Got Thanksgiving leftovers? Transform turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and more into fresh new meals with these easy, family-friendly ideas perfect for the day after the feast.
What Do We Do With All of That Food?
I don’t know about you guys, but our family always overdoes it at Thanksgiving. I don’t just mean we eat too much. (We do that, too.)
We make too much.
Too much turkey. Too many sides. And w-a-y too many desserts.
Example: When I asked one relative what she was bringing to our Thanksgiving Feast, she responded, “To-Go Containers.” And she meant it.
(Side note: This is a terrific tip! If you’re not asked to bring a food items to your Thanksgiving/Friendsgiving, show up with a bunch of to-go containers you can give away. Folks will be so grateful you thought of that!)
Leftovers Can Shine!
Here’s the truth: At Backyard Texas Grill, we’ve smoked, roasted, and served enough Thanksgiving dinners to know the truth: the leftovers can be just as good as the main event.
Our Texas family always finds clever ways to reinvent turkey, side dishes, and rolls into brand-new meals everyone gets excited about. And hey, someone has to eat all that stuff! You don’t want to have to toss it out!
These tried-and-true ideas use dishes we’ve already shared on the site—from smoked turkey to traditional dressing, honey corn, sweet potato casserole, and cranberry salad—so nothing goes to waste and your fridge gets a whole lot lighter.
Side note: You won’t get a whole lot lighter, but calories and carbs don’t count during the holidays. Right?!
These Ideas Are:
Skill Level: Easy
Flavor Profile: Savory, smoky, sweet, and comforting
Options Included: Sliders, casseroles, soups, skillets, brunch ideas, and snack boards
Best For: Day-after-Thanksgiving meals, family lunches, game-day grazing, and feeding a crowd
What to Do with Thanksgiving Leftovers
Whether your fridge is full of smoked turkey or you have piles of sweet potato casserole and dressing, you’ve got everything you need for some delicious next-day meals. Here are 20+ creative, flavorful ways to turn leftovers into something brand new.
🦃 Leftover Turkey Idea
1. Turkey Sliders
Our slider recipe is perfect for holiday leftovers!
Use leftover turkey instead of ham or chicken.
Extra flavor upgrades:
- cranberry sauce or cranberry mandarin salad as a “jam”
- leftover dressing as a bottom layer
- melted butter + Everything Bagel seasoning on top
2. Turkey Cranberry BBQ Sandwiches
Warm chopped turkey with:
- BBQ sauce
- cranberry sauce
- optional pickles or jalapeños
Pile onto dinner rolls.
3. Turkey Soup (Stovetop or Smoker)
If you smoked a turkey, the bones will give you incredible broth.
Simmer with:
- onion
- celery
- carrots
- leftover green beans
- leftover honey corn
- turkey chunks
Pop the pot into the smoker for 30 minutes for extra depth.
4. Turkey & Dressing Casserole
Layer into a baking dish:
- dressing
- turkey
- broth or drippings
- shredded cheese
Bake at 350° for about 20 minutes.
5. Turkey Quesadillas
A quick favorite:
- turkey
- cheese
- leftover corn casserole
- jalapeños
Serve with sour cream and cranberry salsa (cranberry sauce + your favorite salsa).
6. Turkey Mac & Cheese
Stir chopped turkey into any mac and cheese or smoked mac.
Season with black pepper or Cajun seasoning for a kick.
7. Turkey Sweet Potato Bowls
Use leftover sweet potato casserole as your base.
Top with:
- turkey
- green beans
- a drizzle of honey or BBQ sauce
It becomes a Thanksgiving “power bowl.”
8. Turkey Fried Rice
Yes. Really.
Stir fry:
- turkey
- onions
- corn
- carrots
- leftover green beans
- butter
- soy sauce
Smoky turkey tastes amazing in fried rice.
9. Turkey Grilled Cheese (“Grillwich”)
Layers:
- turkey
- provolone or white cheddar
- cranberry sauce
- mayo
Grill until crisp and melty.
🍞 Leftover Dressing (Stuffing) Ideas
10. Dressing Waffles
Press leftover dressing in a waffle iron.
Top with turkey + gravy (or cranberry sauce).
11. Dressing Breakfast Skillet
Fry:
- leftover dressing
- a little butter
- eggs on top
Breakfast of champions.
12. Dressing Muffins
Press dressing into greased muffin tins.
Bake 12–15 minutes at 350°.
Perfect with soup or turkey.
🍠 Leftover Sweet Potato Casserole Ideas
13. Sweet Potato Hash
Pan-fry sweet potatoes with:
- turkey
- onions
- leftover corn
Add eggs on top if you like.
14. Sweet Potato Pancakes
Mix leftover sweet potato casserole with flour and egg.
Griddle until golden.
Serve with butter and maple syrup.
15. Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowls
Layer:
- sweet potato casserole
- Greek yogurt or whipped cream
- pecans
Tastes like dessert for breakfast.
🌽 Leftover Veggies, Corn & Sides
16. Corn Casserole Fritters
Mix corn casserole with egg and flour.
Pan-fry little patties until crisp.
17. Corn Chowder
Simmer leftover corn casserole with broth, onions, and potatoes for a hearty chowder.
18. Glazed Carrot Salad
Chop leftover glazed carrots.
Toss with nuts and a little mayo or Greek yogurt for a chilled salad.
19. Green Bean Casserole Pasta
Mix leftover green bean casserole with warm noodles and a splash of broth.
Add Parmesan on top.
🥐 Leftover Dinner Rolls
20. Breakfast Roll Sandwiches
Fill with:
- turkey
- egg
- cheese
Easy grab-and-go breakfast.
21. Roll French Toast Bake
Cube leftover rolls.
Toss with:
- eggs
- milk
- cinnamon
- sugar
Bake until golden.
🍽️ Bonus: Thanksgiving Leftovers Snack Board
Create a big grazing tray with:
- sliced turkey
- rolls
- cheese
- cranberry sauce
- nuts
- leftover veggies
- honey corn
- pecans
- pickles
A beautiful low-effort lunch after hosting.
Our Best Thanksgiving Recipes You Can Re-Use
– Smoked Turkey
– Cranberry Mandarin Salad
– Sweet Potato Casserole
– Honey Corn
– Corn Casserole
– Traditional Dressing
– Glazed Carrots
– Dinner Rolls
– Slider Recipe
That’s it for this post, friends! If you have ideas that we haven’t mentioned, drop them in the comments. (Maybe we’ll mention them by name!) In the meantime, why not pin some photos to your Pinterest boards?
About the Pit Masters
Backyard Texas Grill is run by Zach and Randi, a husband-and-wife team sharing Texas-style grilling and home cooking straight from their backyard. They love feeding family, serving big holiday meals, and turning leftovers into something worth gathering around the table for.