Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole is a way to wrap up all those familiar tastes into one easy, satisfying bite. Thanksgiving may be over, but your fridge is a treasure trove of flavor just waiting to be reimagined. This cozy casserole turns yesterday’s turkey, stuffing, and veggies into today’s comfort food hero.
If you to use up your leftover you’ll definitely want to try my Turkey Pasta Casserole from Leftovers or this easy Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole.
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Why this Thanksgiving Leftovers Casserole Recipe is a Keeper
This easy classic Thanksgiving casserole is as delicious as it is simple to make. You’ll love it because it’s made from Thanksgiving leftovers and kitchen staples. Layered, baked, and bubbling with gratitude. It’s the kind of dish that makes you feel like the holiday never really ended.
- Quick & Easy: Just 5 minutes of assembly, then bake.
- Comforting Layers: Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and cheese meld into a cozy, satisfying dish.
- Zero Waste: Uses up multiple leftovers in one go.
- Customizable: Easily adapted for dietary needs or what’s on hand.
How Do I Keep the Turkey Moist in Thanksgiving Casserole?
By layering the turkey towards the bottom of the dish will ensure it stays nice and moist. If you’re concerned about it drying out, you can always add some chicken broth, turkey stock, butter or turkey gravy to the to the turkey layer.
What Reader’s Are Saying…
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“We had this for dinner tonight and it was yummy. What a great way to use leftovers.”
~ Julie
Casserole Ingredients to Make Thanksgiving Casserole
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe!
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Turkey: Use shredded turkey to make leftover thanksgiving dinner ideas.
- Stuffing: You can use regular stuffing or cornbread stuffing.
- Cranberry Sauce: Use leftover homemade cranberry sauce for the best flavor and texture.
Substitutions for Thanksgiving Turkey Casserole
This recipe is super easy to customize. I like to take it to the next level by using different ingredients or trying different flavors.
- Protein Swap: Use rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken instead of turkey.
- Veggie Add-ins: Add in peas, leftover green bean casserole, leftover corn casserole, sweet potatoes, or canned veggies.
- Cheese Options: Try adding mozzarella, Monterey jack, or any melty blend.
- Mayo Alternatives: Instead of mayonnaise, you can add a cream of chicken soup or cream of mushroom soup.
- Low-Carb: Skip potatoes and stuffing; use cauliflower mash and sautéed veggies for the Thanksgiving Leftovers Casserole.
How to Make Leftover Turkey Stuffing Casserole
This recipe comes together in just 4 quick and easy steps. This recipe is so good, it’s a great one to try when you have several holiday leftover containers from Thanksgiving night. A great way to use up leftover turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes the day after Thanksgiving.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Preheat Oven and Grease Dish: Preheat the oven and grease an 8 inch casserole dish.
- Add Stuffing and Turkey: Add half of the leftover stuffing in the bottom of the baking dish, followed by all of the turkey. In a small bowl, combine some of the mayo with the cranberry sauce. Spread the evenly over the turkey mixture.
- Layer Other Leftovers: Then, mix the rest of the mayo with the leftover mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese. Spread evenly over the cranberry layer.
- Top with Stuffing and Bake: Top with the rest of the stuffing and bake until heated through.
Prep Ahead for Easy Recipe for Turkey, Gravy, Mashed Potatoes and Cranberry Sauce
Preparing ahead of time can be the best way to go. Make this turkey recipe in advance to be able to enjoy it whenever.
- Casserole Layers: Pre-layer the casserole and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.
- Pre Mix: Mix cranberry-mayo and potato-cheese layers ahead.
- Freeze: Freeze leftovers in portions for future meals.
Alternate Cooking Methods for Leftover Thanksgiving Casserole
Alternatively, you can make this turkey dinner using your crock pot, air fryer or microwave.
- Slow Cooker: Layer and cook on low for 2–3 hours.
- Air Fryer: Use smaller pans; cook at 350°F for 10–15 minutes.
- Microwave: Reheat individual portions with added gravy or chicken broth.
Store, Reheat and Use Turkey Leftovers
This favorite casserole is the perfect answer for your busy life. Plus it is a great way to use up juicy turkey, extra gravy and savory stuffing.
- Store: Refrigerate in airtight container up to 3-4 days.
- Freeze: Wrap or cover tightly and freeze up to 2 months.
- Reheat: Cover with foil and bake in oven at 350°F for 15–20 minutes or microwave with added moisture.
- Use Leftovers for Easy Meals: Turn into turkey pot pie, soup, or spaghetti casserole with sour cream
Common Questions to Make a Thanksgiving Leftover Recipe
The recipe calls for an 8×8 inch baking dish. However, if you have a lot more leftovers you should use a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Sure! Feel free to add any leftover veggies like leftover green beans, peas or corn into one of the middle layers.
Expert Tips for Making Leftover Turkey Casserole
- Seasoning Boost: Add garlic powder or pepper to enhance flavor in your Thanksgiving Leftovers Casserole. Use what your family likes.
- Mashed Potatoes: In place of the mashed potatoes you can use mashed sweet potatoes.
- Crunch Factor: Top with French fried onions or extra cheese.
- Moisture Fix: Drizzle with gravy or melted butter if dry.
- Creamy Twist: Stir in cooked pasta and sour cream to your Thanksgiving Leftovers Casserole.
- Serve this Recipe: Serve with Parmesan Crusted Brussels Sprouts, Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole with Canned Yams or Crock Pot Apple Crisp.
More Recipes You Might Like
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Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole
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Ingredients
- 4 cups Stuffing, divided
- 4 cups Turkey, about 1 pound
- ¾ cup Mayonnaise, divided
- ¼ cup Cranberry sauce
- 2 cups Mashed potatoes, leftovers
- 1 ½ cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375℉ and spray 8-inch baking dish with no-stick cooking spray.
- Place half of the stuffing in the dish and top with all of the turkey.
- In a small bowl, combine ¼ cup mayo and cranberry sauce. Evenly spread over turkey.
- In another bowl, combine remaining ½ cup of mayo, potatoes and cheese; evenly spread on top of cranberry sauce mixture.
- Top with remaining stuffing.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until heated through.
Christina’s Notes
- Different Cheese: Use what you like or what you have. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese or any good melty cheese can be added to the turkey mixture.
- Mayo Replacement: Cream of Mushroom soup or cream of chicken soup are wonderful to use in this recipe.
- Season: If you need a little more, add salt, pepper, garlic powder to the casserole.
- Moisture: If it still seems a little dry add, melted butter or chicken stock or turkey stock or top with leftover gravy.
- Pasta: Add a little cooked pasta and top with sour cream for a different use for these thanksgiving leftovers.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
This was delicious !
This turned out great! I wish I would’ve have taken a picture! Thank you for all the tips in your article. Because of them I added a few extra layers of what we had including our collard greens and sweet potato leftovers from Thanksgiving. This casserole was a hit for me and my family
This turned out good. But I challenge anyone to put 4 cups of turkey, 4 cups of dressing, 2 cups of mashed potatoes into an 8×8 baking dish. Along with any of the other suggested ingredients. Wasn’t going to happen in my house. After I started with the 8X8 pan and then moved up to a much larger casserole dish, I did add the remainder of my green bean casserole but omitted the cheese. Casserole turned out really good but I was drawn to this recipe because it advertised an 8×8 dish. There are only two of us so I wanted something smaller. All in all, we have dinner for two more nights!
I thought this was a great idea for thanksgiving leftovers! I had just the right amount of turkey and stuffing for it. However, I used a little more cranberry sauce, and did a layer of swiss cheese after placing the mixed potatos in the pan. Then, with the rest of the stuffing, I also added my leftover green bean casserole to fully cover the top.
I personally find that swiss and cranberry compliment each other, and the green bean casserole adds a whole new compliment!
How have I never had this in 59 years? It is so delicious and easy to make. Next time I’ll try it with chicken. Yum!
We had this for dinner tonight and it was yummy. What a great way to use leftovers.
Super easy way to use those Thanksgiving leftovers! Glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Can this be made without the cranberry layer?
Yes!
I made this thanksgiving recipe this morning and it was better than my thanksgiving meal! I was a little concerned about how the cranberry sauce and mayo would be mixed together and it was fabulous! Thank you so much for sharing that very tasty casserole recipe. This is a keeper!
I’m so glad you loved it! It’s a favorite in our house for sure!
Sounds yummy. I’ve been looking for an after Thanksgiving Casserole recipe which also includes the use of cranberry sauce, but why mix it w/mayo? I would add a layer of vegetables (such as peas & carrots OR green beans) somewhere in between.
it’s completely flexible. You can add or omit anything you like – that’s the great part about casseroles. The mayo does add a creaminess and brings the casserole together nicely, though.
Actually, I used to work at a burger joint for many years, and our November Burger Special used Cranberry Mayo as the base, and the burger was absolutely delicious!
This sounds wonderful. We usually make dressing instead of stuffing. I think it would still work. I think from now on we should make an extra pan to make sure we have enough to try this recipe. My whole crew is excited to try this one!
All the best flavors of Thanksgiving rolled into one! It is perfect for shopping day, I’ll just have my teenager throw it into the oven before I get home.
Oh my gosh – what a brilliant recipe! I whipped up lunch today in a snap with my Thanksgiving leftovers – just in time to head out the door for some Black Friday shopping!
I could not find your blueberry pie recipe
I’m glad you found it 🙂