Why You’ll Adore These Thanksgiving Leftover Patties

Thanksgiving dinner is a culinary masterpiece, but the aftermath often leaves us with a fridge full of delicious components that need a new purpose. Enter these incredible Stuffing, Turkey, and Mashed Potato Patties! Far from being just “reheated leftovers,” these patties elevate your holiday bounty into a brand new, exciting meal. They’re quick, easy, and incredibly versatile, making them a go-to recipe for busy post-holiday days.

• A Symphony of Thanksgiving Flavors in Every Bite: Imagine the savory goodness of stuffing, the tender richness of turkey, and the creamy comfort of mashed potatoes, all perfectly seasoned and crisped to perfection. These patties deliver all the beloved tastes of Thanksgiving dinner, harmoniously blended into one delicious package. Each bite is a nostalgic journey back to the holiday table, but in an exciting, new form.
• Effortless and Fun Leftover Transformation: Say goodbye to boring reheated plates! This recipe offers a genuinely enjoyable and straightforward method to repurpose your holiday scraps. It’s a fantastic way to minimize food waste while maximizing flavor and fun in the kitchen. It’s so simple, even novice cooks can achieve impressive results.
• Versatile for All Your Turkey Leftovers: Whether you have succulent dark meat, lean white meat, or a mix of both, these patties accommodate any type of leftover turkey. This flexibility ensures that every last morsel of your bird finds a delicious home, preventing any part of your hard-earned feast from going to waste.
• Crowd-Pleasing and Kid-Friendly: Their appealing golden-brown exterior and satisfying texture make these patties a hit with both adults and children. They’re easy to eat, customizable with favorite dipping sauces, and a delightful change from traditional holiday plates, making them perfect for family meals.
• Quick and Easy Weeknight Meal Solution: After the extensive cooking marathon of Thanksgiving, nobody wants another complicated meal. These patties come together with minimal effort and cook up quickly, making them an ideal solution for a tasty and stress-free weeknight dinner that uses up those precious leftovers without demanding extra time.

Essential Ingredients for Your Delectable Leftover Patties

Creating these delicious Thanksgiving Leftover Stuffing, Turkey, and Mashed Potato Patties is incredibly simple, relying on the very ingredients you likely have in abundance after the big feast. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need to bring this culinary magic to life:

• Eggs: Two large eggs serve as the vital binder that holds all the disparate Thanksgiving components together. Their protein helps create a cohesive mixture that won’t crumble when shaped and fried.
• Mashed Potatoes: Approximately two cups of any leftover mashed potatoes will do. Whether they’re seasoned with garlic, butter, or herbs, their creamy texture and starch content provide the perfect base for these savory cakes. Feel free to use classic potato mash or even a creative sweet potato variety.
• Turkey: Two cups of finely diced leftover turkey are essential. You can use a mix of white and dark meat for varied flavor and texture, or stick to your preferred cut. Ensure the turkey is shredded or diced small enough to integrate smoothly into the patty mixture.
• Stuffing (or Dressing): Two cups of your beloved stuffing or dressing contribute a complex medley of savory, herbaceous flavors and a delightful crumbly texture. This is where a lot of the quintessential Thanksgiving taste comes from.
• Green Onions (Scallions): Two green onions, thinly sliced (including both white and green parts), add a fresh, mild oniony zest. This brightens the overall flavor profile, cutting through the richness of the other ingredients.
• All-Purpose Flour: About 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour is added gradually to help absorb excess moisture and provide structure. The exact amount will depend on the humidity of your mashed potatoes and stuffing, so it’s best to add it incrementally.
• Butter: Two tablespoons of butter (salted or unsalted, based on your preference) are used for frying. Butter contributes significantly to the golden-brown crust and imparts an irresistible, rich flavor to the patties.
• Oil (Olive Oil or Good-Quality Cooking Oil): Two tablespoons of olive oil or another high-quality cooking oil (like vegetable or canola) are combined with the butter. This blend helps to increase the smoke point, preventing the butter from burning too quickly, and ensures a consistently crispy exterior.

Crafting the Perfect Thanksgiving Leftover Patties: A Detailed Step-by-Step Guide

Transforming your holiday leftovers into these delectable patties is a surprisingly quick and simple process, turning potential food waste into a culinary triumph. Follow these detailed steps to achieve golden, crispy perfection:

1. Whip the Eggs: Begin by cracking two eggs into a large mixing bowl – one that’s spacious enough to comfortably hold all your ingredients. Use a fork to vigorously whip the eggs until they are light and frothy. This ensures they’re well-incorporated and ready to effectively bind your patty mixture, creating a cohesive structure.
2. Combine the Core Leftovers: To the bowl with the whipped eggs, add your star leftover ingredients: two cups of mashed potatoes, two cups of stuffing (or dressing), two cups of finely diced turkey, and the two sliced green onions. Using a sturdy spatula or your clean hands, mix everything together thoroughly until all components are evenly distributed. The goal is a uniform mixture where every bite will contain a delightful medley of Thanksgiving flavors.
3. Incorporate Flour for Structure and Consistency: Now, sprinkle about half a cup of all-purpose flour over the mixture. Gently fold it in, mixing until the flour is mostly absorbed. The consistency you’re aiming for is tacky and sticky – it should hold its shape when pressed but not be overly wet or crumbly. The exact amount of flour needed can vary depending on the moisture content of your specific mashed potatoes and stuffing. Start with the recommended amount and add more incrementally, one tablespoon at a time, if the mixture still feels too loose. We want enough flour to ensure the patties hold together during frying without making them dry or dense.
4. Form the Patties: Once your mixture has achieved the ideal consistency, it’s time to shape them. Take approximately 1/2 cup of the potato mixture and roll it gently between your palms to form a compact ball. As you form each ball, carefully place it into your preheated skillet, which should contain the melted butter and oil. Don’t overcrowd the pan; leave enough space between patties for even cooking and easier flipping. If necessary, work in multiple batches.
5. Fry to Golden Perfection: After placing the balls in the hot skillet, use the back of your spatula or a fork to gently press each ball down, flattening it into a patty shape. Aim for a thickness of about 1/2 to 3/4 inch. Fry for approximately 3 minutes on the first side, or until it develops a beautiful, deep golden-brown crust. The color is your best indicator of crispiness. Carefully flip each patty using a thin, wide spatula and fry the other side for another 2-3 minutes, until it’s equally golden and crispy.
6. Serve and Savor: As each batch of patties turns golden and delicious, transfer them to a wire rack set over a baking sheet. This allows air to circulate, preventing the bottoms from getting soggy and ensuring they remain perfectly crispy while you cook the remaining mixture. Serve your Thanksgiving Leftover Stuffing, Turkey, and Mashed Potato Patties immediately, piping hot and ready to delight!

Chef Jenn’s Expert Tips for Flawless Patties

Achieving the perfect Thanksgiving leftover patty is all about technique and a few clever tricks that will elevate your cooking from good to gourmet:

• Flour Control is Paramount: Resist the urge to add all the flour at once. The moisture content of mashed potatoes and stuffing can vary greatly based on their original preparation. Too much flour can make the patties dry and pasty, while too little will cause them to fall apart in the pan. Always start with half the recommended amount and adjust carefully.
• The Invaluable “Test Patty” Method: This is a game-changer for ensuring success! Before committing to frying an entire batch, perform a single test. Melt a small amount of butter and oil in your large skillet until it begins to foam. Roll a 1/2-cup portion of your turkey, stuffing, and potato mixture into a ball, place it in the hot fat, and gently flatten it. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. If the patty holds together beautifully when flipped and removed, your mixture is perfect. If it crumbles, immediately mix in a little more flour (one tablespoon at a time) to the main batch until it passes the test.
• Creative Potato Swaps for Unique Flavor: Don’t limit yourself to traditional mashed potatoes! These patties are equally delicious and surprisingly versatile when made with leftover mashed sweet potatoes or even a scoop of creamy sweet potato casserole. This substitution adds a wonderful subtle sweetness and a different flavor dimension that can be a delightful surprise.
• Mastering the Frying Temperature: Ensure your oil and butter mixture is adequately hot (medium heat is usually ideal) before adding the patties. If the fat isn’t hot enough, the patties will absorb too much oil, becoming greasy and soggy. Conversely, if it’s too hot, they’ll burn on the outside before the interior has a chance to heat through and set. A gentle sizzle when a patty is added is a good sign.
• Avoid Overcrowding the Pan: For the best results, fry the patties in batches to avoid lowering the pan’s temperature. Overcrowding can lead to steaming instead of frying, resulting in patties that are soft and less crispy. Give each patty its space to develop that perfect crust.
• Seasoning Adjustments: Taste your mixture before adding the flour. Since all the components are already seasoned, you might not need much, if any, additional salt and pepper. Adjust to your preference.

More Delicious Leftover Turkey Recipes to Explore

If you’ve masterfully transformed your turkey and stuffing into these delightful patties but still have more turkey to spare, don’t fret! Here are some other fantastic recipes that skillfully repurpose your leftover holiday turkey into new, exciting, and equally delicious meals:

Making Your Patties a Complete and Satisfying Meal

While these Stuffing, Turkey, and Mashed Potato Patties are incredibly satisfying and flavorful on their own, pairing them with the right accompaniments can elevate them into a full, delightful meal. The classic pairings are often the best, leaning into the comfort food theme of Thanksgiving, but there’s room for creativity too.

The absolute must-haves are your leftover turkey gravy and a side of tart cranberry sauce. The warm, savory gravy adds much-needed moisture and a rich depth of flavor, making each bite even more luxurious. The cranberry sauce, with its bright, sweet-tart contrast, beautifully cuts through the richness of the patties, offering a refreshing counterpoint. For a truly complete and balanced plate, consider adding a fresh, crisp green vegetable. Simple steamed green beans tossed with a hint of lemon, perfectly roasted asparagus spears, or a vibrant garden salad (perhaps a spinach, asparagus, and fennel salad for something truly refreshing) would be ideal. These additions provide a textural contrast and a burst of freshness, ensuring a well-rounded and incredibly satisfying post-holiday dining experience that feels both familiar and exciting.

Optimal Storage and Reheating Advice for Your Delicious Patties

One of the many joys of these Thanksgiving Leftover Patties is how well they store, making them ideal for meal prep, quick lunches, or enjoying a tasty bite later. Proper storage is key to ensuring both their deliciousness and food safety.

Once cooked and cooled completely to room temperature (this is crucial to prevent condensation and sogginess), store any leftover patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will maintain their quality and safety for up to 2-3 days. It’s vital to keep in mind the “total leftover time” rule: if your original turkey and stuffing were already 2-3 days old when you prepared the patties, you should aim to consume the patties within a day or two of making them to stay well within safe food handling guidelines. Generally, cooked turkey and other perishable components should not be kept in the refrigerator for more than 3-4 days in total, from the initial cooking of the Thanksgiving meal.

To reheat and bring them back to their crispy glory, the best method is to gently warm them in a non-stick skillet over medium heat with a little butter or oil. This method will help re-crisp their exteriors, making them taste almost as fresh as when they were first made. Cook for a few minutes per side until heated through. Alternatively, you can bake them in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until warm, though they might not achieve quite the same level of crispiness as skillet-reheated ones. We strongly advise avoiding the microwave if possible, as it tends to make them soft and less appealing in texture.

Visual Guide: Step-by-Step Process for Perfect Thanksgiving Leftover Patties

Sometimes, seeing is believing! This visual guide offers a clear, step-by-step walkthrough to help you create your Thanksgiving Leftover Stuffing, Turkey, and Mashed Potato Patties with confidence. Follow along with these images to ensure every step is executed perfectly, leading to a truly delicious result.

Want More Delicious and Easy Recipes?

If you’ve enjoyed transforming your Thanksgiving leftovers into these amazing patties, you’ll love exploring these other simple and mouth-watering recipes from our kitchen. Perfect for any occasion, these dishes are designed to bring flavor and joy to your table with minimal fuss:

• Perfect Steaks on the Blackstone Griddle: Master the art of searing and grilling steaks for an unforgettable meal outdoors.
• Flavorful Smoked Lamb Chops: Discover how to infuse lamb chops with incredible smoky flavor, perfect for a special dinner.
• Hearty Leftover Roast Beef Stroganoff: Turn leftover roast beef into a creamy, comforting, and quick weeknight dinner.
• Unique Smoked Shotgun Shells: An intriguing and delicious appetizer or main course featuring pasta shells stuffed and smoked to perfection.