Each Thanksgiving, there’s always that familiar conundrum: your stomachs are stuffed, but the platters aren’t quite empty.
Of course, it would be a sustainable living folly to throw away perfectly good food. But sometimes, the same ‘ole, same ‘ole leftovers can get boring.
And after spending all those hours in the kitchen prepping for Thanksgiving dinner, who wants to spend MORE time cooking? Not us. So we’ve rounded up 7 easy recipes to repurpose your Thanksgiving leftovers into creative and delicious meals.
1. Turkey and Stuffing Quiche
Take care of two major leftovers—turkey and stuffing—in one recipe with this yummy Turkey and Stuffing Quiche. Featuring only a few extra ingredients and limited prep time, this might be the easiest and hardiest breakfast yet.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup crumbled leftover stuffing
- 1 cup chopped leftover turkey
- 1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar
- ¼ cup parsley leaves, roughly chopped
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 ¼ cups half-and-half
- 3 large eggs
- ¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2. Green Bean Casserole Pizza
Leftover green bean casserole? Throw it on a pizza crust with some of that leftover turkey and voilà—an easy and fun twist on a classic Thanksgiving casserole. Post-Thanksgiving pizza night, coming right up.
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 naan flatbreads
- 10 ounces shredded turkey
- 2 cups leftover green bean casserole
- 1 cup French-fried onions
- 4 tablespoons salted butter , melted
- 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3. Leftover Roast Turkey Pho
Take that leftover turkey and enjoy a warm bowl of this Vietnamese-inspired pho. With a bit of effort (but nowhere near as much effort as Thanksgiving dinner, we promise), the whole family will be able to sip this soup while watching A Charlie Brown Christmas. (Because once Thanksgiving Day has passed, it’s time to ring in the Christmas cheer, right?)
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 leftover turkey carcass, including any leg bones and reserved turkey parts (such as the neck, wings, etc.), plus 1 lb leftover turkey meat (about 4 cups), shredded into large bite-sized pieces
- 3 large yellow onions, halved
- 1 (6-inch) piece fresh ginger root, halved lengthwise
- 1 head garlic, halved crosswise
- 3 Tbsp vegetable oil
- Kosher salt
- 4 star anise pods
- 3 Tbsp whole black peppercorns
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 12 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- ¼ – ⅓ cup fish sauce
- 1 lb(s) flat rice noodles
- 4 cups fresh bean sprouts
- 1 large bunch fresh Thai basil
- 2 jalapeno peppers, thinly sliced
- 1 large red onion, halved and thinly sliced
- Hoisin sauce and/or sriracha (Asian chile sauce), for serving
- Lime wedges, for serving
4. Thanksgiving Leftover Quesadillas
Thanksgiving leftover sandwiches are to be expected… but how about Thanksgiving leftover quesadilla instead?! This quesadilla recipe is SO simple, and makes use of both leftover turkey and cranberries. Even the pickiest eater wouldn’t be able to say no to this
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 whole wheat wraps
- 2 cups turkey breast
- 1/2 cup cranberry sauce
- 2 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, asiago, pepperjack, etc.)
- 1/4 cup fresh sage chopped
5. Slow Cooker French Onion Soup
Maybe you whipped up a loaf of homemade sourdough bread, but now you’ve got a whole half-loaf left. What to do? How about an easy slow cooker French Onion Soups? It is soup season, after all!
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 lbs onions, halved and sliced
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 3 tsp brown sugar
- 1.5 L beef stock
- 2 Tbsp brandy (optional)
- 8 sprigs fresh thyme, plus some for garnish
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 8-12 slices baguette
- 1 ½ cups grated Swiss cheese
6. Thanksgiving Leftover Tacos
We love how this recipe creatively combines leftover cranberries and sweet potato for a yummy taco twist.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
- 1 large apple (a sweet variety, like Gala or Fuji works best)
- 1/2 a jalapeño pepper
- 1 shallot or 1/2 small onion
- Juice from 1 lime
- 3 tablespoons of sugar or coconut sugar
- 2 small sweet potatoes or mashed potatoes
- 8 ounces Brussels sprouts
- 8 ounces seitan or 2 cups any veggie meat, cubed
- 2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground sage
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 8 flour tortillas (gluten-free if necessary)
- Tahini, for drizzling (see notes)
7. Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Biscuits
I follow Whippoorwill Holler on Youtube and love their videos—their resources are truly homesteading at its best! Sure, this recipe may be a little more hands on, but how can you say no to sweet potato biscuits like these?
See their video for the full ingredients and how-to guide.
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Whether you are able to gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving or celebrating a little differently this year, Olin and I at Stoney Creek Farm are SO grateful that you allow us to share the journey of sustainable living with you. We wish y’all a happy Thanksgiving!
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