23 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes That Are Better Than The Main Meal

Thanksgiving leftovers deserve better than another reheated plate. With a little creativity, you can turn all that extra food into something that feels new and exciting and sometimes even better than the main meal itself. These recipes are quick to pull together, full of fresh flavors, and a great way to keep the holiday spirit alive without eating the same meal twice.

Turkey Stew

Shredded turkey simmers with baby potatoes, carrots, and fresh herbs for a stew that’s comforting and flavorful. A touch of balsamic and tomato paste adds depth, making this a leftover dish worth repeating.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Stew

Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet

Shredded turkey with sweet potatoes and black beans in a skillet. — Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This skillet dish mixes turkey, sweet potatoes, black beans, and greens into a fast, nutritious dinner. It’s a quick and easy way to turn leftovers into something vibrant and fresh.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet

Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cranberries add a sweet-tart burst to soft, chewy chocolate chip cookies. A fun way to use up leftover cranberry sauce while creating a dessert everyone will actually be excited about.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies

Turkey Wild Rice Soup with Vegetables

A bowl of creamy chicken soup with chunks of chicken, sliced carrots, mushrooms, and herbs, garnished with parsley. The dish is accompanied by slices of crusty bread on a white surface. — Turkey Wild Rice Soup with Vegetables. Photo credit: Haute & Healthy Living.

This creamy soup is a great way to turn turkey leftovers into a hearty meal. Packed with veggies and ready in 35 minutes, it’s lighter than the holiday spread but still just as comforting.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Wild Rice Soup with Vegetables

Stuffing Waffles

Stuffing waffles are an easy way to make leftovers more exciting. Quick to whip up for breakfast, lunch, or brunch, they’ll make you wonder why you didn’t eat them this way all along.
Get the Recipe: Stuffing Waffles

Turkey Stroganoff

A stainless steel pan filled with creamy mushroom and pasta dish. Spiral pasta, sliced mushrooms, and chunks of meat are coated in a white sauce, garnished with fresh parsley. The pan rests on a gray cloth on a marble surface. — Turkey Stroganoff. Photo credit: Recipes From a Pantry.

Turkey stroganoff turns leftover turkey into a creamy, flavorful dinner that’s easy to make and feels like a brand-new meal. It’s great for a low-effort, high-payoff weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Stroganoff

Mac and Cheese Balls

A plate of golden-brown, crispy croquettes sits on a white wooden table. The croquettes are served in a bowl lined with parchment paper, and a small bowl of creamy dip is placed beside them. A white cloth is draped nearby. — Mac and Cheese Balls. Photo credit: Recipes From a Pantry.

These air fryer mac and cheese balls are crispy, cheesy, and only need three ingredients. They’re a perfect way to reinvent leftovers into a snack that’s impossible not to love.
Get the Recipe: Mac and Cheese Balls

Baked Ham Penne Pasta

A creamy pasta bake sits in a round dish, garnished with crispy bacon bits and a sprig of rosemary. A wooden spoon rests on the side. The dish is placed on a striped cloth with a small bowl of salt and peppercorns nearby. — Baked Ham Penne Pasta. Photo credit: Miss in the Kitchen.

Leftover ham gets a second life in this creamy, cheesy penne pasta bake. It’s great for feeding a crowd and makes dinner feel fresh without much effort.
Get the Recipe: Baked Ham Penne Pasta

Turkey Chili

A bowl of hearty chili topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, sliced jalapeños, green onions, and crispy tortilla chips. The chili contains beans, tomatoes, and pieces of meat, served in a white bowl on a dark plate. — Turkey Chili. Photo credit: Foxes Love Lemons.

Turkey chili is a fast, flavorful way to use up leftovers. Ready in about 30 minutes, it’s perfect for meal prep or freezing for later.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Chili

Turkey Pot Pie

A slice of creamy chicken pot pie on a serving spatula above a pie dish, with visible peas and carrots. Soft rolls and a bowl of mixed vegetables are blurred in the background. — Turkey Pot Pie. Photo credit: Tessie’s Table.

Packed with turkey, a creamy sauce, and a flaky crust, turkey pot pie is the kind of leftover meal that might just outshine the original feast.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Pot Pie

Ham and Corn Chowder

A hearty soup in green bowls, featuring chunks of ham, corn, carrots, and topped with chopped green onions and crispy bacon bits. Slices of bread and more diced ham are visible nearby. A ladle is in a larger pot of soup. — Ham and Corn Chowder. Photo credit: Tessie’s Table.

This creamy chowder with ham, corn, and potatoes is quick to make and big on flavor. Leftovers have never tasted this good.
Get the Recipe: Ham and Corn Chowder

Sweet Potato Cornbread

A skillet with freshly baked cornbread topped with two pats of butter sits on a white cloth. Nearby are cinnamon sticks, a fork, and recipe notes. A white plate is partially visible. The scene suggests a cozy, homemade meal setting. — Sweet Potato Cornbread. Photo credit: Baked Abundance.

Sweet potato cornbread turns roasted sweet potatoes into a moist, savory side dish that pairs perfectly with soups, stews, or just about anything.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Cornbread

Thanksgiving Egg Rolls

A plate of golden-brown baked pastries, some halved to reveal a filling of apples and spices. A small dish of red fruit sauce and a floral-patterned cloth are in the background, all on a white wooden surface. — Thanksgiving Egg Rolls. Photo credit: Blogghetti.

Air fryer Thanksgiving egg rolls pack turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce into crispy bites. They’re great for dipping in gravy and way more fun than reheating a plate of leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Thanksgiving Egg Rolls

Turkey Cuban Sandwich Puffs

These flaky puffs are stuffed with leftover turkey and Cuban sandwich flavors. They’re a quick, fun option for lunch or party snacks that taste nothing like the day before.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Cuban Sandwich Puffs

Turkey Spinach Lasagna Rolls

These lasagna rolls combine turkey, spinach, and cheesy goodness in an easy, make-ahead dish. They’re perfect for when you want something that feels fresh but uses what you already have.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Spinach Lasagna Rolls

Turkey and Stuffing Meatballs with Gravy

These turkey and stuffing meatballs bring all the Thanksgiving flavors into bite-sized form. Quick to prep and easy to serve, they’re perfect for busy nights.
Get the Recipe: Turkey and Stuffing Meatballs with Gravy

Chocolate Covered Cranberry Sauce

Leftover cranberry sauce turns into a sweet-tart treat when coated in chocolate. A simple, creative way to give leftovers a whole new vibe.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Covered Cranberry Sauce

Muffin Tin Turkey & Stuffing Cups with Gravy

Turkey and stuffing cups bake into meaty, handheld bites that are great for lunch or snacking. Dip them in gravy, and you might forget they’re leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Muffin Tin Turkey & Stuffing Cups with Gravy

Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits

Creamy chicken pot pie gets a fun upgrade with flaky biscuits on top. It’s an easy, comforting dish that feels fresh while still putting leftovers to good use.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits

Tater Tot Turkey Pot Pie

This fun take on pot pie skips the crust and uses crispy tater tots instead. With turkey, veggies, and a creamy filling, it’s a perfect way to reimagine leftovers into something fun and satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Tater Tot Turkey Pot Pie

Shredded Turkey Tacos

Turkey gets a makeover with a citrusy marinade and bold taco spices. These quick tacos are a fresh way to transform your leftovers into something no one will complain about.
Get the Recipe: Shredded Turkey Tacos

Potato and Italian Sausage Soup

Leftover potatoes and sausage combine in this hearty soup, made creamy with a quick blend of ingredients. It’s a cozy, quick option that feels like a completely new meal.
Get the Recipe: Potato and Italian Sausage Soup

Instant Pot Creamy White Bean and Turkey Chili

This creamy chili combines leftover turkey with white beans and a flavorful broth. It’s easy to make, full of fresh toppings, and ready in no time thanks to the Instant Pot.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Creamy White Bean and Turkey Chili

Gina Matsoukas

Founder and Writer at Running to the Kitchen | About

Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.