Similar to any true Blair Waldorf Stan, I have numerous Thanksgiving traditions that mean the world to me. Getting together with the family, watching the parade, and teaming up with my younger brother to make mashed potatoes are among my personal favorites. However, the most favorite and delicious tradition of all must be the Thanksgiving leftover sandwich recipes, naturally, eaten after post-Black Friday shopping. Nothing feels my Thanksgiving-loving heart more than putting together the perfect combination of different types of breads with stuffing for a Thanksgiving leftover sandwich and having the excellent meal from the night before. 

If you relish in the joy of Thanksgiving food after Turkey Day, like many do, you are probably looking for creative methods to re-purpose your leftovers, which is why I’ve created a list of the best post-Thanksgiving leftover recipes online. No shortage of mouthwatering recipes—from salads to sliders to soup—helps transforming a boring plate of leftovers into an entirely new meal. One of our recipes may just become your new favorite tradition. 

Having said that, let us start delving into five creative recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers. 

1.Turkey Leftover Ideas 

Leftover turkey always meant Thai turkey soup or leftover turkey chili—creative ways to use it from Thanksgiving. However, this turkey wild rice soup uses leftover turkey to make a cozy post-holiday soup. It is really easy to make and hearty with an irresistible broth. 

Why you’ll love it: it’s well known that there are two types of people. Some look forward to the Thanksgiving feast, and others get more excited about the leftovers. When the leftovers are as tasty as they are in this easy turkey soup with wild rice, I must say I belong to the latter category. 

I will also mention that this is a one-pot meal. You may say there is nothing new about that because most soups are, by nature, the same, but I must point out that even the wild rice is cooked in the same pot in this recipe and not independently. Fewer dishes after Thanksgiving are a win for everyone. When you’re done making sandwiches with leftovers, this comforting turkey mushroom soup is an excellent option. 

Ingredients 

Onions, carrots, celery, olive oil and butter, Italian seasoning, flour, chicken broth, wild rice, Turkey, mushrooms, and heavy cream. 

Instructions 

Prepare your ingredients. In a soup or Dutch oven, sauté the chopped onions, carrots, and celery in the olive oil and butter until softened. Stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, and flour, and cook for a couple of minutes. 

Whisk in the broth until the flour dissolves. Stir in the rice to bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover with a lid ajar, and simmer for about 15 minutes. 

Add the shredded turkey and mushrooms, then return to a boil and simmer gently until the rice is tender. Stir in the cream, then season with salt and pepper as needed. 

You can serve the turkey soup with a slice of fresh bread to complement it. If you’re thinking about storing leftovers, rest assured; this soup will remain in the fridge for a few days in a container. If you decide to freeze it in individual portions, you’ll have leftovers after Thanksgiving that last until next Thanksgiving. 

1. Leftover Pie Ideas 

The turkey wild rice soup is not only a method to use leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. Let us give you another idea for leftover pies. Instead of using your Thanksgiving turkey leftovers to slap them on bread and have dried turkey sandwiches, you can revive them into something new, delicious, and cozy like a turkey pot pie. We hope you will consider the turkey pot pie this year on your weekend after Thanksgiving. 

Ingredients 

This recipe undoubtedly appears fancy, but it is seriously easy to make with fresh seasonal ingredients. What you need is pie dough, sweet potatoes and potatoes, some vegetables, Turkey, chicken broth, and smoked paprika. 

Instructions 

Melt the butter, then add the onions and cook until softened. 

Whisk in the flour, spices, and salt until smooth, then cook for about 30 seconds to lightly toast the flour and develop flavor in the pot pie. Stir in the chicken broth gradually until integrated and add the cream while stirring to combine. 

Add the potatoes and carrots, bring to a boil, stirring frequently, then reduce the heat to low. Continue stirring until everything is well combined, then remove it from the heat. 

Roll your prepared pie dough into a 12-inch circle to carefully lay it on the top of the pan. Press the crust up against the sides of the pan to prevent it from overhanging. Make a few slits in the crust vent. Brush the crust with egg wash and bake until golden Brown. 

2. Leftover Turkey Spaghetti Bake 

If you’re planning to brave the shopping madness the weekend after Thanksgiving, you can raise your hand. However, I’m staying put at home to tackle Black Friday shopping from home and have some servings of the following leftover turkey casserole. 

Ingredients 

Half a pound of spaghetti, two tablespoons of olive oil, one yellow onion finely chopped, three cloves of garlic, finely chopped, half a cup of heavy cream, one half cups of shredded turkey or chicken, salt-and-pepper toothpaste, half a teaspoon of Italian seasoning, half a cup of grated Parmesan cheese, one cup grated mozzarella, half a cup of small mozzarella balls, and fresh Basil to garnish. 

Instructions 

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Break the pasta in half, then cook the spaghetti according to the instructions, drain, and set aside. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium, then add the onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for one minute. Add the cream, Turkey, tomatoes, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, stirring to combine. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. 

Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and stir, adjusting the seasoning as needed. Transfer the turkey and pasta to a baking dish, then top with Parmesan and mozzarella. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the cheese melts, garnish with basil, then serve as needed. 

3. Loaded Turkey Panini 

Ingredients 

Two slices of thick, sturdy white bread or wheat bread, one tablespoon butter, a few slices of turkey, a few sage leaves, a few teaspoons of cranberry sauce, one ounce of goat cheese, two slices of cooked bacon, and one slice of Muenster cheese. 

Instructions 

Heat a skillet or a Panini press to medium-high. Place the bread on a plate and layer the ingredients between the two pieces: turkey, sage, cranberry sauce, goat cheese, bacon, and Muenster cheese. Spread butter on the outside of each piece of bread. 

Transfer to the hot skillet or Panini press, pressing together gently to help the whole thing stick together. You can slice and serve the concoction when the outside is Gordon Brown, and the inside is melted and warm. 

4. Leftover Turkey Salad 

This recipe is perfect for making with leftover turkey, delivering a lightened turkey salad with celery, onion, dried cranberries, and almonds. 

Turkey Salad Ingredients 

Leftover turkey, celery and red onion, dried cranberries, mayonnaise, almonds, plain Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, sea salt and black pepper, fresh dill or parsley. 

Instructions 

This turkey salad is an excellent way to make use of Thanksgiving leftovers. It is easy to throw together and enjoy however you prefer. Below are the instructions for preparing it. 

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, including the turkey, celery, onion, cranberries, almonds, mayonnaise, yogurt, lemon juice, mustard, salt, pepper, and fresh dill. Mix and toss everything together until well combined. 

Enjoy this turkey salad with greens in a lettuce wrap, with crackers, or as a sandwich. 

If you have plenty of leftovers from Thanksgiving day, do not consider throwing them away, because the five leftover recipes will help you use them for a few days or more if you are careful.