Never Ending Holidays: The Top Five Recipes Leftover Turkey
Photo: Unsplash
The average size of a Thanksgiving turkey is 16 to 22 pounds – and one thing is absolute; you will nearly always have leftovers. There’s nothing worse than coming up short on the main course, which means we often cook a little more than necessary. What’s better than a piping hot glazed turkey? Leftover turkey. There’s something special that happens on the weekend over the holiday break where no one wants to cook again, football is on, and it just seems easier to grab for the leftovers.
There’s something about the way that holiday leftovers just keep the spirit going through the week. They’re the flavors we only have once a year…and the calories don’t count that week, right?
In honor of reducing food waste in tasty new ways, we have compiled the top five best ideas for leftover turkey.
How To Reinvent Leftovers With Thanksgiving Turkey
Photo: The Original Dish
1. Cranberry Turkey BLT
We all have a different version of the leftover turkey sandwich, but this one might just be the best. The Original Dish has the right idea taking leftover turkey breast with all the best parts of a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich. This recipe also brings fresh life to leftover cranberries, renewing them as a cranberry bacon jam!
PHOTO BY JULIA GARTLAND PROP STYLIST: MEGAN HEDGPETH FOOD STYLIST: LAUREN LAPENNA.
2. Turkey Noodle Soup
When in doubt, put it in soup! This goes for many Thanksgiving leftovers; roasted vegetables, roasted potatoes, and turkey all make great soup ingredients. This recipe from Food 52 starts with the turkey carcass – no food waste here! A mirepoix of leftover carrots, celery, and onion is a simpler alternative to store-bought broth. Add some red pepper flakes for heat, and you have yourself the perfect after Thanksgiving leftover soup!
Photo: Taste of Home
3. Thanksgiving Casserole
We think all good casseroles have a little leftover in them – a melding of flavors that have been left to sit in the fridge overnight can sometimes be just the magic you need! This Thanksgiving leftover casserole from Taste of Home includes the stuffing, turkey, and cranberries that were part of the main event. Tossing them with pecans, milk, and eggs makes this a meal to rival the one the leftovers came from!
Photo: Savory Nothings
4. Savory Turkey Pot Pie
Savory Nothings speaks every tired mom’s language with this easy, Turkey Pot Pie Recipe. Leftover turkey and vegetables intermingle seamlessly nestled in puff pastry. These are also great to make in a batch and save for weeks to come (who doesn’t love Thanksgiving in December!)
Photo: Simply Whisked
5. Leftover Turkey Salad
Who says the holidays don’t have to be healthy? This Leftover Turkey Salad from Simply Whisked is Keto and Gluten Free, but not short in bold flavor. It’s great on it’s own or nestled between two slices of sourdough bread. This will also buy you time with a three to four-day shelf life in the fridge, meaning you won’t have to cook for at least a full week after Thanksgiving!
Fusion Mac and Cheese Recipes That Will Level Up Your Holidays
SAPi’s Best Fusion Mac and Cheese Recipes For The Holidays
It’s that time of year, are you prepared to shine like the bright diamond you are at your family holiday potluck? You’ll need to go beyond the traditional sides to be able to humblebrag that you brought the best dish to the table. Your Mac and Cheese dish deserves to be more than just a co-star; done right, it deserves top billing.
Mac & Cheese is the holiday classic with an immeasurable contribution to the holiday feast. Feeds kids? Check. Feeds your picky Uncle who isn’t into fancy holiday dishes? 100%. Can fulfill your sister’s current gluten-free, vegan, keto diet? With some swaps, absolutely!
Why not go the extra mile this year and put a spin on the classic? It’s time you take the unspoken holiday win for the best dish, the one that people will request for years to come.
Below we’ve rounded up some fusion Mac & Cheese inspiration from across the web.
(One last note – if you’re not looking for the glory of full credit, there is always someone who is on the Save A Plate APP (SAPi APP) that can do the heavy lifting for you! Connect with a local chef and tag them in a social media post for extra credit! )
Delish’s recipe for Best Ever Keto Mac & Cheese is a game changer that will make you rethink cauliflower. It also pulls double duty in the cheese department with the controversial, but well played, cream cheese. No need to label this one; everyone will like it!
Let’s go with this spicy take on the classic; Taste Two Eggs doesn’t miss a step with their KimChi Mac And Cheese. Perfectly creamy and umami-packed with the at Korean favortie, kimchi. Red Chili paste, chicken broth, and onion crunchies will take you across the globe and back again before Thanksgiving is over.
Honey, What’s Cooking nails it with its Masala Mac and Cheese recipe. We know, this feels like we’re crossing a line when we’re tossing Indian Masala spices into the mix, but trust us, it works! Masala is a mixture of ginger, garlic, onions, and tomatoes sauteed with Indian spices, and the roux that is made as a base for this fusion creation is enough to convince any doubter.
You’ve heard of the loaded potato, and let us introduce, The Toasty Kitchen’sLoaded Mac And Cheese. This is creamy, stomach-warming comfort food at its finest. Scallions, bacon, and a five-cheese blend feature in this masterpiece.
Jalapeno Popper Inspired – Why Didn’t We Think Of This Sooner
Seriously. Why didn’t we think of The Chunky Chef’s Jalapeno Popper Mac and Cheese sooner? We fill like we’ve been robbed of so many holiday side opportunities until this came along. You know this one has all the jalapeno, cream cheese, and panko crumb goodness of your dreams plus a kick of cumin spice to round out the flavors.
We recognize greatness when we see it, and The Chunky Chef really has too many fusion Mac and Cheese recipes to mention, but the Butternut Squash, Gruyere, and White Cheddar Mac and Cheese was too good not to make our list. For one thing, if you’re working with Gruyere, we already know you aren’t messing around. Garlic roasted butternut squash means you aren’t coming to play at the next family get together; you’re coming to win.
Frank’s Red Hot : Classic Buffalo Mac and Cheese
Mac & Cheese That Clearly Wants To Be Chicken Wings
I mean, we all have that friend who carries hot sauce in their purse (thanks, Beyonce), so why not cut to the chase with Frank’s Red Hot Classic Buffalo Mac and Cheese? That’s a mouthful to say, and also to eat. Bleu cheese, hot sauce, and celery make a Mac & Cheese that clearly aspires to be chicken wings. And we like it.
It might be chilly out during the holidays, but Scrummy Lane’sGreek Mac And Cheese will transport your potluck to tropical places. There is no sauce to this one, which some might say disqualifies it, but the secret ingredient, feta, will make you forget all about cheese sauce. Spinach, panko crumbs, and nutmeg take this Mac & Cheese to fusion town.
Asian Fusion 
Indian Fusion
Jalapeno Popper Inspired – Why Didn’t We Think Of This Sooner
When Squash Meets Mac & Cheese 
Mac & Cheese That Clearly Wants To Be Chicken Wings 
Take Me To The Greek Isles