Give Your Thanksgiving Leftovers a Creative Twist, from Noodle Soup to Empanadas
Here are proactive (and delicious!) ways to avoid tossing the leftover turkey and its trimmings.
Colin Price
Thanksgiving may only be one actual day, but the meal can last for several. The end of Thanksgiving dinner is usually a ballet of Tupperware and bags as everyone packages up the remains of their dishes, beginning the annual question of what to do with the leftovers.
For the turkey, the classic leftover dish is scores of turkey sandwiches, like a turkey melt with a beer sauce. Or if you wanted to use up some cranberry sauce as well, you could make one with turkey, cranberry sauce, shallots, and blue cheese.
Thanksgiving also means soup season, which the leftover turkey is great for. Use it in white bean soup, make some turkey black bean chili, or even try a turkey noodle stir fry.
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The mashed potatoes too have their share of leftover options, aside from just being reheated with the gravy. They can be used to create takes on English classics like a portobello shepherd’s pie or Queen’s Puff. Or if you’re daring, try your hand at cheesy leftover mashed potato waffles.
And of course, there are ways to use all kinds of leftovers at once, like with empanadas or turkey enchiladas.
Thanksgiving usually leaves you with a lot of leftovers. This year, why not try experimenting without the stress of potentially wasting brand new ingredients by using the leftovers to create some of these great dishes?
Turkey Melt with Beer Sauce
We’ve based this recipe on Welsh rarebit—a simple but rich sauce of beer and cheese poured over toast—and slipped in some leftover Thanksgiving turkey.
Recipe: Turkey Melt with Beer Sauce
Slow-Cooker Split Pea Soup with Smoked Turkey
If your Thanksgiving tradition includes a smoked turkey, save one of the legs for this easy, soul-satisfying soup. Otherwise, look for smoked turkey legs near the bacon at your grocery store (or use a ham hock).
Turkey White-Bean Soup with Olio Nuovo
Olio nuovo, freshly pressed extra-virgin olive oil, has so much flavor that you only need a drizzle in this hearty soup.
Thanksgiving Leftovers Tostadas
Shredded turkey, mashed sweet potatoes, and cranberry sauce come together in this Mexican-inspired twist on your holiday favorites.
Recipe: Thanksgiving Leftovers Tostadas
Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Waffles
You can make these in mere minutes, with any melty cheese you have lying around. Our video shows you how. Get Sunday off to a good start and indulge in a batch!
Thanksgiving Leftovers Empanadas
We’ve gone south of the border for a recipe that brings several parts of the Thanksgiving table together in one great little handheld morsel. Our video shows you how.
Recipe: Thanksgiving Leftovers Empanadas
One-Pan Portabella Mushroom Shepherd’s Pie
Leftover Thanksgiving mashed potatoes make it easy to whip up shepherd’s pie on a weeknight. This vegetarian version is as hearty as the beefy original, thanks to meaty portabella mushrooms, but you could throw in leftover turkey if you want.
Turkey Sandwiches with Shallots, Cranberries, and Blue Cheese
The best turkey sandwich we’ve ever had. Period. Plus, it uses up leftover cranberry sauce!
Recipe: Turkey Sandwiches with Shallots, Cranberries, and Blue Cheese
Yucatecan Tostadas (Salbutes)
These crisp little tortillas, laden with hunks of turkey, shredded cabbage, avocado, and pickled onions, make us want to roast another turkey just to get the leftovers.
Recipe: Yucatecan Tostadas (Salbutes)
Queen’s Puff
What do you do with leftover mashed potatoes? You could easily make this fun dish, inspired by English breakfasts.
Recipe: Queen’s Puff
Turkey Black Bean Chili
Here’s a lean, protein-packed chili that makes a welcome change after the onslaught of richness that is the usual Thanksgiving fare. It was created for Sunset by a spa in Vail, no less.
Recipe: Turkey Black Bean Chili
Turkey Noodle Stir-Fry
Forget turkey sandwiches—use leftover holiday turkey to make this Asian-inspired dinner.
Recipe: Turkey Noodle Stir-Fry
Turkey Enchiladas with Sour Cream
Okay, they’re not exactly creative, but they’re easy to make and please everyone, down to the littlest child.
Turkey Tetrazzini
Sure, regular tetrazzini—with chicken, cream, and button mushrooms—is fine, but why not freshen it up, with turkey, portabella mushrooms, leeks, and radicchio?
Recipe: Turkey Tetrazzini
Cranberry Pork Tenderloin
Don’t throw out the leftover cranberry sauce! Use it to make a delicious sauce for a second festive dinner—one featuring pork.
Recipe: Cranberry Pork Tenderloin
Cranberry Thumbprints
These buttery little pecan cookies taste wonderful filled with leftover cranberry sauce.
Recipe: Cranberry Thumbprints
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