Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Leftovers You’ll Look Forward To Enjoying
Use your slow cooker to turn Thanksgiving leftovers into easy meals. Try my turkey dinner reheat and stuffing casserole ideas. No dry turkey, no fuss!
I don’t know about you, but by the time Thanksgiving dinner is over, I’m done cooking. My feet hurt, the kitchen’s a disaster, and all I want to do is curl up with a plate of leftovers. Honestly? I sometimes think the leftovers are better than the big meal itself.
That’s why, every year, I roast an extra-large turkey and make way more sides than we could ever finish in one day. Because I already know what’s coming next: my slow cooker’s about to earn its keep again. Here’s how I turn all those leftovers into hearty, low-effort slow cooker meals that taste like I’ve been in the kitchen all day, even though I barely did more than plug it in.
Why I Swear by the Slow Cooker After Thanksgiving
After hours of basting, chopping, and wrangling gravy boats, the last thing I want to do is dirty more dishes. The slow cooker lets me throw everything in, flip a switch, and walk away. My favorite part? It doesn’t dry out turkey or turn mashed potatoes into paste. Everything heats evenly, and pretty soon the whole house smells like Thanksgiving all over again.
If you don’t have a slow cooker yet, this is the time to dust one off or borrow one. By day two of leftovers, you’ll be grateful for that slow cooker (trust me).
Easy Slow Cooker Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Leftovers
Once the dishes are washed and the fridge is stacked with containers, it’s time for the fun part… turning all that food into something new again. Here are two of my favorite ways to use up what’s left after the feast. Both somehow taste even better the second time around and take just a few minutes to throw together.
Quick Reheat Method: Leftover Turkey Dinner in the Slow Cooker
Sometimes, you just want that full Thanksgiving plate again, minus the microwave. This way you get that same full plate, just with better texture and flavor. Use whatever you’ve got: turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, or even roasted veggies. No measuring, no stress. Just layer it, warm it up, and dig in.
Slow Cooker Leftover Turkey Dinner
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Turkey shredded
- 1 cup Gravy
- 1 cup Green Bean Casserole
- 1 cup Stuffing
- 1 cup Mashed Potatoes or sweet potatoes
- ½ cup Cheddar Cheese optional
- Salt & Pepper
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, stir the shredded turkey and gravy together until evenly coated. This helps keep the meat moist and flavorful while reheating.1 cup Turkey, 1 cup Gravy
- Add the leftover green bean casserole to the bottom of your slow cooker and spread it out evenly. This base layer helps prevent the stuffing from sticking or drying out.1 cup Green Bean Casserole
- Spoon the leftover stuffing over the green beans, pressing it down gently so it covers the bottom layer but isn’t packed tight.1 cup Stuffing
- Pour the turkey and gravy mixture over the stuffing layer, spreading it evenly with a spoon. Try to get an even layer so it warms consistently.
- Gently spoon the mashed potatoes over the turkey layer and smooth them out. They act like a blanket that traps in moisture and keeps everything tender.1 cup Mashed Potatoes
- If you'd like, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top. It’ll melt into a gooey layer that ties everything together.1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese
- Put the lid on and set your slow cooker to low. Warm for 40 minutes, or until everything is heated through and steamy. If your leftovers were cold from the fridge, it might take closer to an hour.
- Once hot, give it a quick taste. Add salt and pepper if needed, then scoop and serve warm.Salt & Pepper
Notes
- The amounts don’t have to be exact—use what you have and layer with your heart.
- Add a splash of broth if your leftovers seem dry.
- Try swapping cheddar for mozzarella or Monterey Jack for a milder flavor.
- Leftovers of leftovers? Store them in the fridge and reheat once more within two days.
Nutrition
Slow Cooker Turkey & Stuffing Casserole
This one’s my personal favorite. It’s hearty, rustic, and just plain satisfying. The kind of meal that makes that jumble of containers in your fridge feel like dinner again. Basically, it’s a lazy version of turkey pot pie… no pastry required. I toss in leftover turkey, gravy, vegetables, and stuffing (or leftover rolls, torn into chunks). Carrots, peas, green beans—whatever’s left, toss it in.
Slow Cooker Turkey & Stuffing Casserole
This post may contain paid links. If you make a purchase using the links in this recipe, I may earn a commission.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Turkey shredded
- ½ cup Gravy
- ½ cup Carrots sliced thin
- ⅓ cup Peas
- ½ cup Green Bean Casserole
- 1 cup Stuffing or 4-6 dinner rolls
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
- In the bowl of your slow cooker, stir together the shredded turkey, gravy, green bean casserole, carrots, and peas until evenly mixed. The gravy keeps everything moist while it reheats, so make sure it’s distributed throughout.1 cup Turkey, 1/2 cup Gravy, 1/3 cup Peas, 1/2 cup Green Bean Casserole, 1/2 cup Carrots
- If using stuffing, layer it over the turkey mixture but don’t press it down too tightly—it should stay fluffy so the steam can circulate. If using dinner rolls or biscuits, tear them into bite-sized chunks and place them in a single layer across the top.1 cup Stuffing
- Set your slow cooker to low or medium heat. Warm for about 40 minutes, or until the mixture is piping hot and the carrots are tender but not mushy. If your leftovers were cold from the fridge, it might take closer to an hour.
- If using rolls or biscuits, check them halfway through. They should soften and warm without getting soggy.
- Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Spoon into bowls and serve warm—bonus points if you drizzle a little extra gravy over the top.Salt & Pepper
Notes
- Use what you have! Swap peas for corn, or throw in leftover green beans or mixed veggies.
- If your casserole seems too thick, add a splash of broth or gravy before heating.
- Leftovers will keep up to 2 days in the fridge and can be reheated in the microwave or on low in the slow cooker until hot.
Nutrition
Don’t You Dare Toss Those Turkey Bones
Once you’ve picked your turkey clean, don’t throw the carcass away! It’s the secret to that rich, golden broth I use for soups, gravies, and risottos all winter long. I toss the bones, onion ends, and veggie scraps into the slow cooker overnight.
If you’ve never made broth this way, The Forked Spoon walks you through it step by step. It’s slow cooker–friendly and ridiculously easy, even if you’ve never made it before.
Use Up Every Last Leftover
Still have mashed potatoes hanging around? Turn them into crisp, golden potato pancakes. You won’t regret it.
And if you’re already planning ahead for next year, check out my Thanksgiving stuffing recipe and a few ideas for using homegrown ingredients to make Thanksgiving even better. A little prep now means even better leftovers later.
What to Know Before You Reheat
Still staring at that fridge full of leftovers? Here are a few questions I hear this time of year.
Don’t lose these easy leftover ideas! Pin this post so your slow cooker can save you again next Thanksgiving.
There’s something special about waking up to a fridge full of leftovers and knowing dinner is already handled. Using your slow cooker to reinvent those dishes saves time, energy, and sanity. Three things I never seem to have enough of after the holidays.
So, pull out that slow cooker, grab what’s left from the feast, and give yourself permission to take it easy. You’ve earned it.
And hey, if you come up with your own leftover masterpiece, I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
They both sound amazing, but the mock turkey pie may be my go-to from now on!