After Thanksgiving: Leftovers, Black Friday & Cyber Monday
Thanksgiving 2026 falls on Thursday, November 26, which means Black Friday is November 27 and Cyber Monday is November 30. Here's how to make the most of the days after the feast — turkey leftovers recipes, a 5-day meal plan, and the deals worth waiting for.
The Day After Thanksgiving
Friday, November 27, 2026
The fridge is full and the table is finally clear. Spend the day after Thanksgiving repacking leftovers into shallow airtight containers, simmering the turkey carcass into stock, and sitting down to a low-key leftovers dinner — think open-faced turkey sandwiches with leftover gravy and a scoop of cranberry sauce.
Black Friday Shopping Prep
Friday, November 27, 2026
Black Friday lands the day after Thanksgiving. Make a list before you shop: table and kitchen upgrades you'll use again next year, decor for the rest of the season, and any hostess gifts or greeting cards to stock up on. Set a budget, compare prices, and save the big-ticket kitchen appliances for the doorbuster windows.
Cyber Monday Online Deals
Monday, November 30, 2026
Cyber Monday is the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend — the best window for online-only deals on kitchen tools, hosting essentials, and gifts. Many retailers open their Cyber Monday sales at midnight; sort by the categories you actually need and stack any promo codes at checkout.
Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes
Four ways to use up the turkey after the big day.
Turkey Soup & Stock
Simmer the carcass with aromatics for a rich turkey stock, then turn it into noodle soup with leftover vegetables.
Turkey Pot Pie
Fold leftover turkey, potatoes, and vegetables into a creamy pot pie topped with pie crust or biscuit dough.
Turkey Tetrazzini
Layer turkey with pasta, a light cream sauce, and peas, then bake under a blanket of Parmesan and breadcrumbs.
Cranberry Turkey Salad
Chop leftover turkey with celery, mayo, and a spoonful of cranberry sauce for a next-day sandwich filling.
Food safety: refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours, keep them in shallow airtight containers, and reheat to 165°F (74°C). Best within 3–4 days. Read the full
Thanksgiving leftovers meal plan →The Thanksgiving Weekend at a Glance
From Thursday's feast to Cyber Monday's online deals — what to do each day.
- 1
Thu, Nov 26 — Thanksgiving Day
The feast — save and refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
- 2
Fri, Nov 27 — Black Friday
Leftovers lunch + shopping. Start turkey stock from the carcass.
- 3
Sat, Nov 28 — Small Business Saturday
Pot pie or tetrazzini from leftover turkey and sides.
- 4
Sun, Nov 29
Turkey soup simmered from homemade stock; finish perishable sides.
- 5
Mon, Nov 30 — Cyber Monday
Online deals on kitchen, hosting, and gift essentials.
What to Shop on Black Friday & Cyber Monday
The categories worth watching across the Thanksgiving weekend sales.
Kitchen & Hosting
Roasting pans, thermometers, serving platters, and gravy boats — the pieces that make hosting easier, on sale for the start of the next holiday season.
Seasonal Decor
Tablecloths, runners, and centerpiece pieces often drop after Thanksgiving. Stock up for next year's table while the season's styles are marked down.
Gifts & Cards
Hostess gifts, greeting cards, and gift bags to keep on hand for the holidays ahead — wrap a few extras for last-minute invitations.
Winter Prep
Cyber Monday is a smart time to grab winter hosting pieces, cozy throws, and outdoor decor before the next round of gatherings.
Looking for the full season guide? See our Thanksgiving & Black Friday deals hub for every curated pick.
Shop the after-Thanksgiving sales
Our hand-picked shopping guide — kitchen and hosting essentials, seasonal decor, and gifts. Prices and availability are set by the retailer.
Thanksgiving Hosting Essentials
Serving platters, gravy boats, and hosting basics that make a big meal easier to pull off.
Thanksgiving Decorations
Coordinated Thanksgiving decoration sets — table runners, garlands, and seasonal accents to dress the whole house.
Thanksgiving Tablecloth
A linen-blend tablecloth and runner set the base for a table that looks as good as the food.
Thanksgiving Gift Bags
Seasonal gift bags and tissue that make even a small treat feel like an occasion.
Thanksgiving Greeting Cards
Warm Thanksgiving greeting cards to send ahead of the day or tuck beside a place setting.
Thanksgiving Decor
Pumpkins, gourds, signs, and warm harvest pieces that pull the season through every room.
Thanksgiving Garden Flag
A fall Thanksgiving garden flag to greet guests before they ever reach the door.
Thanksgiving Gifts
Thoughtful, ready-to-gift Thanksgiving picks your host will actually use and love.
Thanksgiving Toys
Keep the little ones busy before dinner with themed Thanksgiving toys and plush turkeys.
Thanksgiving Stickers
A big pack of Thanksgiving stickers for crafts, place cards, and party favors.
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Keep planning your season
Recipes, a hosting timeline, and a day-of checklist to pull it all together next year.
Guide updated for the 2026 season. Thanksgiving 2026 is Thursday, November 26, 2026; Black Friday is November 27 and Cyber Monday is November 30.