Thanksgiving Leftover Pizza (Turkey, Kale and Goat Cheese)
Thanksgiving Turkey Leftover Pizza is a yummy way to use up those leftovers! Roasted garlic and olive oil stand in for the sauce, then the crust gets piled with turkey, garlicky sautéed kale, goat cheese and scallions.
It uses a store bought pizza dough, takes about 10 minutes of prep and bakes in under 20, so it is the perfect break from reheating the same plate for the third night in a row.
The Best Thanksgiving Leftover Pizza (Turkey, Kale and Goat Cheese)
Thanksgiving pizza… as if pizza isn’t already enough to get excited about, I threw Thanksgiving leftovers on top. Oh, yeah!
So, I’m pretty sure you can guess that I love food. I love to eat. I love to cook. I love to come up with recipes. So, naturally, I love Thanksgiving and everything about it. Well, there is one slight downside to Thanksgiving. ALL the leftovers.
Okay, well no, leftovers in general are not a downside. But let’s face it, after about two days of just reheating Thanksgiving over and over, it can get pretty boring. Do you know what’s not boring? Pizza. Not boring at all!
Now, obviously, this isn’t going to be a traditional pizza when you’re talking about using up random Thanksgiving leftovers. I literally took a bunch of items that I had small amounts of left and threw them on top of a pizza crust. And let me tell you, this ended up being one killer combo!
I tell you what, I didn’t hear any complaints about having pizza instead of another night of leftovers! It was definitely a nice break, plus I got to use up a lot of little bits I had on hand. Score!
Why You’ll Love This Thanksgiving Leftover Pizza
- Leftovers, reinvented. Turkey, kale, goat cheese and roasted garlic become a whole new dinner.
- No sauce needed. Roasted garlic and a drizzle of olive oil with herbs make a simple, flavorful base.
- Fast. About 10 minutes of prep and 18 minutes of cooking with store bought dough.
- Feeds a crowd. One pizza serves 4, so the whole family gets a slice and nobody has to face another plate of reheated leftovers.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Exact amounts are in the recipe card below.
- Kale: Chopped and sautéed with olive oil, garlic and a pinch of red pepper flakes until wilted. Cooking it first softens the tough leaves so they turn tender on the pizza instead of chewy. Strip the leaves off the thick center stems before chopping.
- Garlic clove and red pepper flakes: For the kale. The garlic adds savory flavor and the pepper flakes add a gentle kick that balances the rich goat cheese.
- Pizza dough: A can of refrigerated pizza dough. I cheated a little and used a roll out pizza crust I found by the crescent roll dough at my local grocery store. Read the package, because some brands need to be par baked first.
- Roasted garlic: One whole head. Roasting turns sharp garlic sweet, soft and spreadable, so it works as the sauce. I had an abundance left over after using it in my mashed potatoes and a cream cheese dip for a starter.
- Olive oil: Drizzled over the roasted garlic so the crust bakes up golden and flavorful.
- Fresh rosemary: Finely chopped. It is a classic Thanksgiving herb and pairs perfectly with turkey and garlic.
- Kosher salt: Seasons the crust and toppings. Go easy if your leftover turkey was already well salted or brined, and add a pinch of black pepper along with it.
- Cooked turkey: Sliced or shredded leftover turkey. White meat, dark meat or a mix all work. Dark meat stays especially juicy in the hot oven, while white meat gives clean, even slices.
- Goat cheese: Crumbled. Mine was leftover from our Thanksgiving salad. Its tangy, creamy flavor cuts through the rich turkey and softens beautifully in the oven.
- Scallion: Thinly sliced for a fresh, oniony garnish. It is optional, but it adds great color.
How to Make Thanksgiving Leftover Pizza
- Roast the garlic (if you don’t have leftovers). Cut about 1/4 inch off the top of a head of garlic, just enough to expose the cloves. Set it on a piece of foil, drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil, add a pinch of salt and pepper, and seal the foil around it. Bake at 350°F for about an hour, until the cloves are very soft and light golden brown. Once cool, squeeze the cloves out.
- Sauté the kale. Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the kale and toss to coat, then add the garlic and pepper flakes. Cook until the garlic is fragrant and the kale is wilted, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
- Prep the crust. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lay out the dough and par bake it if the package directions call for it.
- Build the pizza. Smear the roasted garlic over the dough. Drizzle with the olive oil and season with the salt, pepper and rosemary. Layer on the turkey, then the cooked kale, and top with the goat cheese.
- Bake. Bake according to the directions on the pizza dough package, until the crust is golden and the goat cheese is soft and lightly browned at the edges.
- Garnish. Sprinkle with sliced scallions, if you like, then slice and serve.
Tip: The roasted garlic is done when a toothpick slides into a clove with no resistance and the cloves look light golden brown. Squeeze the whole head and they pop right out.
Ways to Customize Thanksgiving Leftover Pizza
- Add cranberry. Dot a few spoonfuls of leftover cranberry sauce or relish over the pizza after baking for a sweet and tart bite.
- Swap the greens. Use leftover Brussels sprouts, green beans or spinach in place of the kale.
- Use a different crust. Naan, flatbread or a homemade dough all work. Adjust the baking time and watch for a golden edge.
- Drizzle with gravy. Warm a little leftover gravy and drizzle it over the slices right before serving.
Thanksgiving Leftover Pizza FAQs
- Can I use other leftovers? Absolutely. This pizza is all about using up the little bits you have on hand, so swap in other leftover vegetables or cheeses.
- How do I make roasted garlic? Cut the top off a head of garlic, drizzle with olive oil, season, wrap in foil and bake at 350°F for about an hour until very soft.
- Do I need to par bake the crust? It depends on the dough. Check the package directions and par bake if they call for it.
- How long is leftover turkey good for? Use cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days of Thanksgiving, as long as it was refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking. Freeze it if you need more time.
- Can I use a different cheese? Yes. Feta or fresh mozzarella both work well if you don’t have goat cheese.
- Can I use leftover roasted garlic? Yes, that is the easiest way to make this. Store roasted garlic in the refrigerator and use it within a few days.
- How do I store leftover pizza? Refrigerate slices in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. Reheat in a hot oven or skillet to keep the crust crisp.
Thanksgiving Turkey Pizza with Roasted Garlic
Ingredients
Sautéed Kale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cups chopped kale
- 1 garlic clove minced
- pinch red pepper flakes
Pizza Assembly
- 1 can pizza dough
- 1 head roasted garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary fine chop
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 10 ounces cooked turkey
- 3.5 ounces crumbled goat cheese
- 1 scallion thinly sliced, garnish
Instructions
For the kale
- Over medium heat, heat the olive oil in a medium-sized skillet. Add the kale and coat with the olive oil, add the garlic and pepper flakes to the pan. Cook until garlic is fragrant and the kale is wilted about 5 minutes. Set aside.
Pizza Assembly
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lay out the dough. Read instructions on the pizza dough container, par-bake the dough if needed.
- Smear the roasted garlic on top of the dough. Drizzle the olive oil, season with the salt, pepper, and rosemary. Place turkey on top. Add cooked kale. Top with goat cheese. Bake according to directions on the back of the pizza dough container.
- Garnish with scallions, optional.
Made this pizza? Leave a star rating in the recipe card and share which leftovers you used in the comments below.
This recipe was shared by Dana. Visit her blog, This Silly Girl’s Kitchen, for more recipes.
