Try as you might, theres a pretty good chance youll find yourself with Thanksgiving leftovers after the main meal has wrapped up. Rather than eating the same thing for days on end, why not get creative? One of the most versatile dishes you might be working with is stuffing. The herb-laden dish is a great base for plenty of meals, like bread pudding, waffles and more. Weve rounded up the best leftover stuffing recipes that help you make the most of it.
While theres nothing wrong with sitting down with a plate of stuffing, mashed potatoes, and green beans day after day, we cant blame you if it starts to get a little boring. Creative preparation methods like adding marinara sauce and ground beef to make meatballs, or adding in some cheese and other elements to make a cozy casserole, are easy ways to make your leftover stuffing feel like something you and your family are excited to eat.
This is a hearty, cozy way to use up your leftover stuffing. The addition of marinara sauce and ground beef creates a different flavor profile, so it wont feel like youre eating the same thing all over again.
How adorable are these muffins? Theyre made with baby kale and flavorful Gruyère. You can top them with a fried egg for an easy, satisfying breakfast or snack.
The holidays have come and gone, and now you’re staring at a fridge full of turkey and stuffing leftovers wondering what on earth to do with them. I’ve certainly been there! After spending days preparing a huge holiday feast, the last thing you want is for those leftovers to go to waste.
Luckily there are tons of delicious ways to repurpose leftover turkey and stuffing into easy new dishes the whole family will love. From casseroles to soups sandwiches, appetizers and more, you can give those leftovers new life with just a little creativity.
In this article, I’ll share my favorite leftover turkey and stuffing recipes, along with tips to make the most of those leftovers and reduce food waste after the holidays Let’s dive in!
Get Creative with Casseroles
One of the easiest and most comforting ways to use up leftover turkey and stuffing is to make a casserole. Turkey and stuffing lend themselves perfectly to casserole dishes adding moisture flavor and texture.
Some classic turkey and stuffing casserole ideas include:
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Turkey Pot Pie: Line a pie dish with leftover stuffing, fill with turkey, veggies, gravy and top with a pie crust.
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King Ranch Casserole: Mix chopped turkey, stuffing, cream of chicken/mushroom soup, peppers, onions and top with cheese.
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Turkey Tater Tot Casserole: Layer tater tots, turkey, stuffing, cheese and bake until bubbly.
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Turkey Enchilada Casserole: Stuff tortillas with turkey, stuffing, beans, cheese and smother in enchilada sauce.
Get creative with different sauces and pile those leftovers into a casserole dish for an easy bake. Add veggies, beans or rice to round out the meal.
Transform into Soup
Warm, comforting soup is a great way to use up leftover turkey and stuffing. Try adding chopped turkey and stuffing chunks or balls to veggie soups, chowders, chicken noodle soup and more.
Some of my favorite turkey and stuffing soup ideas include:
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Turkey Noodle Soup: Simmer turkey, stuffing, veggies and noodles in broth.
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Turkey and Dumpling Soup: Make fluffy stuffing dumplings and simmer in turkey broth with veggies.
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Turkey Wild Rice Soup: Cook wild rice with sauteed turkey, stuffing and seasonings in broth.
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Creamy Turkey Chowder: Puree sauteed leeks, potatoes and broth, then add turkey, stuffing and corn.
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Italian Turkey Soup: Simmer turkey meatballs, stuffing balls, tomatoes, beans and spinach.
Let the turkey and stuffing soak up the rich flavors of the broth for extra cozy soup.
Pile Onto Sandwiches
Sandwiches and wraps are a quick and easy way to gobble up leftover turkey and stuffing. Build a sandwich bar and let everyone create their perfect post-holiday sandwich.
Some tasty turkey and stuffing sandwich creations include:
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Classic Leftover Turkey Sandwich: Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mayo on bread.
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Turkey Reuben: Turkey, stuffing, Swiss, sauerkraut, Thousand Island dressing between rye.
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Turkey French Dip: Sliced turkey and stuffing on a hoagie roll with au jus for dipping.
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Turkey Club Wrap: Tortilla stuffed with turkey, stuffing, bacon, tomato, lettuce, avocado.
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Southwest Turkey Wrap: Fajita veggies, turkey, stuffing, pepper jack, chipotle ranch in a tortilla.
Get creative with breads, condiments and toppings! Grilled cheese stuffed with turkey and stuffing is amazing too.
Make Appetizers and Snacks
Leftover turkey and stuffing also make fantastic appetizers and snacks! Make bites for a crowd or pack them in lunches.
Fun turkey and stuffing appetizer ideas include:
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Stuffing Balls: Form leftover stuffing into bite-size balls, coat in breadcrumbs and bake or fry.
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Turkey Meatballs: Mix ground turkey with stuffing and spices, then bake bite-size meatballs.
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Turkey Sliders: Top mini buns with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy.
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Stuffing Egg Rolls: Wrap wonton wrappers around turkey, stuffing and veggies for crispy egg rolls.
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Stuffing Muffins: Fold chopped turkey and stuffing into a muffin batter and bake.
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Turkey Potstickers: Fill wonton wrappers with ground turkey, stuffing and spices, then pan-fry.
Get creative with different seasonings and sauces for dipping.
Whip Up Savory Breakfasts
Don’t forget about breakfast! Leftover turkey and stuffing make fantastic additions to hearty breakfast dishes and baked goods.
Some savory breakfast ideas include:
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Stuffing Waffles or Pancakes: Add cubed stuffing to waffle or pancake batter, then top with turkey and gravy.
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Breakfast Skillet: Cook turkey, stuffing, veggies, eggs and cheese in a skillet for a breakfast hash.
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Stuffing Baked Oatmeal: Fold turkey and stuffing into oatmeal along with eggs, cheese and bake.
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Stuffing Breakfast Strata: Layer bread, turkey, stuffing, eggs, cheese and bake into a savory bread pudding.
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Stuffing Muffins or Bread: Add chopped turkey and stuffing to muffin or bread batter.
Get creative with different add-ins like cheese, vegetables, herbs and spices.
Tips for Working with Leftovers
Here are some of my best tips for safely storing and preparing leftover turkey and stuffing after the holidays:
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Refrigerate leftovers in shallow containers within 2 hours of cooking. Use within 3-4 days.
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Reheat thoroughly to 165°F. Gravy should boil before serving. Don’t just warm!
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Freeze leftovers for longer storage. Portion stuffing into freezer bags.
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Add broth or gravy to dry out stuffing before cooking into casseroles or baking.
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Use leftover gravy or make a simple sauce to add moisture to casseroles.
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Repurpose leftover veggies, mashed potatoes or cranberry sauce along with the turkey and stuffing.
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Stale stuffing cubes can be crushed into crunchy toppings for casseroles or salads.
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Turn leftover turkey into ground turkey to make meatballs, patties, chili, etc.
With some creativity and safe food handling, you can give leftover turkey and stuffing a delicious second life. No more staring at a fridge full of sad leftovers! Put those holiday dishes to good use.
What are your favorite ways to use up turkey and stuffing after the holidays? Share your tips and recipes in the comments!
Red Onion and Cheddar Bread Pudding
Hosting a post-Thanksgiving brunch? Serve up a tray of this comforting bread pudding made with leftover stuffing, jammy onions and extra-sharp Cheddar cheese.
Get the Red Onion and Cheddar Bread Pudding recipe .
Giant Leftover Thanksgiving Sandwich
This huge Thanksgiving sandwich brings together all the classics: stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and of course, turkey.
Get the Giant Leftover Thanksgiving Sandwich recipe from Delish. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
These mushrooms packed with stuffing and cream cheese make a perfect appetizer or snack.
Get the Stuffing Stuffed Mushrooms recipe from The Pioneer Woman.
Leftover stuffing gets repurposed into crunchy croutons in this ultimate post-Thanksgiving salad. Genius!
Get the Leftover Thanksgiving Salad recipe from Delish. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
This one fulfills your Taco Bell craving and uses up all your Thanksgiving leftovers.
Get the Thanksgiving Crunchwrap recipe from Delish.
If youre looking for a tried-and-true classic the day after Thanksgiving, you can never go wrong with a leftover turkey sandwich.
Get the Thanksgiving Sandwich recipe from Delish. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Top potato chips with leftover stuffing — along with cheese and shredded turkey — for the perfect post-Turkey Day party app.
Get the Friendsgiving Nachos recipe from Delish.
What To Do With Leftover Stuffing
What to do with leftover turkey stuffing?
Serve with warm gravy or cranberry sauce for dipping. Transform leftover stuffing and turkey into baked biscuit bombs with cream cheese, cranberry sauce, and Swiss cheese. Serve with warmed gravy for dipping. “What a good idea!” says reviewer S.E. “I was looking forward to having leftovers just so I could try these!”
What to do with Thanksgiving Leftovers?
This clever recipe shows you how to transform Thanksgiving leftovers like stuffing, turkey, and mashed potatoes into a savory pull-apart bread that the whole family will love to tear into! Serve with gravy or cranberry sauce. Get creative with your leftover stuffing, turkey, and gravy with these twice-baked stuffed potatoes.
What can you do with leftover Turkey Day leftovers?
Turn your Turkey Day surplus into muffins, casserole, waffles and more! Try as you might, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll find yourself with Thanksgiving leftovers after the main meal has wrapped up. Rather than eating the same thing for days on end, why not get creative? One of the most versatile dishes you might be working with is stuffing.
What to do with leftover stuffing?
Balls of leftover stuffing are coated in seasoned bread crumbs and deep-fried until golden and crunchy to create these tasty appetizers. Serve hot with gravy or cranberry sauce for dipping! You can use any kind of stuffing, such as sausage or corn bread, or a boxed variety.
What to do with leftover Turkey chowder?
“Grab that leftover turkey and roll it up with some sausage, cheese and vegetables to make a savory roll. Eat it for dinner, breakfast or just as a snack. To add an over-the-top touch, drizzle with turkey gravy.” —Recipe contributor Kellie Braddell, West Point, California What’s the difference between chowder and soup?
What to do with leftover Turkey Hash?
This leftover hash recipe uses turkey, gravy, and, of course, stuffing! It’s such an easy breakfast to throw together. For an added dose of tastiness, serve it with a fried egg on top. 11. Thanksgiving Leftover Empanadas If you love Mexican empanadas, you’ll flip for these stuffing-filled ones!