Leftovers don’t have to be boring or forgotten—these meals turn them into something great that you’ll actually look forward to eating. Whether you’re dealing with extra food from last night’s dinner or bits and pieces from the fridge, these recipes make it easy to create meals that feel fresh and exciting. They take what’s already there and transform it into something perfect for any day of the week.
Quick Fried Rice with Leftover Rice
Fried rice comes together in about 15 minutes using day-old rice and any leftover ingredients from the fridge. It’s a fast option for lunch or dinner that helps reduce food waste effectively.
Get the Recipe: Quick Fried Rice with Leftover Rice
Roasted Vegetable Salad
Roasted vegetable salad works well served hot or cold, making it flexible for meal prep. Tossed with a light vinaigrette, it’s a straightforward way to use extra roasted vegetables for meals throughout the week.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Vegetable Salad
Baked Samosas
Baked or air-fried samosas transform leftover mashed potatoes into a crispy snack or appetizer with minimal ingredients. This method is quick and offers a practical way to repurpose extra potatoes.
Get the Recipe: Baked Samosas
Ham, Broccoli and Cheese Crescent Cups
Ham, broccoli, and cheese crescent cups use leftover ham in a bite-sized and easy-to-make dish. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a snack, these require few ingredients and come together quickly.
Get the Recipe: Ham, Broccoli and Cheese Crescent Cups
Turkey and Noodles Tetrazzini
Turkey and noodles tetrazzini turns leftover turkey into a creamy pasta that is hearty and simple to make. It’s a practical recipe for refreshing holiday leftovers into a new dish.
Get the Recipe: Turkey and Noodles Tetrazzini
Hot Turkey Sandwich
A hot turkey sandwich uses leftover turkey and gravy with crusty bread and green peas for a filling meal. This recipe refreshes Thanksgiving leftovers into something new and satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Hot Turkey Sandwich
Smoked Turkey Quesadilla
Texas-style smoked turkey quesadillas bring together leftover turkey and cheese in a quick meal served with salsa and sour cream. This recipe makes fast work of using up extra turkey.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Turkey Quesadilla
Irish Boxty Potato Pancakes
Boxty Irish potato pancakes turn leftover mashed potatoes into crispy pancakes suitable for breakfast or dinner. This simple preparation gives mashed potatoes a fresh new form.
Get the Recipe: Irish Boxty Potato Pancakes
Sweet Potato Pancakes
Sweet potato pancakes put extra sweet potatoes to use in a breakfast-friendly recipe. With a hint of chocolate chips, this simple dish offers a comforting start to cooler mornings.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Pancakes
Creamy Mushroom Kale Turkey Soup
Creamy mushroom and kale turkey soup transforms leftover turkey into a comforting, savory meal. With garlic, white wine, and mushrooms, it’s a straightforward recipe that adds flavor while using leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Mushroom Kale Turkey Soup
Turkey Stew
Turkey stew mixes mashed potatoes, turkey, and vegetables into a comforting meal. It’s a practical way to turn leftovers into a fresh and filling dish.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Stew
Turkey Fried Rice
Turkey fried rice quickly turns leftover turkey, rice, and vegetables into a flavorful meal. It’s an efficient recipe for busy weeknights that makes good use of available leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Fried Rice
Southern Mash Potato
Southern mashed potatoes mix garlic, onion, and cream cheese into leftover mashed potatoes for a creamy side dish. It’s an easy way to turn extra potatoes into a flavorful addition to any meal.
Get the Recipe: Southern Mash Potato
Thanksgiving Stuffing, Turkey, Mashed Potato Patties
Stuffing, turkey, and mashed potato patties reshape Thanksgiving leftovers into crispy, easy-to-eat patties. They offer a convenient way to enjoy leftover ingredients in a fresh format.
Get the Recipe: Thanksgiving Stuffing, Turkey, Mashed Potato Patties
Ham Pot Pie with Biscuits
Leftover ham pot pie fills a flaky crust with ham and vegetables, creating a dish that feels homemade without extra work. This meal freezes well, making it useful for easy dinners later on.
Get the Recipe: Ham Pot Pie with Biscuits
Turkey & Apple Panini
The turkey and apple panini layers turkey with sweet apples and melted cheese for a balanced sandwich. This quick lunch or light dinner option puts leftover ingredients to good use.
Get the Recipe: Turkey & Apple Panini
Easy Turkey Casserole
Turkey casserole combines leftover turkey with fresh vegetables and cheese for an easy-to-prepare meal. It’s a low-stress way to use extra ingredients at dinner time.
Get the Recipe: Easy Turkey Casserole
Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes
Crispy mashed potato pancakes take about 15 minutes to prepare, giving leftover mashed potatoes new life. Topped with a fried egg, they work well for breakfast or brunch using kitchen staples.
Get the Recipe: Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes
Cornbread Stuffing
Cornbread stuffing combines leftover turkey with stuffing and side dishes to create a versatile meal. It’s a low-effort way to reuse Thanksgiving leftovers in a new form.
Get the Recipe: Cornbread Stuffing
Instant Pot Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Casserole
Wild rice casserole mixes leftover turkey with pantry staples and cooks easily in an Instant Pot. This dish fits well into busy days when time is limited but leftovers need to be used.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Casserole
Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet
A turkey and sweet potato skillet combines leftover turkey with sweet potatoes, greens, and peppers for a colorful, balanced dish. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s a quick solution to repurpose holiday leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet
Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Leftover turkey shepherd’s pie layers turkey, mashed potatoes, and vegetables into a hearty meal. This dish efficiently uses Thanksgiving leftovers while keeping preparation straightforward.
Get the Recipe: Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Leftover Thanksgiving Casserole
Thanksgiving leftovers casserole layers turkey with side dishes into one dish. This simple preparation helps use up extra holiday food while recreating classic flavors.
Get the Recipe: Leftover Thanksgiving Casserole
Maple Bacon Turkey Sliders
Turkey sliders bring together leftover turkey, bacon, cheese, and onions in a quick meal or snack form. Suitable for casual gatherings or a fast bite, they use extra holiday turkey efficiently.
Get the Recipe: Maple Bacon Turkey Sliders
Leftover Turkey Pot Pie
Turkey pot pie wraps leftover turkey and vegetables in flaky puff pastry for a meal that feels homemade without much effort. It’s a convenient way to turn leftovers into a filling dish.
Get the Recipe: Leftover Turkey Pot Pie
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