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Meet your new day-after hero: my Thanksgiving Casserole layers juicy turkey, creamy potatoes, savory stuffing, veggies, gravy, and a kiss of cranberry into one cozy leftover bake. It’s fast, flexible, never dry, and tastes like the best parts of the big meal—without a sink full of dishes.
5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Made This last year and making it again this year amazing recipe must try!!!!” – Shanon
“I tried this recipe last year, and it was so good, I cooked everything from scratch again, just to make the casserole! This is now my weekend after Thanksgiving must do that I look forward to eating for months. I substitute green bean casserole for the corn. Oh my, it’s tasty!” – Laura
“A great way to use the leftovers!! I doubled the recipe and it was delicious! Love the one dish, easy to bake and not lots of pots to clean. Thanks for posting!” – Nancy
Why I Love This Casserole
Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole came about a couple of holidays ago when I was staring down a fridge full of Thanksgiving leftover containers. Heating up leftovers separately in the microwave can take forever, and frankly, I just didn’t have it in me. So, I created this casserole and our leftovers have never been the same!
I keep it serving this casserole simple with a side green salad, leftover dinner rolls, and extra warm turkey gravy for drizzling. If I’m feeling fancy, I’ll add a quick cranberry relish or a pan of roasted Brussels sprouts.
🩷 Erica
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Cooked turkey – shredded or chopped; white, dark, or a mix.
- Mashed potatoes – creamy base layer that keeps everything moist.
- Stuffing (or cornbread dressing) – for that golden, toasty top.
- Turkey Gravy – whisk with a splash of milk or broth so it flows.
- Vegetables – corn, green beans, peas, carrots; use what you’ve got.
- Cranberry sauce – whole-berry or jellied; adds bright, tangy balance.
- Cheese (optional) – cheddar or mozzarella for melty richness.
- Spices – garlic powder plus salt & pepper; adjust to taste.
- Moisture booster – milk, chicken/turkey broth, or melted butter to prevent drying.
Ingredient Additions & Substitutions
- Swap the base: rice or sweet potato mash instead of white potatoes.
- Use what’s left: green beans or green bean casserole works in place of veggies.
- Crunchy topper: croutons or seasoned breadcrumbs if stuffing is gone.
- Veggie upgrades: onions, mushrooms, butternut squash, leftover roasted veg.
- Dairy tweaks: sour cream in the potatoes for extra creaminess; skip cheese to keep it dairy-lighter.
- Poultry swap: leftover rotisserie chicken works perfectly outside of Thanksgiving.
How to Make a Thanksgiving Casserole
- Heat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish (or 9×13 for a double batch). Toss turkey with cranberry sauce; spread in an even layer.
- Spoon on mashed potatoes and smooth; scatter veggies over the top. Whisk gravy with a little milk or broth; pour evenly over the casserole.
- Cover with stuffing; drizzle a bit of broth or melted butter over stuffing so it crisps without drying.
- Cover with foil and bake 25–30 minutes (bubbly and heated through), then uncover for 5–10 minutes to toast the top. Add cheese during the last few minutes.
Recipe Tips
- Never-dry rule: Always add liquid—loosen gravy with milk or broth and drizzle a little over the stuffing before baking.
- Even heating: Keep layers relatively thin; thick cold potatoes take longer to warm.
- Crispy top: Uncover at the end or broil 1–2 minutes, watching closely.
- Pan size: Double for a 9×13; add 5–10 minutes if your leftovers are very cold.
- Food safety: Reheat leftovers to 165°F in the center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes—skip it or tuck a few spoonfuls between layers so it’s subtle. A splash of apple cider also adds brightness.
Warm the potatoes slightly and loosen with a splash of milk or broth so they spread easily and reheat evenly.
Drizzle 2–4 tablespoons of broth or melted butter over the stuffing before baking; cover the pan for most of the bake.
Absolutely. Swap it 1:1 and reduce added cheese since it’s already creamy.
Use GF stuffing/breadcrumbs and GF gravy; the rest is naturally GF depending on your ingredients.
Use dairy-free mashed potatoes and gravy; skip cheese and use broth or DF butter for moisture.
Generally 3–4 days in the fridge or 2–3 months in the freezer. Reheat to 165°F.
Make Ahead & Storage
- Assemble ahead: Build the casserole, cover tightly, and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Bake covered, adding 5–10 minutes if very cold.
- Freeze: Assemble in a freezer-safe dish, wrap well, and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then bake as directed.
- Reheat slices: Microwave in short bursts or reheat covered in a 325°F oven until hot.
More Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes
More Thanksgiving Casseroles
This Thanksgiving Casserole is the easiest, tastiest way to turn leftovers into a brand-new comfort dinner—customize the layers, keep it moist with gravy, and bake until golden and bubbly. If you try it, tell me what you added (or swapped!) and how your family liked it. Don’t forget to leave a star rating and a comment—your tips help other readers, too. 🍁🧡🍂
Thanksgiving Casserole (made with leftovers)
Video
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups turkey, shredded
- 3/4 cup cranberry sauce
- 2 cups mashed potatoes
- 1 cup corn
- 1 cup turkey gravy
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 cups stuffing
- chicken broth, or melted butter to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400-degrees. Combine turkey and cranberry sauce and spread evenly on the bottom of an 8×8 glass baking dish. (or double and use a 9×13 inch pan).
- Evenly press on leftover mashed potatoes and sprinkle corn over the top.
- Mix together milk and leftover gravy and spread evenly over potatoes and corn.
- Sprinkle on leftover stuffing and lightly drizzle chicken broth over the top (this will keep the stuffing from drying out).
- Cover with tin foil and bake at 400-degrees for 25-30 minutes or until heated through.
Notes
- Double for a 9×13 pan; add 5–10 minutes if starting cold.
- For extra moisture, add 2–4 Tbsp broth over stuffing before baking.
- Swap in green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, rice, or other leftover sides.
- Reheat leftovers to 165°F for food safety.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I made this after the holiday and I really enjoyed the casserole. This is one of the best. I am going to share it.
So glad to hear you liked it!
I was thinking about making a turkey pot pie with my turkey leftovers, but was looking for a recipe that I could use my leftover sides. This was it:)
I had mashed potatoes and turnips, which I added in layers, the rest of green bean casserole (not much), warmed up some frozen corn in mw and added it as a layer, then gravy , stuffing and the last bit of french onions. It was perfect. A great holiday leftover recipe that I will use often:) I still had some turkey leftover, but that will go into the Turkey soup made from the carcas:)
So glad you liked it! This is one of my favorite ways to use leftover turkey.
Excellent!!
We all loved this casserole. It’s a keeper.
I followed the recipe exactly as printed except instead of chicken broth to top off the casserole, I used a little more turkey gravy.
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So glad it was a hit! I try to have a little leftover of everything just so I can make this.
This is a delicious way to make a lot more room in my fridge at one time. I substituted corn pudding for the corn kernels, added leftover maple glaze carrots, but otherwise the casserole was essentially unchanged. It now goes into my holiday folder so that I can make it again and again. I did have some extra cranberry sauce, so I mixed that with the small amount of chicken broth that I poured over the top before baking. That added an extra tang.
Thanks for sharing your variations for this recipe! So glad you liked it!
I haven’t actually made THIS recipe, but I’ve been making “After Thanksgiving Lasagna” for years, and it always varies depending on how much of whatever I have leftover. No recipe required. One of our favs.
I love this recipe! I would put the cranberries on the bottom and the mashed potatoes then turkey stuffing green beans too it off with gravy and french fried onions
I love the idea of topping with French fried onions! Yum!
Can I substitute ground turkey in this recipe?
We haven’t used ground turkey in this recipe before so I can’t say for sure that it will turn out the same or even similar. IF you try it, please come back and let us know how it turns out!
Loved it. Simple and quick and delicious. The only thing I made twice the recipe and used a 9×12 glass pan rather than an 8×8. It fit perfectly.
I love this recipe, it’s one of the best. Thank you so very much ❤️.
Do you have any suggestions for freezing this?
I love the Boise area a lot, I lived in Garden Valley for a short while while on a sabbatical and did my shopping in Boise.
Thanks again for your recipes.
Thank you for your comment, Carrie! I’m so glad you like the Thanksgiving Casserole. It is so perfect for leftovers! I’ve never tried freezing it. The mashed potatoes don’t freeze well. The turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce all freeze well, so I would recommend freezing those separately then adding fresh mashed potatoes. The Boise area is beautiful – Emily and Erica live in the area and I visit all the time.
Very good! We plan to make this again. We were skeptical but were happily surprised after trying it!
I can’t rate because just made it and we haven’t tried it. Can it be made a day ahead and stored in fridge until baking time?
Yes, add a few minutes to the baking time to adjust for it being cold when placing it in the fridge. Check the center of the casserole to make sure it is warmed through before serving. Thanks for asking. Merry Christmas!
30 minutes is not long enough to heat the casserole. The time needs to be 1 hour
Over many years I’ve also made a very similar casserole, but serve the cranberries separately because some family members dislike them. The left-over casserole is so delicious and I plan on making it again this holiday season. My question is: How safe is it to freeze this casserole, and for how long?
We haven’t tried freezing this casserole, so I am not sure!
My favorite casserole ever, the cranberry sauce is unexpectedly the key, delicious ingredient that ties it all together!!
Made This last year and making it again this year amazing recipe must try!!!!
I tried this recipe last year, and it was so good, I cooked everything from scratch again, just to make the casserole! This is now my weekend after Thanksgiving must do that I look forward to eating for months. I substitute green bean casserole for the corn. Oh my, it’s tasty!
A great way to use the leftovers!! I doubled the recipe and it was delicious! Love the one dish, easy to bake and not lots of pots to clean. Thanks for posting!
HAHA…… after Thanksgiving we put all the side dish leftovers in the frig in their serving or casserole dishes, so after I put this together, I had a whole sink of Thanksgiving dishes to do! It is a great way to use up the leftovers.
I make this every year. It even appeals to my husband and two kids who are very picky.
I have made this several times. It is excellent. In fact, this year I’m not having Thanksgiving at my house but I will get a Rotisserie Chicken and make small batches of potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce just so I can make this recipe!
Has anyone tried using sweet potato casserole instead of mashed potatoes?
Well I did tonight made 2 one with sweet potatoes and one with regular. If you don’t hear back it was amazing!!!!
Yes! Using leftover Marshmallow Sweet Potato Casserole is just Fabulous!
Has anyone tried green bean casserole as your vegetable.
Yes, and it’s fabulous! I don’t like corn, but I love green bean casserole.
LOVE this recipe! Such a great idea! I also had leftover cranberries, and fried onions leftover from our green bean casserole, so I sprinkled some of those in a corner to try it out, and we loved it!
I’ve been wanting to make an
“Everything But the Kitchen Sink Thanksgiving Casserole” for years. I made this last night. It is quick and easy! Would of liked for it to hold up better when I served it. But that aside, why isn’t Thanksgiving dinner served like this!!! So happy I found your recipe. I’ve already added this to my TG recipes. 😊
This was a hit this year! 2020 was a letdown but this recipe made everyone happy! This was the first time, I didn’t make a big deal of Thanksgiving dinner. My adult son, who doesn’t eat leftovers, took leftovers home! Thank you!
This is a great recipe! It’s not only super delish, but also customizable. I like to make it with either green beans or mixed veggies, and I’ve also made it any old time of the year with chicken. We like whole berry cranberry sauce, so that’s what I use. I double the recipe, & bake it in a 13″ X 9″ Pyrex (we like the leftovers). Thanks ladies 🙂
It is now a tradition to make at least 2 of these for Thanksgiving every year. It’s just my spouse and I, and we don’t like fussing with big fancy meals and all those dishes. We actually just make and eat this FOR Thanksgiving and throughout the whole weekend. We use turkey breast cooked right in the dish, add green beans in with the corn, and because we aren’t picky we use those packets of instant mashed potatoes, stovetop stuffing, and gravy in a jar. It’s super easy, quick, hardly messy, hassle-free, and DELICIOUS. It’s honestly great at any time of year. We also altered the recipe and sometimes use ham and spiced applesauce in place of the turkey and cranberry sauce. 10/10
I 💖 your idea! I too have been using boxed dressing mix for years. I dress it up though by sautéing a bunch of onions and celery – often oil-free in the microwave, adding it to the box mix with boxed chicken (or turkey if I can find it) stock. Makes it taste more like homemade. And I always do extra onions and celery so I can make another box (or 2 lol) for me as I send the leftovers home with the friends that I celebrate with.
Stay safe. Alberta, Canada 🇨🇦 where it’s currently 7°C (44°F) at my house. Brrr!
Best way to eat leftovers! Can’t wait for the day after Thanksgiving!
This is the perfect way to use holiday leftovers, it really is easy and delicious! We really enjoyed this casserole!
What can I use to replace the cranberry sauce?
I don’t know of a good substitute for cranberry sauce. You can omit it from the recipe if you prefer.
The tartness of the cranberry sauce balances the entire dish, so you could use anything that would do the same. Try experimenting with different fruits (such as cherries or spiced pears), a thicker vinegar-based sauce, or even some sort of mustard.
I have used Grape Jelly (but didn’t care for) and Lingonberry jam as a cranberry substitute.
All I have is jellied cranberry sauce. I guess that wouldn’t work would it? This recipe sounds delicious.
I think that would work!!
I don’t like cranberry sauce. What can I use instead?
There isn’t really a substitute for the cranberry sauce. You can just omit it if you don’t like it. It shouldn’t affect the recipe.
I used leftover spinach dip with water chestnuts in it. This gave the recipe a nice crunch. Part of my family do not like the sweet/salty taste. I put a divider made out of foil and bake both. Half had cranberry the other with spinach dip. This was a huge success… thank you
The tartness of the cranberry sauce balances the entire dish, so you could use anything that would do the same. Try experimenting with different fruits (such as cherries or spiced pears), a thicker vinegar-based sauce, or even some sort of mustard.
I would think you could substitute a jam, jelly or preserve. You need something sweet to hit all the flavors.
Everyone loved this.
It was great and used up all the thanksgiving leftovers.🦃
This recipe saved the day when I had uneven quantities of leftovers for a “Thanksgiving Round II” gathering. The effort to rave reviews ratio earns it a spot in the “make it next year” recipe stack!
Would chicken work with this? Inuave no turkey but have the rest!!..?
Yes, chicken would be delicious in this recipe!
Trying this today! I used Mac & cheese instead of mashed taters!
I followed the largest measurements for most of the ingredients. I didn’t have corn so I used 1 can of unsalted french cut green beans (drained). I only used 1 1/2 cups of gravy. Baked it covered for 30 mins and removed foil to bake uncovered for another 30 mins. I had wetter stuffing so I wanted to dry it out a little since there were other liquids in this casserole to keep it moist. This is so good! I almost prefer this to the actual dinner where everything is eaten separately LOL! Thanks for sharing. A keeper for sure.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the 5-star rating!!
Can you freeze this and if so when you’re ready to make it can you just pop it in the oven from the frozen state?
I haven’t tried it that way before, but I think it would work! Let us know if you try it!
Just made this and it is absolutely delicious!! It has a sweet/salty quality to it that makes it crave—worthy! Sharing this recipe with my sister immediately!
LOVE this! Did it last year and doing it tomorrow! Happy Holidays!
Im looking forward to making this but I don’t have any leftover mashed potatoes. Do you think I should make mashed potatoes with butter or just mash and spread some boiled potatoes since the other ingredients are so rich?
I never say no to butter! 🙂 I think mashing them as you normally would, with butter, gives them a better consistency.
Hey there!
Just made your turkey leftovers casserole and put it in the freezer.
Looking forward to enjoying it in a month or so.
Thanks for the recipe!
Blessings,
Tori
I made it last yr and the whole house has been asking for it!!! It’s very good and will become a leftover tradition, thank you for sharing!! ☺
Thank you, Jessica! I’m so glad everyone liked it!
Looks delicious!! Making it now
Yeah
I’m making this day after thanksgiving. Looks delicious.
This sounds delicious, and I’m definitely going to try it.
Thanks.