Bored of Turkey Sandwiches? Try These Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes!

There’s always a banquet of food served on Thanksgiving, followed by days of leftovers. After your third helping of cold turkey and mashed potatoes, you’re probably ready to toss your holiday remnants in the trash.

But what if you could transform those leftovers into fresh, healthy meals that won’t taste like you’re eating Thanksgiving dinner over and over again?

Here’s what I have in mind…

4 Must-Try Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes:

Turkey: Who doesn’t have a little (or a lot) of leftover turkey? Sure, you can make killer sandwiches, but what about a nourishing soup, prepared with a slowly-simmered stock?

Try this Next-Day Turkey Soup with chopped turkey and vegetables. Make a big batch and freeze some in single-serving containers for quick weeknight dinners.

Mashed potatoes: Ever had bubble and squeak? It’s an English dish that’s made from mashed potatoes and veggies. In the UK, this is often prepared on Boxing Day using leftovers from Christmas dinner. In the US, it makes for the perfect post-Thanksgiving breakfast.

Whip up this recipe and top with a fried egg. Hint: replace half of the mashed potatoes with mashed sweet potatoes for a flavor variation.

Pumpkin puree: Pumpkin pie is the highlight of any Thanksgiving meal! And whether you made a traditional recipe or this vegan, gluten-free version, you may still have some creamy pumpkin puree on hand.

If so, blend up a holiday Chai-Infused Pumpkin Pie Smoothie to help you get back on track after a day of indulgence.

Everything else: A few scoops of sausage stuffing, a handful of Brussels sprouts, a dollop of cranberry sauce. When you’re running low on leftovers, toss whatever you have into a delicata squash boat! Cut the squash in half, remove the seeds, and roast until tender. Warm your leftovers and pop them into the cooked squash. Top with dressing or cranberry sauce.

Follow this recipe for step-by-step instructions.

Have another leftover recipe idea? Let me know in the comments below!

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