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Whew! Is it just me, or does the day after Thanksgiving always feel like hitting a wall? You look at the stacks of dishes and those glorious leftovers staring back at you, and the thought of putting together another complicated plate just drains you. Well, that’s when I pull out my secret weapon: the Thanksgiving leftover casserole! You don’t need complex meals anymore; you just need one glorious, bubbling dish. This is pure Carla’s Cooking philosophy in action—taking that big holiday feast and turning it into a simple, joyful meal that tastes even better. As you can see over on my About Page, my whole goal is making real food for real life, and this casserole is the king of ease. Trust me, adapting this into an all-in-one leftovers bake is the fastest way to love those leftovers!
- Why This Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole is Your Best Next-Day Dinner
- Gathering Ingredients for Your Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole
- Step-by-Step Instructions for the Turkey Stuffing Casserole
- Tips for Success with Your Leftover Thanksgiving Casserole
- Make-Ahead and Storage for the Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole
- Serving Suggestions for Your All-in-One Leftovers Bake
- Frequently Asked Questions About Leftover Thanksgiving Casserole
- Estimated Nutrition for One Serving of Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole
- Share Your Favorite Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole Creations
Why This Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole is Your Best Next-Day Dinner
When you’re done hosting and ready for a break, this casserole is your savior. It’s the ultimate commitment-free dinner. You take everything you already cooked, put it in one spot, and boom—you’ve tackled dinner! Finding these simple solutions is why I love creating recipes in my Weeknight Dinners category.
- It’s the perfect all-in-one leftovers bake. No side dish stress here!
- It transforms familiar tastes into something brand new and exciting.
Quick Assembly for the Tired Cook
Honestly, you need about ten minutes flat to throw this together. My whole goal is getting a delicious, family-approved meal on the table fast. This recipe takes that post-holiday slump and turns it into an easy win for you!
The Perfect Comfort Food Experience
You get that wonderful, warm, bubbling feeling straight from the oven. Every bite is rich with turkey, savory stuffing, and creamy potatoes, all held together by warm gravy. It’s pure, unadulterated comfort food, and you deserve it!
Gathering Ingredients for Your Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole
You won’t believe how simple the ingredient list is because we’re using what’s already in your fridge! Seriously, pull out those containers. We need the turkey, the stuffing, the potatoes, and of course, the gravy. Grab three cups of turkey and four cups of stuffing—those are the big players. Don’t forget that shredded cheddar cheese on top; it’s non-negotiable for that golden crust! You can find my tips for making the best gravy ever over in my post about Turkey Gravy, just in case you need a refresher!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Leftover Thanksgiving Casserole
If your gravy seems a little stiff, don’t sweat it; just thin it with a splash of broth until it spreads nicely. Also, that cranberry sauce on the turkey layer? It’s optional, but it adds a lovely little sweet-tart pop! Remember, my whole philosophy is using common staples to make amazing meals, so use what you have available!
Step-by-Step Instructions for the Turkey Stuffing Casserole
Okay, this is where the magic really happens! It’s just layering, but layered *right*. First things first, get that oven hot—we’re aiming for 375 degrees Fahrenheit. And don’t forget to lightly grease that 9×13 dish; we want clean serving lines, right? I learned the hard way that skipping the grease leads to a total kitchen disaster the next day! You can find a detailed guide on quick casserole prep over at Leftover Turkey Casserole Quick Fix if you need a visual walkthrough.
Assembling the Layers of Your Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole
We start with half of your leftover stuffing spread evenly on the bottom—that’s our foundation. Next, pile on the shredded turkey. If you have little pockets of cranberry sauce, dot those right over the turkey layer. Then comes the creamy mashed potatoes, spread over everything. Now, pour that rich gravy evenly over the potatoes. That’s the saucy binder for our all-in-one leftovers bake!
Baking and Resting the Easy Next-Day Dinner
Top the whole thing with the remaining stuffing, brush it lightly with melted butter (yes, even the top layer needs love!), and then sprinkle on that beautiful cheddar a little while before it’s done. Bake it for about 25 to 30 minutes. Watch for that cheese to melt and get bubbly brown—that’s your cue! But stop! Crucially, let it rest for five minutes. This tiny pause stops the whole thing from collapsing when you cut into your easy next-day dinner.
Tips for Success with Your Leftover Thanksgiving Casserole
You want this casserole to be the highlight of your Friday, not a soggy afterthought, right? Trust me, a few little tricks make all the difference. My years of testing these casserole combinations taught me that if your gravy is just sitting there in the fridge getting thick as paste, it needs help spreading out. Right before you pour it over those beautiful potatoes, stir in just a splash of chicken broth or even a little milk until it flows nicely. This ensures every layer gets coated properly!
Also, if you like crunch—and I really, really like crunch—try this: sprinkle about a quarter cup of crushed crackers, maybe Ritz or saltines, right over that final layer of cheese *before* it goes into the oven. That little bit of texture against the soft potatoes is just magic. For more tips on refining your favorite recipes, check out my main Blog feed!
Make-Ahead and Storage for the Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole
Since we’re making this a total easy next-day dinner solution, let’s talk about making it ahead! If the thought of assembling this right after the big meal makes you tired, you can absolutely build the whole thing—turkey, potatoes, gravy, everything—the night before. Just cover it tightly with plastic wrap (make sure it’s sealed well so it doesn’t dry out!) and pop it in the fridge.
When you’re ready tomorrow, just pull it out and add about 10 to 15 minutes onto the baking time since it’s starting cold. This is such a fantastic meal planning solution for that busy Friday! If you want to see other ways I prep food in advance, check out my guide to Make-Ahead Breakfast Burritos; the freezing rules are similar!
Serving Suggestions for Your All-in-One Leftovers Bake
This Thanksgiving leftover casserole is definitely the star of the show—it’s hearty and covers almost every food group already, so don’t feel like you need a whole spread. Honestly, a slice of this next-day bake stands perfectly well on its own! But if you want to brighten things up a little, a very simple side is fantastic.
I often just toss together some crisp greens with a light vinaigrette. Something tart cuts through the richness of the gravy and cheese perfectly. Check out some of my favorite simple salad ideas over in my Side Dishes section—you only need five minutes to whip up a nice contrast to your heavy, savory casserole!
Frequently Asked Questions About Leftover Thanksgiving Casserole
I know you’re going to have questions once you start digging through those leftovers! That’s normal, especially when you’re trying to fit five different main courses into one pan. Don’t worry, dealing with ingredient ratios and texture is exactly what I conquered when developing this easy next-day dinner. Ask me anything about this classic leftover Thanksgiving casserole!
Can I substitute the turkey in this Thanksgiving leftover casserole?
Oh, absolutely! If you have leftover ham, that works wonderfully in place of turkey for a slightly different flavor profile. Or, if you want a vegetarian version, just use canned chickpeas or white beans for the bulk of the meat layer!
What if I don’t have enough gravy for my leftover Thanksgiving casserole?
This happens if your gravy congealed too much! Don’t panic. Just whisk a few tablespoons of chicken broth or even some milk into your leftover gravy until it loosens up enough to pour easily over those potatoes. That keeps the moisture locked in!
If you’re looking for a completely different way to use up those last bits of meat, I have a fantastic, rich Leftover Turkey Soup recipe that’s perfect for a chilly evening!
Estimated Nutrition for One Serving of Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Carla, this is leftover mash, turkey, and gravy piled high—it’s probably a million calories!” And honestly, when you start throwing everything together, calories can sneak up fast. But because my goal here at Carla’s Cooking is always honesty and transparency, I want to give you a ballpark idea of what you’re looking at. Remember, since we’re using literal leftovers, these are just estimates based on standard quantities of stuffing and potatoes, but it helps to know what you’re working with!
It’s definitely a hearty meal, which is why it’s so satisfying. If you are tracking things like fats or sodium, I always recommend you check out resources that help with meal planning for specific dietary needs, but here is the breakdown for one generous serving based on the recipe amounts:
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Total Fat: 20g (Saturated Fat: 10g)
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Protein: 30g
See? Not bad at all for the ultimate all-in-one leftovers bake! It’s got great protein from the turkey, and it’s super filling, which stops you from later grabbing whatever snack is left in the pantry. It proves that comfort food can still be relatively balanced when you’re using real ingredients.
Share Your Favorite Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole Creations
Now that you’ve made this incredible, easy bake, I just have to know how it turned out! Did you love the golden cheese top on your turkey stuffing casserole? Please, please leave a rating right here on the page so other busy cooks know it’s worth making. And if you snap a photo of your bubbling Thanksgiving leftover casserole, tag me on social media! I love seeing your happy tables. You can always reach out or send me a note through my Contact page!
PrintUltimate Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole
Combine all your Thanksgiving leftovers—turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and gravy—into one comforting, bubbling casserole for an easy next-day dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 30 min
- Total Time: 40 min
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked turkey, shredded or cubed
- 4 cups leftover stuffing
- 3 cups leftover mashed potatoes
- 1.5 cups leftover turkey gravy
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup leftover cranberry sauce (optional)
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Spread half of the leftover stuffing evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Layer the shredded turkey over the stuffing layer. If using, dot the turkey layer with spoonfuls of cranberry sauce.
- Spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the turkey layer. You can use a fork to create peaks for texture.
- Pour the leftover gravy evenly over the mashed potatoes.
- Top the casserole with the remaining stuffing. Brush the top layer of stuffing lightly with melted butter.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the top layer.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the casserole is heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before cutting and serving.
Notes
- If your gravy is very thick, thin it slightly with a splash of chicken broth or milk so it spreads easily.
- This recipe works well as a simple meal planning solution for the day after the holiday.
- For a crispier top, you can sprinkle 1/4 cup of crushed crackers over the cheese before baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 850
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 30
- Cholesterol: 100