While the words “leftover stuffing” might sound like an oxymoron, it does happen. And thank goodness! Who doesn’t want to pick on savory, herby Thanksgiving stuffing for a few days after the big holiday? The even better news (you know, other than leftovers) is there are as many leftover stuffing recipes as there are favorite methods of making this oh-so-popular Turkey Day side dish. Make sure you pack up your stuffing in an airtight container or re-sealable storage bag (push the extra air out of it before closing) within 2 hours of it coming out of the oven and hitting the table, and place storage containers on the top shelf of your fridge where the temperature is the most constant. Here, it will stay delicious for up to four days. If you’re not sure you’ll be able to use it straight away, pop those containers in the freezer for about a month. Meanwhile, check out one of these great recipes for what to do with leftover stuffing!
Acorn Squash Stuffing
Sprinkle these autumnal dinner add-ons with shaved parmesan and a little smoked paprika for a pretty, fragrant way to get your veggie fix and a heaping helping of your favorite side dish in this leftover stuffing recipe.
Recipe and photo from Taste of Home. Get the recipe.
Breakfast Strata
Got Thanksgiving houseguests? This day-after leftover stuffing-centric one-pan dish will not only use up your leftovers to easily (re)feed a crowd (because who wants to be a short-order cook the morning after preparing such an epic meal?), the extra egg and cheese additions make it akin to a velvety, savory bread pudding.
Recipe and photo from Helpful Homemade. Get the recipe here.
Bacon Wrapped Stuffing Bites
Just try not to pop more than one of these crispy outside, soft inside bacon wrapped leftover-stuffing morsels in your mouth—we’re going to bet you can’t.
Recipe and photo from Who Needs a Cape. Get the recipe here.
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
It may have reached its apex of popularity in the '70s and '80s, but that doesn’t mean chicken cordon bleu is any less delicious. If you’re contemplating what to do with leftover stuffing at Thanksgiving or Christmas, this is a great reason to bring it back.
Leftover Stuffing Casserole
Make great use of your leftover stuffing with fresh or leftover veggies in this easy peasy weeknight leftover stuffing casserole. Don’t like broccoli? Green beans, spinach, chard, or kale work great, too!
Recipe and photo by Brooklyn Farm Girl. Get the recipe here.
Leftover Turkey Dressing Meatball
These addictive meatballs are especially good if you tend to pack your Thanksgiving stuffing or dressing with Italian sausage in the mix.
Recipe and photo from A Zesty Bite. Get the recipe here.
Leftover Stuffing Muffins
We love pinch-hitter dishes, and these grab-and-go leftover stuffing muffins are not only versatile (they make a great breakfast, lunch, or side dish option), but they use up extra Thanksgiving turkey and add in some great, healthy greens, too. If you want to slim these down a bit, simply sub out the tablespoon of cream or whole milk for nonfat or a tablespoon of plain nonfat yogurt.
Recipe and photo from Budget Bytes. Get the recipe here.
Turkey and Stuffing Dumpling Soup
It’s absolutely worth it to make the homemade turkey stock in this recipe for leftover stuffing dumpling soup—it makes enough for the latter, but you can take the rest of the broth, freeze it, and use it for a future culinary endeavor. If you need to get dinner on the table quickly, a high-quality, pre-made turkey, chicken, or vegetable broth will do just fine.
Recipe and photo by Katie’s Cucina. Get the recipe here.
Thanksgiving Poutine
Poutine is that decadent French fry, cheese curd, gravy topped building of guilty pleasures that even typically apologetic Canadians aren’t sorry for one bit. These days, poutine has traveled south, spreading across the United States like ladled gravy. This version makes clever use of leftovers, including the all-important stuffing—and, we think, makes a great accompaniment for a day-after-Thanksgiving movie marathon on the couch.
Recipe and photo from I Am a Food Blog. Get the recipe here.
Leftover Stuffing Baked Eggs
Break out your ramikens for this easy baked stuffing-and-egg breakfast indulgence. The leftover stuffing goes in the oven solo first, to get it extra crispy, and the egg is cracked on top for a final few minutes in the oven.
Recipe and photo from Kitchen Konfidence. Get the recipe here.
Leftover Stuffing Balls
While many leftover stuffing ball recipes call for deep frying, we liked that this one used the oven instead, and made great use of leftover veggies, too!
Recipe and photo from Genius Kitchen. Get the recipe here.
Stuffing Hash
Have an extra sweet potato on hand? That, a few eggs, and some seasoning are all you need to throw together this addictive weekend-morning treat.
Recipe and photo from Girl in the Little Red Kitchen. Get the recipe here.
Savory Stuffing Cakes
With great stuffing, you don’t need to gild the lily. This recipe merely adds a beaten egg to bind all that savory goodness together so you can get the outside of these patties nice and crispy.
Recipe and photo from Whole Foods Market. Get the recipe here.
Leftover Stuffing Waffles
If your waffle iron hasn’t been getting much use over the years, this is going to be a game-changer. Leftover stuffing pressed into a waffle gets a snappy, sweet burst when topped with leftover cranberry.
Recipe and photo from Two Red Bowls. Get the recipe here.
