17 of the Best Recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers

Yesterday’s post was about Thanksgiving, but today’s is about leftovers. I have been blogging for over 10 years now, so I have a good collection of recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers. However, I went through and picked out 17 of the best recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers.

Now, if I had to point out just a couple of the recipes, I highly recommend the Creamy Herbed Turkey Over Cornbread Waffles, Turkey Cranberry Quesadillas, and the Day After Thanksgiving Turkey Noodle Soup. Those would be my top 3 favs but they are ALL amazing!

17 of the Best Recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers

• Creamy Herbed Turkey Over Cornbread Waffles – This recipe is a delicious way to use leftover turkey in fun and unique ways. The creamy herb sauce pairs perfectly with the savory cornbread waffles, creating a comforting dish with layers of flavor.
• Herbed Turkey Bundles – This recipe shapes the dough into little bundles encasing the savory filling. The two main ingredients that add that savory flavor are celery salt and dill weed. Dill is one of my favorite herb flavors. If you happen to have any leftover gravy, you can feel free to use it on top of these little bundles. If not, they are great on their own!
• Turkey and Rosemary Pockets – Today’s rosemary turkey pockets are a variation on a family favorite, chicken pillows. I have fancied it up and included turkey instead. Now you can serve these topped with leftover gravy if you have it and you want to use it. Otherwise these are just great on their own.
• Turkey Cranberry Wreath – The combination of juicy turkey, tangy cranberries, and crescent rolls creates a unique dish that’s perfect for the holiday season. The wreath shape also makes it visually appealing, adding a festive touch to the table. It’s a great recipe for leftover Thanksgiving turkey!
• Chicken (Turkey) a la King – This creamy, savory turkey sauce can be served over puff pastry shells, toast points, biscuits, rice, or noodles. My favorite way is serving it over light, crisp, buttery puffed pastry!
• Turkey and Green Bean Casserole – This dish comes together quickly and is somewhat of a main dish takeoff of the good old green bean casserole.  Now, this is a family favorite I have been making for years.  It came from a coupon section from a Sunday newspaper about a decade ago.  This one dish meal is a definite pleaser at my house.

Pasta

• Turkey Club Pasta Salad – Think turkey, tomato, lettuce, bacon, and cheese. You can also use your favorite ranch dressing for this salad. The addition of fresh chives on top gives this salad a fantastic fresh flavor. This salad is hearty enough to serve as a main dish, too.
• Turkey Tetrazzini – This creamy, comforting pasta bake is perfect for using up leftover turkey. With a rich sauce, tender noodles, and a mix of flavorful ingredients, it’s a crowd-pleaser that brings warmth to the table.
• Skillet Turkey Tetrazzini – This dish is a quick, one-pan meal that’s perfect for using up Thanksgiving leftovers. The creamy sauce, tender turkey, and pasta come together beautifully in a skillet, creating a comforting dish that’s both easy to make and satisfying. Ideal for busy nights, this recipe gives a delicious twist to classic turkey tetrazzini.
• Turkey Skillet Fettuccine –  I adapted it from one I found in an old issue of Light and Tasty. This recipe is only 361 calories for one cup which is much healthier than a regular fettuccine recipe.

Soups

• Turkey and Wild Rice Soup – This turkey (or chicken) and wild rice soup is simple and tasty. I got the recipe from a friend but then ended up changing it a little bit to better suit my tastes. It is that perfect comfort food that we all crave as the weather gets chilly.
• Day After Thanksgiving Turkey Noodle Soup—One way that I love to use up my leftovers is in my day after-Thanksgiving turkey noodle soup. This recipe is a Real Mom Kitchen original by moi! It is made using the turkey carcass. 
• Creamy Turkey and Rice Soup – This Creamy Turkey and Rice Soup is a cozy and satisfying way to use leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. It’s filled with tender turkey, hearty rice, and a flavorful creamy broth that’s both comforting and filling. Perfect for chilly days, this soup turns leftovers into a delicious meal the whole family will enjoy!

Sandwiches

• Easy Hot Turkey Sandwiches – These easy hot turkey sandwiches are made with a simple from scratch gravy and served with sliced deli turkey over bread. I served it along with mashed potatoes and a veggie.
• Turkey Cranberry Monte Cristo – This version of the Monte Cristo includes turkey and Swiss cheese sandwiched between the bread along with the cranberry sauce.  The cranberry sauce is just like the fruit preserves on the side, but this sandwich includes it front and center right in the middle of the sandwich.  
• Easy Turkey Salad Wraps – You make this sandwich on a tortilla as a wrap. However, you really can place the mixture on anything you want like bread or even leftover rolls.
• Turkey Cranberry Quesadillas – With tender turkey, tangy cranberry sauce, and gooey melted cheese, each bite is a savory and sweet treat. Perfect as a quick snack or light meal, these quesadillas are a delightful way to enjoy classic holiday flavors in a fresh, fun way!