Since Thanksgiving was already a few days ago, you readers may be tired of turkey sandwiches by now. Or perhaps you went to a potluck and didn’t get saddled with 10 pounds of leftovers, but want to take advantage of steeply discounted holiday foods at the store. Either way, this list of leftover options is sure to help empty that fridge to make room for more culinary masterpieces!
First of all, Peter at Feed Your Soul 2 has already made a handy list for his Friday Five collection all about Thanksgiving Leftovers. And if you’d like a super simple casserole recipe to use up all the leftovers in one delicious swoop, try Jeanette’s Layered Thanksgiving Leftovers Casserole.
The Turkey
The golden centerpiece of the Thanksgiving table, the turkey is a classic. And with the deals offered this time of year (0.50 per pound, what?!) you can’t pass that up. Even if you just scooped up an extra on sale and now it’s in your freezer, these recipes are great for using up that extra fowl.
From Gina’s Skinny Recipes, we start our day with a Turkey & Sweet Potato Frittata. You know I’m a huge fan of frittatas for their adaptability and ease. See the ham section.
If you shred up the turkey meat, you can easily replace chicken for this south-of-the-border Meat & Cheese Enchiladas
Likewise, just replace the shredded chicken with shredded turkey in this White Bean Chicken Chili for a new twist
From Southern Living, try some Turkey Tostadas with Cranberry Chipotle Sauce for a double whammy
For a long list of 16 more amazing turkey recipes from around the food blog-o-sphere, check out This List Here.
The Ham
A classic for a reason, Scalloped Ham & Potatoes is a delightful comfort food great for using up both ham and extra potatoes that didn’t get mashed.
As the turkey frittata above mentioned, I love putting anything into scrambled eggs, like this Ham & Greens Frittata
Your Home Based Mom has a great list of tried and true recipes her family loves for using leftover ham
On a chilly winter day, try this comfort food classic of Ham & Potato Soup from All She Cooks. You might even be able to sneak in some leftover mashed potatoes to score a double
The Potatoes
For adorable, portable snacks little ones and grown-ups alike will love, make these Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs from The Kitchn
This is a simply brilliant recipe from the One Ingredient Chef: Vegan Lentil & Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie
Try whipping up a loaf of easier-than-you-think Sweet Potato Bread
Potatoes are a great base for latkes, and you could use any other filler in there, including turkey meat. Or switch it up from fowl and pork and try my Salmon Latkes
Stuffing/Dressing
Whether you call it stuffing or dressing, made by hand or from a Stove-Top box, Thanksgiving is incomplete without the starchy side dish. If you have a bowl or three in your fridge, try some of the recipes below to revamp your bread bits.
While there are ten great leftover recipes in this post by Trisha, the Stuffing Waffles are by far the most intriguing to me!
Pull off a dinner-party worthy main dish with little effort with my Stuffing-Stuffed Pork Chops
Try this triple-threat of Turkey, Mashed Potato & Stuffing Patties from the Pocket Change Gourmet
Half Hour Meals has a great list of 7 ways to use stuffing ranging from stuffed mushrooms to meatloaf
Cranberry sauce
There are tons of ideas out there, I’ve been seeing lots of versions of the Cranberry-Grilled Cheese this year. Here’s a great list of 9 different cranberry ideas, I particularly like mixing it into plain cream cheese as a different and delicious bagel topping!
Brittany Angell has a gigantic list of 35 Ways to Use Leftover Cranberry Sauce with a plethora of ideas that might inspire you to use cranberry sauce year-round
Green Bean Casserole
Kevin here put together this Green Bean Casserole Pasta on the fly, but it is brilliant and the cream sauce just kind of works. Must try.
Similarly Greta puts leftover roasted Brussels sprouts in pasta and claims even kids will eat it!
Chef Pete brings us a Turkey, Green Bean & Stuffing Strudel, as well as a “Thanksgiving Cosmo” drink recipe for excess Cranberry Sauce
Of course, if you are tired of cooking at this point and just can’t summon the energy to re-purpose those leftovers, the classic Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich will do.
Keep in mind that many of these freeze well, so if you just can’t face the gallon of cranberry sauce or two pounds of turkey breast, stick it in a freezer safe plastic bag or container and wait out the holidays. Perhaps a cranberry brownie will sound better in February, or by Easter you can use up those ham chunks.
Hope all my readers had a delicious and thankful Thanksgiving this year!
What do you do with leftovers?