Ok. So the turkey’s been roasted, perfectly carved, and served. Everyone has dug into our classy and classic green bean casserole, smooth-as-silk mashed potatoes, and, well…you get the idea.

So now the real eating begins! Because there’s nothing better than Thanksgiving leftovers. And not just reheated leftovers but reinvented, re-imagined leftovers.

One of The One’s and my favorite leftover dishes is Thanksgiving-dinner pot pie. It’s simple to make.

Layer a deep-dish pie plate with chunks of turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, chopped-up green-bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and more turkey and gravy. (Of course, you can tailor your pie using whatever you’ve made.)

Roll out an easy-peasy pie dough, cover the whole thing, and bake it in a 425°F (220°C) until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.

Prefer something else? I dare you to resist the dishes below. Yup, I dare you!

Happy Leftover Day!

The word "David" written in script.
A turkey cranberry sandwich with stuffing on toasted bread.
Jamie Prescott
1 of 8

Turkey Cranberry Sandwich with Stuffing

This turkey cranberry sandwich with stuffing is a classic post-Thanksgiving must. Slices of sturdy bread, mayo, cranberry sauce, turkey, stuffing, and gravy. The best part of Thanksgiving…besides the people at the table.
Recipe
Three leftovers turnovers on a parchment-lined small rimmed baking sheet.
Jemma Watts
2 of 8

Leftovers Turnovers

These Thanksgiving leftovers turnovers are filled with cold turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing or dressing, cranberry sauce, whatever leftovers are lurking in your fridge. An easy supper solution that’ll earn you accolades.
Recipe
Two open-faced sandwiches topped with turkey, white sauce, and two slices of bacon.
Matt Armendariz
3 of 8

Hot Brown Sandwich

A hot brown sandwich is an easy and iconic excuse to smother leftover turkey with bacon and a bubbling hot cheese sauce. Maybe Thanksgiving should come more than once a year.
Recipe
Five sweet potato patties stacked on a plate with a dollop of crème fraîche on top and a fork on the side.
Liren Baker
4 of 8

Sweet Potato Patties

A simple coating of panko and a few minutes in a hot pan transforms these sweet potato patties into a marvelous side dish or vegetarian main. It's also a great way to use up leftover mashed sweet potatoes.
Recipe
A muffin tin filled with cooked Thanksgiving leftovers muffins.
E.J. Armstrong
5 of 8

Thanksgiving Leftovers Muffins

These Thanksgiving leftovers muffins make magnificent use of all of your holiday extras by layering stuffing, gravy, turkey, and mashed potatoes in a muffin tin for a savory and surprising day-after nosh.
Recipe
Four crispy mashed potato tacos on a sheet of white paper with a couple lime wedges on the side.
Molly Krebs
6 of 8

Crispy Mashed Potato Tacos

These crispy mashed potato tacos, filled with crunchy cabbage, creamy mashed potatoes, fresh pico de gallo, and cilantro, are unconventional yet absolutely delicious.
Recipe
Two hot turkey sandwiches, sliced in half on a tray with pieces of cranberry, avocado, and stuffing lying beside them.
Jamie Prescott
7 of 8

Hot Turkey Sandwich

I make these whenever my daughter comes for lunch. I usually grill them and sometimes add avocado to make them even moister.
Recipe
A sheet pan with six ground lamb and potato patties on parchment paper.
Nik Sharma
8 of 8

Ground Lamb and Potato Patties

These ground lamb and potato patties from Nik Sharma encapsulate spiced ground meat in a fluffy mashed potato shell that’s coated with bread crumbs and pan-fried until golden brown.
Recipe

FAQs

How long can I safely keep leftovers?

We recommend that you use or freeze your leftovers within 4 days of cooking. Leftovers should be refrigerated within 2 hours of preparation and kept refrigerated in sealed containers.

Which Thanksgiving leftovers freeze well?

Cooked turkey, mashed potatoes, leftover cranberry sauce, and gravy all freeze very well. Cooked vegetable sides tend to become mushy after freezing, so we’d recommend using them up and skipping freezing.

What types of leftovers can I feed to my dog?

You can safely feed your dog cooked turkey meat, pumpkin, or sweet potato. Don’t share the turkey carcass, desserts, or fatty foods with your furry friend.

If you’re still looking for ways to use up those leftovers and can’t bear the thought of another turkey sandwich, give one of these Thanksgiving leftovers recipes a whirl.

  • Swap chicken for turkey in these easy chicken enchiladas.
  • Pile your leftovers on top of tater tots for a Thanksgiving-inspired plate of totchos.
  • Substitute turkey in your favorite butter chicken recipe.
  • Put that turkey carcass to good use in this easy soup.
  • Toss your leftover turkey into this carrot soup.
  • Spoon cranberry sauce over cheesecake or swirl it into yogurt and top with granola.
  • Use up leftover gravy in your favorite poutine recipe.
  • Pile all your leftovers into a pie plate, top with a pie crust, and bake until golden. Voilà! Thanksgiving turkey pot pie.
  • Stuff peppers with turkey, stuffing, and vegetables. Top with cheese and bake until tender.
  • Leftover dessert? You don’t need our help in figuring out what to do with that.



About David Leite

I count myself lucky to have received three James Beard Awards for my writing as well as for Leite’s Culinaria. My work has also appeared in The New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Yankee, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and more.


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