Last week, I met this guy while I was out with some friends. He was cute—we made it through a bit of small talk, but then we found ourselves in a bit of a conversational lag. Naturally, with the holiday just around the corner, he steered the conversation to a safe, easy topic: “What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food?”
Now, if I was a normal person, I would’ve giggled coquettishly, batted my eyelashes, and said something adorable like “I love turkey with just a touch of cranberry sauce” while simultaneously stroking his arm and moving on to discuss his biceps. I, however, am not a normal person. After making a rather guttural sound of excitement, I declared, “Stuffing. Definitely the stuffing. No, wait, do sweet potatoes count? How about the corn? Oh, also my grandma makes great rolls. And the pie!”
If you can’t tell, I love Thanksgiving food. And who doesn’t? Thanksgiving brings out the inner Ina Garten in all of us, and it’s some of the best food we eat all year. The sad part, though? We only get to enjoy it one day a year. One.
But fear not! There’s a way to solve this sad problem. Instead of simply enjoying Thanksgiving fare for one little meal, you can use your leftovers in creative ways for days to come. Here, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite Thanksgiving leftover recipes to utilize those Ina-worthy dishes. Perhaps I should bring one next time I see that cute guy—you know, to redeem myself.
1. Leftover Thanksgiving Sliders

Source: Chungah Rhee | Damn Delicious
2. Leftover Turkey Salad

Source: Eating Bird Food
3. Cranberry Sauce Vinaigrette

Source: Detoxinista
4. Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup

Source: Salt & Lavender
5. Cranberry Orange Cheesecake

Source: Gimme Some Oven
6. Turkey, Smashed Avocado, Cranberry, Brie, and Mashed Potato Waffle Melts

Source: Half Baked Harvest
7. 10-Minute Turkey Salad Sandwiches

Source: The Everygirl
8. Loaded Turkey Panini

Source: Pinch of Yum
9. Thanksgiving Leftovers Croque Madame

Source: Half Baked Harvest
10. Turkey Tortilla Soup

Source: What’s Gaby Cooking
11. Turkey Cranberry and Grilled Brie Cheese Sandwich

Source: Foodie Crush
12. Turkey Apple Brie Flatbread

Source: My Suburban Kitchen
13. Vegan Thanksgiving Leftovers Bowl

Source: Live Eat Learn
14. 30-Minute Leftover Sweet Potato and Turkey Enchilada Skillet

Source: Ambitious Kitchen
15. Mini Sweet Potato Galettes

Source: Whisk It Real Gud
16. Homemade Gnocchi with Leftover Mashed Potatoes

Source: The Art of Doing Stuff
17. Turkey Enchiladas

Source: Gimme Some Oven
18. Cheesy Breakfast Stuffing Cakes

Source: By Erin Clarke of Well Plated
19. Leftover Turkey Cranberry Melts

Source: Two Peas and Their Pod
20. Thanksgiving Leftover Breakfast Hash

Source: Lexi’s Clean Kitchen
21. Arugula Pesto Turkey Tartine

Source: What’s Gaby Cooking
22. Vegetarian Meatloaf and Cranberry Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich

Source: Jessica in the Kitchen
23. Leftover Turkey Corn Chowder

Source: Show Me The Yummy
24. Cranberry Sauce Crumble Bars

Source: Whisk It Real Gud
25. Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes

Source: Just a Taste
26. 30-Minute Lighter Stovetop Turkey Tetrazzini

Source: Savory Nothings
27. Turkey Pot Pie

Source: Sugar Spun Run
28. Green Chile Butternut Squash and Turkey Enchiladas with Crispy Sage

Source: Half Baked Harvest
29. Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Pesto Panini

Source: Chungah Rhee | Damn Delicious
30. Curry Turkey Pot Pie with Homemade Butter Crust

Source: Foodie Crush
31. Easy 30-Minute Turkey Noodle Soup

Source: Averie Cooks
32. Leftover Thanksgiving Ham Cobb Salad

Source: Chungah Rhee | Damn Delicious
33. Leftover Cranberry Sauce Parfaits

Source: By Erin Clarke of Well Plated
34. Day-After-Thanksgiving Rye Steam Buns

Source: My Name is Yeh
35. Leftover Sweet Potato Turkey Bake

Source: The Toasted Pine Nut