The Thanksgiving dinner is a truly amazing thing and one of the parts that I enjoy most is just getting started when the dinner comes to an end and that is thinking about creative ways to use all of the leftovers. In fact I tend to plan on making more than I believe that will be finished to ensure that there will be enough leftover to experiment with. Although I would be probably be perfectly happy using all of the leftover turkey in my favourite roast turkey sandwiches, I see it almost as a challenge to do something new and creative with the leftovers every year to keep things interesting. There are just so many things that you can do with roast turkey and if you also consider using some of the other leftovers in the same dish like the cranberry sauce or the sweet potato casserole things really start to get really fun. If you roasted a full turkey, don’t throw the carcass out as you can use it to make some turkey stock and that opens up a whole new load of doors for turkey soups and stews. I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some ideas for using your Thanksgiving leftovers in creative ways and so I present to you some of my favourites!
Cranberry and Brie Turkey Grilled Cheese with Avocado and Bacon
Roast Turkey Club Sandwich with Cranberry Sauce
Roast Turkey Cobb Sandwich
Thanksgiving Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Thanksgiving Eggs Benedict
Roast Turkey Cuban Sandwich
Turkey and Squash “Thanksgiving” Risotto
Texmex Hot and Brown
Grilled Turkey and Brie Sandwich with Cranberry Chutney
Roast Turkey Sandwich with Artichoke Tapenade, Caramelized Onions and Roasted Red Peppers
The Rachel Sandwich (aka Roast Turkey Reuben Sandwich)
Turkey and Cranberry Quesadillas
Turkey and Cranberry Sushi
Turkey, Cranberry, Brie and Pear Sandwiches with Avocado and Bacon
Turkey Pho
Ham and Eggs au Gratin
Ham and Bean Soup
Split Pea Soup
Roast Beef Sandwich with Caramelized Onions and Grainy Mustard, Horseradish Mayo
Pot Roast Mushroom Soup
Pot Roast Grilled Cheese French Dip Sandwich with Spicy Miso Au Jus
Cranberry and Brie Turkey Quesadillas with Avocado and Candied Jalapenos
Ham and Pineapple Fried Cauliflower Rice
Cottage Cheese and Egg Muffins with Ham and Cheddar Cheese
Ham and Potato Corn Chowder
Ham and Cheese Egg Casserole
Pot Roast Beef Philly Cheese Steak Dip
Slow Cooker Roast Beef French Dip Sandwich
Pot Roast Sandwich Smothered in Gravy with Melted Swiss Cheese and Horseradish Mayonnaise
More Thanksgiving Recipes
Looking for more thanksgiving recipes? Check out my Thanksgiving Recipes Pinboard!
Great list of leftover ideas. Nice variety of sandwiches.
You're got all the bases covered here, what a great list of ideas!
What a great list of using up leftover!!!
Awesome recipes. I am wondering if you could include the nutritional facts or calories of the meals that you have made.
I think I'll skip the real deal and move over to the leftovers right away!!!
Ooh, they all sound so tasty! I'm just gonna be boring and make a turkey shephard's pie…
great ideas kevin!
How nice of you to think of us Americans. I made zuni cafe chicken instead and if you've never tried it, you will love it! Same left overs apply though.
Wow great leftover ideas, having the family over tonight to eat leftovers, so these are great!
My personal favorite is the Kentucky Hot Brown, but these are all great ideas.
When are you going to produce a Closet Cooking cookbook? They'd make great Christmas presents! I'd buy one for everyone I know!
The Turkey and Brie sandwich looks amazing! I'm Canadian so my Thanksgiving was a while ago, but I may see if I can find some turkey breasts at the store just to try that. 🙂
All great ideas!!!
Fabulous ideas – I think the risotto and chilli are top of my list as favourites.
🙂 Mandy
Wow what a mouthwatering roundup of delicious recipes to try!
that photo of the turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce is making me want to eat turkey again!!! ill fight the urge but yum E!!!!
Your post has me dreaming about the Thanksgiving leftovers I'll be enjoying in a couple of weeks. In fact, I liked your suggestions so much, I shared the link at my own blog:
http://elysasmusingsfromgraceland.blogspot.com/2011/11/anyone-else-dreaming-about-thanksgiving.html
I like your leftover ideas…I may try a grilled pizza if we have enough turkey or ham leftover..if we have alot of mexican fajita meat left over I usually make a grilled pizza from that. You should try something like that. I'm a blogger myself at thewhitedish.wordpress.com Happy Thanksgiving!
Nice — thanks for posting this! One more suggestion for you: a savory brioche/puff (I like Better Homes and Gardens' recipe for Gruyère puffs) makes a fantastic seat for turkey salad or on which to spread cranberry sauce.
I dont eat turkey but man oh man – those recipes look divine (except the sushi one). Great post.
You've done it again! Never ceases to make my mouth water! BRAVO!!!
I can't decide if I would rather have had your turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce for breakfast, or the extra large slice of pumpkin pie that I just indulged in! Thanks for sharing; happy Leftover Day.
-the tasty tRuth
Turkey and cranberries are the best!!
Oh my GOODNESS! definitely making the turkey and brie grilled cheese and the quesadillas. Plus, you had my mouth watering with the description of the turkey, cranberry and mayo combo… love it. Good thing I have more turkey (and leftovers) coming my way this Christmas!
mmm this looks awesome
xoxo aley
http://a-hearts.blogspot.com/
These all look really good. I'm especially interested in trying the sushi.
I used your turkey pho recipe as a base. I also added dried shiitake mushrooms along with the star anise, cloves, etc.- added an extra layer of flavor. Thanks for the recipe- we've started a new (happily, gluten-free) post-thanksgiving tradition!
thankxxxxx 🙂
ah Kevin, you're killing me, man… all the leftover turkey stayed at my folks' place!! :/
So… Much… Turkey… Haha, can't eat anymore turkey!
Natalya @ Ruff House Art
Yummmm definately going to try these out!!!
These are perfect recipes for our thanksgiving left overs. We don't want it to got to waste. We have to savor and enjoy it.
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Creative ideas for leftovers! Thanks for the inspiration!
Oh… at last found all in one, I was struggling a lot to find a good collection for my thanks giving dinner table. Hope I have no hassle next time thanks to you.
Turkey pho! What a great idea! (Also, you forgot an "h") I'll have to try that myself.
You should also try brisket pho! Brisket is even better than the usual rare sliced steak (I come from a Viet household whose momma makes one of the best pho around).
Pauline: Turkey pho is definitely a great way to enjoy the turkey leftovers and to use those turkey bones! I will have to try a brisket pho now!
How wrong is it that I just want to skip Thanksgiving and head right to the leftovers?!
OH KEVIN!!! this looks amazing- I want all of those sandwiches!!!!
Great list of ideas! Thank you
that turkey club sandwich!!!! want!
wow, these are elevated turkey sandwiches, I’ve always only made the simplest turkey sandwiches by comparison, turkey cranberry brie is such a great idea for a sandwich and a spin off of brie and jam or other preverses, cranberry even better, I like it’s flavor and it’s nor overly sweet, like turkey I need to consider cranberry miuch more often than November 24, thank you!