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OK, this is probably full-on blasphemy to many, but my favorite meal of the year is not Thanksgiving dinner. There, I said it! But I am a fan of repurposing the leftovers into some of my favorite meals and snacks. So, let’s talk about repurposing Thanksgiving dinner leftovers into other meals.
During back-to-school time, I shared some of my best tips for meal planning, which also work when it comes to planning for Thanksgiving dinner. I get to host my family for my favorite holiday, and while the main meal isn’t my favorite, it is for most of my guests, so creating a spread they love is important to me. But I sure pack all the meals for the rest of the weekend with foods I love and associate with the holiday.
Sandwich Ideas with Thanksgiving Leftovers
The quickest way we always use up leftovers is sandwiches. One of our main traditions is to see what kind of cheese and bread combination we can develop with the flavors of stuffing, turkey, cranberry sauce and green bean casserole, all stuffed between jalapeno sourdough bread from a local bakery. Toasting sandwich bread works as well, or smashing it all together in a panini press makes it feel “fancy.”
- “Flag on the play” sandwich – piled high with all the leftovers. We usually watch football with our dinner and throw a flag for whoever has the craziest sandwich configuration.
- Crescent wraps or turkey ring – Taco ring inside crescent rolls is one of our favorite meals from growing up. But you can do the same thing with turkey day leftovers. Lay out the crescent rolls with the long end in the middle, making a big circle like a wreath. Pile up the leftovers in the middle, fold over the points and tuck them under. Bake the ring and serve it with gravy or cranberry sauce on the side. You can also make these as individual pieces, one crescent roll at a time.
- Open-face hot browns – this diner classic is easy to do with turkey, a slice of toast or a roll, and stuffing or mashed potatoes. Remember the big cheese slice on top before you place it under the broiler.
- Turkey clubs or club salads with leftover breakfast bacon, adding those vegetables might do everyone some good!
- Hammie Sammies – This is often a leftover Christmas meal for our family because my mom loves ham at the holidays. But we will sub out turkey meat with pepper jack or Swiss on sweet dinner rolls.
- Turkey Melts – keep a little cranberry sauce on the side for a Turkey Monte Cristo.
Soup Spectacular Ideas with Thanksgiving Leftovers
A great sandwich is never complete without soup. Save the bones and carcass of your turkey once you carve it and place it in a crockpot. Let it simmer all night, and you have the best broth for soups the following week or through the winter, and you are sure to get all those extra bits of meat. Many soup recipes you cook with chicken can easily sub out turkey meat.
TIP: Make sure you strain your broth and check for any bones in the pieces of meat you gather before making your soup.
Give Breakfast the Bird with Thanksgiving Leftovers
One thing is sure: no matter how much they eat Thursday, they will wake up hungry. TIP: Don’t be afraid to add ingredients to your gravy or cranberry sauce. Pesto, barbecue sauce, crème fraiche, and Greek yogurt make easy add-ins to stretch those sauces and make them new.
- Breakfast Benedicts – make a stuffing cake patty and sear on each side or use a square of cornbread. Top with a turkey slice and a fried or poached egg. Sprinkle with a bit of everything bagel seasoning or a sliced avocado. Add a little hollandaise or cranberry sauce to round it out.
- Next Day Breakfast – make a potato patty or breakfast hash, add spinach, onions and peppers, then top it with a poached egg.
- Turkey and stuffing quiche
- Stuffing waffles
Creamy Casserole Exchange with Thanksgiving Leftovers
Turkey is an easy substitute for chicken in any of your regular family recipes. TIP: As you put away your leftovers from Thanksgiving, go ahead and chop up your turkey in bite-sized pieces and freeze 2-4 cups of meat together in a zipper bag, with casseroles in mind. This is a typical amount you would use in any of the recipes below.
- Leftover Lasagna – in a baking dish, layer stuffing, mashed potatoes, veg or green beans, Mac and cheese or cheese cranberry sauce, turkey, pour over the gravy and sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 30 minutes to melt the cheese. Serve in a large potion or with a side salad.
- Meatloaf Makeover – stuffing, mashed potatoes, and veggies get folded in with ground turkey to make a meatloaf headed to the freezer or Sunday dinner.
- Easy to Sub Casseroles – Turkey potpie, Turkey tetrazzini, Cheesy Turkey Bacon and Rice Casserole, Green Chile Rice Casserole, Enchilada Casserole, Turkey Divan
- Arkansas Chicken Spaghetti or Cheesy Chicken Rigatoni
Leftover Ideas with Leftovers
- Potato Pancakes
- Fried Mac and cheese
- Honey Ham Tortilla Rolls
- Turkey salad served on croissants or with crackers, pickles and charcuterie.
- Taco Stuffed sweet potatoes
- Turkey tacos with butternut or acorn squash
- Turkey enchiladas
- Turkey Pasta Salad
- Leftover Turkey stir-fry
- Turkey Tamales – cut up chicken and wrap them in dressing instead of masa. Wrap the mixture in a corn husk and prepare as usual.
- Turkey Tamale Pie with cornbread topping
If your family wants alternative ideas for Black Friday, check out this list.
- Take a “Green Friday” hike.
- Wrapping day and Christmas movie marathon
- Decorate your tree and home for Christmas.
- Serve at a food bank.
- Go on a family bike ride.
- Mom’s pamper day (while dads watch the kids!)
- Jammie Jam Game Day – football on TV and play board games together. Burgers on the grill or game days snacks and appetizers.
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