Well, you made it through the Thanksgiving chaos and arrived safely on the other side. And if you’re like most people, that means you have a mass of Thanksgiving leftovers that you have no idea what to do with. Fortunately for you, those leftovers won’t be a problem this year, because we have six delicious ways to use up all of those pesky Thanksgiving leftovers, and keep your visiting extended family full the next day (or two).
1. Turkey Sandwiches
Got a bunch of extra turkey lying around? Carve it into thin slices, pile it onto a slice of bread, along with some tomatoes, lettuce, and leftover cranberry relish for a delicious and filling Thanksgiving sandwich. It even packs well, which is a great sendoff for relatives traveling back home after time with family.
2. Turkey Pot Pie
Making a pot pie out of turkey leftovers is also a great way to use up excess turkey. And while there are a ton of recipes that you can find for turkey pot pie, we prefer our own creamed turkey and biscuits recipe as a fun alternative with a slight twist.
3. Cranberry Relish (for an Ice Cream Parfait)
What do you do with leftover Thanksgiving cranberries or cranberry relish? Make it into a parfait, of course! Simply pop a couple of scoops of vanilla ice cream into a parfait glass and top it off with a hefty spoonful of cranberry relish. Top off with a couple of chocolate shavings if you want – or enjoy it plain. Either way, it’s a great after-dinner treat.
4. Potato Cakes
Many people have mashed potatoes as a Thanksgiving dinner side, which means there’s usually some mashed potatoes leftover after dinner. Don’t throw those potatoes out, though, because they make great potato cakes. Simply divide leftover mashed potatoes into small balls and flatten them into patties. Dip them into a mixture of flour, salt, and pepper and then fry lightly in oil until they’re golden brown. You can serve them with breakfast the next day for a hearty side along with eggs. Find a great recipe from The Food Network here.
5. Thanksgiving Stuffing Croutons
Aside from turkey, the one side that almost always has lots of leftovers is the stuffing. Luckily, stuffing makes a great base for croutons. Start by rolling the leftover stuffing into a ball and then flatten into a sheet. Use a knife to cube the flattened stuffing. Bake at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-30 minutes (flipping once halfway through). After removing them from the oven, let them cool completely. Use the croutons in a tossed salad or as a topping for soup.
6. Griddle Stuffing Cakes
Another tasty option for leftover Thanksgiving stuffing is to fry them into griddle cakes, similar to the mashed potato cakes. This recipe from Pocket Change Gourmet will give you some ideas for how to whip up some hot griddle cakes out of stuffing and any other Thanksgiving leftovers you have stashed in your fridge. This recipe specifically calls for stuffing, mashed potatoes, and leftover turkey, but you can just as easily modify it to only use Thanksgiving stuffing leftovers.
