The meal is over and the leftovers have been packed away. Now comes the question what to do with all the turkey. Reinvent them with one of these simple recipes for turkey leftovers.
Sandwiches are the easiest way to use turkey and a tasty one is Vickie Parks’ Turkey Cranberry Sandwich. “This is our version of turkey sandwiches that we like to make when we still have turkey leftovers to use up after our annual Thanksgiving feast,” shares Vickie. “There is no right or wrong way to make it, just put it all between two slices of bread and enjoy.”
This is perfect for refueling after Black Friday shopping. Besides turkey, Vickie uses leftover cranberry sauce. I really liked her addition of cream cheese, though. It mixes with the cranberry and creates a creamy spread for the sandwich.
Tiffany Pennington (Accord, NY) incorporates leftover turkey and mashed potatoes to create Turkey Hash #1 – Thanksgiving Leftovers. “I threw this together one morning after Thanksgiving and the discovery was so simple and so delicious that we’ve made it a comfort-food staple for the winter months,” says Tiffany.
Making a hash from leftover mashed potatoes and turkey is genius. Cooking down the onions really has a punch of flavor. I love the crunch on the outside of the hash. Serving a fried egg on top sends this over the top. A great breakfast, but it’s hearty enough for dinner too.
Tamara Minick’s Vancouver, WA) Turkey Tetrazzini is a favorite with Just A Pinch members (it was voted Member’s Choice) and will be just as popular with your family. “I started making this recipe about 10 years ago to use up that leftover Thanksgiving Turkey,” explains Tamara. “We always have it the weekend following turkey day – it’s a great change of flavor.”
This casserole is extremely creamy and super easy. I loved the addition of Parmesan and Asiago cheeses … it adds flavor to the roux and creates an amazing cheesy crust on top. Your family is going to request this often!
Marsha Gardner (Florala, AL) turns her turkey into a Day After Thanksgiving Turkey Casserole. It has all the comfort of a traditional shepherd’s pie with the vibrant flavors of Thanksgiving dinner. This is one of our favorite ways to spreading the joy of the holiday meal into the entire week. (Heck, it’s great ANY time of the year!)
Looking to create a lighter meal with your turkey? Try Martha Christian’s (Columbia, CA) Southwestern Turkey Soup. When you’re tired of plain turkey this is a great soup to warm you up. “You can also add black beans, pinto beans or any type of bean you would like,” suggests Martha. “Add more vegetables too if preferred.”
This soup is easy to make and full of southwest flavor. I love the hint of lime mixed with the cilantro and chilies. You may want to consider doubling the recipe.
Want more leftover inspiration? Checkout out the Thanksgiving 2.0 collection. It’s filled with ways to reinvent your sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing and more. Happy Pinching!