The day after Thanksgiving often leaves us with a refrigerator brimming with leftovers. While the feast was memorable, the challenge now lies in creatively utilizing the surplus of stuffing, turkey, and other dishes. It's important to prevent waste, yet the thought of repetitive meals might seem unappealing.
Don't worry if you're starting to feel a bit weary of the Thanksgiving menu. We have prepared some innovative recipes that will transform your leftovers, ensuring that every bit of your holiday spread is savored, and nothing is wasted.
1) Thanksgiving Leftover Breakfast Sandwiches
Transforming leftover turkey into a simple sandwich is just the start. Elevate your Black Friday dining by incorporating mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce into an egg sandwich. This post-Thanksgiving breakfast creation could even surpass the delight of the original feast.
2) Skillet Stuffing Shakshuka
Baked eggs are a surefire way to enhance any dish. If you find yourself with a Tupperware full of leftover stuffing, try baking it with eggs on top. This combination makes for an ideal post-Thanksgiving brunch treat.
3) Leftover Cranberry Sauce Greek Yogurt Coffee Cake
Utilize your excess cranberry sauce in a delightful coffee cake recipe. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how well cranberry sauce complements baked goods, and you might even question why you hadn't tried it earlier!
4) Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Waffles
We've previously recommended using your waffle iron for stuffing, so why not give mashed potatoes the same treatment? Waffle them and serve with Greek yogurt or sour cream for a deliciously savory breakfast twist.
5) Thanksgiving Leftover Dumplings
Just as Thanksgiving leftovers can transform into waffles, they can also become dumplings. Utilize wonton wrappers to convert those leftovers into a unique and inventive dish.
6) Thanksgiving Leftover Balls
Envision a fusion of arancini and Thanksgiving stuffing. If your family loves deep-fried treats, this recipe is tailor-made for you.
7) Leftover Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie Milkshake
While it's tough to think of anyone growing weary of pumpkin pie, if you're in a creative mood, consider transforming that leftover dessert into a milkshake with this simple recipe.
8) Sunrise Sandwich
Sandwiches offer a simple yet delightful way to repurpose your Thanksgiving turkey leftovers. Our sunrise sandwich recipe typically features smoked turkey, but it's versatile enough to accommodate any type of leftover turkey you have on hand.
9) Turkey BLT Salad
Familiar with a classic BLT? How about giving a turkey BLT salad a try? This salad recipe usually calls for cubed deli turkey, but it's equally delicious with leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Just toss in some lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, and your choice of croutons for a quick and tasty leftover meal.
10) Bacon and Avocado-Infused Turkey Gobbler Sandwich
If you're unsure what to do with leftover turkey, a sandwich is always a great choice. Try one that brings together bacon and fresh greens, along with the classic Thanksgiving leftovers of turkey and cranberry sauce.
11) Spinach-Pomegranate Salad With Roasted Turkey
Craving something lighter after the Thanksgiving feast? Toss some of your leftover roasted turkey into a simple, refreshing salad.
12) Turkey & Waffles
If chicken and waffles are a familiar treat, how about turkey and waffles? This creative recipe transforms leftover turkey and stuffing into a delightful breakfast. If you haven't experienced "waffled stuffing" yet, this is your chance to try it!
Post-Thanksgiving often results in an abundance of leftovers, especially for the host. Instead of letting them languish in the fridge, you can breathe new life into them with these creative recipes. They transform standard Thanksgiving fare into exciting new dishes.
This article, originally published in November 2020, has been thoroughly reviewed and updated to include fresh recipes and current links.