The ULTIMATE Thanksgiving leftovers recipe.
Thanksgiving leftovers pizza has the best of Thanksgiving dinner in every single bite. Flatbread style pizza is layered with tart cranberry sauce, covered in shredded turkey, topped with savory stuffing then smothered with cheddar cheese and finished with gravy! It doesn’t get better than this.
This Thanksgiving leftovers pizza made it’s first debut at a Friendsgiving party where I had never made anything like it before. I remember it clearly when Thanksgiving pizza first came into our lives- everyone was gathered around the fire pit talking and laughing and I disappeared into the kitchen to attempt to make an experiment. I returned 15 minutes later with my first Thanksgiving pizza. Well, that first pizza is still being talked about today!
This Thanksgiving pizza is packed with all the flavors of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes so that every bite, really is the best bite! Even better, it’s so simple and a really fun way to use up those leftovers. But you will need to plan to make two, because it’s really good!
It’s all about the base!
When making Thanksgiving leftovers pizza, you really need a flatbread style crust that can support the multiple layers. Homemade or traditional pizza dough just isn’t right for this. I change it up between round and rectangular depending on what is available at the store, but the most important thing isn’t the shape, but rather to select a crust that can support the weight of the ingredients
Recommended: Brooklyn Bred
I have tested many flatbreads and pizza crusts, before landing on Brooklyn Bred Pizza crust as my favorite. It is able to support the weight of the toppings, not overly doughy and easy to slice. I have purchased Brooklyn Bred Crusts at Whole Foods and Acme. Stonefire brand works well too if you can’t find Brooklyn Bred.
How to make the ultimate Thanksgiving Leftovers Pizza
STEP 1: Prep Ingredients & Pre-Heat
- 2.5 cups shredded turkey (made from leftovers or make shredded turkey in a crockpot.)
- 2 – 2.5 cups cooked and cooled stuffing
- 2.5 cups shredded blend of cheddar & Monterey Jack cheese (Always shred your own- it melts better.)
- 3/4 cup of smooth cranberry sauce
- 1 cup of gravy- set aside and kept warm.
- Chopped parsley for garnish
- Pre-heat gas grill (optional) to about 425°F
- Pre-heat oven to 425°F
STEP 2: Assemble the Pizza
LAYER 1: Cranberry Sauce
If using Brooklyn Bred like I am here, lay the flatbread in the clear plastic container in comes it to keep the mess contained! Not necessary, but helpful 🙂
Using the back of a spoon to spread 3/4 cup of smooth Cranberry Sauce evenly on the Flatbread Crust.
LAYER 2: Shredded Turkey
Add 2.5 cups of shredded turkey and spread evenly.
Use a weighted press (or your clean hands) to press the layer of turkey down gently.
Don’t press too hard on the weight- just get it flat and tidy!
LAYER 3: Stuffing
Add 2 – 2.5 Cups of cooked and cooled stuffing.
Repeat the step of pressing
LAYER 4: Cheese (always the best part!)
Evenly spread a generous 2.5 cups of shredded cheese on top.
Once again, press the layer of cheese to make it nice and flat.
This is what it should look like and now it’s ready to cook!
STEP 3: Cook the Flatbread Pizza
Make sure the Grill is around 425°F. (If you make it too hot, the bottom WILL burn!) Grill for about 4 minutes. The goal is to get a grill flavor on the crust. Check the bottom at two minutes to make sure its not burning.
Move the Pizza from the Grill to a Sheet Pan.
Tip: Use 2 Spatulas to move the pizza. See image above.
Finish in the oven for about 5-8 minutes or until hot and bubbly. If you like a lot of color, broil it for a minute or two but be careful not to burn it.
OVEN ONLY: You can skip the grill if you need to and just bake on a sheet pan for 10-12 minutes following the same directions.
STEP 4: Slice, Garnish & Serve
if using a Rectangle Flatbread, use this pattern to make pizza style slices.
Drizzle with HOT Gravy, garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately
Pro Tips:
After many, many years of making Thanksgiving Leftovers Pizza, I would definitely call myself a Pro and as a result, I have a few tips for you when making this special and unique Thanksgiving Leftovers recipe!
- I like Whole Foods 365 Brand chicken flavored stuffing. This can be made 1-2 days in advance.
- Be generous with your gravy topping right before serving and make sure it’s hot!
- Use more cranberry sauce than you think- it can handle it.
- If using Brooklyn Bred, you can prepare it until the point of cooking and refrigerate it for a few hours in advance of cooking.
Thanksgiving Leftovers Flatbread Style Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 Flatbread style pizza crust such as Brooklyn Bred
- 3/4 cup Cranberry sauce (Smooth style- not with whole berries)
- 2 – 2.5 cups Cooked turkey, Shredded
- 2.5 cups Shredded blend ofCheddar & Monterey Jack cheese (Always shred your own- it melts better.)
- 1.5-2 cups Stuffing, Cooked
- 1 cup Hot Gravy
- chopped parsley- for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat gas grill to about 425°F (optional.) Preheat over to 425°F.
- Using the back of a spoon to spread 3/4 cup of smooth Cranberry Sauce evenly on the Flatbread Crust.
- Next, layer and lightly press the shredded turkey on top of the cranberry sauce.
- Add the stuffing on top of the turkey, and again, light press down as you work your way around the pizza.
- Top with shredded cheese (use a heavy hand with the cheese)
- Grill for about 4 minutes. The goal is to get a grill flavor on the crust. Check the bottom at two minutes to make sure its not burning. If you don't have a gas grill, skip this step and bake directly on a sheet pan for 10-12 minutes following the same directions.
- Use 2 Spatulas to move the pizza to a sheet pan and transfer to the hot oven to finish cooking for 5-8 minutes or until hot and bubbly. If you like a lot of color, broil it for a minute or two but be careful not to burn it.
- While the pizza is cooking, heat up the gravy.
- Slice the flatbread pizza.
- Top the pizza slices with a generous drizzle of gravy and a garnish of fresh chopped parsley. Serve hot!
1 thought on “Thanksgiving Leftovers Pizza”
Simply the best. So simple and so great. Either with leftovers or making just for the flatbread. Excellent!!!