Thanksgiving Leftovers Pizza
Turn your Thanksgiving leftovers into a savory, hearty pizza. Combine turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, and stuffing on a pizza crust for a quick, delicious meal.
Thanksgiving leftovers often leave us wondering how to make the best use of the delicious turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and gravy. Why not combine them into a savory and satisfying Thanksgiving Leftovers Pizza? This creative pizza recipe allows you to turn all those containers in your fridge into a delectable meal that’s perfect for a post-holiday lunch or dinner.
By layering leftover turkey gravy as a sauce, cranberry sauce for a touch of tartness, and topping with turkey, stuffing, and vegetables, you get all the flavors of Thanksgiving on a pizza crust. The addition of mashed potatoes adds richness, while aged Gouda or cheddar cheese pulls it all together with a golden, crispy finish.
Why You’ll Love It:
Thanksgiving Leftovers Pizza is not only an easy and quick recipe but also a great way to minimize food waste while transforming leftovers into a unique meal. It’s versatile—you can customize the toppings based on what you have available, and the combination of savory, sweet, and creamy textures will leave your taste buds dancing.
Tips and Tricks:
Make sure to preheat your oven and, if possible, use a pizza stone for a crispy crust.
You can swap out mashed potatoes for sweet potatoes, or even add Brussels sprouts to elevate the flavor.
Not a fan of cranberry sauce? You can leave it out or substitute it with a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
For a crispier crust, broil the pizza for the last couple of minutes.
Commonly Asked Questions:
Can I use store-bought pizza dough? Yes, store-bought pizza dough works just fine for this recipe if you want to save time.
Can I freeze the pizza? While you can freeze the assembled, unbaked pizza, it's best enjoyed fresh.
What other cheeses can I use? Mozzarella or Parmesan works well too, but aged Gouda or cheddar offers more depth of flavor.
Thanksgiving Leftovers Pizza is a creative and delicious way to repurpose your holiday leftovers. With just a few minutes of prep and a quick bake, you can enjoy all the flavors of Thanksgiving in a new and exciting way. This versatile dish is perfect for using up turkey, stuffing, gravy, and even vegetables, turning them into a savory meal everyone will love. Enjoy it fresh from the oven for the ultimate post-holiday treat!
Thanksgiving Leftovers Pizza
Ingredients:
1 (14- to 16-ounce) ball pizza dough
½ cup leftover turkey gravy
¼ to ½ cup leftover cranberry sauce
¾ to 1 cup chopped leftover turkey
½ to ¾ cup leftover cooked vegetables (green beans, etc.)
½ to ⅔ cup leftover mashed potatoes and/or stuffing
4 ounces aged Gouda or cheddar cheese (grated), or 8 slices cheddar/American cheese
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 500°F if using a baking sheet, or as high as your oven will go if using a pizza stone/steel. Preheat for 30 minutes. If using a stone, switch to Broil on high once preheated.
Stretch or roll the pizza dough to a 12- to 14-inch circle. Place it on an oiled or parchment-lined baking sheet or lightly floured pizza peel if using a stone.
Spread the gravy evenly over the dough, leaving a ½-inch border. Spoon the cranberry sauce over the gravy, then layer on the turkey, vegetables, mashed potatoes/stuffing, and cheese.
Bake in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes (on a baking sheet) or 6 to 8 minutes (on a stone/steel) until the crust is golden and the cheese browns in spots.
Let the pizza cool slightly, then slice and serve.