10 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes

The day after Thanksgiving might be better than the holiday itself — because now comes the best part: leftovers. Turkey sandwiches are just the beginning. With a little creativity, those containers of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce become brand-new meals your family will fight over. Here are 10 ideas to make the most of every last bite.

The Classics, Upgraded

Start with the famous leftover sandwich: turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and a smear of mayo on thick bread. Take it further with a hot turkey melt — pile everything on a roll, add cheese, and broil until bubbly. Or make Thanksgiving nachos: layer stuffing as a base, top with shredded turkey, cranberry drizzle, and melted cheese.

Soups and Stews

A turkey carcass makes the best stock you will ever taste. Simmer the bones with onion, celery, and carrots for a rich base, then turn it into turkey noodle soup, turkey and wild rice soup, or a creamy turkey pot pie soup. These freeze beautifully, so you can enjoy Thanksgiving flavors for weeks.

Breakfast Worth Waking For

Leftover hash is a brunch hero: chop turkey, potatoes, and stuffing, crisp them in a skillet, and top with a fried egg. Turkey and cranberry breakfast burritos are another winner. And leftover mashed potatoes? Mix them into pancake batter for the fluffiest potato pancakes you have ever had.

Creative New Dishes

Try turkey enchiladas with a cranberry-chipotle sauce, stuffing waffles topped with gravy and a fried egg, or cranberry sauce swirled into thumbprint cookies. Turkey fried rice and turkey tacos also disappear fast. When in doubt, almost any leftover can go into a quesadilla — gravy makes a surprisingly good dipping sauce.

Store Them Right

Leftovers keep for three to four days in the fridge, so pack them the night of Thanksgiving. Freeze turkey in portion bags for up to three months. Label everything with the date, and when your fridge is full, remember the freezer is your friend — future you will be very grateful.

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