10 Southern Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (2024)

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How long are Thanksgiving leftovers good for?

Florida rap artist Plies tried to tell us when he broke down therules of eating Thanksgiving leftovers. Said another way, Thanksgiving leftovers (or any holiday leftovers) should not remain in the fridge beyond 3-5 days!

10 Southern Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (1)

Unsure what to do with those Thanksgiving leftovers?

What to do with Thanksgiving leftovers? Check out my below list of authentic Southern soul food recipes that you can use to make delicious use of your holiday leftovers.

You could reheat your leftover holiday meal as is or give new life to your refrigerator full of leftovers! These recipes are all easy enough for anyone to make and everyone to love.

So, let’s not waste another day after Thanksgiving or Christmas. Let’s get cooking with these ideas for leftover Southern Thanksgiving recipes to make delicious new dishes.

Not sure what to do with leftover Thanksgiving cranberry sauce?

Here’s one of my favorite recipe ideas for making a pulledturkeymeal in your Instant Pot with leftover cranberry sauce,Thanksgiving turkey, and Southern candied yams.

Instant Pot Leftover Pulled Turkey Recipe

What can you make with leftover turkey after Thanksgiving?

Make a pulled turkey meal with holiday leftover turkey in your Instant Pot!

Check out this recipe!

How long can you eat leftover turkey from Thanksgiving?

Asked another way: How long are Thanksgiving leftovers good in the fridge? 3-5 days is the ideal timeframe to keep leftovers in the fridge.So don’t wait to make these poultry dishes with your turkey leftovers.

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African American Southern leftover turkey recipes chicken

Substitute turkey in place of the chicken in the below recipes.

Black Folks Soul Food Chicken Yock Recipe (Yock-A-Mein)

Chicken yock is a big bowl of comfort. In a warm, flavorful broth, soul food and Chinese food combine for tender chicken and noodles. This dish is also known as Old Sober, yak, yok, yock-a-mein (yaka mein), or simply Chinese yock.

Check out this recipe!

Black Folks Soul Food Chicken Spaghetti With Tomato Sauce

Succulent shredded chicken and spaghetti noodles are prepared in a delicious broth seasoned with onion, garlic, salt, and black pepper, making flavorful a meal you’ll love.

Check out this recipe!

Black Folks Southern Chicken Spaghetti

Soul food goes beyond Southern. It's rich with flavor and plenty of seasoning! Southern chicken spaghetti is a wonderful example of a Southern soul food dish!

Check out this recipe!

Black Folks Southern Pulled BBQ Chicken

A Black folks’ Southern pulled BBQ chicken recipe is the epitome of finger-lickin’ good!

This is the ultimate in no-fail BBQ chicken recipes, whether you’re making this dish from scratch or withleftover BBQ chicken.

Check out this recipe!

Southern Chicken And Dumplings The Black Way

Making Southern chicken and dumplings the Black folks' way involves a flavorful chicken broth with seasoned chicken, plump biscuit dumplings, and just the right amount of savory, tender vegetables.

It's another epic display of soulful Southern comfort food at its finest!

Check out this recipe!

Black Folks Soul Food Southern Smothered Chicken

What makes a delicious soul food smothered chicken recipe?

Tender, juicy chicken seasoned with soul food spices and smothered in a flavorful, creamy gravy medley. That's Southern comfort food at its finest!

Check out this recipe!

Black Folks Chicken And Dressing

Thanksgiving means Southern soul food, made by our grandmamas, mamas, and favorite aunties. A meal we’ve waited all year to eat!

One Southern dish that you shouldn’t miss this Thanksgiving is Black folks chicken and dressing.

Check out this recipe!

Use the recipe below to make a Southern-style turkey salad recipe.

Black Folks Southern Chicken Salad Recipe

Are you craving the perfect chicken salad?

A Black folks' Southern chicken salad goes beyond the mayo and chicken chunks! It's packed with flavor and just the right amount of savory, sweet, and crunch.

Check out this recipe!

What goes well with leftover turkey casserole?

Add one, two, or three of your leftoverThanksgiving side dishes. See below for easy options to reheat these favorite dishes.

Southern Leftover Turkey Pot Pie

What do you usually do with your turkey leftovers?

You could use them to make a creamy comfort food dish with a bonus flakey pie crust, also known as a Southern leftover turkey pot pie recipe.

Check out this recipe!

How do you reheat Thanksgiving leftovers?

Use the microwave, the oven, the air fryer, or the Instant Pot to reheat leftovers.

  • The microwave is great for a single plate of food.
  • The oven works well if you’re warming an entire dish.
  • The air fryer is great for reheating or reviving a dish with an outer crisp.
  • The Instant Pot is also an excellent appliance for re-warming on its ‘keep warm’ setting for softer foods likeThanksgiving yamsorcollard greens.
10 Southern Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (13)

Black Southern leftover turkey recipes: Soul food turkey yock

Virginia yock recipe – What kind of food is yock (yok)?

Soul food chicken yock is a meal that’s an ode to my hometown in coastal Virginia. The Tidewater region, area code 757. We say two up, two down. Put two fingers up for V, and two fingers down forAyy– VA (Virginia).

People also ask, “What is chicken yok?”

Chicken yock is a big bowl of comfort. You may know this dish from its menu names, like New Orleans Old Sober. Or its Chinese derivatives, yak, yok, yock-a-mein (yaka mein), or simply Chinese yock.

Or maybe you know this dish by its African-American nicknames given over the years – low-rent lo mein and (New Orleans) Seventh Ward mein.

But today, we’re making yock a little different by replacing this soul food dish’s iconic chicken with turkey meat for a Southern Thanksgiving leftover recipe!

Did you enjoy these Southern Thanksgiving leftover recipes?

Have you had them?

Would you make ’em?

Comment below and lemme know.

Thensubscribe HERE for all the soul food!

The Ultimate Soul Food Recipes Guide

What is soul food? Soul food recipes are African-American recipes full of flavor! A legacy of Southern cooking the Black way. Check out this collection of the best soul food recipes!

Check out this recipe!

Like this post? Pin the below image to your Pinterest “Soul Food Recipes” board!

10 Southern Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (15)

10 Southern Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (16)

Southern Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes | Soul Food Turkey Yock Recipe (Yock-A-Mein)

Turkey yock is a big bowl of comfort! Soul food and Chinese food combine for tender meat and noodles in a warm, flavorful broth. This dish is also known as Old Sober, yak, yok, yock-a-mein (yaka mein), or simply Chinese yock. It's one of my best Southern Thanksgiving leftover recipes.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Save Recipe!

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes minutes

Pressure Release Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 17 minutes minutes

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Soul Food

Servings: 4

Calories: 378kcal

Author: Shaunda Necole

Equipment

  • 1 Instant Pot electric pressure cooker

Ingredients

  • 2 cups turkey breast pre-cooked
  • 8 oz spaghetti noodles uncooked
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon
  • 2 tablespoons butter unsalted
  • 1 cup onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs cut in half to garnish
  • ¼ cup green onions chopped to garnish
  • soy sauce hot sauce, or ketchup for serving condiments

Instructions

  • Open the Instant Pot lid and turn it on with the sauté setting for 5 minutes.

  • With the Instant Pot lid off, sauté the butter, onions, and garlic until the onions soften, and then cancel the sauté setting.

  • Pour the water and chicken broth into the stainless-steel inner pot with the sautéed onions and add the chicken bouillon.

  • Add the Creole seasoning, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and turkey to the broth and stir the mixture.

  • Then break the uncooked spaghetti noodles in half and submerge them in the broth.

  • Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 2 minutes.

  • When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 5 minutes.

  • To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.

  • Serve this turkey yock soul food recipe hot with garnishments of halved hard-boiled egg and chopped green onion to garnish.

  • Black folks eat yock with either a squeeze of soy sauce, hot sauce, or ketchup on top. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

10 Southern Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (17)

Nutrition

Calories: 378kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 1628mg | Potassium: 773mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 654IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 2mg

Save it so you can make it!Pin this recipe to remember it later.

10 Southern Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is made from Thanksgiving leftovers? ›

Instead, try turning your leftovers into a casserole, like our turkey divan, our chicken stuffing casserole, or our turkey pot pie; a soup, like our turkey noodle soup, our leftover turkey & wild rice soup, or our homemade turkey stock (made from your turkey carcass); or something lighter or more flavorful than before, ...

What are the 12 most popular Thanksgiving dishes? ›

Scroll through to take a look at our most popular Thanksgiving recipes.
  • 01 of 24. Perfect Turkey. ...
  • 02 of 24. Roasted Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • 03 of 24. Cranberry Sauce. ...
  • 04 of 24. Homemade Mac and Cheese. ...
  • 05 of 24. Sweet Potato Pie. ...
  • 06 of 24. Granny Kat's Pumpkin Roll. ...
  • 07 of 24. Slow Cooker Turkey Breast. ...
  • 08 of 24. Cream Corn Like No Other.
Oct 26, 2023

What are the top 20 Thanksgiving foods in America? ›

Top 20 Thanksgiving Recipes
  • Apple Stuffing.
  • Homemade Buttermilk Cornbread.
  • Asparagus Bake.
  • Creamy Green Bean Casserole.
  • Cranberry Sauce.
  • Creamy Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes.
  • Turkey Gravy.
  • Apple Pie.

How many days after Thanksgiving can you eat leftovers? ›

The answer is simple: leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for three to four days. This means you have until the Monday after Thanksgiving to eat all those delicious leftovers or place them in the freezer to enjoy later. If you store leftovers in the freezer, they will be of best quality within 2-6 months.

What foods make great leftovers? ›

  • Meatloaf. Though meatloaf is often restricted to the weeknight dinner table, it is a powerhouse leftover. ...
  • Lasagna. Sure, there's nothing better than lasagna coming out of the oven hot with bubbling cheese. ...
  • Pulled Pork. ...
  • Beef Stew. ...
  • Chili. ...
  • Frittatas, Quiches and Tarts.

What were 3 foods that were eaten during Thanksgiving? ›

The first Thanksgiving banquet consisted of foods like venison, bean stew and hard biscuits. And while corn and pumpkin had their place on the table, they hardly resembled the cornbread stuffing and pumpkin pie we feast on today.

What is served at Southern Thanksgiving? ›

A typical Southern Thanksgiving dinner usually includes ham or turkey—sometimes both—along with cornbread dressing, sides, and spectacular desserts.

What are the 10 traditional Thanksgiving foods? ›

Here are our favorite traditional Thanksgiving dishes that are delicious and easy to make.
  • Creamy Mashed Potatoes. Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes | Serves: Up to 4 people. ...
  • Stuffing. ...
  • Green Bean Casserole. ...
  • Sweet Potato Casserole. ...
  • Baked Corn. ...
  • Mac and cheese. ...
  • Peas & Water Chestnuts. ...
  • Fresh Rolls.
Oct 28, 2021

What are the top 5 Thanksgiving side dishes? ›

Top 10 Must-Have Thanksgiving Side Dishes
  1. Holiday Stuffing. This easy recipe for Holiday Stuffing is our number one must-have Thanksgiving side dish!
  2. Best Mashed Potatoes Ever. ...
  3. New Green Bean Casserole. ...
  4. Sweet Potato Casserole. ...
  5. Baked Cranberry Sauce. ...
  6. Cauliflower Blossom. ...
  7. Butternut Squash Mash. ...
  8. Creamy Corn for a Crowd. ...

What is the unhealthiest Thanksgiving food? ›

Worst: Sausage Stuffing

It's often made with fatty processed meat, butter or margarine, and refined bread or rice. It's a high-calorie food that packs a load of fat, carbs, and nitrates, which are cancer-causing. If you add dried cranberries, there's a good chance they're sweetened and add sugar to your stuffing.

What is the most unpopular Thanksgiving food? ›

The Most Disliked Traditional Thanksgiving Foods
  • Ham — 25.57%
  • Coleslaw — 25.57%
  • Pumpkin Pie — 24.28%
  • Mashed Potatoes — 18.66%
  • Macaroni and Cheese — 17.47%
  • Carrots — 16.98%
  • Apple Pie — 16.29%
  • Corn — 15.50%
Nov 21, 2023

How long is 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.

What Thanksgiving food can you freeze? ›

These are day before dishes. You can prepare and freeze items like mashed potatoes, stuffing, and casseroles ahead of time. Turkey gravy, cranberry sauce, and some desserts also freeze well.

Can you reheat turkey twice? ›

How many times can you reheat turkey? It's not a good idea to reheat turkey more than once. Technically, as long as it reaches 165° each time, it's safe to eat. That said, it's a food safety hazard to some degree, since every time you heat and cool food, it passes through the danger zone (between 40° and 140°).

What is the day after Thanksgiving usually called? ›

According to Britannica and numerous other outlets, the term 'Black Friday' was first associated with the day after Thanksgiving in the 1960s in Philadelphia. Police used the term to describe the scene as large numbers of suburban tourists came into the city to begin their holiday shopping.

What are 4 other traditional Thanksgiving foods? ›

The classic Thanksgiving dinner includes old-time favorites that never change: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, and pie. But the way these dishes are made or added to is everchanging because of food trends and different dietary requirements.

Are the leftovers the best part of Thanksgiving? ›

Out of 2,000 U.S. residents surveyed who celebrate Thanksgiving, 70% said they believe leftovers taste better than their original meal served on Thanksgiving day, according to survey results from Stasher. More than half of the same participants said their Thanksgiving holiday would be ruined if there were no leftovers.

Why are Thanksgiving leftovers better? ›

The flavor compounds – the herbs, the spices, the reactions that take place during cooking, sort of cool back and depending on how you have cooled and refrigerated your food, actually get back into the food and get trapped into the starches and the proteins.

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