Life
15 Ways to Use Up Thanksgiving Leftovers Because You Can Only Handle So Many Turkey Sandwiches
Gird your loins, my friends. Thanksgiving came and went — and just when you thought this holiday business was done, it’s time to face your biggest challenge yet: Finishing the leftovers.
Don’t get me wrong — I love a good turkey sandwich every now and again. All you need is an old dinner roll, spread with cranberry sauce and piled high with the good stuff, and you can pretend like you’re still on holiday, even if it’s just lunch hour at the office. But then, you get to that fourth sandwich, and you simply can’t go on. The turkey! The stuffing! The green bean casserole! Everything that once seemed glorious now makes you weep for the days of kale salads and green juice.
We’re here to help. Sure, go ahead and have that first sandwich, but after that, all bets are off. This year, we pulled every trick in the leftovers book, from classic pot pie to the Hawaiian-inspired flatbread you did not see coming. Open up that fridge and dig out the turkey. You can do this.
Image: Damn Delicious
Breakfast Hash
Finally awake from that food coma? Throw all your leftovers into a skillet and call it breakfast, à la How Sweet Eats.
Image: How Sweet Eats
Baked Eggs
Or, if you’re feeling fancy, tuck your leftovers into a ramekin and top it off with an egg. Thanks, the Gouda Life!
Image: The Gouda Life
Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich
Got leftover biscuits? Heather Christo shows us how to turn them into the best breakfast sandwich ever.
Image: Heather Christo
Grilled Cheese
Take your grilled cheese to the next level with a little turkey. How Sweet Eats pairs hers with blackberries, but this sandwich would be just as good with cranberry sauce.
Image: How Sweet Eats
Pho
After all that binge eating, you’re going to need a detox — and pho is just the thing. What Liberty Ate tops hers with beef, but we’ll be reaching for that turkey.
Image: What Liberty Ate
Bacon Pizza
Since everything’s better with bacon, How Sweet Eats spices up her turkey with pork belly.
Image: How Sweet Eats
Quesadillas
If you can’t look at another sandwich again, try your hand at a quesadilla. Cookie Monster Cooking slips in a few slices of apple to keep things light.
Image: Cookie Monster Cooking
BLT Tacos
Extra tortillas? Use them in How Sweet Eats’ genius, bacon-studded tacos.
Image: How Sweet Eats
Pinwheels
These adorable pinwheels are perfect for snacking. Crepes of Wrath rolls hers up with cherry tomatoes and bacon, but feel free to use whatever you have on hand.
Image: Crepes of Wrath
Hawaiian BBQ Flatbread
Had enough of the old turkey-cranberry sauce combo? Shake it up with Damn Delicious’ zesty flatbread.
Image: Damn Delicious
Tater Tots
Surprise! If you have mashed potatoes, you’re already halfway to tater tots. Taste and Tell breaks it down.
Image: Taste and Tell
Pot Pie
Now, for the mother of all Thanksgiving leftovers: Pot pie — aka the perfect place to hide all that extra turkey. Thanks, Back to Her Roots!
Image: Back to Her Roots
Polenta Casserole
Little Leopard Book brightens up her old turkey with fresh tomatoes and creamy polenta.
Image: A Little Leopard Book
Spring Rolls
When all else fails, my go-to is always spring rolls. They’re quick, light, and pretty much down for whatever leftovers you feel like stuffing inside. Half Baked Harvest goes for chicken — but, well, you know what to do.
Image: Half Baked Harvest
Cranberry Slab Pie
Guess what? Cranberry sauce isn’t just for turkey anymore. Give it a second chance in this stunning slab pie from Kitchen Confidante.
Image: Kitchen Confidante
