Home » Recipe Round-Ups

Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (Ideas for Turkey, Ham, & MORE)

BySamantha Skaggs

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Enjoy this collection of Thanksgiving leftover recipes, with ideas for using up the leftovers from Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holiday meals, from leftover turkey to ham to mashed potatoes!

Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes collage with text with leftover Thanksgiving recipes for turkey, ham, and mashed potatoes.

WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?

Enter your email below and we'll send it to your inbox. Plus get our best recipes every week!

Hope y'all had a fabulous Thanksgiving with family, friends, fun, and FOOD!

Odds are, right about now, you have lots of leftover Thanksgiving recipes, whether that means turkey or ham or even mashed potatoes. Well, lucky for you, I've put together a collection of mouthwatering recipes to use up those leftovers in new, creative, and delicious ways. There are recipes for leftover-utilizing casseroles, soups, appetizers, and so much more!

Seriously, you'll forget you're tired of turkey when you see some of these. Enjoy!

(And psssst...don't forget to pin this round-up for recipe ideas after Christmas...and New Year's...and Easter...and next Thanksgiving...) 😉

Leftover Turkey

Some of my favorite chicken recipes are equally fabulous using leftover chopped turkey instead! Depending on how much turkey you have, you can make a whole entree, a smaller snack, or even an appetizer.

  1. TURKEY POT PIE
Chicken Pot Pie on plate.
The BEST Turkey Pot Pie
Leftover turkey and tender veggies (feel free to use leftover vegetables if you've got 'em) are enveloped with a silky gravy under a flaky, buttery crust for a delicious comfort food classic!
Get The Recipe
  1. TURKEY POT PIE CASSEROLE
Chicken Pot Pie Casserole ~ this easy comfort food recipe features a classic filling of tender chicken, potatoes, carrots, and peas in a savory gravy topped with fluffy homemade drop biscuits! | FiveHeartHome.com
Turkey Pot Pie Casserole
A classic filling of tender turkey, potatoes, carrots, and peas in savory gravy gets topped with fluffy (and easy!) homemade drop biscuits!
Get The Recipe
  1. CORDON BLEU CASSEROLE
Cordon Bleu Casserole on plate with fork.
Cordon Bleu Casserole
This comforting casserole is loaded with leftover turkey and ham in a creamy Swiss cheese sauce and then topped with a layer of toasty bread crumbs!
Get The Recipe
  1. WHITE TURKEY ENCHILADAS
White Chicken Enchiladas, aerial view on plate.
White Turkey Enchiladas with Creamy Jalapeño
These white enchiladas are cheesy, flavorful, and smothered in homemade creamy jalapeño sauce for an easy dinner that’s sure to become a family favorite!
Get The Recipe
  1. CREAMY DREAMY TURKEY ENCHILADAS
Pan of Creamy Chicken Enchiladas.
Creamy Turkey Enchiladas
These red sauce-topped enchiladas are stuffed with spiced turkey and Monterey jack cheese, plus a special *secret ingredient* that makes them extra creamy and delicious!
Get The Recipe
  1. TURKEY ENCHILADA CASSEROLE
Chicken Enchilada Casserole in glass baking dish.
Turkey Enchilada Casserole
With salsa verde, green chiles, and a creamy homemade sauce, these turkey enchiladas boast the great flavor of enchiladas without the work of rolling them!
Get The Recipe
  1. SLOW COOKER TURKEY ENCHILADAS
Crock Pot Chicken Enchiladas with cilantro garnish.
Slow Cooker Turkey Enchiladas
This stacked chicken enchilada casserole is flavorful, from-scratch, quick to assemble, and easy to make in the crock pot!
Get The Recipe
  1. KING RANCH TURKEY CASSEROLE
Serving of King Ranch Chicken Casserole on plate with beans.
King Ranch Turkey Casserole
This cozy, comfort food classic has melty layers of turkey, tortillas, and cheese...and this authentic, from-scratch version features a simple homemade sauce with NO canned condensed soup!
Get The Recipe
  1. CHEESY TURKEY SPAGHETTI
Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti on plate with fork.
Cheesy Turkey Spaghetti
This comforting dish is made with chunks of turkey, your favorite veggies (leftovers work great), and a simple homemade cheese sauce (instead of Velveeta and 'Cream of X' soup)!
Get The Recipe
  1. BROCCOLI CHEESE ORZO WITH TURKEY
Broccoli Cheese Orzo with Chicken in a white bowl with a spoon and broccoli scattered on table
Broccoli Cheese Orzo with Turkey
This quick, simple, balanced meal comes together in one pot using leftover turkey!
Get The Recipe
  1. THAI TURKEY CHOPPED SALAD WITH PEANUT DRESSING
Thai Chicken Chopped Salad with Peanut Dressing ~ exploding with the contrasting flavors and textures of crunchy Napa cabbage, juicy chicken, colorful peppers, sweet carrots, salty peanuts, and fresh cilantro! | FiveHeartHome.com
Thai Turkey Chopped Salad
This salad is exploding with the contrasting flavors and textures of crunchy cabbage, juicy turkey, colorful peppers, sweet carrots, peanuts, and cilantro, all finished off with an amazing Peanut Dressing!
Get The Recipe
  1. TURKEY TACO CRESCENT RING
Turkey Taco Crescent Ring
Leftover turkey gets mixed with black beans, corn, and cream cheese, flavored with zesty taco seasoning, and wrapped in flaky crescent roll dough for an easy yet impressive appetizer or main course!
Get The Recipe
  1. BAKED TURKEY TAQUITOS WITH AVOCADO CILANTRO DIPPING SAUCE
Baked Chicken Taquitos with Avocado Cilantro Dipping Sauce ~ quick and easy, creamy, zesty taquitos are guaranteed to be a hit with kids and adults alike! | FiveHeartHome.com
Baked Turkey Taquitos
With their quick assembly, creamy yet zesty filling, and delectable dipping sauce, these baked taquitos are guaranteed to be a hit with kids and adults alike!
Get The Recipe
  1. BUFFALO TURKEY DIP
Chicken Wing Dip being scooped up by celery.
Buffalo Turkey Dip
Wing Dip -- AKA, Buffalo Dip -- is warm, creamy, and loaded with cheese, leftover turkey, and wing sauce!
Get The Recipe
  1. BBQ TURKEY DIP
BBQ Chicken Dip ~ a creamy, zippy, decadent appetizer recipe that can be made in the slow cooker, on the stovetop, or in the oven, perfect for parties and football tailgating! | FiveHeartHome.com
BBQ Turkey Dip
This creamy, zippy, decadent appetizer can be made in the slow cooker, on the stovetop, or in the oven!
Get The Recipe
  1. ENCHILADA DIP
Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Dip | {Five Heart Home}
Enchilada Dip
This creamy, zesty dip is loaded with diced turkey, cream cheese, cheddar, green chiles, and seasonings for a melty, delicious snack!
Get The Recipe
  1. BBQ TURKEY TORTILLA PINWHEELS
Stack of BBQ Chicken Tortilla Pinwheels.
BBQ Turkey Tortilla Pinwheels
Soft flour tortillas are slathered with a mixture of cream cheese, mozzarella, diced turkey, bacon, barbecue sauce, red onion, and cilantro, then rolled up tight and sliced into flavorful, addictive appetizers!
Get The Recipe
  1. GREEK PASTA SALAD
Greek Chicken Pasta Salad ~ marinated chicken, juicy tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives, and feta cheese are tossed with corkscrew pasta and a tangy dressing in this colorful, flavorful recipe that's perfect for summer barbecues and get-togethers! | FiveHeartHome.com
Greek Pasta Salad
Tender turkey, juicy tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives, and feta cheese are tossed with corkscrew pasta and a tangy dressing in this colorful, flavorful pasta salad!
Get The Recipe
  1. SONOMA TURKEY SALAD
Sonoma Chicken Salad Recipe
Sonoma Turkey Salad
This turkey version of chicken salad is studded with toasted pecans and dried cranberries in a lightened-up dressing including Greek yogurt and honey!
Get The Recipe
  1. TURKEY SALAD WITH APPLES + CASHEWS
Chicken Salad with Apples close-up on plate with spoon.
Turkey Salad with Apples + Cashews
Brimming with leftover turkey, fruit, and nuts, this is a honey-kissed, autumn spin on chicken salad!
Get The Recipe

Any of the below chicken soups can be made with cooked, chopped turkey instead. Just make the recipe as directed (without the raw chicken) and then stir in your turkey at the end until warmed through.

  1. BBQ TURKEY SOUP
Aerial close-up of BBQ Chicken Soup.
BBQ Turkey Soup
This easy, delicious soup recipe comes together quickly and tastes just like BBQ chicken pizza!
Get The Recipe
  1. KING RANCH TURKEY SOUP
King Ranch Chicken Soup ~ a creamy and comforting soup recipe with all the zesty flavor of the classic casserole...and it's easy to make in the slow cooker, in the Instant Pot, or on the stove! | FiveHeartHome.com
King Ranch Turkey Soup
The stovetop version of this soup is easy to make with cooked turkey and turns out creamy, comforting, and with all the flavor of the classic casserole!
Get The Recipe
  1. EASY TURKEY NOODLE SOUP
Aerial view of Easy Chicken Noodle Soup in pot.
Turkey Noodle Soup
This homemade soup is quick to make as well as hearty, delicious, and nourishing!
Get The Recipe

Leftover Ham

  1. FREEZER BREAKFAST SANDWICHES
Freezer Breakfast Sandwich on a plate with big bite missing.
Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches
Cheesy scrambled eggs and ham are stuffed inside flaky biscuits for easy breakfast sandwiches that freeze beautifully, making them perfect for busy mornings and breakfast on-the-go!
Get The Recipe
  1. SLOW COOKER WHITE BEAN + HAM SOUP
Crockpot Ham and Bean Soup in white bowl with spoon.
Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup
This hearty, wholesome, comforting crock pot recipe features creamy white beans and is perfect for using up leftover holiday ham!
Get The Recipe
  1. POTATO CORN CHOWDER WITH HAM
Aerial view of Potato Corn Chowder in white bowl.
Potato Corn Chowder with Ham
This creamy and comforting soup is loaded with sweet corn, hearty potatoes, and flavorful ham. It’s quick and easy to make on the stove or you can let your slow cooker do the work for you!
Get The Recipe
  1. SLOW COOKER SPLIT PEA SOUP
Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup in bowls with dried peas and carrots on side.
Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
This cozy, creamy pea soup is loaded with ham, potatoes, and carrots. And best of all, it’s easy to make since your slow cooker does all of the work!
Get The Recipe
  1. EASY FRIED RICE
Easy Fried Rice in skillet, aerial view.
Easy Fried Rice
This one-pot, weeknight dinner recipe is quick and simple, using basic ingredients including rice, eggs, and leftover ham, turkey, and/or veggies!
Get The Recipe
  1. CHEESY SCALLOPED POTATOES WITH HAM
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes with Ham ~ thin slices of potatoes drizzled with cream and layered with ham and cheddar for a decadent comfort food recipe that's also a great way to use up leftover holiday ham! | FiveHeartHome.com
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes with Ham
Thin slices of potatoes are drizzled with cream and layered with ham and cheddar for a decadent comfort food recipe that's also a great way to use up leftover holiday ham!
Get The Recipe
  1. ASPARAGUS TART WITH HAM + MUSHROOMS
Asparagus Tart with mushrooms, ham, and Swiss cheese.
Asparagus Tart with Ham + Mushrooms
The delightful tart features garlic-laced (or leftover) asparagus and mushrooms, savory ham and Swiss, and a flaky, buttery crust!
Get The Recipe
  1. CREAMY GRITS CASSEROLE WITH HAM + CHEESE
Grits Casserole in dish with spoon and missing serving.
Creamy Grits Casserole with Ham + Cheese
This savory, delicious, make-ahead breakfast casserole features creamy grits, scrambled eggs, shredded cheese, and diced ham!
Get The Recipe

Leftover Mashed Potatoes

  1. EASY SHEPHERD'S PIE
Aerial view of Easy Shepherd's Pie in skillet.
Easy Shepherd's Pie
This one-pan dinner is loaded with savory ground beef (or lamb) plus colorful veggies, and it's perfect for using up leftover mashed potatoes!
Get The Recipe
  1. TACO BAKE
Taco Bake in casserole dish and bowls topped with avocado tomato salad.
Taco Bake (Tex-Mex Shepherd's Pie)
This recipe puts a Tex-Mex twist on the comfort food classic of shepherd's pie, with seasoned ground beef and black beans topped with cheesy green chile mashed potatoes and a refreshing avocado tomato salad!
Get The Recipe
  1. ITALIAN MEATLOAF MUFFINS
Italian Meatloaf "Cupcakes" with Mashed Potato Frosting ~ savory meatloaf is flavored with Parmesan, Italian herbs, and marinara sauce, baked in a muffin pan, and then topped with seasoned mashed potatoes in these easy-to-make, fun-to-eat, mini meatloaves | FiveHeartHome.com
Italian Meatloaf Muffins
Savory meatloaf is flavored with Parmesan, Italian herbs, and marinara sauce, baked in a muffin pan, and then topped with seasoned mashed potatoes for an easy and fun dinner!
Get The Recipe

Hope you find a recipe or two to enjoy your tasty Thanksgiving leftovers in a whole new way! 🙂

Best Recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers collage with a variety of Thanksgiving leftover recipes, from casserole to soup to more.

If you enjoyed this collection of curated recipes, you might also like to check out these other round-ups!

This round-up was originally published November 22, 2017, and updated on September 10, 2020, and October 20, 2022, with a full overhaul on November 13, 2024.

You May Also Like

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

3 Comments