How to Use Up All of Your Thanksgiving Leftovers

Many families end up with lots of leftovers, and you never want to see all that food go to waste. Let’s talk about a few ways to use up all of your Thanksgiving leftovers.

A cozy, rustic dining room with a table full of Thanksgiving leftovers—pies, rolls, turkey, vegetables, and pumpkins. Warm sunlight streams in. Text reads, "How to Use up all of your Thanksgiving Leftovers.

Blessings of Abundance

We are truly blessed to live in a land of such abundance! When it comes to sharing a Thanksgiving meal, we usually have more than we need.

You can send food home with family and friends, but if they are still full from the meal, they may take less food home. This may still leave you with extras.

Here are a few ways to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers.

Basic Ideas to Use Leftovers

Most of these are just common sense, but it helps to have it all in one place. Here are a few basic ideas:

Freeze meats and other dishes to use later.
Make individual lunches for the week ahead.
Have take out containers for everyone to make a plate before they leave.
Use some of the leftovers to morph into other meals.

Recipes & Ideas

Keep in mind that pretty much any recipe that calls for chicken can use turkey. In many cases, turkey can even replace beef, pork, or fish. With that in mind, remember the soups I posted – Seven of My Favorite Quick and Easy Soups, Including My Dad’s Famous Stew!

Fiesta Chicken & Taco Soup

Use turkey instead of chicken in soups.

A large pot of Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup with a yellow base and chunks of tomatoes simmers on the stovetop. In the background, a decorative plaque reads, "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Get the recipe for Fiesta Chicken Soup here.

Turkey Pot Pie

You can also use your leftover vegetables in this dish. If you wanted, you could use extra mashed potatoes instead of the crust and make a Shepherd’s Pie instead. The crust is so delicious though!

A white plate with a serving of mixed vegetable pot pie featuring golden, flaky crust and creamy filling with peas, carrots, green beans, and corn. The plate sits on a table adorned with a white, fringed tablecloth and green foliage decor.

See the recipe here – substitute turkey for chicken.

Spanish Chicken and Rice

This recipe is so easy and can be made in the oven or a crock pot.

A plate of Spanish rice topped with a red salsa and a mixture of chicken and shredded cheese sits on a white plate. The plate is placed on a wooden table with a white, fringed table runner and leafy green decor in the background.

See this easy but delicious recipe here.

My 15 Minute Meal with Chicken (Turkey)

Get creative with this one. Almost any vegetables could be added here.

A frying pan on a stovetop contains a mixture of rice, black beans, diced tomatoes, and chopped vegetables, topped with a large portion of fresh cilantro. A spatula rests in the pan, and the stove burner is on.

A skillet on a stovetop contains a colorful rice dish with black beans, tomatoes, herbs, and vegetables. A white spatula rests on the edge of the skillet, ready to stir the mixture.

Fascinations

I found many more ideas online. These include ideas for more than just the meat.

Here is a link to the Food Network’s site with a plethora of information on Thanksgiving leftovers.

I love this site! She has amazing recipes. I really like her Turkey Tacos idea. See where Miz Helen’s Country Cottage shares her ideas here.

Great Finds

These are great disposable storage containers to either use yourself or send home with guests. Our son used to bring these home with food from restaurants. I loved them so much that I always washed them and reused them. They are freezer safe and microwaveable – very handy!

Twelve clear plastic containers with white lids are stacked in three columns, filled with various foods—an ideal setup for organizing and storing meals when figuring out how to use up all of your Thanksgiving leftovers.

Three clear, stackable glass food containers filled with broccoli, cereal, and fresh berries make easy meals. The top container’s lid is open, revealing the fresh ingredients inside.

A square image with text disclosing affiliate links—clicking may earn a small commission at no extra charge. Only favorite new finds for busy seasons of life or personally used products are ever recommended.

I hope this post gave you some ideas to use up all of your Thanksgiving leftovers. Please share any thoughts you have or ways you use your leftovers.

Ideas for a Traditional Thanksgiving Menu
Simple Easter Menu Ideas

Until next time,

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“When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy.” Psalms 94:19

How to Use Up All of Your Thanksgiving Leftovers

Blessings of Abundance

Basic Ideas to Use Leftovers