Thanksgiving dinner is on its way and we typically have a ton of leftovers after the holiday. I find that I am constantly making the same leftover recipes and my family is wanting a change. You can do things with more than just turkey leftovers. There is plenty to do with leftover stuffing, leftover cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, green beans, leftover mashed potatoes and the rest of your Thanksgiving feast. Grab a large bowl and all of your Tupperware because we are making the best leftover recipes for the next day! I recommend taking note of these to bring into the holiday season because the food is the best part of the holidays.
Firstly, for those that maybe want a healthier alternative after being stuffed the night before, this is for you! It’s fresh vegetables with pieces of the roasted turkey. The meat is super moist and you can even make a cranberry vinaigrette out of the cranberry sauce!
We all love chicken pot pie, but have you tried turkey pot pie? It’s a great way to make a comfort meal out of a few of the ingredients from your Thanksgiving meal. For instance, the leftover turkey meat, potatoes and green beans can be tossed together in a creamy recipe. It’s homey and perfect if you have a lot of leftovers!
On the same note, this is a classic recipe that has a minor twist. Use the turkey to make a delicious soup. If you drain the turkey carcass and use that turkey stock it’s even richer and makes for amazing turkey day leftovers. Add your favorite veggies and noodles and you have the best meal! It can also become potato soup by adding in those leftover vegetables.
This creamy pasta recipe is a big meal but a better way to enjoy the extra food. My family is a major tetrazzini fan but turning it into a turkey base for protein is great for holiday leftovers the whole family will love.
I think this is the option everyone tends to go for because it’s so simple! Take leftover dinner rolls, your favorite slices of bread or even wraps and make a sandwich out of the leftover ingredients. Stack the turkey with potatoes, stuffing, green beans and finish it off with cranberry sauce warmed up in a preheated oven for a couple minutes. It’s one of the most delicious ways to enjoy your leftovers!
Another easy recipe is a casserole. I find these are amazing for busy weeknights because you toss everything into a pan loaf pan or casserole pan and the oven does all of the work. Take your favorite items from the big feast such as the turkey and stuffing and mix everything up to make one dish.
My kids love waffles and we’ve been interested in the concept of easy recipes for savory waffles. This involves using stuffing as the base for the waffle mixture. Add syrup and even top with a few pieces of turkey for a filling meal.
Who doesn’t love quiche?! It’s an ideal breakfast for the day after Thanksgiving. Not only is it filling but it’s full of protein to keep you fueled for the morning. The turkey adds great flavor and extra protein to the egg mixture. You can even add some of the green beans!
I’ve been wanting to make croquettes for the longest time and am finally going to do it this year. The mashed potatoes are all ready to go in the fridge and all they need to do is be battered and fried for a delicious bite to any meal.
Finally, I wanted to add something a little sweet. These muffins are something we are looking forward to making this year! Use the leftover cranberries or cranberry sauce to sweeten up a traditional carrot cake mix in your muffin tins. They are great for on the go or a slow morning at home watching holiday movies.
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