Holiday leftover transformations are some of the best ways to reuse all of that extra food that you have. These ideas not only make eating leftovers more fun but also create a new experience. This is especially valuable if you have enough food to last you a few days. It’s less fun to eat the same meal after day three. These recipes can also help return texture or moisture. Common problems with food being too long in the fridge.
Reusing and repurposing leftovers allows for exploration of new recipes and cooking techniques. Combining roasted vegetables with broth for a hearty and rich soup or incorporating traditional American Thanksgiving ingredients with European and Eastern recipes for a totally new experience. You also reduce food waste and save a ton of money.
Leftover Transformation Ideas
Turkey Leftovers
Too much turkey tends to be the most common leftover and it can be tough to use it all before it goes bad. Even if it doesn’t go bad it starts to dry out quickly, if it wasn’t already a bit too dry. Turkey can easily be used in any recipe as a replacement for chicken. These are our favorites.
- Turkey Pot Pie: Combine turkey with leftover vegetables in a cream sauce and bake under a golden puff pastry or with a side of biscuits. This can add moisture back to dry turkey and adjust the flavor of the vegetables.
- Turkey Nachos: Shred a bit of turkey and sprinkle it on top of tortilla chips with cheese, beans, and jalapenos. This works well for turkey that has started to dry out after being too long in the fridge.
Ham Leftovers
Ham is salty and sweet and great for a range of recipes. Breakfast is an easy option. Eggs, biscuit, and some ham on the side is a classic breakfast meal. Let’s get a little more creative though.
- Quiche: A classic quiche recipe works great and as you’re mixing the ingredients, add the sliced or cubed ham. It adds a great flavor to the quiche and it’s an easy adjustment to the recipe.
- Fried Rice: Toss diced ham with leftover rice, soy sauce, scrambled eggs, and vegetables. This is a great way to transform ham into a completely different flavor profile.
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are the next most common leftover. You can accidentally end up with a ton if your party ends up having less attendance.
- Potato Pancakes (Latkes): Mix with an egg, form into patties, and fry until crispy. You can also add in onions for more of a new flavor. This is a fantastic option for mashed potatoes that have sat too long in the fridge. It’s a fantastic side for breakfast.
- Shepherd’s Pie: Spread mashed potatoes over a layer of seasoned meat and vegetables, then bake. This is a fun use of the potatoes and there are a ton of shepherd’s pie recipes that you can use.
Stuffing
Stuffing is delicious and unique to Thanksgiving but it doesn’t always keep well. Transforming stuffing is the best way to enjoy it after a day or so in the fridge.
- Stuffing Waffles: Press stuffing into a waffle iron for a crispy, unique base for eggs, gravy, or leftover turkey and some hot sauce. A Thanksgiving take on chicken and waffles.
- Stuffing Stuffed Peppers: Stuff a bell pepper with leftover stuffing, add a bit of cheese and ham or turkey leftovers. Bake all together and this improves any unfavorable textures and transform the ingredients in an easy and unique way.
Veggies
Vegetable leftover transformations might be the most important set of ideas. Veggies go bad quickly in the fridge, especially if they were roasted. Finding new ways to enjoy vegetables is a healthy way to add nutrients into your diet and avoid what is probably the most thrown out part of the meal.
- Vegetable Soup: Combine leftover roasted vegetables with broth, herbs, and some cream for a cozy soup. Soups are a fantastic way to use leftovers. It adds back moisture and covers up poor textures. Any kind of soup can be a great option.
- Vegetable Frittata: Whisk veggies into eggs and bake for an easy breakfast or brunch dish. This quick meal is delicious, easy, and versatile.
Desserts
Transforming desserts seems like the most unnecessary set of recipes but these new approaches to the sweet treats can be fun and different.
- Pie Milkshakes: Blend slices of leftover pie with ice cream and milk for a decadent treat. It’s less likely that you’ll have leftover pie for too long but if you do try this idea. This works especially well with fruit pies and cobblers. That blended fruit and crust adds a delicious flavor and unique texture to the ice cream.
- Bread Pudding: Turn stale rolls or bread into a sweet pudding with milk, eggs, and spices. This delicious dessert actually works better with stale bread. Once you’re done with sandwiches, make bread pudding.
