Food & Cooking

12 Delicious Ways to Use Thanksgiving Leftovers

Turn leftover turkey, stuffing and potatoes into brand-new meals the whole family will love.

Editorial TeamNovember 4, 20261 min read

The day after a big holiday meal, the fridge is full of leftovers. With a little creativity, they become some of the best meals of the week.

First: store leftovers safely

Refrigerate leftovers within about two hours of cooking and eat them within 3–4 days. Freeze anything you won't finish in time.

Turkey ideas

  1. Turkey sandwiches with cranberry sauce and stuffing
  2. Turkey noodle soup using the carcass for stock
  3. Turkey curry with rice
  4. Turkey quesadillas with cheese and peppers
  5. Turkey pot pie with frozen puff pastry

Side dish makeovers

  1. Mashed potato cakes: shape, coat in flour and pan-fry until crisp.
  2. Stuffing waffles: press leftover stuffing in a waffle iron.
  3. Roast veg frittata: chop vegetables into beaten eggs and bake.
  4. Bubble and squeak: fry potatoes and greens together.
  5. Sweet potato pancakes for breakfast.
Pro tipFreeze turkey in portion-sized bags with a little gravy so it doesn't dry out when reheated.

Desserts

  1. Pie milkshake: blend a slice of pie with ice cream and milk.
  2. Bread pudding from leftover rolls.

Reheat leftovers until steaming hot all the way through, and enjoy a week of easy meals.

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