Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday for good reason. It’s a moment to gather your nearest and dearest and practice gratitude around a delicious meal . In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, I’ve got a rotation of spreadsheets and notepads floating around my kitchen with to-do lists to prepare for the big day.
After all, it takes a lot of planning to execute a full-fledged Thanksgiving dinner with turkey and all the trimmings. After the hubbub of the holiday is over, the table is cleaned up and the dishes are put away, there’s one more part of Thanksgiving to consider — the leftovers. After years of hosting, I’ve learned to tell everyone BYOT (bring your own Tupperware) to help clear out refrigerator space and share the joys of the big meal.
No matter how well I plan, there always seems to be an excess of turkey meat leftover. While I love a classic day-after Thanksgiving sandwich, there’s so much more to make with leftover turkey and sides. If you’re not ready to let go of the holiday, consider dishes like savory waffles, shepherd’s pie and empanadas, which make use of more than just the meat.
If you’re itching for a new flavor profile, there’s plenty of options like pho, fried rice, shawarma and hearty soups and stews. The leftovers just might overshadow the main event with these creative takes. Read on for 30 of our favorite ways to use up Thanksgiving leftovers.
Inspired by pot pie, these fritters are loaded with roasted turkey, vegetables and herbs a.