The day after Thanksgiving, the fridge looks like a game of Tetris: half a turkey, a tub of mashed potatoes, a lonely bowl of cranberry sauce and stuffing in three different containers. You could reheat the same plate for four days straight. Or you could let the air fryer turn it all into something that tastes brand new.
Here are 10 lazy ideas that take leftovers from “again?” to “wait, this is good”. Most take 15 minutes or less and almost no dishes.
First, a Quick Leftover Safety Check
Before the fun part, three rules worth following:
- Get leftovers into the fridge within 2 hours of serving.
- Eat them within 3 to 4 days, or freeze them for later.
- Reheat to 165°F (74°C), especially turkey and stuffing.
Turkey keeps in the freezer for a few months, so if you’re tired of it by Saturday, freeze some for an easy dinner in December.
1. Crispy Reheated Turkey
Microwaved turkey goes rubbery and dry. The air fryer keeps it juicy inside and gives the edges a little crisp.
Lay slices or chunks in a single layer, brush or spray with a little oil, and air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 4 to 6 minutes. For extra juicy turkey, sprinkle a spoonful of broth over it first. Serve with warmed gravy and it tastes like day one.
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2. Turkey and Cranberry Quesadillas
Leftover turkey, a handful of shredded cheese and a spoonful of cranberry sauce, folded into a tortilla. Brie or cheddar both work beautifully here.
Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 5 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway. Put something light on top, like a small rack, so the tortilla doesn’t fly open. Sweet, salty, melty, done.
3. Mashed Potato Puffs
Cold mashed potatoes are actually easier to work with than fresh ones. Mix 2 cups of mashed potatoes with 1 egg, a handful of grated cheese and a few chopped green onions. Scoop into small balls, roll them in breadcrumbs and spray with oil.
Air fry at 390°F (200°C) for 8 to 10 minutes until golden. Crispy outside, fluffy inside, and a great way to rescue mashed potatoes that turned out a bit gluey.
4. Crispy Stuffing Bites
Stuffing is good. Crispy stuffing is better. Mix leftover stuffing with a beaten egg so it holds together, then press it into small patties or balls.
Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway. Dip them in warm gravy or cranberry sauce. They also make a fun base for a fried egg the next morning.
5. Thanksgiving Egg Rolls
Everything on one plate, wrapped up and crispy. Fill egg roll wrappers with a little turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes, plus a tiny bit of cranberry. Roll them up, seal the edge with water and spray with oil.
Air fry at 390°F (200°C) for 8 to 10 minutes, turning halfway, until golden and crunchy. Serve with gravy for dipping. These disappear fast.
6. Turkey Cranberry Sliders
Split a pack of slider buns, layer turkey, cheese and a thin swipe of cranberry sauce, then brush the tops with melted butter. Work in batches if your basket is small.
Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 4 to 5 minutes, until the cheese melts and the tops are toasty. Add a little mustard or mayo if you like a sharper bite.
7. Turkey Nachos
Spread tortilla chips in the basket (lined with foil or a silicone liner), top with shredded turkey, cheese, black beans and jalapeños. Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 3 to 5 minutes until the cheese melts.
Top with salsa, sour cream or even a spoonful of cranberry sauce for a sweet-spicy twist. Totally not traditional, totally delicious.
8. Revived Roasted Veggies
Leftover Brussels sprouts, carrots and green beans go limp in the fridge. A few minutes in the air fryer brings them right back.
Toss them with a tiny bit of oil and air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 4 to 6 minutes, shaking once. Finish with a squeeze of lemon or a sprinkle of parmesan. Same veggies, way better texture.
9. Sweet Potato Casserole Bites
Got leftover sweet potato casserole? Scoop spoonfuls onto small rounds of crescent roll dough or into a mini muffin tray that fits your air fryer. Top with a mini marshmallow or a few chopped pecans.
Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 6 to 8 minutes until the dough is golden. It’s basically dessert pretending to be a side dish.
10. Warm Pie, Crispy Crust
Pie straight from the fridge is fine. Warm pie is better. Put a slice in the air fryer at 300°F (150°C) for 3 to 5 minutes. The crust crisps up again and the filling gets just warm enough.
Works great for apple and pecan pie. Pumpkin pie is usually best cold, so skip that one.
How to Make Leftovers Last All Weekend
- Portion right away. Pack leftovers into small containers instead of one giant dish. They cool faster and reheat better.
- Shred some turkey now. Shredded turkey is ready for quesadillas, nachos and soups without any extra work.
- Label the freezer bags. Write the date and what’s inside. Future you will be grateful.
- Keep the gravy. Gravy freezes well and makes any reheated turkey taste like Thanksgiving again.
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What Not to Air Fry
A few leftovers are better reheated another way:
- Gravy and cranberry sauce. Liquids splatter and burn. Warm them in a small pan or the microwave.
- Plain mashed potatoes. Reheating them as-is in the basket dries them out. Turn them into puffs instead, or warm them in a covered dish with a splash of milk.
- Big chunks of turkey breast. The outside dries out before the middle warms up. Slice it first, or reheat it covered with broth.
- Anything in a deep, heavy casserole dish. Air needs to move around the food, so shallow is better.
Rule of thumb: if it should be crispy, use the air fryer. If it should be creamy or saucy, use the stovetop or microwave.
More Air Fryer Help
Not sure what temperature to use for something else? Grab the free Lazy Kitchen Rescue Kit. It includes an air fryer cheat sheet with temps and times for 25+ everyday foods, plus how to reheat leftovers so they stay crispy.
And if you want even more ideas, here are 12 things you didn’t know your air fryer could do. Spoiler: reviving sad fries is one of them.
Never Guess Leftover Reheating Again
Some links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The air fryer is the best way to bring leftovers back crispy, and Air Fryer Cheat Codes has a full reheating cheat sheet with exact temperatures and times, plus fixes for soggy, dry and burnt food.
Get the Lazy Kitchen Rescue Kit
3 cheat sheets for your fridge: quick fixes for kitchen fails, air fryer times and temps, and emergency ingredient swaps. Free, straight to your inbox.
[…] leftovers are half the fun. You can also find air fryer ideas in our Thanksgiving leftovers guide, and most of them work just as well with Christmas ham or […]