17 Creative Ways to Use Up Leftover Turkey Stuffing

Wondering what to do with leftover stuffing or what to do with leftover turkey? Im very excited to share these Leftover Turkey Stuffing Balls with you! Everything you love about Thanksgiving in one bite! Well, except for the dessert, but you certainly can have that after you devour these, if you have room, lol!

I really have no idea what to call these. Thanksgiving Balls? Stuffing Balls? I mean, sure you can make these when looking for Thanksgiving recipes for leftovers, or with leftovers from Christmas or Easter. Anytime you have leftover turkey really (with the fixins).

We could call them Leftover Turkey Balls, however, they have stuffing in them so I thought do I add that into the title. All you need really need to know is that these Turkey Balls are a trifecta of deliciousness! These hit all the holiday food notes! Bite after bite!

Youll be grabbing a turkey breast occasionally throughout the year just to make these! Ive made these balls using boneless turkey breast from my farmers market, and then making gravy with turkey wings I buy there as well. I have also made them from my smoked turkey and smoked gravy recipe leftovers and OMG next level!

The holidays have come and gone and now you’re stuck with a big bowl of leftover stuffing in your fridge. What do you do with it all? Don’t just reheat it for yet another plain side dish – get creative with your leftover stuffing!

As a holiday host and enthusiastic home cook, I’ve tried just about every trick for using up extra stuffing. From casseroles to muffins, there are so many tasty ways to transform those leftovers into delicious new dishes. Read on for my favorite leftover turkey stuffing recipes.

Give Your Stuffing New Life in a Casserole

One of the easiest ways to use leftover stuffing is to incorporate it into a casserole The stuffing adds great texture and flavor to any baked pasta or potato dish Here are some of my favorite stuffing casserole recipes

  • Turkey and Stuffing Casserole – Layer shredded turkey, stuffing, veggies, and cheese in a baking dish for an easy leftover casserole. I like to top mine with fried onions for crunch.

  • Stuffing-Stuffed Pork Chops – Cut a pocket in each pork chop and fill with stuffing mix. Brown the chops, then bake with mushroom soup for moisture.

  • Broccoli and Stuffing Casserole – For a veggie-packed casserole, combine broccoli, stuffing, cheese, and cream of mushroom soup.

  • Sweet Potato and Stuffing Casserole – Mix mashed sweet potatoes, stuffing, maple syrup, and pecans for a sweet spin.

Make Savory Breakfasts with Stuffing

Looking for a new breakfast idea? Stuffing makes a hearty, savory base for all kinds of morning meals. Here are some breakfast recipes to try:

  • Stuffing Waffles – Combine stuffing, eggs, and seasonings in a waffle batter. Top with gravy for an over-the-top Turkey Day waffle.

  • Baked Egg and Stuffing Cups – Line muffin tins with stuffing and bake an egg right in the middle for a protein-packed breakfast.

  • Stuffing Breakfast Casserole – In a baking dish, layer stuffing, sausage, eggs, cheese, and veggies for a big strata-style casserole.

  • Stuffing Breakfast Burritos – Scramble eggs with veggies, wrap in tortillas with stuffing and cheese for hand-held breakfast.

Make Appetizers and Snacks with Leftover Stuffing

Stuffing also makes a fantastic base or addition to party snacks and appetizers. Here are some stuffed recipes to try:

  • Stuffing Meatballs – Mix Italian meatball mix with stuffing cubes for tender, flavorful meatballs.

  • Stuffed Mushroom Caps – Spoon stuffing into large mushroom caps and bake until hot and browned.

  • Stuffing Deviled Eggs – Fill hard boiled egg halves with a creamy stuffing-yolk mixture for a twist on classic deviled eggs.

  • Stuffing Arancini – Form leftover stuffing into balls, coat in breadcrumbs, and deep fry for crispy, cheesy bites.

Bake Stuffing into Breads and Muffins

My favorite way to use up leftover stuffing is by incorporating it into homemade breads and muffins. The stuffing adds moisture and texture. Here are some baked stuffing recipes:

  • Stuffing Cornbread – Add leftover stuffing to your usual cornbread batter for a more substantial loaf.

  • Stuffing Cranberry Muffins – Fold cubed stuffing into muffin batter along with dried cranberries for holiday flavor.

  • Stuffing Biscuits – Mix stuffing into refrigerated biscuit dough before baking for ultra-fluffy biscuits.

  • Stuffing Pull-Apart Bread – Shape stuffing and pizza dough into a loaf, bake, and pull apart for an appetizer.

Stuffing Dumplings, Empanadas and Pot Pies

For a fun twist, use your leftover stuffing as a filling for hand-pies, empanadas, or dumplings. Here are some recipes to try:

  • Stuffing Dumplings – Drop spoonfuls of stuffing wrapped in dumpling dough into your favorite soup.

  • Turkey Stuffing Empanadas – Fill empanada dough with stuffing, turkey, and veggies for hand-held hot pockets.

  • Mini Stuffing Pot Pies – Line a muffin tin with pie dough, fill with stuffing and gravy, and bake mini pot pies.

Stuffing Patties and Cakes

For an easy side or snack, simply shape leftover stuffing into patties or cakes and pan-fry until crisp. Coat the stuffing in eggs and breadcrumbs first for extra crunch. Round stuffing cakes are perfect topped with a fried egg for breakfast.

Bonus Recipe: Leftover Turkey Stuffing Casserole

This is one of my personal favorite ways to use up leftover stuffing. It transforms your extra stuffing into an easy, comforting casserole. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups leftover stuffing
  • 2 cups cooked turkey, chopped
  • 1 cup frozen veggies (corn, peas, etc)
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
  2. Spread stuffing in bottom of prepared baking dish. Top evenly with chopped turkey and frozen vegetables.
  3. In a medium bowl, combine soup and milk. Pour over top of turkey and vegetables.
  4. Sprinkle cheese evenly over casserole.
  5. Bake for 30 minutes until hot and bubbly. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

This easy casserole is so comforting and delicious! The stuffing soaks up all the flavors and gives the casserole fantastic texture. It’s a great way to transform Thanksgiving leftovers into an easy family dinner. Serve it with a green salad for a tasty meal.

Get Creative with Leftover Stuffing!

As you can see, the possibilities are endless when it comes to using up leftover stuffing! With a little creativity, you can give boring old stuffing new life in so many dishes. Next time you have extra stuffing on hand, try whipping up muffins, casseroles, dumplings, or anything else you can think of. Your kitchen scraps will become delicious new family favorites.

what to do with leftover turkey stuffing

What can I make with leftover stuffing?

Besides making these Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Stuffing Balls, I love placing stuffing in my waffle maker to make stuffing waffles and then top those with all sorts of stuff. I have even wrapped stuffing in bacon and made Stuffing Bombs. Yummo!

what to do with leftover turkey stuffing

Let me know if you make the Leftover Turkey Stuffing Balls OR if you come up with a better name for them. Maybe Gobble Balls?? Because, well turkey and youll gobble them up…Haha!!

What can I make with leftover mashed potatoes?

Besides making these Leftover Turkey Stuffing Balls, You can make my “famous” Mashed Potato Pie, or my leftover Loaded Mashed Potato Skillet. My friend Caroline makes Irish Colcannon with leftover mashed potatoes.

Leftover Turkey Casserole

FAQ

How long is leftover turkey stuffing good for?

Dressing/stuffing: Like turkey, if stored properly, stuffing or dressing will be safe to eat for three to four days after cooking. It will last for about a month if stored properly in the freezer. Cranberry sauce – homemade and store-bought: Homemade cranberry sauce lasts seven to 10 days.

Can you freeze leftover turkey stuffing?

Like we said, you can also freeze stuffing after it’s baked. This option is better for freezing leftovers rather than prepping ahead. If you happened to make too much stuffing, you can portion the leftovers into food storage containers and pop in the freezer to enjoy during the days to come.

How do you revive leftover stuffing?

Heat the oven to 350°F and transfer the stuffing to an oven-safe dish (or, you can keep it in the dish that it was originally cooked in). If it seems dry, you’ll want to add a splash of broth. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then remove foil and bake again until crisp, 15–20 minutes.

How long can you keep stuffing in the refrigerator?

Do not refrigerate uncooked stuffing. If stuffing is prepared ahead of time, it must be either frozen or cooked immediately. To use cooked stuffing later, cool in shallow containers and refrigerate it within 2 hours. Use it within 3 to 4 days.

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