5 Creative Ideas for Using Thanksgiving Leftovers
Your Thanksgiving celebration does not have to end after the table has been cleared. Instead of tossing out leftover turkey and the side dishes, continue the festivities by turning them into meals for the days ahead. Use these creative makeovers to transform the holiday’s classic staples into something new and satisfying.
As the cooking for Thanksgiving will be done, these meals will be easy to prepare. So relax, enjoy, and feel thankful about wasting nothing with these ways to have a waste-free and delicious Thanksgiving. These five dishes are simple, hearty, and make the most of traditional main and side dishes without feeling repetitive. Remember, turkey and side dishes don’t have to be a repetitive meal for days on end, according to D Magazine.
Turkey’s Second Act
Leftover turkey is an easy ingredient to reinvent, with creativity. For a colorful, protein-packed lunch, make a turkey quinoa bowl. Simply combine shredded turkey with leftover roasted vegetables and healthy grains.
You can also serve up a hearty turkey soup. Simmer the turkey carcass with onion, carrots, celery, and herbs until you have a hearty homemade broth that tastes like comfort in a bowl. Use leftover turkey in a spicy jambalaya, recommends Parade. Another option is to make a turkey ramen by combining sliced turkey, noodles, egg, and scallions in a savory broth.
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A Sweet Potato Makeover
Sweet potatoes can easily carry you through the week. Serious Eats suggests making sweet potato pancakes. Packed with flavor and satisfying, they can be served as a creative breakfast. Enjoy them with sour cream and milk for a stronger, tangier flavor, and top the dish off with maple syrup.
Another clever idea for those leftover sweet potatoes is to make quesadillas. Simply spread mashed sweet potatoes inside tortillas with cilantro, scallions, and spices, then toast until it’s golden.
(Micaela Fiorellini / Shutterstock.com)
Potatoes Reimagined
Potatoes are too good to waste. Parade recommends making mashed potato pancakes, which are small revamped bites of your leftover potatoes. Stir in cheddar cheese and chives and lightly pan-fry them until golden. You can serve this mouthwatering dish with a spoonful of sour cream or leftover cranberry sauce.
(Tatiana Volgutova / Shutterstock.com)
Stuffing Made Stylish
Stuffing is so flavorful, it can easily take on new culinary forms. Turn stuffing into muffins or cakes by pressing portions into muffin tins or frying patties. You can also create turnovers with leftover stuffing. Wrap stuffing and other delicious classic leftovers inside pastry dough and bake until flaky.
(Brent Hofacker / Shutterstock.com)
The Many Faces of Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce brings brightness and tang to both sweet and savory dishes. Use it to make cranberry bread, and add the tasty sauce for color and natural sweetness. Reinvent date squares by swapping out the dates for cranberry sauce to get awesome oatmeal bars.
For dinner, try turkey-cranberry-mushroom risotto. The sauce adds a slight tartness, creating a comforting meal that is easy to prepare.
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