Thanksgiving Leftover Egg Rolls

These Thanksgiving Leftover Egg Rolls are one of my favorite ways to turn holiday leftovers into something completely different. I fill crispy egg roll wrappers with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce, then fry or air fry them until golden brown. They’re a wonderful change from the usual leftover turkey sandwiches, and you can use a little of everything from Thanksgiving dinner.

I believe there’s something satisfying about making a second meal from a big holiday dinner, especially when it doesn’t taste like we’re eating the same thing all over again. And with these egg rolls, all those familiar Thanksgiving flavors are tucked into a crispy wrapper.

You can serve them with extra cranberry sauce or your favorite dipping sauce. Either way, they’re a fun little meal that makes good use of what you already have in the refrigerator.

Why You’ll Love These Thanksgiving Egg Rolls

There are several reasons I enjoy this recipe, especially after a big holiday meal.

• Uses several leftovers at once. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce all go into one egg roll.
• Two ways to cook them. You can fry them in hot oil for a crispy, golden wrapper or use your air fryer.
• Easy to customize. Use whatever combination of Thanksgiving leftovers you have available.
• A nice change from sandwiches. These turn familiar holiday flavors into something that feels like an entirely new meal.
• Simple to put together. Since the filling is already cooked, most of the work is just filling and folding the wrappers.

What You’ll Need

You won’t need anything unusual for this recipe, especially if you have a refrigerator full of Thanksgiving leftovers.

• Egg roll wrappers: These hold everything together and become golden and crispy when cooked. Be sure to purchase full-size egg roll wrappers rather than the smaller wonton wrappers.
• Leftover turkey: I use pieces of cooked turkey, cut or shredded small enough to fit comfortably inside the wrappers.
• Mashed potatoes: These help hold the other ingredients together and give the filling a nice, creamy texture.
• Stuffing: Adds all those familiar savory Thanksgiving flavors.
• Cranberry sauce: Just a little gives each egg roll a touch of sweetness that goes so well with the turkey and stuffing.
• Vegetable oil: You’ll need this for deep frying or a little to brush or spray onto the wrappers when air frying.

Equipment Needed:

• Small bowl of water
• Fry Daddy Deep Fryer or deep skillet

How to Make Thanksgiving Leftover Egg Rolls

The full printable recipe is below, but I wanted to show you how I fill and fold these egg rolls. Once you’ve folded the first one, the rest come together pretty easily.

Step 1: Start with the cranberry sauce

Lay one egg roll wrapper on a clean, flat surface with one corner pointing toward you, like a diamond.

Spread a little cranberry sauce horizontally across the center of the wrapper. Leave enough room around the edges for folding.

Step 2: Add the mashed potatoes and stuffing

Spoon a little more than a tablespoon each of mashed potatoes and stuffing over the cranberry sauce.

I prefer not to overfill these. It’s tempting to add a little more of everything, but a smaller amount makes the egg rolls much easier to fold and seal.

Step 3: Add the turkey

Place a few pieces of leftover turkey on top of the other ingredients.

Try to keep the filling together in the center so you can roll everything into a neat little bundle.

Step 4: Fold up the bottom corner

Gently lift the bottom corner of the egg roll wrapper and fold it up and over the filling.

Tuck it snugly around the ingredients to help hold everything in place.

Step 5: Fold in the sides

Bring the left and right corners toward the center, folding them over the filling.

Use a little water along the overlapping edges to help seal the wrapper.

Step 6: Roll the egg roll

Continue rolling the wrapper toward the remaining top corner, keeping the filling tucked inside as you go.

You want a snug roll, but don’t pull so tightly that the wrapper tears.

Step 7: Seal the wrapper

Moisten the final corner with a little water and press gently to seal.

Make sure the edges are closed so the filling stays inside while cooking.

Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling.

How to Fry Thanksgiving Leftover Egg Rolls

I like the golden, crispy wrapper you get from frying these egg rolls.

1. Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet, heavy-bottomed saucepan, or Fry Daddy Deep Fryer to 325°F.
2. Carefully place two egg rolls at a time into the hot oil. Don’t overcrowd the pan.
3. Fry for approximately 2–3 minutes, turning halfway through, until both sides are golden brown and crispy.
4. Remove the egg rolls with a slotted spoon or tongs and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain.

Since the filling contains leftover turkey and other refrigerated foods, make sure the centers are heated to 165°F before serving. Larger or colder egg rolls may need additional cooking time.

How to Make Thanksgiving Egg Rolls in the Air Fryer

You can also use your air fryer if you prefer not to cook them in a pan of oil.

1. Lightly grease the air fryer basket, following your air fryer’s instructions.
2. Place 3–4 egg rolls in the basket, seam-side down, in a single layer. Leave a little room between them so the air can circulate.
3. Lightly brush or spray the wrappers with vegetable or olive oil to help them brown.
4. Air fry at 390°F for approximately 12 minutes, turning halfway through, until the wrappers are golden and crispy and the filling reaches 165°F.

Keep an eye on them toward the end since air fryers can cook a little differently.

Serve your Thanksgiving leftover eggs rolls with either more cranberry sauce or with your favorite Chinese dipping sauce. 

A Few Easy Variations

One of the nice things about these egg rolls is that you can change the filling depending on what’s left from your holiday dinner.

• Turkey and stuffing: Skip the mashed potatoes and use a little extra turkey and stuffing.
• Add sweet potatoes: Replace some of the mashed potatoes with leftover mashed sweet potatoes for a slightly sweeter filling.
• Leave out the cranberry sauce: If you prefer a completely savory egg roll, leave it out and serve cranberry sauce on the side.
• Try a little gravy: Serve warm leftover turkey gravy as a dipping sauce instead of putting it inside the wrappers, where it might make them soggy.

Storing and Reheating Leftover Egg Rolls

These are best served warm, while the wrappers are still nice and crispy.

If you have cooked egg rolls left over, refrigerate them promptly in an airtight container and use them within the safe storage period of the original Thanksgiving leftovers, generally 3–4 days after the turkey and side dishes were first cooked.

To reheat, place them in the air fryer or oven until the wrappers crisp up again and the centers reach 165°F.

I would avoid reheating these in the microwave if you want to keep the wrapper crispy. It will warm the filling, but the outside will become soft.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Ways to Use Thanksgiving Leftovers

If you still have turkey in the refrigerator, my Chicken or Turkey Pot Pie is another comforting way to use it. You might also enjoy these Turkey and Swiss Sliders or a warm Turkey Noodle Casserole for another easy meal after the holidays.

I hope you enjoy trying these Thanksgiving Leftover Egg Rolls. It’s nice to have a few different ways to use all that good food we’ve worked so hard to prepare.

If you make them, I’d love to hear what Thanksgiving leftovers you tucked inside yours. Leave me a comment with a rating star below, and don’t forget to save the recipe for the next time you have leftover turkey!

 🥣 Recipe

Click HERE to save this Thanksgiving leftover egg rolls recipe to Pinterest