thanksgiving

10 Smart Ways to Use Up Your Thanksgiving Leftovers

Kelli Foster
Kelli FosterCulinary Producer at The Kitchn
I'm a recipe developer, food writer, stylist, and video producer (and The Kitchn's Dinner Therapist), with more than 10 years professional experience. Since graduating from The French Culinary Institute, I've authored 3 cookbooks: Buddha Bowls, Plant-Based Buddha Bowls, and The Probiotic Kitchen.
updated May 1, 2019
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Turkey and Brussels Sprouts Club Sandwich (Image credit: Lauren Volo)

Feeling bogged down with Thanksgiving leftovers? No plan for how to use them up? No problem. Here are 10 smart ideas to make the most of those leftovers — from breakfast through dessert.

1. Breakfast Hash

There are a lot of directions this breakfast can go. Cook up any combination of leftover turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing, Brussels sprouts, and other veggies in a skillet, and then top with a couple eggs.

Get a Recipe: Sweet Potato Hash with Sausage & Eggs

2. Frittatas and Omelettes

All those leftovers are prime candidates for being added to a frittata or used as filling for an omelette.

Learn How

3. Pancakes

If you’re staring down a bowl of leftover cranberry sauce or relish, go ahead and use it as a topping for your weekend pancakes.

More on Pancakes

Post-Thanksgiving Turkey Vegetable Soup (Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

4. Soup

Turkey noodle soup is a Thanksgiving leftover staple. Bonus points if you have the turkey carcass and you use it to make homemade stock.

Get a Recipe: Post-Thanksgiving Turkey Vegetable Soup

5. Sandwiches

This is a classic move with Thanksgiving leftovers. Whether you stick with just the turkey or pile on stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce, you just can’t go wrong.

Get a Recipe: Open-Faced Turkey “Hot Brown” Sandwiches

6. Chili

Cold days demand comforting and warming meals like chili. Shred leftover turkey and cook it into a big batch of hearty chili.

Get a Recipe: White Chicken (or Turkey!) Chili

Post-Thanksgiving Stuffed Shells (Image credit: Lauren Volo)

7. Casseroles

When you really need a way to use every last bit of your leftovers, a comforting casserole is the solution.

Read More: Thanksgiving Shepherd’s Pie: The Best Way to Eat All Your Leftovers in One Delicious Dish

8. Burritos and Enchiladas

When you want to eat your turkey leftovers without it feeling like you’re eating leftovers, transform them into something with new flavors.

Get a Recipe: Turkey Enchiladas

9. Hand Pies

Whether you use pie crust or pizza dough, hand pies make an easy handheld lunch or dinner. And as for what exactly you fill them with, all those leftovers are fair game.

Read More: How to Turn Third-Day Leftovers into Hand Pies

10. Milkshakes

The only thing better than a slice of pie is when it becomes a dessert within a dessert. Toss a slice of your favorite leftover pie in the blender along with milk and ice cream for an ultra-indulgent milkshake.

Get a Recipe: (Leftover) Pie Shakes

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