What to Do with Thanksgiving Leftovers

What to do with Those Thanksgiving Leftovers

Brittany Kelley RD, LDN

11/20/18

My mouth is already watering at the thought of oven roasted turkey on Thanksgiving this week, but I always think that I can eat more than I really can. Generally speaking it’s rare that all of the food from Thanksgiving gets eaten in one day which means plenty of leftovers for afterwards. In a lot of ways, Thanksgiving is a really great way to meal prep for the next week making lunches to go, and quick dinners at home really simple and delicious! Here are some creative ways to reuse the leftovers of the feast from Thanksgiving in some yummy recipes.

Turkey Pot Pie: With the right filling, some pie crust, and mixed veggies putting this together is so simple and easy! All of the turkey is already prepped and ready to go and just needs to get thrown in to the rest of the ingredients to make a delicious and easy dinner.

Turkey Stew: Warm up with a yummy turkey soup or stew. The lean protein from the turkey and some low-sodium broth mixed with vegetables can make a really healthy and simple dish for either lunch or dinner! Or make your own stock by using water and the the rest of the vegetables from dinner.

Turkey Sandwich: Turkey makes a great addition to a nice sandwich with multigrain bread, fresh greens, and even a little of that leftover cranberry sauce. This is also an easy way to get in some fiber, whole grains, and protein all in one meal! Add some avocado for a little extra healthy fat too.

Turkey Waldorf Salad: Cut up some tangy granny smith apples, a little celery for added crunch, a few red or green grapes, walnuts or pecans, fresh romaine lettuce, and top with a light dressing made with low-fat plain yogurt instead of mayonnaise. Add in the turkey in small pieces to make a simple and healthy  lunch!