Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving dinners are highly anticipated feasts. At-home chefs bring their best and most refined recipes to Thanksgiving — requiring hours of work and preparation and enough food to feed a small army. But once the feast is over, what do you do with all the leftovers?
These Thanksgiving leftover recipe ideas are our favorite ways to enjoy the leftovers and are equally as delicious as the real feast.
Thanksgiving Shepherd’s Pie
This hands-off Shepherd’s pie is one of our favorite recipes for using up all the leftovers in the refrigerator. Turkey takes the place of the traditional lamb and gravy swaps in for the customary roux. Top it with layers of stuffing and mashed potatoes, serve with a side of cranberry sauce, and you’ve got an entirely new creation to enjoy.
Make this Thanksgiving Shepherd’s Pie Recipe!
Mashed Potato Pizza
We always have pounds and pounds of mashed potatoes leftover after Thanksgiving dinner. Personally, I don’t usually feel like eating just mashed potatoes on the side.
Pizza, however, I always feel like.
Hence, this mashed potato pizza recipe.
It’s super simple and a big hit among the kids. Top it with your fresh basil harvests and suddenly, it’s a gourmet leftover meal!
Savory Stuffing Waffles, topped with Cranberry
These savory bites are a really great way to use up leftover stuffing (a once-a-year recipe for us). They’re really delicious for open-faced turkey sandwiches or sides to soup. My favorite is to make them small-size and use them as little appetizers!
Pull out your waffle iron and heat up. Spray with olive oil. Then, put a scoop of leftover stuffing in your waffle maker. Let finish cooking and top with a scoop of mashed potatoes and a dollop of cranberry relish.
Turkey Waldorf Salad
The classic Waldorf salad gets its name from the majestic Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, where it was first served in 1896. It’s the perfect way to use thanksgiving leftovers and still eat healthy, post-feast.
Get the recipe to this healthy leftover recipe.
Combine turkey leftovers, celery, apple, grapes, and pecans with yogurt and honey. Add a little salt and pepper, and enjoy!
Turkey and Stuffing Tacos
Bring all of your favorite Thanksgiving flavors together in one bite. Coming from the south, tacos are a staple in our household, and a tortilla is a vehicle for all types of goodness. This leftovers recipe uses all of our leftovers and tastes like an intentional meal!
Check out this Southern-Inspired Leftovers Recipe.
Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
The day after Thanksgiving, I’m always determined to suddenly eat a whole lot healthier. Thus, a leftovers recipe that’s actually healthy always comes in handy. This stuffed sweet potato option is absolutely delicious and is legitimately good for you!
Make sure to check out the recipes for these Thanksgiving leftover recipe ideas.
