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The big day is overโnow it’s time to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers! Try these recipes for using your extra turkey, cranberries, potatoes, and more.
Just as important as planning your Thanksgiving menu is figuring out what to do with your Thanksgiving leftovers.
Even if you dutifully stuck to the 1.5-pounds-per-person guideline and sent your guests away clutching plasticware, chances are you still have leftovers lurking in your fridge.
Whether you’ve got a pile of mashed potatoes, way too much leftover turkey, or forgot to put the cranberry sauce on the table, you don’t want it to go to waste.
I’ve gathered a sampling of recipes from my favorite blogs to help you tackle those groaning fridge shelves. It’s OK, we’ve all been there. Just take a deep breath, and we’ll get through it in deliciously creative ways!
Repurposing leftovers
While my husband makes an excellent smoked turkey, I don’t love eating turkey sandwiches for three days in a row! Every year I look for new ways to use our extra turkey, from soups to casseroles.
Turkey can also be used anywhere you’d use cooked chicken, so think outside the box and make shredded turkey tacos, turkey quesadillas, or shredded BBQ sandwiches.
Make a waffle out of leftover stuffing and spread it with cranberry sauce for a sweet-savory snack, or simply make a great snack lunch with the leftover items from your charcuterie board.
As for the pie? Well, I don’t think you’ll have any problems taking care of those leftovers!
Storing Thanksgiving leftovers
It’s important to get those leftovers into the refrigerator soon after the dishes are cleared. If you can, assign this task to someone who didn’t cook the big dinner. Food should be stored within 2 hours of cooking.
If you plan to share leftovers, make sure you have lots of small resealable containers on hand. We usually use deli containers or similar. Encourage guests to bring their own containers!
Turkey and other sliced meats, as well as rolls, can go into ziptop bags, while most other dishes will be better stored in hard-sided containers. Shallow containers are good because they will speed up the chilling process.ย
Fruit, pumpkin, or pecan pies can go onto paper plates and covered with foil or plastic wrap.
If you plan to freeze any leftovers, such as turkey, make sure to use freezer-safe containers that help prevent freezer burn.
How long to store leftovers?
The general rule of thumb for most leftover foods, as recommended by the USDA, is to eat them within 3-4 days.
If you know you won’t get through everything, freeze food immediately rather than putting it in the fridge first and moving to the freezer a few days later.
Pickles from the cheese board or cranberry sauce will keep for longer, but check to make sure they have not been contaminated with bits of other food from spoons or forks.
Just remember: If you are having your big dinner on Thanksgiving Day, make sure to eat or freeze all of your leftovers by the Monday after!
Leftover Thanksgiving recipes
Leftover Turkey
Leftover Cranberries or Cranberry Sauce
Leftover Potatoes
Do you have your own favorite way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers? Tell us about it in the comments!
About Megan
I learned how to cook by exploring seasonal ingredients, and you can too! Meal time shouldn’t be stressful or complicated, and with fresh ingredients and easy methods, Iโm here to help you enjoy the time spent in the kitchen.ย Read moreโฆ
Megan what a great idea – fab roundup! I won’t have any leftovers to deal with here in Canada but some of these recipes make me want to roast a turkey just so I do! Thanks for including me!
Always happy to have more resources with ideas for what to do with the leftovers, Megan – and we’ll still repeat dinner once or twice (because hubs loves Thanksgiving dinner! ๐ Thanks so much for including me, too! Happy Thanksgiving!
YUM! Turkey leftovers rock.
Thanks for the mention and have a fantastic Thanksgiving.
Great idea; I buy a bird bigger than we need JUST so we can have leftovers!
Thanks for including me and my sandwich; I’ve got my sprouts and my cream cheese, making cosmopolitan cranberry sauce today…I’m READY!
Happy Thanksgiving Megan!
Thanks so much for including my Thai Pasta recipe. Your roundup is excellent, nice job.
My bro-in-law and sister-in-law purchased a big turkey (18 1/2 lbs) just for the two of them. Needless to say, they have lots of leftovers. I’m sending them this link to give them some inspiration.
Leftovers are the best! I like making soups.
I came up with this Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole (real creative name, huh!) http://ahighandnoblecalling.com/2010/11/thanksgiving-leftover-casserole/