Discover easy Thanksgiving leftover ideas using turkey, stuffing and more. Turn holiday extras into quick meals like sandwiches, bowls and casseroles.
Thanksgiving leftovers are inevitable. The good news is they are also incredibly versatile.
Registered dietitian, Charlotte Martin, shares how you can repurpose Thanksgiving leftovers into creative, delicious grain-based dishes, offering both a tasty solution and a step towards reducing food waste.
The Importance of Repurposing Leftovers
Post-Thanksgiving, households often face an excess of food. Rather than letting these leftovers go to waste, repurposing them is a sustainable choice that benefits both the environment and our wallets. Grain-based dishes are particularly adept at this transformation. They are versatile canvases, capable of harmonizing a variety of flavors and ingredients from your Thanksgiving feast.
Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipe Ideas
Main Course Makeovers
Turkey is the star of Thanksgiving, but it can be repurposed into more than that plain post-Thanksgiving turkey sandwich:
- This Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup is a great for making big batches and easy to freeze for later use, while also using grains as its base for added nutrition.
- Use leftover turkey in place of chicken in these tasty enchiladas. They’re are sure to satisfy your tastebuds with a new cuisine option for your day-after menu.
- Turn leftover turkey and vegetables into a hearty breakfast with this Thanksgiving Leftover Breakfast Casserole.
- If your family opts for ham instead of turkey, give this unique Leftover Ham Fried Rice a try.
Spiced-Up Sides
The side dishes for Thanksgiving are endless, but the traditional options can be served in more ways than one.
- Stuffing is a staple for any Thanksgiving spread, but try it for breakfast the next day with these Leftover Stuffing Cakes – paired great with a sunny-side up egg on top!
- As easy as it is to make, or take out of a can, cranberry sauce can be turned into quick and simple Leftover Cranberry Sauce Parfaits, layered with your favorite granola or other breakfast grain of choice. Or use to make these easy Thanksgiving Leftover Sliders.
- Still feeling stuffed from the day before? Opt for a light snack of Leftover Sweet Potato Hummus paired with your favorite grain crackers to get you through.
- If you’re left with an abundance of mashed potatoes, repurpose them into these Leftover Mashed Potatoes Homemade Gnocchi – you’ll have enough to refeed the whole family.
Dessert DIY’s
While the variety of pies on Thanksgiving seems like a sweet treat, it is rare to see a full pie finished, therefore becoming a struggle to eat the same dessert for the next week.
- Who said you can’t have pie for breakfast? This Leftover Pumpkin Pie Breakfast Casserole is packed full of oats and can satisfy your sweet tooth in the morning.
- It may seem like there isn’t much to do with pecan pie, but consider this Leftover Pecan Pie Bread Pudding, which even incorporates your leftover Thanksgiving dinner rolls.
- Turning one dessert into another is always a great idea when it’s these Leftover Apple Pie Cinnamon Buns.
Thanksgiving leftovers don’t have to sit in your fridge. With a few simple ingredients and the right combinations, you can create meals that feel fresh, flavorful and easy to prepare.
