Make 1 Amazing Leftover stuffing waffles

Whew! The big feast is behind us, and now we face the mountain of leftovers—bless their delicious hearts—and that looming, tired feeling of “I just don’t want to see turkey for three days.” But I’m Carla, and I believe even leftovers deserve a little creative love to spark joy back into your week! I learned watching my grandmother that making food for people is an act of love, even when it’s just for my own family a day later. That’s where my absolute favorite post-holiday trick comes in: we’re transforming that standard bread stuffing into golden, crispy leftover stuffing waffles. This is the ultimate savory hack, turning humble day-old ingredients into a fun, satisfying brunch. It totally fits my philosophy here at Carla’s Cooking—using simple stuff already in your fridge to make something that tastes anything but ordinary, getting a delicious meal on the table in under an hour.

Why You Need These Leftover Stuffing Waffles for Brunch

Honestly, if you’re looking for a seriously fast and unbelievably fun way to tackle those holiday containers, stop right here. This recipe is all about getting creative while fighting food waste. It’s so satisfying to take something dense and use it to create something super crisp!

• The Ultimate Savory Waffle Hack

  Think about it: you get all that savory herb flavor, cooked into an incredibly crisp shell. It’s the perfect vehicle for gravy or maybe even a leftover turkey slice! This works beautifully as a make-ahead Thanksgiving brunch idea for the next morning.

• Simple Ingredients for Perfect Leftover Stuffing Waffles

  The magic part is that you don’t need much else. We just add an egg and a tiny splash of milk to bind everything up. That’s it! You’re basically using the egg as the natural glue for these stuffing waffles recipe.

SAVE IT

Gathering Ingredients for Your Leftover Stuffing Waffles Recipe

Okay, you don’t need to run back to the store! This recipe is about using what’s already there. We just need a couple of things to coax that leftover stuffing into holding its shape perfectly in the iron. If you’re curious about making an amazing batch from scratch next year, check out my classic stuffing recipe, but for now, let’s stick to repurposing!

• Binding Agents and Seasoning

  You’ll need just one large egg, and about 1 tablespoon of milk—any kind you keep in the fridge will do the trick. This combination keeps things light.

• The Core Component: Leftover Stuffing

  Grab 4 cups of whatever stuffing you had left over. It doesn’t matter if it was sausage, cornbread, or veggie—it works! If it seems really dry straight out of the container, just add one extra little splash of milk when you mix it.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Leftover Stuffing Waffles

This is where the fun really begins! Making these savory waffle hack creations is so much faster than any traditional recipe because the flavor is already built in. We are just giving the stuffing something new to cling to so it can crisp up beautifully in the iron. If you want to dive deeper into waffle technique, I have a whole guide on getting perfect waffle texture, but this stuffing version is incredibly forgiving, trust me.

• Preparing the Stuffing Mixture

  First, dump your 4 cups of leftover stuffing into a big bowl. Now, add in that single egg and the tablespoon of milk. You want to mix this gently with a fork—and I mean gently! Don’t beat it like a cake batter. We just want the binders to evenly coat the stuffing pieces. Stop mixing as soon as you see everything coming together, keeping that texture crumbly but cohesive enough to scoop.

• Waffling the Leftover Stuffing Waffles

  Get your waffle iron preheated to a solid medium-high heat—we need that initial blast of heat to create the crust! If you don’t grease the iron well, you’ll be fishing stuffing out of the grooves later, so spray it liberally or brush on some melted butter. Then, portion out about 1 to 1.5 cups of the mixture directly onto the center. Press the top down lightly until it flattens out. Cook it for a good 4 to 6 minutes. You’re aiming for deep golden brown and super crisp on the outside before you carefully pull out your amazing leftover stuffing waffles.

SAVE IT

Expert Tips for Perfect Leftover Stuffing Waffles

When I first tried this, my brain kept telling me it was weird, but after testing it a few times, I found these little tricks that make a huge difference in turning standard leftovers into something truly spectacular. This is what separates a good waffle from a fantastic brunch staple.

• Achieving Maximum Crispness in Your Leftover Stuffing Waffles

  If you want that deep, audible crunch when you bite into your stuffing waffles recipe, here’s my secret: before you place the scooped stuffing onto the hot iron, grab some melted butter and lightly brush the exposed top surface. It sounds a little extra, but that little bit of fat toasts up perfectly and gives you a stunningly golden crust!

• Planning Ahead for Leftover Stuffing Waffles

  I know you’re tired after cooking for everyone, but hear me out. If you think you’ll want to do this the next day—and trust me, you will—try to set aside about 4 cups of stuffing *before* you serve dinner. That way, you don’t have to dig through the fridge container later, and you can get these savory breakfast treats going faster.

Serving Suggestions for Leftover Stuffing Waffles

Now that you have these perfectly crisp, savory wonders ready to go, we have to talk about what goes on top! Since these are essentially little herb-packed patties, we should treat them like the superstars they are rather than just another piece of bread. This is the time to pull out any other glorious leftovers you might have lurking around.

• Toppings That Complement Savory Waffles

  First up? Gravy. Absolutely, smother those golden edges in warm, rich gravy—I have the recipe for my silky gravy here if you need a fresh batch! A sunny-side-up fried egg with that runny yolk mixing into the herbs is incredible. And don’t forget a tiny dollop of cranberry sauce if you like that sweet tang against savory spices. You can even top it with some shredded leftover turkey to make a full-on breakfast sandwich using the turkey meat!

SAVE IT

Storage and Reheating Leftover Stuffing Waffles

Don’t worry if you make a huge batch, because these savory waffle hack creations are pretty great later too! Once they cool completely, just stack them up between sheets of parchment paper, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, and slide those into a freezer bag. They keep well in the fridge for about three days.

When you’re ready for a quick snack or second round that day, skip the microwave. Microwaving makes them instantly limp! The best way to bring back that amazing crisp texture is by using your toaster oven or a regular oven set to 350°F. Just a few minutes until they’re piping hot and crunchy again—perfect!

Frequently Asked Questions About Stuffing Waffles

It’s funny how many questions pop up when you put something unusual in the waffle iron! People always want to make sure they get that perfect crunch. If you love planning ahead and want tips on overall kitchen organization, I have lots of ideas over on my main blog page!

• Can I make these if my stuffing is dry or too wet?

  You absolutely can! If your stuffing is drier than usual—maybe it was sitting out a bit uncovered—just add an extra teaspoon of milk until it can hold a soft ball shape in your hand. If it seems soggy, maybe add a tiny sprinkle of flour to absorb that extra moisture before you mix in the egg.

• What kind of stuffing works best for this savory waffle hack?

  Almost anything goes! The standard bread stuffing is my top pick because it crisps up beautifully. If you have a very chunky stuffing with big vegetables or lots of sausage, just make sure you press down firmly when closing the iron so everything adheres.

• Is this recipe suitable for meal planning?

  Yes! While I think they are best right off the iron, you can certainly treat these like toast. For long-term strategy, I actually find consistent organization really helps my week run smoothly compared to relying on expensive meal delivery companies. These freeze well if you wrap them individually.

SAVE IT

Estimated Nutritional Breakdown

I always stress that this is just my best guess, okay? Nutrition labels can be tricky, and your stuffing recipe is totally unique! This breakdown is based on my standard recipe using basic poultry stuffing. I calculate these numbers so you know roughly what you’re getting so you can plan things like your keto meal plan delivery or just keep track generally.

• Serving Size: 1 waffle
• Calories: 350
• Fat: 15g
• Carbohydrates: 45g
• Protein: 10g

Share Your Crispy Creations

I absolutely love seeing how you bring my recipes to life in your own kitchens! This is such a silly, fun idea that turns something that might have just sat sadly in the Tupperware container into a star brunch item. If you snapped a picture of your perfectly golden, gravy-slathered leftover stuffing waffles, I want to see it! Head over to social media and tag me; I always peek at what you all are making.

And please, tell me in the comments below—what did you top yours with? Did you keep it traditional with gravy and turkey, or did you try something wild? I’m always looking for new ways to enjoy this great Thanksgiving brunch idea. Let’s talk toppings!

Leftover Stuffing Waffles for Brunch

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Turn your leftover holiday stuffing into crispy, savory waffles for a fun and simple brunch the next day.

• Author: Carla Davis
• Prep Time: 5 min
• Cook Time: 15 min
• Total Time: 20 min
• Yield: 2 to 3 waffles 1x
• Category: Brunch
• Method: Waffling
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

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• 4 cups leftover stuffing (any variety)
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon milk (any kind)
• Cooking spray or butter for the waffle iron

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Instructions

1. Place the leftover stuffing in a large bowl. If the stuffing seems very dry, add a splash more milk.
2. Add the egg and milk to the stuffing. Mix gently with a fork until the ingredients are just combined. Do not overmix; you want the stuffing to hold its shape but remain slightly loose.
3. Preheat your waffle iron to medium-high heat. Spray the plates well with cooking spray or brush with melted butter.
4. Spoon about 1 to 1.5 cups of the stuffing mixture onto the center of the hot waffle iron. Gently press the top plate down to flatten the stuffing into a waffle shape.
5. Cook for 4 to 6 minutes, or until the waffle is deeply golden brown and crisp on the outside. The exact time depends on your iron.
6. Carefully remove the stuffing waffle and place it on a wire rack or plate. Repeat with the remaining stuffing mixture.
7. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings, such as leftover gravy or a fried egg.

Notes

• If you are planning ahead for leftovers, consider making a simple meal planning adjustment by setting aside extra stuffing before serving dinner.
• For extra crispness, you can lightly brush the outside of the formed waffle with melted butter before placing it in the iron.
• These waffles reheat well in a toaster oven for a quick snack later.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 waffle
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 3
• Sodium: 650
• Fat: 15
• Saturated Fat: 4
• Unsaturated Fat: 11
• Trans Fat: 0
• Carbohydrates: 45
• Fiber: 3
• Protein: 10
• Cholesterol: 75