thanksgiving leftover recipes to keep the good times with good food going. So keep scrolling and get ready to be delighted!

14 best-ever Thanksgiving leftover recipes

You won’t believe all the different types of dishes you can whip up with that extra turkey. Even better,they’re super easy to make too. Looking for more ideas? Click through for our favorite turkey sandwich recipes. And to make it even more fun, check out our ideas for a Thanksgiving leftovers party.

RELATED: Chef’s #1 Trick to Reheat Leftover Turkey So It’s Juicy and Tender — No More Dry Meat!

1. Turkey Tostadas

Turkey Tostadas using a thanksgiving leftover recipe
Food & Photo

Leftover mashed sweet potatoes or candied yams work just as well as baked ones on this tostada, so use whatever you have on hand.

2. Turkey-Stuffed Peppers

Turkey-Stuffed Peppers recipe using Thanksgiving leftovers
Food & Photo

Like your stuffed peppers with an extra kick? Use Pepper Jack cheese instead of Monterey Jack.

3. Biscuit-Topped Turkey Pot Pie

Biscuit-Topped Turkey Pot Pie recipe using Thanksgiving leftovers
HBB

Cream of chicken soup, biscuit dough and veggies help transform Thanksgiving turkey into a comfort-food classic.

4. Crispy Onion Turkey Casserole

Crispy Onion Turkey Casserole recipe using Thanksgiving leftovers
HBB

Love green bean casserole? Try our broccoli version made extra filling with cooked turkey, red pepper and water chestnuts.

5. Turkey-Mushroom Enchiladas

Turkey mushroom enchiladas recipe using Thanksgiving leftovers
Food & Photo

Turkey, veggies and just the right amount of fiery jalapeño gives this simple Mexican dish bold flavor.

6. Turkey Vegetable Lasagna

Turkey Vegetable Lasagna recipe using Thanksgiving leftovers
HBB

This lasagna is ready for the oven in a flash, thanks to no-boil noodles, leftover turkey and storebought red pepper pasta sauce.

7. Turkey Tex-Mex Bake

Turkey Tex-Mex Bake recipe using Thanksgiving leftovers
Are Media

Filled with turkey, beans, corn and rice, our hearty Tex-Mex casserole is guaranteed to satisfy a hungry crowd. 

8. Turkey Bolognese

Turkey Bolognese recipe using Thanksgiving leftovers
Food & Photo

One Italian dish that’s always a hit is spaghetti Bolognese, and to amp it up we used leftover turkey and dressed-up marinara sauce.

9. Turkey Milanese

Turkey Milanese recipe using Thanksgiving leftovers
Food & Photo

The secret to making day-old turkey shine? Using a rich mushroom sauce to moisten the meat and add an extra layer of flavor!

10. Turkey Pad Thai

Turkey pad thai recipe using Thanksgiving leftovers
Food & Photo

This take on turkey leftovers is sure to win raves and stretch into a crowd-pleasing meal for your crew!

11. Smoky Ancho Turkey Chili

Smoky Ancho Turkey Chili recipe using Thanksgiving leftovers
Are Media

We livened up classic chili with a few splashes of coffee, beer and just the right amount of fiery ancho chile powder

12. Mini Turkey Pot Pies

Mini Turkey Pot Pies recipe using Thanksgiving leftovers
Are Media

Transform leftover green bean casserole and hearty turkey into a down-home comfort food favorite. The best part? We used premade puff pastry to ensure these delights only take 15 minutes to prep! 

13. Green Chile Turkey Enchiladas

Green Chile Turkey Enchiladas recipe using Thanksgiving leftovers
HBB

Turkey goes Tex-Mex in these enchiladas topped with green chile sauce and plenty of melted cheese.

14. Bow-Tie ‘n’ Bean Turkey Soup

Bow-Tie ‘n’ Bean Turkey Soup recipe using Thanksgiving leftovers
HBB

Full of fiber thanks to red kidney beans and sliced zucchini, this hearty soup is a real soother.


For even more tips and tricks for holiday leftovers, click through:

6 Storage Hacks To Ensure Thanksgiving Leftovers Stay Fresh and Tasty

Baking Pro’s Top Secret for Freezing Pies So They Stay Fresh and Flavorful for Months

This Might Just Be the Best Thanksgiving Leftovers Hack Yet

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