What to do with Thanksgiving Leftovers
After weeks of preparing your Thanksgiving menu, days of cooking the meal itself and minutes of your family consuming it, Thanksgiving leftovers often end up seeming somewhat lackluster—especially when you’re still playing host to out-of-town guests. While serving the same meal more than once would be embarrassing, creating unique meals every night can be exhausting. So try striking a balance by using your Thanksgiving leftovers in new ways.
Sandwiches for the Win
One of the easiest way to pair leftovers with new ingredients is in sandwich form. Crusty french bread. Leftover turkey. Sriracha aioli. Crunchy veggies. You’ve got yourself an American twist on the classic Vietnamese banh mi.
Reinvent Pizza Night
Whip up your favorite homemade crust recipe, then get creative. Cranberry sauce is the perfect foundation for a Thanksgiving-inspired pizza topped with turkey, red onion, brie and orange zest.
Hash It Out
Looking for a day-after-Thanksgiving meal that will give guests a break from the staples but will still feel seasonal? Turn to a hash. The beautiful thing about hash is that you simply can’t go wrong. Anything and everything can be combined into one skillet atop your professional range for a comforting meal your guests will never forget. This Turkey Hash recipe helps you reinvigorate your leftovers to create a meal that will feel, look and taste just as exciting as the original.
Turkey Breakfast Hash Remix
Cook Time 20 minutes | Servings 4
Ingredients
1-2 cups leftover turkey, diced
8-10 pearl onions; or one medium onion, diced
1 or 2 sweet potatoes, diced into small even cubes
Other leftover vegetables: sautéed mushrooms, corn, bell pepper, kale, brussels sprouts
Handful of fresh herbs, like thyme or rosemary
Seasonings to taste: salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika or chili powder, honey
How to make it
In a large skillet over medium high heat, fry the turkey with a bit of oil until hot and crisped. Transfer to a plate, leaving any juices in the skillet.
Add onion and sweet potato to the hot skillet. Season with salt and cook in a single layer, stirring often, until the potatoes are crisp and caramelized on the outside, but soft inside.
Stir in your other veggies and cook until hot or until any greens are wilted. If you’re using raw veggies that need more cooking time, sauté those separately then add in.
Stir the turkey back in, then taste and adjust your seasonings. Add the fresh herbs.
Serve with a garnish of fresh herbs or freshly grated cheddar cheese.
Chef's Notes
This recipe is highly adaptable. Feel free to use white potatoes instead; swap the turkey for chicken, shredded pork, or chorizo; or use whatever veggies you have on hand. Amounts can be increased or decreased as your leftovers allow.