After indulging on Thanksgiving, you're often left with a refrigerator full of local goods. Many ingredients come straight from the farm to your table. Don't let those leftovers go to waste! Here are some creative ways to reinvent your Thanksgiving leftovers.
Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich
Alright, you’ve probably already mastered this one. Layer slices of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce between two dinner rolls. Yum!
Turkey and vegetable soup
Craft a hearty soup by simmering leftover turkey with vegetables, broth and herbs. You can also add any leftover mashed potatoes for extra creaminess. This soup is perfect for warming up on those chilly post-Thanksgiving days!
Turkey pot pie
Turn your leftovers into a comforting pot pie. Combine diced turkey with gravy, vegetables and herbs, then top it with a flaky pie crust. Bake until golden brown.
Stuffing stuffed mushrooms
Give your leftover stuffing a twist by using it to stuff mushrooms. Remove the stems from large mushrooms, fill them with the leftover stuffing and bake until the mushrooms are tender and the stuffing is golden brown.
Cranberry BBQ meatballs
Transform your leftover cranberry sauce into a zesty glaze for meatballs. Mix the cranberry sauce with your favorite BBQ sauce and simmer until it’s thick. Then, toss some meatballs in the glaze. Mmhm, tasty!
Cranberry BBQ pulled turkey sliders
Combine shredded leftover turkey with homemade cranberry BBQ sauce (refer to the recipe above). Serve this on top of slider buns with a slaw made from leftover Brussels sprouts or cabbage.
Turkey and stuffing waffles
For a unique twist on Thanksgiving leftovers, mix your stuffing with beaten eggs and cook it in a waffle iron until crispy and golden brown. Top your waffles with sliced turkey, a drizzle of gravy and a sprinkle of fresh herbs. It’s a whole new level of the classic chicken and waffles!
Sweet potato pancakes
Use your leftover sweet potatoes to create fluffy sweet potato pancakes. Just mash your sweet potatoes, add a bit of flour, baking powder and spices, then cook them on a griddle until golden brown. Top with syrup or leftover cranberry sauce if you’re feeling crafty.
Thanksgiving leftovers breakfast burrito
Combine scrambled eggs with diced leftover turkey, a spoonful of cranberry sauce and a sprinkle of shredded cheese. Wrap it all up in a tortilla for a delicious day-after-Thanksgiving breakfast!
Mashed potato croquettes
Shape your leftover mashed potatoes into patties, dip them in beaten eggs, coat with breadcrumbs and pan-fry until they're crispy and golden. Top with leftover cranberry sauce.
Pumpkin pie milkshake
Transform your leftover pumpkin pie into a pumpkin pie milkshake. In a blender, combine a slice of chilled pumpkin pie (crust and all), a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a splash of milk and a pinch of pumpkin pie spice. Blend until smooth and creamy. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Turn your leftover, local goods into something delicious
Whether some of your Thanksgiving local goods were turkey from a local farm or a pie purchased from a local baker, there’s sure to be some leftovers. Rather than eating the same thing over and over (do so as you please), you can cook up one of these delicious recipes!
