Thanksgiving Leftovers

The pie has been eaten. The dishes are done. Your family and friends have said their goodbyes and are heading for home. You’re filled with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that you successfully hosted Thanksgiving dinner. However, you’re refrigerator has also been filled with something….LEFTOVERS!

The dining room table that was overflowing with platters and serving dishes has now transformed into mountains of stacked Tupperware. Only now, there is no longer a crowd of people to help you consume the remaining vittles…

While some people are perfectly content to eat the same food meal after meal, I am not one of those people. One or two repeat meals is plenty for me before flavor boredom sets in. So naturally, when left with a plethora of Thanksgiving leftovers, I get creative with recycled-ingredient recipes so nothing goes to waste.

The purpose of this post is to help you recycle what is already in your kitchen. Not only will this help to ease financial burden, but also allow extra cooking recovery time. I’m not sure about you, but after several days of slaving in the kitchen in preparation for Thanksgiving, the last thing I want to do is worry about dinner the following nights.

Which recipes you’ll be able to make largely depends on your post-feast inventory. For the sake of simplicity (and favorable odds) I chose to focus primarily on turkey. However, you will notice ingredient cameos from my previous post, A Messy Masterpiece Thanksgiving. Feel free to get creative and personalize each recipe according to what you have on hand.

For example, if you find yourself short on stuffing but have an ample supply of rolls or biscuits, swap them out! Likewise, if you want to make a soup but don’t have any chicken broth on hand, try using your leftover turkey bones and kitchen scraps to make this homemade broth from Garlic and Zest. Embracing your inner chef might just lead to new family favorite recipes like the ones featured in this post.

So, get comfy (and creative), and check out these recycled Messy Masterpiece creations…Stuffing Pot Pie, Turkey Veggie Soup, and Monte Cristo Sandwiches.

Pot pie is the ultimate recycled Thanksgiving dish! Easy to make and fully customizable, pot pie is a great way to use larger amounts of leftover food.

What leftovers were used…

• Turkey
• Vegetables
• Gravy
• Stuffing

What ingredients were added…

• 2 Cloves Garlic, Minced
• 1/2 Large Onion, Diced
• Salt and Pepper

Directions

Fill a square baking dish with shredded leftover turkey, veggies, garlic, and onion. Proportions of ingredients will vary depending on the amount of leftovers available. Mix in enough gravy to thickly coat turkey mixture. Top with leftover stuffing and bake at 375 degrees for 30 mins, or until the center is hot. If using rolls or biscuits instead, wait to add them on top until the center is hot. Bake for an additional 5 mins, or until rolls or biscuits are warm.

If you’ve read Soup Season Part One and Part Two, then you know how much I love making soup. Soup is a quick catch-all recipe, perfect for when there is less turkey leftovers available. Also great for people who want to use every last scrap…right down to the turkey carcass!

What leftovers were used…

• Turkey
• Vegetables
• Turkey Bones (for broth)
• Celery, Carrot, and Onion Scraps (for broth)

What ingredients were added…

• Chicken Broth or Bouillon Cubes (if not making own broth)
• 1 Tbsp Butter, or Butter Alternative
• 1/2 Large Onion, Diced
• Extra Vegetables (optional)
• Noodles (optional)
• Italian Seasoning, to taste
• Salt and Pepper, to taste

Directions

Melt butter in the bottom of a large pot. Sauté onion in butter until translucent. Add broth, shredded turkey, vegetables, noodles, and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender and noodles are cooked.

The perfect post-Thanksgiving lunch idea when only a few turkey scraps are available. Especially great for families who offer ham in addition to turkey!

What leftovers were used…

• Turkey
• Ham
• Grain Free Charcuterie Bread (from making stuffing)
• Cranberry Sauce

What ingredients were added…

• Cheese
• Two Eggs
• 1 Tbsp Butter, or Butter Alternative

Directions

Lightly spread cranberry sauce on two slices of bread. Add turkey, ham, and cheese between bread. Set aside. Scramble eggs in a small bowl. Set aside. Melt butter in a skillet pan. Carefully dip sandwich in the egg. Allow to drip off excess before putting into the hot pan. Fry until both sides are golden brown and centered is hot. Serve with additional cranberry sauce for dipping.