24 Healthy Thanksgiving Leftover Ideas

This recipe combo from Ambitious Kitchen puts leftover turkey to good use by stuffing it inside bread with some avo and cheese for a hearty sandwich. A side of soup fills you up and is handy for dipping!

Have a high protein breakfast with this frittata recipe from Real Simple Good. It uses turkey and ham, so you can easily pack in leftover meat from the big meal, in addition to sweet potatoes. Now that’s putting leftovers to good use.

If you had ham over Thanksgiving, chop it up and toss with pasta and peas to make this creamy dish from from Salt & Lavender. You can also substitute turkey instead of ham.

Use leftover acorn squash for a light sweet dish you can eat as a side or turn into a green salad by adding spinach and chicken. This recipe from The Toasted Pine Nut has all the flavors from Thanksgiving that you can use to make a variety of weekday meals following the occasion.

Take leftover cranberry relish or sauce and use it to make chocolate muffins to have a tasty dessert or sweet treat. These muffins from Low Carb Maven have all the flavors of the season and are low in carbs to keep you from getting kicked out of ketosis.

Sometimes you want a sweet drink—and this milkshake does it well for sure. Using leftover pumpkin pie, you can have a sweet dessert ready in no time. This recipe from A Beautiful Plate is decadent and festive. Sprinkle pumpkin pie crust on top!

That’s right—you can turn leftover stuffing into delicious muffins like these from Kirbie’s Cravings. Made with cornbread stuffing, shredded turkey, and sausage, they’re high in protein and savory flavor. You can also add dried cranberries on top.

There’s nothing like a quick stir-fry for nights when you want to save time and eat fast, and this recipe from Real Simple Good has you covered. The leftover turkey tastes great with the veggies for a warm, comforting meal. Pair with brown rice if you like. As is, the recipe is keto, paleo, and Whole30 approved.

How amazing do these look? This muffin recipe from Just a Taste is a good mix of sweet and savory, plus it makes for an easy on-the-go muffin to have for a quick meal or snack. Spread the cranberry sauce on top for a tart topping.

This Whole30 approved turkey-based tortilla soup from 40 Aprons is perfect for using that leftover bird–and it only takes 20 minutes to make. Add in green chiles and spice to take the heat up a notch and top with avocado for a delicious meal.

Use leftover pumpkin puree to make an amazing mochi dessert that you can eat all week. This recipe from Kirbie’s Cravings is sweet and savory, and has a nice texture.

Turn mashed sweet potatoes from dinner into a sweet breakfast with this fruity porridge from Real Simple Good. The blogger uses berries for that sweet touch, but you can go with nuts and cinnamon too. Add in collagen and coconut and serve cold.

Got leftover sweet potato? Use it for these tasty, decadent muffins that aren’t a diet wrecker. From Ambitious Kitchen, each muffin has 191 calories and 4 grams of protein.

Yup—you can use stuffing from Thanksgiving to make waffles for breakfast! This recipe from Just a Taste transforms stuffing into the perfect savory breakfast. And have leftover mashed potatoes? You can use those to make waffles, too!

Use leftover turkey and cranberry sauce to make a killer Panini sandwich for lunch. This recipe from Pinch of Yum has all the festive flavors you want and is nice and gooey to really comfort you on a chilly day. And it takes just five minutes!

Stuck with leftover turkey and cranberry sauce in the fridge? Use it in quesadillas for Mexican cuisine later that week. This recipe from A Saucy Kitchen is sweet and savory, and the Brie gives it a gooey center that’s perfect for lunch and settling those midday hunger pangs.

If you’ve got leftover turkey on hand, use it in a classic noodle soup by swapping it in for chicken. You’ll get the same immunity benefits from the broth, and it’ll fill you up on a chilly fall night. This recipe from Salt & Lavender has carrots and parsley to add in veggies and flavor.

Pho is super nutritious, as it’s high in broth for immunity benefits and the leftover turkey from Thanksgiving gives the dish some lean protein to boost satiety and add texture. A great recipe from Pinch of Yum, it’s easy to make and is done in 15 minutes.

Leftover turkey makes a delicious salad for lunchtime, and you can stuff it in lettuce wraps or in bread for a sandwich, or eat plain with a fork. This recipe from Paleo Running Momma has ample protein, good fats, and a nice creamy texture from the mayo.

Use leftover turkey by whipping up an easy skillet for a tasty breakfast in the morning or a hearty dinner after a long day. This recipe from Ambitious Kitchen is packed with protein to fill you up for hours.

Grab that gravy, cranberry sauce, and stuffing and use it for a tasty poutine recipe from Sweet Simple Vegan. It makes a great entrée or side depending on how much you want in one sitting. And it’s way more interesting than a turkey sandwich, right?

While you can make this as is with chicken, you can also sub for leftover turkey and add in leftover beets, Brussels sprouts, or sweet potatoes as toppings! This dish from The Movement Menu is bright and colorful for a hearty, nutritious lunch.

If you’re low-carb, you can use turkey and turn it into a rich and creamy casserole to have for dinner later that week. This recipe from Wholesome Yum is super flavorful and decadent, so it’s as though you’re still partaking in the festivities a few days afterwards.

Take leftover marinated beets from the table and use them as a topping for zoodles for a light salad to eat any day of the week. The Toasted Pine Nut adds blue cheese and some nuts for crunch.