Life

15 Ways to Use Up Thanksgiving Leftovers Because You Can Only Handle So Many Turkey Sandwiches

Gird your loins, my friends. Thanksgiving came and went — and just when you thought this holiday business was done, it’s time to face your biggest challenge yet: Finishing the leftovers.

Don’t get me wrong — I love a good turkey sandwich every now and again. All you need is an old dinner roll, spread with cranberry sauce and piled high with the good stuff, and you can pretend like you’re still on holiday, even if it’s just lunch hour at the office. But then, you get to that fourth sandwich, and you simply can’t go on. The turkey! The stuffing! The green bean casserole! Everything that once seemed glorious now makes you weep for the days of kale salads and green juice.

We’re here to help. Sure, go ahead and have that first sandwich, but after that, all bets are off. This year, we pulled every trick in the leftovers book, from classic pot pie to the Hawaiian-inspired flatbread you did not see coming. Open up that fridge and dig out the turkey. You can do this.

Image: Damn Delicious

by Lisa Siva

Breakfast Hash

Finally awake from that food coma? Throw all your leftovers into a skillet and call it breakfast, à la How Sweet Eats.

Image: How Sweet Eats

Baked Eggs

Or, if you’re feeling fancy, tuck your leftovers into a ramekin and top it off with an egg. Thanks, the Gouda Life!

Image: The Gouda Life

Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich

Got leftover biscuits? Heather Christo shows us how to turn them into the best breakfast sandwich ever.

Image: Heather Christo

Grilled Cheese

Take your grilled cheese to the next level with a little turkey. How Sweet Eats pairs hers with blackberries, but this sandwich would be just as good with cranberry sauce.

Image: How Sweet Eats

Pho

After all that binge eating, you’re going to need a detox — and pho is just the thing. What Liberty Ate tops hers with beef, but we’ll be reaching for that turkey.

Image: What Liberty Ate

Bacon Pizza

Since everything’s better with bacon, How Sweet Eats spices up her turkey with pork belly.

Image: How Sweet Eats

Quesadillas

If you can’t look at another sandwich again, try your hand at a quesadilla. Cookie Monster Cooking slips in a few slices of apple to keep things light.

Image: Cookie Monster Cooking

BLT Tacos

Extra tortillas? Use them in How Sweet Eats’ genius, bacon-studded tacos.

Image: How Sweet Eats

Pinwheels

These adorable pinwheels are perfect for snacking. Crepes of Wrath rolls hers up with cherry tomatoes and bacon, but feel free to use whatever you have on hand.

Image: Crepes of Wrath

Hawaiian BBQ Flatbread

Had enough of the old turkey-cranberry sauce combo? Shake it up with Damn Delicious’ zesty flatbread.

Image: Damn Delicious

Tater Tots

Surprise! If you have mashed potatoes, you’re already halfway to tater tots. Taste and Tell breaks it down.

Image: Taste and Tell

Pot Pie

Now, for the mother of all Thanksgiving leftovers: Pot pie — aka the perfect place to hide all that extra turkey. Thanks, Back to Her Roots!

Image: Back to Her Roots

Polenta Casserole

Little Leopard Book brightens up her old turkey with fresh tomatoes and creamy polenta.

Image: A Little Leopard Book

Spring Rolls

When all else fails, my go-to is always spring rolls. They’re quick, light, and pretty much down for whatever leftovers you feel like stuffing inside. Half Baked Harvest goes for chicken — but, well, you know what to do.

Image: Half Baked Harvest

Cranberry Slab Pie

Guess what? Cranberry sauce isn’t just for turkey anymore. Give it a second chance in this stunning slab pie from Kitchen Confidante.

Image: Kitchen Confidante

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