New Ways to Use Those Turkey Day Leftovers

By Bricco Posted on November 21st, 2016

No matter how much we plan out our Thanksgiving Day menu, there are always enough leftovers to feed a small army. No one ever seems to complain about extra portions of turkey and sides, but we start to feel like we’re in “Groundhog Day” after we heat up our third helping of Thanksgiving dinner.

Here are a few of our favorite ways to make a dent in the number of Tupperware containers in our fridge after Turkey Day.

Sandwiches and Such

One of our favorite ways to enjoy Thanksgiving is on a bun. But piling leftovers on top of a Kaiser roll can get old quick, which led us to seek out other lunch-friendly combinations. We love the idea of using leftovers for a unique take on a classic recipe. This Turkey and Brie Grilled Cheese Sandwich combines sweet and savory flavors with its cranberry mustard.

And turkey can easily be subbed in for ham in this ooey, gooey Monte Cristo Waffle Sandwich. You can also kick things up a notch with Emeril’s Thanksgiving Leftovers Turkey Quesadilla or The Pioneer Woman’s Leftover Thanksgiving Panini.

Soups and Stews

This time of year, we love to fill the house with tasty aromas as a pot of soup simmers on the stove all day. After Thanksgiving, another way we use leftover turkey is in a bowl because the options are endless.

Some tried-and-true recipes include classic Turkey Noodle Soup, Turkey and Stuffing Dumpling Soup, Turkey and Corn Chowder and Next-Day Turkey Soup with Mashed Potato Polpetti. Serve these delicious soups and stews with warm, crusty bread for dipping, and you’ll forget you’re even eating leftovers!

Potatoes With Pizzazz

Second only to the bird, mashed potatoes are aplenty after Thanksgiving dinner. While smothering them in gravy seems like the simplest option to gobble through those leftovers, we’ve been seeing a ton of interesting recipes on Pinterest for second-day spuds.

Top on our post-Thanksgiving menu is this Leftover Mashed Potato Pizza, but a few other options also caught our eye including Pierogi Lasagna Rolls, Mashed Potato Spring Rolls and Potato Croquettes.

Lighten Up

Stuffing yourself full of Thanksgiving dinner can leave you feeling a little blah — even if you follow the whole “it’s a marathon, not a race” mantra. So you might be looking for a way to use your leftovers to make lighter dishes in the days following the mammoth meal.

We like Martha Stewart’s take on a fresh Cobb Salad, Cooking Light’s Roast Turkey Pho and Health’s Thai Curry Turkey as veggie-heavy, waistline-friendly options for leftovers.

And, for those who hate leftovers, there’s always Bricco. We’ll be serving up our unique takes on Tuscan and Mediterranean-inspired dishes for Black Friday and beyond. Enjoy turkey-free brick-oven fired pizzas, pasta dishes and more! Call 717-724-0222 or visit our reservations page so we can save you a seat.

Category: Foodie, Recipes, Resources