After Thanksgiving, the fridge is usually full of food no one wants to throw out. Turkey bones, half-eaten sides, and pie slices add up fast. The good news is that you can stretch these into fresh meals for the weekend with little effort. Use what you have, keep it simple, and make it delicious to avoid waste.
Figuring out how to use leftovers starts with understanding the most common Thanksgiving leftovers you're likely to have in your fridge. The star is often the turkey, with plenty of white and dark meat left after carving.
More than likely, you'll also have mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce, too. Green bean casserole is a classic leftover, along with sweet potatoes. Don't forget stuffing and bread rolls, too. Desserts like pumpkin pie, apple pie, or pecan pie round out the list of leftovers.
With these leftovers in mind, here are some simple recipes to add fresh, fun twists of flavor. Each one uses multiple leftovers to clear space in the fridge.
Breakfast
Leftover turkey makes an excellent turkey frittata. Beat a few eggs, mix in chopped turkey, add some leftover green beans, a little stuffing, and anything else that you have that needs to be used up.
This is cooked in a skillet on the stovetop. It's like an omelet, but a bit thicker, and it's a great way to use up odds and ends from the fridge.
Here is a video from @TodayFood showing how simple this recipe is.
If you want a meatless breakfast option, try stuffing waffles. It's as simple as putting the leftover stuffing in a waffle iron and cooking until golden. You can top with mashed potatoes and gravy for a hearty meal, or with a bit of cranberry sauce for a sweet-and-savory flavor.
This video from @fabeveryday shows you exactly how simple they are to make.
A great way to use up mashed potatoes is to make mashed potato balls. They can be rolled in breadcrumbs and air-fried, or fried until done. You can also add shredded cheese, diced bacon, or even chives for more flavor before rolling and frying them. Pair them with eggs for a well-rounded breakfast.
Lunch
Lunch could be a classic turkey panini. Layer turkey slices, cranberry sauce, and stuffing between two rolls or bread slices. Add cheese if you have it. Press in a pan or use a sandwich maker for crispiness. You can also serve with bread without toasting it. You get all the familiar classic flavors of Thanksgiving with a fun new twist.
Lunch should be all about simplicity, and leftover turkey burritos are perfect for that. It's literally as simple as wrapping turkey, potatoes, cranberry sauce, and green beans into a tortilla. You can add some gravy inside, and even fry the tortilla for a crunchy texture. The video from @burrito.mac below even shows you can put pumpkin pie inside and enjoy.
For another quick lunch, you could use leftover turkey to make a turkey salad. Add some fresh romaine, top with cooked turkey, shredded cheese, and any other salad toppings that you want, and enjoy. It doesn't have to be complicated to be delicious.
Dinner
Dinner is typically a heartier meal, so it's time to think about comfort food leftovers. A leftover casserole is a great way to use up many leftovers easily at once. Spread mashed potatoes at the bottom of a dish, top with turkey, green beans, and stuffing. Pour gravy over everything and bake until bubbly. It's comfort food in one pan.
Everyone will love using leftover turkey to make homemade dumplings. Add chopped turkey and stuffing, along with a bit of gravy, to wonton wrappers. These can be steamed or fried. You can also dip these into cranberry sauce for a sweet kick. The video below also shows how easy it is to add tofu, or anything else, to these leftover turkey dumplings for more filling options.
Dessert
Creating a new dessert from leftovers may seem like a challenge, but it's really not. Leftover sweet potatoes and rolls can be transformed into a simple bread pudding. Cube the rolls, mix with mashed sweet potatoes, milk, eggs, and spices. Bake until set. It's warm, delicious, and uses up bread before it goes bad.
The video below from @stlccedu shows how simple it is.
It's a good idea to end the day with a pumpkin pie milkshake. It's cool, refreshing, and full of those comforting flavors. Blend a slice of pie with milk and ice cream. Top with a bit of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon to finish.
Another super simple dessert idea is to create a fun dessert charcuterie board. Instead of eating one piece of pie, cut little squares from each pie and place them on a serving platter or board. You then have bite-sized pieces of pie without getting just one flavor. Add whipped cream to some to vary the taste even more. Bite-sized leftover pie keeps the flavors fun and festive, and gives you the chance to eat a little of each.
The takeaway
These ideas to make leftovers delicious should get you through the weekend with minimal cooking, stress, and cost. Adjust based on what you have left over in the fridge, and have fun adding your own variety and twists. By the end of the weekend, your fridge will be emptier, and you'll have enjoyed new tastes from old food. There are a lot of people who actually look forward to the Thanksgiving leftovers more than the actual meal itself, and you might find out that you're one of them, too.
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