Lifestyle | Food Features

What To Do With Thanksgiving Leftovers?

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for details.

Leftovers Can Be the Best Part of Thanksgiving

Most of the guests are gone. You are recovering from all the hard work of preparing your home and the meal. And now you are just standing in front of your overpacked fridge and thinking, hmmm… what do I want to eat? Leftovers of course!

Thanksgiving ideas
Photo credit: graphic by Dédé Wilson from FODMAP Everyday®.

You could go the standard route of making yourself a traditional plate of all of the goodies from the day or two before. That works.

But if you still have a few stragglers hanging about you may want to try one of these recipes linked below to help stretch out and make the most of your leftovers.

Fastest and Easiest! Thanksgiving Nachos

Digging in to Thanksgiving nachos fresh out of the oven withe melted cheese
Photo credit: Dédé Wilson from FODMAP Everyday®.

Yup, you read that correctly. Thanksgiving Nachos…. now we had our doubts at first. But we were pleasantly surprised by how yummy they were! Even the cranberry sauce was a great foil to the added cheese and jalapeno’s. And it was really pretty.

Don’t overindulge! Add a side salad to offset the tendency to snag all of the gooey cheesy ones. Get the recipe.

Wow Them Again! The Best Of Thanksgiving All Rolled Into One

Slice of Thanksgiving Leftover Pie on a burgundy plate. Whole pie in background
Photo credit: Dédé Wilson from FODMAP Everyday®.

Look at our Thanksgiving Leftover Pie! The original idea for this pie was inspired. And not only was this SERIOUSLY yummy, it makes an awesome second showing in pie form. Make an extra pie crust (top and bottom) when pie baking for the holiday and throw it in the fridge for later use.

That will make this that much easier! If you saved some gravy you can pour it over the top. OMG. Get the recipe.

Turkey Pot Pie

overhead image of Low FODMAP Leftover Turkey Pot Pie with Biscuit Topping on brown wooden background; blue and white plates alongside
Photo credit: Dédé Wilson from FODMAP Everyday®.

We have Turkey Pot Pie for you complete with flaky, buttery biscuits. Tender chunks of leftover turkey with carrots, peas, and a rich gravy to hold it all together. Nostalgic comfort food!

Don’t Throw That Turkey Carcass Out!

Turkey stock in a measuring cup.
Photo credit: Dédé Wilson from FODMAP Everyday®.

You can make a kick-ass turkey stock that you can use as a base for other soups or add some additional vegetables and eat for lunch and dinner anytime. This freezes well too. Get the recipe for our Turkey Stock Made from a Carcass.

Turkey Quinoa Meatball Soup

Ground turkey and cooked quinoa make for tasty, hardy meatballs in this brothy soup. You could also make this with chicken stock and ground chicken.
Photo credit: Dédé Wilson from FODMAP Everyday®.

We love using our turkey broth in our Turkey Meatball Soup or any soup that calls for Chicken Stock. Or use this stock for our leftover turkey pot pie.

Got Gravy?

Make ahead low FODMAP gravy in gravy boat
Photo credit: Dédé Wilson from FODMAP Everyday®.

Got leftover gravy? Then our leftover turkey pot pie, or chicken pot pie will be even easier than they already are! Leftover gravy can be used to moisten the filling and provides favor, moisture and silky texture.

Too Many Veggies? Never!

Photo credit: Dédé Wilson from FODMAP Everyday®.

If you happen to have leftover green beans, recycle them in stir-fries or salads. Or chop them up and add them to a soup!

Leftover mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes? Use them to create a shepherd’s pie topping! Or fry them like a big pancake until crisp on the bottom.

Make a Curry

turkey curry with spinach closeup

Our turkey curry features spinach, tomatoes, coconut milk and all the spices you would expect from cumin to coriander, turmeric to fresh ginger. An easy one-pot dish to whip up on a weeknight.

Cups of Cranberry Sauce?

closeup up horizontal shot of cranberry sauce in footed glass dish
Photo credit: Dédé Wilson from FODMAP Everyday®.

We love cranberry sauce and actually relish having some leftover (yes, that was a bad pun). Stir it into oatmeal. Schmere it on toast like jam. Use it as an ice cream topping. Make a PB & Cran sandwich! Or, make a CRANBERRY SNOWDRIFT PIE!

Do you have a favorite recipe for your Thanksgiving leftovers? Leave a comment below! We’d love to hear from you.


Looking for more seasonal ideas? Check out our articles on summer low FODMAP eating, ideas for Valentine’s Day, Lighter recipes and Christmas ideas!

Thanksgiving & Christmas Drinks: Cocktails, Mocktails & More For Even The Most Sensitive Of Stomachs

feature image

These are our favorite Thanksgiving & Christmas Low FODMAP Drinks, from spirited cocktails, to no-alcohol mocktails, eggnogs, mulled wine, punches, mimosas, spritzers, champagne drinks, hot cocoa, hot chocolate and more. Read: Thanksgiving & Christmas Low FODMAP Drinks: Cocktails, Mocktails & More.

Low FODMAP & Gluten-Free Tummy Friendly Christmas Cookies

Christmas-cookie-article-graphic.

Looking for the best low FODMAP gluten-free Christmas cookies and bar recipes? Whether you are celebrating Christmas or any other winter holiday, we have 60+ low FODMAP gluten-free cookies, brownies and bars for you – and the

You Might Also Be Interested To Read