Description
This Loaded Thanksgiving Leftover Baked Potatoes recipe is a delicious and creative way to transform your leftover turkey, stuffing, and other traditional holiday sides into a comforting and hearty dish. Crispy baked russet potatoes are scooped and filled with a creamy mixture of turkey, cheese, and seasoning, then topped with stuffing and baked again to meld all the festive flavors. Finished with warm gravy and a sprinkle of dried cranberries, these potatoes make a perfect, easy-to-make post-holiday meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Potatoes
- 4 large russet potatoes
- 1 tablespoon oil
- Salt and pepper to season
Potato Filling
- ½ cup of milk
- 1 tablespoon of butter
- 1 cup of mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- ½ cup of thick turkey slices (roughly chopped)
Toppings
- 1 ½ cups of stuffing (prepared)
- 1 tablespoon of sour cream
- ½ cup of gravy (or more)
- Dried cranberries to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat and Bake Potatoes: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Rub each russet potato with oil, then place them on a baking pan. Bake for one hour until the skins are crisp and the insides are tender.
- Prepare Potato Shells: Remove the potatoes from the oven and reduce the temperature to 350°F (175°C). Let the potatoes cool until they can be handled safely. Slice each potato in half lengthwise, then carefully scoop out the insides into a medium bowl, leaving a sturdy shell for stuffing.
- Make Potato Filling: In a small pan or microwave, heat the milk and butter just until the butter melts. Add this warm milk mixture to the bowl with the mashed potato insides. Fold in shredded mozzarella cheese and roughly chopped turkey slices. Season with salt and pepper to taste, mixing gently but thoroughly.
- Stuff Potatoes: Evenly fill each potato shell with the cheesy turkey and potato mixture. Top each filled potato with a generous layer of prepared stuffing.
- Bake Stuffed Potatoes: Return the stuffed potatoes to the oven and bake at 350°F (175°C) for an additional 30 minutes, allowing the stuffing to brown slightly and the filling to warm through.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and garnish with warm gravy poured over the tops and sprinkle dried cranberries for a festive touch. Serve immediately and enjoy a comforting leftover-inspired meal.
Notes
- Use russet potatoes for the best texture and sturdy skins to hold the filling.
- Leftover turkey can be substituted with cooked chicken or ham if preferred.
- For extra creaminess, add a tablespoon of sour cream to the potato mixture when mashing.
- If gravy is too thick, thin it with a bit of broth before pouring over the potatoes.
- These potatoes pair well with a fresh green salad to balance the richness.
