12 Creative Ways to Use Thanksgiving Leftovers

Posted by:Lindsay S. Nixon Category: Holiday

Before I get into how to use your Thanksgiving leftovers, just a little reminder that I'm hosting a LIVE webinar Q&A on Monday December 2nd at 9pm EST/6pm PST. For more details and to RSVP, check out the Facebook event page!

Admittedly, I'm not a big fan of leftovers, but I find Thanksgiving foods are an exception. (I'm a glutton for mashed potatoes and gravy...). I've also found creative ways to repurpose my leftovers into a new dish, too.

For example, last year we had a ton of cornbread leftover (I'm not really sure how that happened) so I repurposed it into the "Chorizo" and Cornbread Stuffing in (HHC, p. 196).

So here are some ideas on how to give your leftovers a makeover!

Sweet Potatoes: Leftover sweet potatoes can turn into a new meal (use your meal plan recipes as your guide -- we utilized sweet potatoes as an entree many times on the plans! Especially for breakfast and dinner) or make twice-baked sweet potatoes!

(The Loaded Mexican Potatoes are featured on this week's Healthy + Detox family meal plan!)

Bread: Use leftover bread to make Bread Pudding (HHA, p. 156, French Toast or Marmalade French Toast EHH, p. 40). You can also make croutons and bruschetta (like the Breakfast Fruit Bruschetta featured on the meal plans!)

Mashed Potatoes: I've made a makeshift Shepard's pie using up leftover mashed potatoes, green beans + other veg, and mushroom gravy (I thinned it out with broth + almond milk).

Cranberry Sauce: I'm almost embarrassed to admit how much I like baked tofu covered in cranberry sauce!

(or on my pancakes -- it makes a great topping for Courtney's Waffles (HHA, p. 160) too!)

Corn: Use leftover corn to make Corn Pudding (HHC, p. 173) or Aztec Corn Soup (HHC, p. 61).

Stuffing: Take some of that leftover stuffing and stuff some mushrooms! Just sub the pesto in the Pesto-Stuffed Mushrooms (HHA, p. 99).

Green beans: Give those green beans a makeover by turning them into a Skillet Green Bean Casserole (HHA, p. 270).

Pumpkin Puree: Not sure what to do with that leftover pumpkin puree? See my previous post on 8 different ways you can reuse it (with recipes!!)

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