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Thanksgiving Casserole

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This leftover Thanksgiving Casserole combines all your holiday favorites into a warm, layered bake. With a base of sourdough bread soaked in rich turkey gravy, layers of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and creamy mashed potatoes, every bite is packed with Thanksgiving flavor.

Thanksgiving-Casserole

Thanksgiving leftover casserole is ideal for the days following the holiday when you’re craving something cozy and want to use up all those delicious leftovers. Just layer, bake, and savor a festive meal all over again!

leftover-thanksgiving-casserole-in-pan

Thanksgiving Casserole Ingredients

  • 6-8 slices sourdough bread, crusts removed
  • 2 cups turkey gravy
  • 2 cups shredded turkey
  • 2 cups leftover stuffing
  • 1 cup cranberry sauce
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar or your choice)
  • 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: fresh herbs like parsley, rosemary, or thyme for garnish
leftover-thanksgiving-casserole-on-a-plate.

Thanksgiving Casserole

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9×13-inch casserole dish by lightly greasing it to prevent sticking.
  • Lay 3- 4 slices of crustless sourdough bread at the bottom of the dish, ensuring they cover the base evenly. Pour 1 cup of turkey gravy over the bread, allowing it to soak thoroughly.
  • Distribute 1 cup of shredded turkey evenly over the gravy-soaked bread. Add 1 cup of leftover stuffing, spreading it to cover the turkey layer completely.
  • Spoon 1/2 cup of cranberry sauce over the stuffing evenly. Sprinkle 3/4 cup of shredded cheese over the cranberry sauce.
  • Place the remaining 4 slices of sourdough bread on top to create the second layer. Pour the remaining 1 cup of turkey gravy over these bread slices, ensuring they are well-soaked like the first layer.
  • Repeat the layering by evenly spreading the remaining shredded turkey, followed by the rest of the stuffing, cranberry sauce, and cheese over the second bread layer.
  • Smooth 2 cups of leftover mashed potatoes over the top layer, using a spatula to spread it evenly. Season the potatoes lightly with salt and pepper.
  • Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 15-20 minutes, or until the top is golden and the cheese is bubbling. Allow the casserole to cool slightly before serving, and garnish with fresh herbs if desired. Enjoy!
  • sour-dough-bread-in-casserole-dish.
  • layer-with-turkey-gravy
  • a-layer-of-stuffing
  • leftover-thanksgiving-turkey-layer
  • layer-of-cranberry-sauce
  • layer-of-cheese
  • repeat-layers
  • layer-of-mashed-Potatoes
  • bake-leftover-t-urkey-casserole

More Leftover Thanksgiving Recipes

Tips & Tricks

  • Keep Bread Slices Even: To help the bread soak up the gravy evenly, make sure each slice is crustless and fits snugly across the base of your casserole dish. This creates a solid foundation and prevents sogginess.
  • Layer Leftovers Strategically: For balanced flavor, layer ingredients evenly without overloading any one section. This way, every slice gets a bit of everything!
  • Use Fresh Herbs: A sprinkle of fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or parsley on top adds brightness and freshness, making each bite taste even more vibrant.
  • Make-Ahead Tip: Assemble the casserole a day ahead and cover it with foil to store in the fridge. When ready to bake, remove from the fridge 30 minutes prior to let it reach room temperature for even baking.
  • Enhance the Gravy: If your leftover gravy is thick, add a little broth or water to make it pourable and easier to soak into the bread layers.
turkey-casserole-on-a-fork

FAQs for Thanksgiving Casserole

Absolutely! While sourdough adds a nice flavor and texture, you can use other sturdy breads like French bread, ciabatta, or whole grain. Just make sure to remove the crusts for even layering.

No problem! Simply adjust the recipe to what you have. You can add extra mashed potatoes or stuffing if you’re short on turkey, or mix in cooked veggies like green beans or carrots for a bit more bulk.

Yes! If you’ve already used up your Thanksgiving leftovers, feel free to use store-bought shredded turkey, gravy, and mashed potatoes to recreate this dish.

Reheat individual portions in the microwave or reheat the entire casserole in a 350°F oven, covered with foil, for about 20-25 minutes until warmed through. If you like a crispy top, remove the foil for the last 5-10 minutes.

Refrigerator: Store leftover Thanksgiving casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Be sure to cover the casserole tightly with foil or plastic wrap if leaving it in the baking dish.

Freezer: This casserole freezes well! Allow it to cool completely, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. When ready to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight and bake at 350°F until heated through.

Pro Tip for Freezing: For easy serving, freeze the casserole in individual portions. Wrap each portion separately in plastic wrap and store them in a freezer-safe bag. This way, you can reheat only what you need!

leftover-thanksgiving
Thanksgiving-Casserole

Thanksgiving Casserole

Yield: 6
Prep Time: 14 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 59 minutes

This Thanksgiving Casserole combines all your holiday favorites into a warm, layered bake. With a base of sourdough bread soaked in rich turkey gravy, layers of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and creamy mashed potatoes, every bite is packed with Thanksgiving flavor.

Ingredients

  • 6-8 slices sourdough bread, crusts removed
  • 2 cups turkey gravy
  • 2 cups shredded turkey
  • 2 cups leftover stuffing
  • 1 cup cranberry sauce
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar or your choice)
  • 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: fresh herbs like parsley, rosemary or thyme for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9x13-inch casserole dish by lightly greasing it to prevent sticking.
  2. Lay 3- 4 slices of crustless sourdough bread at the bottom of the dish, ensuring they cover the base evenly. Pour 1 cup of turkey gravy over the bread, allowing it to soak thoroughly.
  3. Distribute 1 cup of shredded turkey evenly over the gravy-soaked bread. Add 1 cup of leftover stuffing, spreading it to cover the turkey layer completely.
  4. Spoon 1/2 cup of cranberry sauce over the stuffing evenly. Sprinkle 3/4 cup of shredded cheese over the cranberry sauce.
  5. Place the remaining 4 slices of sourdough bread on top to create the second layer. Pour the remaining 1 cup of turkey gravy over these bread slices, ensuring they are well-soaked like the first layer.
  6. Repeat the layering by evenly spreading the remaining shredded turkey, followed by the rest of the stuffing, cranberry sauce, and cheese over the second bread layer.
  7. Smooth 2 cups of leftover mashed potatoes over the top layer, using a spatula to spread it evenly. Season the potatoes lightly with salt and pepper.
  8. Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 15-20 minutes, or until the top is golden and the cheese is bubbling. Allow the casserole to cool slightly before serving, and garnish with fresh herbs if desired. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 757Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 79mgSodium: 1807mgCarbohydrates: 93gFiber: 5gSugar: 21gProtein: 34g

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© Adventures of a Nurse
Cuisine: American / Category: Casserole

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Welcome to the place where my two passions—healthcare and culinary arts—merge. I’m Carla Bushey, and I’ve transitioned from a dedicated nursing career of over 25 years into the dynamic world of food blogging. This space is dedicated to bringing you a treasure trove of recipes, each a testament to the tastes and traditions that resonate with my soul. My home, the beautiful Upstate New York, serves as the backdrop to my culinary creations, often inspired by the rich cultural heritage and the classic Italian cuisine of my hometown, Utica. Dishes like the beloved Chicken Riggies and the comforting Utica Greens are more than just recipes—they are stories, shared from my kitchen to yours.

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