Home Vegan Post Creative Vegan Soups to Turn Your Thanksgiving Leftovers Into Comfort

Creative Vegan Soups to Turn Your Thanksgiving Leftovers Into Comfort


The day after Thanksgiving is one of the coziest moments of the year. With the main feast behind you, the pressure of hosting fades, and the kitchen becomes a relaxed space once more. But there’s one question that comes up every year: what do you do with all those leftovers?

If you’re plant-based, the answer is simple and delicious — turn them into cozy, nutrient-rich soups. These vegan Thanksgiving leftover soup recipes help you reduce food waste, save money, and enjoy unique new meals without feeling like you’re eating the same plate again and again. Leftovers become an opportunity to explore flavors, textures, and seasonal ingredients in a fresh way.

Soup-making is also a soothing ritual after the busyness of the holiday, and the results can be enjoyed immediately or freezer-stored for meals throughout the week. It’s one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to transform your holiday spread into something new.

To add a bit of festive fun to your Thanksgiving weekend, you can even wear a themed shirt from The Dharma Store, where you’ll find vegan-inspired apparel made from organic cotton — a thoughtful way to celebrate compassionate living year-round.

Below is your full guide to making warm, hearty, and creative soups from the ingredients already sitting in your fridge.

Why Soup Is the Perfect Way to Use Vegan Thanksgiving Leftovers

Before diving into recipes, it helps to understand why soup works so well for repurposing leftovers:

1. Soup Enhances Flavors

Many Thanksgiving dishes are already slow-cooked or roasted, giving them concentrated flavors. Adding broth, herbs, and vegetables brings depth and freshness to the ingredients.

2. Soups Are Incredibly Flexible

Nearly any leftover — roasted vegetables, grains, stuffing, greens, gravy, tofu roasts, mashed potatoes — can be turned into soup. The combinations are endless.

3. It Reduces Waste

Making soup is an easy way to use ingredients that might otherwise go bad. This saves money and aligns with sustainable plant-based values.

4. It’s Easy to Scale

Whether you’re feeding one person or your whole family, soups adjust effortlessly. Add more broth for quantity or keep it thick for a stew-like texture.

5. Soups Freeze Beautifully

Most vegan soups freeze well, giving you instant meals weeks later.

Tips for Building Soup From Leftovers

Before jumping into the specific recipes, keep these guidelines in mind — they’ll help you adapt any leftovers into a satisfying soup.

Use a Good Base

Start with broth or a combination of:

  • Vegetable stock

  • Coconut milk

  • Tomato puree

  • Leftover gravy (thinned with water or broth)

Add Aromatics

Aromatics create the foundation of flavor. If you have them, sauté:

  • Onions

  • Leeks

  • Garlic

  • Celery

  • Carrots

Even a small amount of aromatics elevates the entire dish.

Add Leftover Veggies

Anything roasted or steamed works:

  • Carrots

  • Cauliflower

  • Sweet potatoes

  • Brussels sprouts

  • Green beans

  • Squash

  • Broccoli

Chop them smaller if needed so they distribute evenly.

Incorporate Proteins

If your Thanksgiving table included plant proteins like:

  • Lentil loaf

  • Chickpea patties

  • Tofu roast

  • Tempeh

  • Bean-based dishes

They can add heartiness and make your soup more filling.

Don’t Forget the Starches

Add leftover grains or potatoes:

  • Mashed potatoes thicken soup beautifully

  • Leftover rice or quinoa adds bulk

  • Stuffing can add depth if used sparingly

Add Herbs and Acids

Fresh herbs and acids brighten up leftover-heavy dishes. Great additions include:

  • Parsley

  • Sage

  • Thyme

  • Lemon juice

  • Apple cider vinegar

Adjust Texture

Blend your soup for a creamy consistency or leave it chunky for a rustic appeal. You can also blend half and keep half whole.

1. Creamy Roasted Vegetable & Herb Soup

This is one of the easiest vegan Thanksgiving leftover soup recipes because it uses any leftover roasted veggies you have. The result is silky, comforting, and deeply flavorful.

Ingredients

  • 3–4 cups mixed roasted vegetables

  • 1 cup leftover mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes

  • 4 cups vegetable broth

  • 1 cup plant milk

  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped

  • 1 small onion or leftover cooked onions

  • Fresh or dried thyme

  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Sauté the garlic and onions until soft.

  2. Add roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes.

  3. Pour in the vegetable broth and bring to a simmer.

  4. Blend with an immersion blender until creamy.

  5. Stir in plant milk and heat through.

  6. Season with thyme, salt, and pepper.

This soup is wonderfully thick and warms you instantly. It’s also very customizable based on what you have.

2. Leftover Lentil Loaf Stew

If your Thanksgiving main included lentil loaf or a chickpea loaf, you’re in luck — it makes a perfect base for a hearty stew. The loaf dissolves into the broth slightly, adding body while keeping a subtle texture.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups crumbled leftover lentil loaf

  • 3 cups vegetable broth

  • 2 cups leftover vegetables

  • 1 cup diced tomatoes

  • 1 carrot, chopped

  • 1 celery stalk, chopped

  • 1 tsp smoked paprika

  • 1 tsp thyme

  • Pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Sauté the carrot and celery in a large pot.

  2. Add vegetables, lentil loaf, and tomatoes.

  3. Pour in the broth and bring to a boil.

  4. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

  5. Finish with smoked paprika and thyme.

This stew is incredibly satisfying and works well with crusty bread.

3. Mashed Potato “Chowder”

Leftover mashed potatoes shine here as a creamy base that gives chowder-like richness without dairy.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes

  • 3 cups vegetable broth

  • 1 cup corn

  • 1 cup leftover vegetables

  • 1 onion, diced

  • 2 cloves garlic

  • 1 cup plant milk

  • Salt, pepper, and parsley

Instructions

  1. Sauté garlic and onions until fragrant.

  2. Add broth, corn, and vegetables.

  3. Stir in mashed potatoes until dissolved.

  4. Add plant milk and simmer until creamy.

  5. Season and serve.

You can also add vegan sausage leftovers or plant-based bacon for smoky depth.

4. Thanksgiving Stuffing Soup

This one may sound unusual, but it’s a reader favorite in many vegan communities. Stuffing adds herbs, bread texture, and savory umami.

Ingredients

  • 1–2 cups leftover stuffing

  • 3 cups vegetable broth

  • 1 cup plant milk

  • 1 cup vegetables

  • 1 tbsp nutritional yeast

  • Sage and pepper

Instructions

  1. Bring the broth to a simmer.

  2. Add stuffing and vegetables.

  3. Stir until stuffing begins to dissolve into the liquid.

  4. Add plant milk and nutritional yeast.

  5. Simmer until thick.

This soup has a comforting, nostalgic flavor reminiscent of classic Thanksgiving aromas.

5. Sweet Potato & Coconut Bisque

If sweet potato casserole is still in your fridge, it becomes a decadent bisque with very little effort.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups leftover sweet potato casserole (without marshmallows)

  • 1 can coconut milk

  • 2 cups vegetable broth

  • 1 onion, chopped

  • 1 tsp ginger

  • 1 tbsp maple syrup

  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Sauté the onion in a pot.

  2. Add sweet potatoes, broth, and coconut milk.

  3. Blend until smooth.

  4. Add ginger and maple syrup.

  5. Simmer gently and adjust seasoning.

Warm, creamy, and perfect for rainy post-holiday days.

6. Leftover Green Bean Casserole Soup

Green bean casserole can turn into a surprisingly flavorful soup with just a few adjustments.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups leftover green bean casserole

  • 3 cups vegetable broth

  • 1 cup plant milk

  • 1 cup mushrooms

  • Garlic and onion

Instructions

  1. Sauté mushrooms, garlic, and onion.

  2. Add the casserole and broth.

  3. Stir until combined.

  4. Add plant milk and simmer.

  5. Blend half if you want a creamier texture.

This soup is comforting and nostalgic, with hints of those classic casserole flavors.

7. Wild Rice & Mushroom Soup

Wild rice dishes are common on vegan Thanksgiving tables. Leftover rice works beautifully in a deeply earthy, hearty soup.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked wild rice

  • 2 cups mushrooms

  • 4 cups vegetable broth

  • 1 onion

  • 2 cloves garlic

  • 1 cup plant milk

  • Thyme and black pepper

Instructions

  1. Sauté mushrooms, garlic, and onion.

  2. Add rice and broth.

  3. Simmer for 15 minutes.

  4. Add plant milk and season with thyme.

This soup is rustic and filling and reheats incredibly well.

How to Store and Freeze Vegan Leftover Soups

Almost all vegan soups store beautifully. Here’s how to keep them fresh:

Refrigeration

  • Store in airtight containers for up to 4 days.

  • Let soups cool before refrigerating to avoid condensation.

Freezing

  • Freeze soups in single-serving containers.

  • Leave space in containers because soups expand when frozen.

  • Avoid freezing soups with pasta; add pasta fresh when reheating.

Reheating

  • Reheat on low-medium heat on the stove.

  • Add more broth if the soup thickened in storage.

Tips for Customizing Your Soup Creations

Soup is flexible. Here’s how to upgrade yours:

Add Texture

  • Croutons

  • Toasted nuts

  • Roasted chickpeas

Adjust Brightness

A squeeze of lemon or splash of apple cider vinegar can lift heavy flavors.

Add Heat

A pinch of chili flakes, black pepper, or cayenne adds warmth.

Taste as You Go

Leftovers vary, so season gradually.

Final Thoughts

Transforming your holiday spread into vegan Thanksgiving leftover soup recipes is an easy, rewarding, and budget-friendly way to keep enjoying the flavors of the season. Soup elevates leftovers into new, comforting dishes while reducing waste and making post-holiday meals effortless.

And if you want to keep the holiday spirit going, consider celebrating your plant-based values with a cozy organic cotton shirt from The Dharma Store. With your fridge full of comforting soups and your weekend looking relaxed, you’ll be ready to enjoy the peaceful side of Thanksgiving — one warm bowl at a time.