Thanksgiving Leftovers Egg Rolls with Cranberry Dip

Q: Can I use different leftovers?

Yes—feel free to swap in stuffing, ham, or sweet potato casserole in your rolls.

Q: Can I air‑fry instead of fry?

Yes—air-fry at 400 °F, spraying with oil, flipping midway, for about 6–7 minutes total.

Q: Can I bake them instead of frying?

Yes—brush with oil and bake at 375 °F for ~15 minutes, flipping halfway for even crispness.

Q: Can I assemble ahead of time?

Yes—you can refrigerate or freeze assembled rolls and cook when ready.

Nov 24, 2023 • Tom Jackson

Transform your Thanksgiving leftovers into a handheld delight with Chef Tom’s Thanksgiving Egg Rolls. These crispy rolls pack turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and even a house-made dipping sauce into a crunchy wrapper for a fun, flavorful twist on classic flavors.

Thanksgiving Egg Rolls

Tom Jackson

Rated 4.0 stars by 9 users

Cuisine

American

Servings

10

Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

30 minutes

Calories

110

Rolling leftover holiday staples into golden, bite-sized egg rolls makes cleanup easy—and snacking irresistible. Whether served as an appetizer or leftover reinvention, they’re a creative, flavorful way to keep the celebration going.

Print Recipe

Ingredients

1 lb Leftover turkey
10 tbsp mashed potatoes
6 tbsp green bean casserole
10 egg roll wraps

Cranberry Sweet & Sour Sauce:

1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup KC Canning Co. Red Wine Cranberry Sauce
1/3 cup rice vinegar
3 tbsp Big Rick’s Chipotle Ketchup
2 tbsp Bachan’s Original Japanese Barbecue Sauce
2 tbsp water
1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch

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Directions

To make the cranberry sweet and sour sauce, combine the pineapple juice, brown sugar, cranberry sauce, rice vinegar, ketchup and Japanese barbecue sauce. Bring to a simmer.
Combine the water and cornstarch and stir to dissolve the cornstarch. Pour into the sweet and sour sauce and cook until the sauce is thickened. Remove from heat.
Warm your leftover ingredients. Spread them out on an egg roll wrap, making sure not to overfill. Wet the edges of the egg roll wrap and roll up, enclosing the filling.
Place a Lodge Blacklock 4 quart Braiser Skillet on the side burner of the Napoleon Phantom 500 Gas Grill. Add enough vegetable oil to cover come up about 3/4” high in the skillet, about one and half to two cups. Bring the oil temperature up to 400ºF.
Place three to four egg rolls in the oil and fry until golden brown on the bottom, then flip and brown the other side. Remove from the oil and place on paper towels to remove excess oil. Repeat until all egg rolls are fried.
Serve the egg rolls with the cranberry sweet and sour sauce for dipping.

Recipe Note

What You’ll Love

Next-day magic: Uses leftover turkey and sides for a fresh take on holiday flavors.

Perfect crunch: Golden-fried wrappers encase tender, savory fillings.

Dazzling dip: A sweet-tangy Cranberry Sweet & Sour Sauce elevates every bite.

Crowd-pleasing: Portable, shareable, and uniquely festive—ideal for family snacking or entertaining.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use different leftovers?

Absolutely—swap in stuffing, ham, or sweet potato casserole to customize your filling.

Can I air-fry instead of fry?

Yes—spray egg rolls with oil, air-fry at 400 °F for 3 minutes, flip, then fry 3–4 more minutes until crispy.

Can I bake them instead of frying?

Definitely—brush with oil, then bake at 375 °F for about 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Can I assemble ahead of time?

Yes—you can wrap them up and refrigerate for a day or freeze before cooking; fry or bake when ready.

Can I cook these indoors?

We rate these as a 5 out of 5. Perfect for indoor or outdoor cooking.

Other Recipes You Might Enjoy:

Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich

Buffalo Turkey Dip

Recipe Highlights and Insights:

Thanksgiving leftovers provide a treasure trove of ingredients that can be repurposed into various creative and delicious dishes. Beyond Chef Tom's Thanksgiving Egg Rolls, here are some popular and inventive uses for Thanksgiving leftovers:

Turkey Sandwiches: Classic and straightforward, use leftover turkey slices to make hearty sandwiches. Add cranberry sauce, stuffing, and a touch of mayo for a Thanksgiving-inspired sandwich.

Turkey Soup: Create a comforting soup by simmering turkey stock, leftover meat, vegetables, and herbs. Turkey noodle soup or turkey and wild rice soup are popular options.

Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole: Layer mashed potatoes, turkey, stuffing, vegetables, and gravy in a casserole dish. Bake until heated through for a cohesive and flavorful one-dish meal.

Turkey Pot Pie:Use leftover turkey, vegetables, and gravy to make a delicious pot pie. Top with leftover mashed potatoes or a flaky pie crust for a comforting meal.

Cranberry Sauce Parfait: Layer cranberry sauce with yogurt or whipped cream and granola for a festive and sweet parfait.

Stuffing Muffins: Press leftover stuffing into muffin tins and bake until golden brown. These stuffing muffins are a convenient and portable way to enjoy the savory side dish.

Sweet Potato Pancakes: Mash leftover sweet potatoes and mix them into pancake batter. Cook up sweet potato pancakes for a unique and tasty breakfast.

Turkey Tacos or Quesadillas: Shred leftover turkey and use it as a filling for tacos or quesadillas. Add cheese, veggies, and a drizzle of cranberry sauce for extra flavor.

Turkey Salad: Make a turkey salad with diced turkey, celery, mayonnaise, and seasonings. Serve it on sandwiches, wraps, or over a bed of greens.

Leftover Cranberry Sauce Bars: Mix leftover cranberry sauce into a basic bar or square recipe for a sweet treat. These bars can be a delightful dessert or snack.

Mashed Potato Patties: Shape mashed potatoes into patties and pan-fry until golden brown. Serve them as a side dish or breakfast item.

Vegetable Frittata:Mix leftover roasted vegetables into eggs and bake for a vegetable frittata. It's a great way to enjoy leftover veggies in a new way.

Turkey and Cranberry Quesadillas: Combine shredded turkey, cranberry sauce, and cheese between tortillas. Grill until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are crispy.

Pumpkin Pie Milkshake: Blend leftover pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream and milk for a delicious pumpkin pie milkshake.

Get creative and experiment with different combinations to discover new favorites using your Thanksgiving leftovers! There is also nothing wrong with just enjoying Thanksgiving leftovers as themselves. One thing is for sure, Thanksgiving leftovers are some of the best leftovers all year long.