Come Thanksgiving, our kitchens turn into a frenzied chef’s corridor as we prep, prepare, taste, serve, clean up and pack away the leftovers. It’s a lot of work to be the host, but anyone who does it time and time again knows there’s something so special and rewarding about it. But when the holiday is over and done with, all those leftovers, like the remnants of that beautiful bird, can take up valuable real estate in your refrigerator and freezer. So what to do? The following seven recipes will let you get the most out of your leftover turkey while freeing up space in your kitchen. After all, some even claim the Thanksgiving leftovers are the best part!
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All-in-One Thanksgiving Harvest Sandwich
People get just as excited about the whole turkey on the table as they do for the cold turkey sandwiches that come the following day. For a simple tweak on the turkey & mayo classic, try this harvest wrap recipe, which includes all the fun and flavorful ingredients from Thanksgiving in one mean meal. From the rosemary turkey to the mushroom wild rice, gingered sweet potato spread and cranberry chutney, it’s one melt-in-your mouth wrap of holiday perfection. We love this recipe so much we’ve even included a couple quick recipes for each of the key ingredients so you can make it all year long.
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Mushroom and Turkey Casserole
There’s a lot that goes into making Thanksgiving day a success. And when it comes to using up all the leftovers, there’s no better way than doing it simply! This one-dish recipe is perfect for incorporating your leftover turkey, as well as any extra cranberry sauce.
Related: 7 Healthy Thanksgiving Day Swaps
3. Turkey Chow Mein Casserole
This casserole recipe requires a mere 10 minutes of your time to prep everything which is a welcome change from the day before. The best part about this dish is that, while it utilizes the leftover turkey, it’s not overwhelmingly reminiscent of the Thanksgiving’s flavors, as it also combines chow mein noodles, bean sprouts, celery, onion, milk and chicken broth.
Feeling a bit heavy after a fun-filled day of eating? This gluten free Thanksgiving salad will give you the lightness you desire while still using up your leftovers. Made with quinoa, butternut squash and pomegranate, and utilizing turkey leftovers, it’s the perfect day-after meal.
Chili is a wintertime necessity, and this quick and easy turkey chili recipe is one comforting option. To make it, you need just 30 minutes of your time to take Thanksgiving turkey and reinvent it into a bowl of hearty goodness complete with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese and scallions. Really want to utilize the holiday’s scraps? Serve the chili over leftover mashed potatoes!
If what you need is a break from all the Thanksgiving flavors, let this BBQ pizza be your choice. And it’s a quick-make to boot! Using Naan crust, and the classic BBQ pizza fixings, just swap in turkey for chicken and it’s ready in just 10 minutes.
Coconut milk, chicken broth, potatoes, onion, curry powder, baby bok choy, red bell pepper and leftover turkey breast combine to make this sensation stew that can be served over brown rice for a warm and wintry meal that will get rid of leftovers without making it feel like a chore.