Recipes to Turn Your Thanksgiving Leftovers Into A Weekend’s Worth of Culinary Delights

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Thanksgiving dinner is a feast of flavors and a time of abundance, often leaving us with a mountain of leftovers. But don’t let them go to waste! Transform these remnants into innovative and delicious dishes that could rival the main event. Here are some creative and easy recipes to reinvent your Thanksgiving leftovers.

Some of the more traditional ways to eat Thanksgiving leftovers are just by themselves, in a turkey salad, a turkey sandwich or just picking out of the refrigerator.

For those who want to be more daring, here are some ideas:

1. Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Pot Pie

Ingredients:

• Leftover turkey, chopped
• Leftover vegetables (carrots, peas, etc.)
• 1 cup chicken or turkey broth
• 1 pie crust (store-bought or homemade)
• 1/2 cup cream
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. In a large bowl, mix the leftover turkey with vegetables.
3. Stir in the cream and broth, then season with salt and pepper.
4. Place the mixture in a pie dish and cover with the pie crust.
5. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the crust is golden brown.

2. Cranberry and Brie Grilled Cheese

Ingredients:

• Slices of your favorite bread
• Brie cheese, sliced
• Leftover cranberry sauce
• Butter

Instructions:

1. Butter one side of each bread slice.
2. On the non-buttered side, spread a generous amount of cranberry sauce.
3. Place slices of Brie cheese on top of the cranberry sauce.
4. Close the sandwich with another slice of bread, butter side out.
5. Grill on a skillet over medium heat until the bread is golden and the cheese is melted.

3. Sweet Potato Pancakes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups mashed sweet potatoes
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• Butter or oil for cooking

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, combine sweet potatoes, eggs, flour, and cinnamon.
2. Heat butter or oil in a skillet over medium heat.
3. Scoop the batter to form pancakes and cook until golden brown on both sides.

4. Stuffing Waffles

Ingredients:

• Leftover stuffing
• 2 beaten eggs
• Chicken or turkey broth (optional)

Instructions:

1. Mix leftover stuffing with beaten eggs. Add a bit of broth if the stuffing is too dry.
2. Preheat your waffle iron and grease it lightly.
3. Press the stuffing mixture into the waffle iron and cook until crisp.

5. Turkey and Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:

• Leftover turkey, shredded
• Leftover vegetables or a mix of fresh vegetables (carrots, celery, onion)
• 4 cups chicken or turkey broth
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, combine the turkey, vegetables, and broth.
2. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes.
3. Season with salt and pepper.

6. Cranberry Yogurt Parfait

Ingredients:

• Leftover cranberry sauce
• Greek yogurt
• Granola or nuts

Instructions:

1. In a glass or jar, layer Greek yogurt, cranberry sauce, and granola.
2. Repeat the layers until the glass is filled.

7. Mashed Potato Croquettes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups mashed potatoes
• 1/2 cup grated cheese
• 1 beaten egg
• Bread crumbs
• Oil for frying

Instructions:

1. Mix mashed potatoes, cheese, and egg.
2. Form into small balls and roll in breadcrumbs.
3. Fry in hot oil until golden brown.

Thanksgiving leftovers offer a world of possibilities for culinary creativity. With these recipes, you can extend the holiday flavors into delightful meals that your family will love. Enjoy the process of repurposing your leftovers and who knows, you might just discover a new post-Thanksgiving tradition!