As you put together to your Thanksgiving feast, it’s pure to deal with the massive meal. However have you considered the way you’ll deal with that mountain of Thanksgiving leftovers that usually observe? Slightly than letting additional turkey, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce go to waste, why not reimagine them into new, thrilling dishes?
With just a little creativity, these leftovers will be reworked into contemporary meals that reach the enjoyment of Thanksgiving lengthy after the day is over. From turkey sliders to mashed potato muffins, these concepts will enable you to flip your post-feast extras right into a sequence of mouthwatering meals that preserve your Thanksgiving flavors alive whereas decreasing meals waste.
Why it’s vital to make use of up these leftovers
Thanksgiving is a celebration of togetherness and gratitude. Nonetheless, it’s additionally one of many greatest meals waste days of the yr. In response to ReFED, a nonprofit working to fight meals waste primarily based in the US, People will waste roughly 316 million kilos of meals throughout Thanksgiving in 2024 alone. “This represents greater than $556 million price of groceries thrown away in a single day – a pointy distinction to the spirit of gratitude the day is supposed to embody,” mentioned Selena Mao, supervisor at ReFED.
With thousands and thousands of kilos of uneaten meals tossed yearly, discovering inventive methods to repurpose leftovers isn’t simply sensible – it’s a small step towards slicing down on meals waste. By giving your Thanksgiving staples a second life, you possibly can assist reduce waste whereas persevering with to take pleasure in your vacation feast in contemporary and scrumptious methods. Right here’s how you can use each final little bit of your Thanksgiving leftovers.
Turkey
Turkey is undoubtedly the centerpiece of Thanksgiving, and there are many methods to repurpose it in tasty, ingenious dishes. Take into account making turkey cranberry sliders, a candy and savory possibility that pairs leftover turkey with cranberry sauce on tender Hawaiian rolls. These sliders make for an ideal snack or gentle meal. Including leftover turkey to soups can be a straightforward strategy to repurpose this Thanksgiving staple. Turkey and rice soup or turkey noodle soup are each classics which are straightforward to organize and best for cozy nights.
Make turkey enchiladas to present your leftovers a Mexican-inspired makeover. For taco lovers, leftover turkey tacos are a fast and scrumptious possibility that brings a little bit of spice to the desk.
For those who love conventional rooster pot pie, change issues up by utilizing turkey for a contemporary twist on this basic consolation meals. Merely mix your leftover turkey with a mixture of contemporary or frozen greens, then stir in a creamy sauce constituted of a butter and flour roux, milk and broth. Prime the combination with a buttery pie crust, bake till golden and bubbly, and also you’ve acquired a straightforward, scrumptious meal that’s good for repurposing leftovers.
Lastly, don’t overlook in regards to the turkey carcass. Use it to whip up a flavorful turkey inventory that may be a base for future soups and stews. Merely toss your turkey bones in water with some herbs and veggies – chopped onion, carrots, garlic, celery and thyme are favorites – and permit to simmer for about three to 4 hours over the range for a flavorful selfmade inventory.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin isn’t only for pies – there are a lot of inventive methods to make use of it. You’ll be able to remodel leftover pumpkin right into a savory pumpkin quiche, stir it into oatmeal or yogurt for a lift of taste and even mix it right into a creamy batch of mac and cheese. Including it to a hearty pumpkin chili for a heat, satisfying meal that’s stuffed with fall taste can be successful.
Mashed potatoes
Primary mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving staple, and there are tons of how to repurpose them. Fried mashed potato balls are a enjoyable strategy to take your leftovers to the subsequent degree. These crispy, tacky bites are at all times successful and an awesome app when you’re internet hosting any soccer events on Thanksgiving weekend.
For those who’re feeling adventurous, strive making a mashed potato chocolate cake. Imagine it or not, including a cup of mashed potatoes to your favourite chocolate cake recipe can add moisture and richness to this decadent dessert. Plain mashed potatoes work finest right here.
Cranberry sauce
An unsung hero of the Thanksgiving desk, cranberries are sometimes left lingering within the fridge. Nonetheless, there are many methods to repurpose this candy sauce. Use it as a topping for Greek yogurt for a tangy morning deal with. You too can stir your leftover cranberry sauce into your favourite quickbread recipe for an awesome breakfast deal with.
For a extra festive twist, add a few tablespoons of leftover cranberry sauce to your favourite cocktail for a holiday-inspired drink. And for dessert, don’t miss the chance to make cranberry shortcake, the place the tartness of the sauce pairs superbly with the sweetness of the cake.
Stuffing
Stuffing could also be one of the crucial versatile Thanksgiving leftovers. As a substitute of simply reheating it, strive making savory stuffing waffles. They’re fast and simple to whip up – merely combine your leftover stuffing with a few eggs and cook dinner for about 5 minutes in your waffle maker. These crispy waffles are brunch perfection, they usually’re a great deal with you probably have weekend company staying over.
Nonetheless have extra stuffing? Attempt frying it into crispy stuffing fritters, utilizing it as a filling for egg rolls, or stirring it right into a casserole. For those who’ve acquired leftover turkey and mashed potatoes, why not layer the stuffing right into a turkey shepherd’s pie for an additional layer of consolation?
Bread
Lastly, don’t overlook about leftover bread. Whether or not it’s rolls or loaves, that bread can simply be reworked into one thing particular. Attempt making an in a single day blueberry French toast casserole, which is ideal for a weekend brunch. It’s a straightforward strategy to flip stale bread into a pleasant, candy breakfast deal with.
Don’t let these leftovers go to waste
Whether or not you’re internet hosting an enormous household gathering or your first Friendsgiving, don’t let the spoils out of your Thanksgiving dinner weigh you down. With so many inventive methods to make use of up your Thanksgiving leftovers, there’s no must let any meals go to waste. From sliders to soups, and muffins to fritters, these recipes provide flavorful methods to take advantage of your vacation feast. Give them a strive, and also you’ll have scrumptious meals that final nicely past Thanksgiving Day.
Sarah Jenkins is the blogger behind Entrance Vary Fed. She lives in Bouler, Colorado, together with her husband and two boys, and her beloved canine daughter, Maya.
