Recipes to make the most of your Christmas leftovers: Turn last night’s feast into today’s cozy comfort meal

Christmas dinner leftover season is one of the best times of the year — that magical moment when turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce stop being just leftovers and start becoming new meals. Below are delicious, creative, and easy recipes (with links and credit to each original source) to help you transform your festive leftovers into exciting dishes the whole family will love. Let’s dig in!

1. Leftover Turkey & Stuffing Casserole

Full recipe inspiration: Turkey Leftover Casserole from Andi Anne. 

This classic leftover casserole layers turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and cheese into a warm bake that feels totally new but still comfortingly familiar. Perfect for feeding a crowd or reheating throughout the week.

Ingredients

• Leftover roasted turkey, shredded

• Mashed potatoes

• Leftover stuffing

• Cranberry sauce

• Shredded cheese (optional)

• Mayonnaise or gravy (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Spread shredded turkey in the bottom of a greased casserole dish.

3. Layer mashed potatoes, stuffing, and a few dollops of cranberry sauce.

4. Top with cheese if you like extra gooeyness.

5. Bake ~30 minutes until bubbly and golden.

2. Stuffing Waffles With Turkey & Cranberry

Yes — waffles made from stuffing! It’s breakfast and dinner in one.

Inspired by Disney’s EPCOT holiday kitchens, this fun recipe turns leftover stuffing into crispy waffles served with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce on top — a truly festive mash-up!

For the full recipe, check Leftover Stuffing Waffles.

Ingredients

• Leftover stuffing, crumbled

• Eggs & cream (for binding)

• Oils for waffle iron

• Reheated turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce to serve

Instructions

1. Mix crumbled stuffing with beaten eggs and a splash of cream so it holds together.

2. Preheat and oil your waffle maker.

3. Press stuffing mixture into each section and cook 7–8 minutes until brown.

4. Serve with turkey, gravy, mash, and cranberry sauce piled high.

3. Hot Turkey Sandwich

Simple, nostalgic, and irresistible — a cozy sandwich perfect for cold days. 🥪

This open-faced hot turkey sandwich stacks leftover turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce between bread, all drenched in warm gravy — comfort food at its best.

Inspired by Hot Turkey Sandwich instructions: Mantitlement

Ingredients

• Slices of bread (toasted)

• Leftover turkey

• Stuffing

• Cranberry sauce

• Warmed turkey gravy

Instructions

1. Toast bread and warm turkey, stuffing, and gravy.

2. Assemble sandwich: layer stuffing, turkey, and cranberry sauce on toast.

3. Spoon hot gravy over the top and enjoy!

4. Ham & Cranberry Sliders

A perfect quick snack or appetizer using leftover ham or turkey.

Sweet Hawaiian rolls, tangy cranberry sauce, and savory meat come together for irresistible sliders — great for game days or leftover brunch spreads.

Find the full technique at Ham and Cranberry Sliders: The Blogette

Ingredients

• Hawaiian sweet rolls

• Leftover ham or turkey

• Cranberry sauce

• Cheese (optional)

Instructions

1. Slice rolls in half lengthwise.

2. Spread cranberry sauce on bottom half.

3. Layer leftover meat and add cheese if you like.

4. Replace top half, warm until melty, and serve!

5. Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

A hearty holiday-leftovers twist on a classic comfort dish.

Think Thanksgiving (or Christmas) dinner in casserole form: turkey, veggies, and even stuffing topped with mashed potatoes — then baked until bubbling and golden.

More at Thanksgiving Leftovers Turkey Shepherd’s Pie: Culinary Ginger

Ingredients

• Leftover turkey & veggies

• Mashed potatoes

• Extra gravy or broth

• Cheese (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

2. Spread chopped turkey and vegetables in a baking dish.

3. Top with mashed potatoes (mix with cheese if you like).

4. Bake until filling is bubbling and top is lightly browned.

6. Leftovers Ring (Crescent Bake)

A fun, shareable centerpiece for leftover feasting.

Arrange crescent dough in a circle and fill it with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce — bake and serve with warm gravy on the side.

Adapted from Thanksgiving Leftovers Ring: Parade

Ingredients

• Refrigerated crescent rolls

• Leftover turkey, potatoes, stuffing

• Cranberry sauce & butter

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

2. Spread crescent dough into a ring.

3. Fill with leftover ingredients.

4. Brush with butter and bake until golden.

Final Tips for Leftover Success

Storage & Safety: Store turkey and all leftovers in the fridge and use within a couple of days for best safety and flavor.

Mix & Match: Don’t be afraid to experiment — leftover cranberries can become a sauce or spread, mash can be turned into gnocchi or pizza base, and gravy can be used as a dunking sauce for nearly everything!