Thanksgiving Pizza: The Ultimate Way to Transform Your Holiday Leftovers

You’ve just wrapped up a heartwarming Thanksgiving dinner. The table was brimming with roasted vegetables, juicy turkey, and all the trimmings. But now you’re staring at the mountain of leftovers stacked in your fridge, wondering how many turkey sandwiches one person can really endure. Here’s your answer: Thanksgiving Pizza.

This recipe isn’t just about repurposing leftovers. It’s a creative, mouthwatering way to bring your favorite holiday flavors together on one crispy, cheesy, golden-brown crust. Whether you’re aiming to reinvent your holiday meal or wow your friends at Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving Pizza is the cozy twist you didn’t know you needed.

What Makes Thanksgiving Pizza So Special?

Thanksgiving Pizza captures the spirit of the holiday—abundance, comfort, and creativity—while adding a new dimension to your meal. You’re not just reheating yesterday’s dishes; you’re transforming them into something that feels entirely fresh.

All Your Holiday Favorites, One Slice at a Time

Here’s what makes this pizza a standout:

• A creamy garlic parmesan sauce that replaces traditional red sauce
• Mozzarella cheese melted to bubbly perfection
• Toppings like tender shredded chicken or leftover turkey, cranberries, kale, roasted veggies, and even candied bacon
• A golden, homemade crust that’s both chewy and crisp
• An option to go gluten-free without sacrificing flavor

The best part? It’s highly customizable. You can lean into savory, sweet, or even a bit of spice depending on your preferences or what you’ve got on hand.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Thanksgiving Pizza

This recipe breaks down into three main parts: the crust, the sauce, and the toppings. Start with the dough so it has time to rise, then prepare the sauce and toppings.

For the Homemade Pizza Crust

• 2 ¾ cups organic all-purpose flour
• 1 cup warm water (not hot)
• 1 tablespoon raw honey (or brown/cane sugar)
• 1 packet rapid-rise yeast (2 ¼ tsp)
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt

You can also make this gluten-free by using a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and following a GF dough method.

Garlic Parmesan Sauce (Base Layer)

• ½ cup of creamy garlic parmesan sauce (store-bought or homemade)

This sauce adds a rich, savory depth that plays perfectly with sweet and salty toppings.

Optional (But Highly Recommended) Toppings

• 8 oz. fresh mozzarella, sliced or cubed
• 1–2 cups fresh cranberries
• 1–2 cups shredded chicken or leftover turkey
• 1 cup candied bacon (or regular bacon if preferred)
• 1 cup chopped kale or fresh spinach
• 1 cup roasted broccoli or broccolini
• 1 cup roasted butternut squash
• 1 cup roasted chickpeas
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

How to Make Thanksgiving Pizza: Step-by-Step

This recipe is simple if you break it into stages. Here’s how to get it just right:

Step 1: Make the Dough

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine warm water, honey, and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
2. Slowly add flour and salt. Mix on low until combined, then knead on medium-high for about 5 minutes until smooth.
3. Turn the dough onto a floured surface, flatten it with a rolling pin, then stretch it into an 11-inch round.
4. Lightly oil a pizza pan (ideally one with holes for crispiness) and press the dough into it, forming the crust edges with your fingers.

Step 2: Add Sauce and Toppings

1. Preheat your oven to 500°F.
2. Spread the garlic parmesan sauce evenly over the dough.
3. Layer in greens like kale or spinach, followed by turkey or chicken, roasted veggies, and candied bacon.
4. Finish with mozzarella cheese and scatter fresh cranberries on top.
5. Brush the crust edges with olive oil and drizzle a little more oil over the toppings. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning.

Step 3: Bake and Serve

1. Bake on the center rack for 15–20 minutes until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling.
2. Let the pizza rest for 2–3 minutes before slicing so the cheese sets.
3. Cut generous slices and serve warm.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving)

• Serving Size: 1 slice
• Calories: 193
• Sugar: 0.2g
• Sodium: 77mg
• Fat: 4g
• Saturated Fat: 1g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4g (1g polyunsaturated, 3g monounsaturated)
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 34g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 5g
• Cholesterol: Varies depending on toppings

This nutritional breakdown is approximate and will vary based on specific ingredients and portions used.

Tips for the Best Thanksgiving Pizza

Getting this pizza just right is about more than just piling on leftovers. Here’s how to elevate every bite:

Crust Tips

• Preheat your oven fully—this ensures a crisp bottom and even cooking
• Avoid rolling your dough too thin or thick; hand-stretching gives the best texture
• Never overload with sauce; a light layer prevents soggy crust
• Use a pizza pan with holes or a preheated pizza stone for maximum crunch

Topping Tips

• Pre-cook ingredients like squash, broccoli, or bacon to prevent undercooked bites
• Use fresh cranberries if possible—they add tartness and texture
• Mix and match cheeses—mozzarella, parmesan, and asiago all work well together

Thanksgiving Pizza FAQ

Conclusion

Thanksgiving Pizza is more than a meal—it’s a culinary celebration of the season. When you take the best parts of your holiday table and reimagine them on a homemade crust, something magical happens. It’s comfort food with a creative twist, a dish that makes you look forward to leftovers.

You don’t need to be a gourmet chef to pull this off. All it takes is a bit of inspiration, a handful of ingredients, and an oven. Whether you’re surprising your family with a new post-holiday tradition or just looking for a clever way to clean out your fridge, Thanksgiving Pizza gives you permission to have fun in the kitchen.

More Tasty Ideas

• Cranberry Turkey Sliders: These sliders combine sweet cranberry sauce with savory turkey, much like the flavor pairing found in Thanksgiving Pizza. They’re ideal for leftover turkey and offer a handheld, crowd-pleasing twist on traditional holiday flavors.
• Maple Mustard Roasted Carrots and Apples: A deliciously balanced side dish featuring sweet and tangy notes. This recipe mirrors the roasted vegetable components in Thanksgiving Pizza and complements its cozy, fall-inspired flavors.
• Cheesy Root Vegetable Gratin: With creamy cheese and roasted vegetables at the heart of this dish, it offers a similar comforting richness to Thanksgiving Pizza, making it a great option for anyone craving savory layers and bold textures.

Brown Sugar Bourbon Turkey

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Thanksgiving Pizza is a savory, comforting dish that transforms traditional holiday leftovers into a cheesy, flavorful pie. With a homemade crust, garlic parmesan sauce, and a medley of seasonal toppings, it’s the perfect post-holiday meal.

• Author: Elena
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 8 servings
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Low Lactose

Ingredients

• 2 ¾ cups organic all-purpose flour
• 1 cup warm water
• 1 tablespoon raw honey (or brown/cane sugar)
• 1 packet rapid-rise yeast (2 ¼ teaspoons)
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• ½ cup garlic parmesan sauce
• 8 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced or cubed
• 1–2 cups fresh cranberries
• 1–2 cups shredded chicken or leftover turkey
• 1 cup chopped candied bacon
• 1 cup organic kale, chopped
• 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
• 1 cup roasted broccoli or broccolini, chopped
• 1 cup roasted butternut squash
• 1 cup roasted chickpeas
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

Instructions

1. In the bowl of a mixer, combine warm water, honey, and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
2. Add flour and salt. Mix on low until combined, then knead on medium-high for 5 minutes until soft dough forms.
3. Roll dough out on a floured surface into an 11-inch circle.
4. Grease a pizza pan with olive oil and place dough, pressing it to fit the pan. Form crust edges with your fingers.
5. Preheat oven to 500°F and place the rack in the middle.
6. Spread garlic parmesan sauce over the dough evenly.
7. Layer kale or spinach, chicken or turkey, broccoli, squash, chickpeas, and candied bacon on top.
8. Add mozzarella and cranberries as the final toppings.
9. Brush crust with 1 tablespoon olive oil, drizzle the other tablespoon over toppings, and sprinkle Italian seasoning.
10. Bake for 20 minutes or until crust is golden and cheese is melted and bubbly.
11. Let rest for 3 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

• Use gluten-free flour to make the crust gluten-free.
• Swap candied bacon for regular crispy bacon if preferred.
• Fresh cranberries can be substituted with dried cranberries or thick cranberry sauce.
• Do not overload the pizza with sauce to avoid a soggy crust.
• Pre-cook vegetables like squash and broccoli before adding to pizza.