Turn holiday leftovers into a cozy, cheesy casserole! This Leftover Turkey & Stuffing Bake recipe combines stuffing, turkey, creamy cranberry-mayo, mashed potatoes, and mozzarella for a new family favorite. Easy, comforting, and perfect for post-Thanksgiving dinner. *This recipe was originally posted November 11, 2015 and has been updated with new images and tips.
Okay, guys, let’s talk real talk about the holidays. We all love that amazing Thanksgiving spread, but those days after? That’s where the real money-saving, time-efficiency challenge comes in! You’ve got mountains of delicious leftovers, but reheating the same plate for the third night in a row just isn’t cutting it. Waste not, want not, right? We’re all about stretching our dollars and our time, and this recipe is the ultimate Post-Holiday Power Move!
Enter the Ultimate Leftover Turkey & Stuffing Bake! This genius casserole takes all your precious remnants—stuffing, turkey, mashed potatoes, and yes, even that little bit of cranberry sauce—and turns them into a completely new, comforting, and absolutely irresistible meal. It’s the perfect way to utilize every last bit of your investment while creating a dinner that feels special, not scrounged. Stop letting good food (and your money!) go to waste. Let’s make one incredible meal from yesterday’s bounty!
Thanksgiving is all about the side dishes! Besides my favorite – Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows & Pecans, my homemade stuffing comes in at a very close second!
I just love combining stuffing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce with a bite of turkey because the flavors are so harmonious! A little bit of sweet and a whole lot of savory deliciousness!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
Zero Waste, Maximum Flavor: This recipe is the ultimate money-saver, transforming a fridge full of disparate leftovers into one spectacular, cohesive, and delicious meal.
Ultimate Comfort Food: It offers a delightful mix of textures—a crispy stuffing base, creamy turkey filling, and a fluffy cheesy potato topping—that’s both familiar and excitingly new.
Simple Post-Holiday Prep: Skip complicated cooking! The bake is incredibly quick to assemble since all the components are already cooked, saving you significant time and effort in the busy days after the holiday.
New Family Tradition: Move beyond boring reheating! This hearty casserole is guaranteed to be a hit and could easily become a beloved new fixture in your annual post-Thanksgiving routine.
Ingredients
- Stuffing – This forms our delicious base!
- Turkey – About 1 lb adds the protein.
- Mayonnaise – The secret to a creamy, flavorful turkey layer.
- Cranberry sauce – Adds a delightful tang and moisture.
- Mashed potatoes – Our comforting, golden-brown topping.
- Cheddar cheese – For that irresistible cheesy pull!
How to Make Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a casserole dish.
- Turkey Layer: Add cooked turkey layer to the base of the dish.
- Potato Topping: Gently spread the mashed potatoes over the turkey layer, ensuring it’s evenly distributed.
- Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the mashed potatoes.
- Cranberry Mayo: This pink sauce adds extra moisture and a sweet, and zesty kick to the casserole.
- Stuffing Base: Cover casserole with the prepared stuffing.
- Bake: Bake for 30 minutes, uncovered, or until the casserole is heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly. For an extra golden crust, you can broil for the last 2-3 minutes, keeping a close eye on it to prevent burning.
- Serve: Let stand for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy your reinvented Thanksgiving feast!
FAQs & Troubleshooting:
- Can I use cooked, or leftover chicken instead of leftover turkey? Absolutely! A rotisserie chicken would also work wonderfully.
- My mashed potatoes are a bit stiff from the fridge. You can add a splash of milk or broth and gently warm them in the microwave or on the stovetop to make them more spreadable.
- What if I don’t have enough stuffing? You can supplement with a box of additional stuffed mix prepared according to package directions.
- Can I prepare this ahead of time? Yes! Assemble the entire casserole, cover it tightly, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. You may need to add an extra 10-15 minutes to the baking time if baking from cold.
- How do I store leftovers of the bake? Store any remaining casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or oven.
Swaps & Variations:
- Cheese Please: Not a fan of cheddar? Try mozzarella, Monterey Jack, or a blend of Italian cheeses. A sprinkle of Parmesan on top would also be delicious!
- Spice It Up: Add a pinch of poultry seasoning, sage, or a dash of hot sauce to the turkey mixture for extra flavor.
- Veggie Boost: Fold in some cooked leftover green beans, corn, or diced carrots into the turkey layer for added nutrition and texture.
- Cranberry Options: If you only have whole berry cranberry sauce, you can use that too.
- Gravy Lover? Serve individual portions with a drizzle of warm leftover gravy for an extra layer of moisture and richness.
- Crispy Topping: For an even crunchier topping, mix 1/2 cup of panko breadcrumbs with 2 tablespoons of melted butter and sprinkle over the mashed potatoes before baking. You could also consider using French fried onions.
More Thanksgiving Recipes to Try
- Cranberry Sauce with Raisins
- Leftover Turkey Salad
- Oven-Roasted Acorn Squash
- Fresh Herb Compound Butter
- Sweet Potato Casserole
The Ultimate Leftover Turkey & Stuffing Bake
Equipment
- casserole dish
- Oven adjusted to center rack
- Rubber Spatula
Ingredients
- 3 cups turkey shredded
- 2 cups mashed potatoes
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 4 cups stuffing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Prepare your casserole dish.
- Add cooked turkey layer to the base of the dish.
- Gently spread the mashed potatoes over the turkey layer, ensuring it’s evenly distributed.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the mashed potatoes.
- Mix together cranberry and mayo. Spread over the cheese layer.
- Cover casserole with the prepared stuffing.
- Bake for 30 minutes, uncovered, or until the casserole is heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly. For an extra golden crust, you can broil for the last 2-3 minutes, keeping a close eye on it to prevent burning.
- Let stand for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy your reinvented Thanksgiving feast!
What a great way to use up turkey day leftovers! It looks really good!
This looks pretty tasty. We didn’t do a traditional Thanksgiving dinner this year so I’ll have to wait until next year to make it.
What a great idea! It gets so boring eating the same thing over and over.
This is a great way to use up the leftover Turkey. We just used ours up in mac n cheese tonight, pretty good idea!
I have made a casserole out of the leftovers, when I don’t eat all of my favorite leftovers first. But, I’ve never included the cranberries in it, it sounds good!
Adding in the cheese sealed the deal for me! I bet this is an AHmazing casserole!
What a creative way to combine leftovers into yet another satisfying meal? This is a neat idea.
This is a great post about what to do with all that leftover turkey besides making plain old turkey sandwiches. The photo contest also sounds like fun and worth the effort to try and win some of the awesome prizes the brand is giving away.
oh man. what a great way to use leftovers. i love casseroles and would so enjoy this dish.
I haven’t tried this yet but what size casserole dish did you use?
Hello Laurie,
A 9 x 13 sized dish is what you will need. :)