10 Genius Ways to Use Up All Your Thanksgiving Leftovers

We all know the feeling — it’s the day after Thanksgiving and your refrigerator is packed top to bottom with leftovers. Rather than repeating the same holiday meal, get creative in recombining your holiday leftovers to create new and exciting dishes your family will love (again!).
 
Turkey pot pie
When in doubt, throw it in a pot pie! This turkey variation on a classic chicken pot pie can accommodate any extra turkey as well as vegetable side dishes that didn’t get totally gobbled up. Simply saute vegetables in a skillet, rehydrate with chicken broth and leftover white wine, then let simmer until thick. Layer homemade or frozen pie dough in an oven-safe skillet or ramekins, fill and top with additional pie dough, then cook until golden brown.

Mashed potato fritters
Don’t let creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes go to waste — turn them into crispy fried potato balls! A quick egg and bread crumb breading and a few minutes in the fryer is all it will take to transform mashed potatoes into savory potato nuggets, sure to please kids and adults alike.

Will it waffle?
When it comes to Thanksgiving leftovers, the answer is a resounding yes! Both stuffing and mashed potatoes make excellent waffle batter when rehydrated with a few beaten eggs. To make mashed potato and stuffing waffles, oil a waffle maker on medium heat and press the stuffing and potato mixture into the machine, cooking for about five minutes until the waffle easily lifts out. Top with leftover gravy or cranberry sauce and you’ve got a leftover breakfast fit for a king!

Wrap it up
Sometimes the answer to the question “How can I combine all these leftovers?” is simple: a tortilla. Wrap up your leftovers burrito-style then cook in a hot pan until the tortilla is toasted and crisp. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy combine well in a tortilla — check out this handy burrito folding tutorial for neat wrapping, every time.

Hash it out
When in doubt, put an egg on top! That’s our philosophy when it comes to repurposing leftovers, like in this leftover breakfast hash. Combine turkey, stuffing, leftover roasted or mashed potatoes, and a generous scoop of gravy in a cast iron skillet, then top with crispy bacon, a fried egg, and a handful of shredded cheese. Broil the skillet until cheese is melted then dig into your no-waste breakfast.

Stock up
Cooks might be tempted to throw out their turkey carcass and vegetable scraps in preparation for the big meal. However, these cooking castoffs can transform into a rich, savory turkey broth with only some additional spices and patience. Enjoy turkey’s rich and herbaceous flavor all year in dishes made with leftover turkey stock.

Stuffed peppers
Hollowed-out bell peppers are an excellent vessel to contain all that leftover goodness. To make these Thanksgiving leftover stuffed peppers, mix and match your favorite Thanksgiving foods, then stuff inside bell peppers of any color, topping with shredded cheese or crispy fried onions. Bake at 375 degrees for around half an hour until peppers are fully cooked.

Make it a milkshake
Hear us out on this one: What if pumpkin pie was a milkshake? That’s right — you can blend a slice of pumpkin pie with a scoop of ice cream, a dash of vanilla, and a splash of milk into a creamy, icy, pumpkin-scented milkshake. To make a pumpkin pie milkshake, combine all ingredients in a blender and combine to your desired thickness. Top with a swirl of whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.

Quiche it up
Quiche is a classic chef’s secret for using up leftover servings of vegetables or meat. Pretty much any Thanksgiving leftover can find a happy home inside a pie shell when mixed with several whipped eggs and cheese! This recipe combines sweet potato casserole, turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing into one savory baked good. Quiche also keeps easily in the fridge, so you’ll have leftover breakfasts for the whole week.

Grilled cheese
Brie melts into a gooey grilled cheese sandwich when combined with leftover turkey and cranberry sauce or apple butter in this sophisticated sandwich. Creamy cheese, savory turkey, and tart cranberry? That’s a flavor match made in heaven.

Just because Turkey Day has come and gone doesn’t mean that we can’t enjoy the leftovers in its wake. Thankfully, the chef-quality kitchens in Stepping Stone™ homes are equipped with everything a home cook needs to create magic from all the holiday leftovers. To check out our gorgeous kitchens and all our other special home spaces, schedule a tour online or call a Community Representative at 303-791-4387 today!