Thanksgiving Leftovers: What to Do with All that Turkey

Americans like to eat on Thanksgiving. However, come Black Friday, all that food that filled the table fills the refrigerator, posing the question: what do you do with all those leftovers?

Sandwiches: the ever-popular turkey slider

There are the usual favorites, like sandwiches. If you're looking for the easiest way to reuse those leftovers, turkey sandwiches are the go-to staple for many American families after the rush of Thanksgiving feasts ends, and it's easy to get creative and impress your guests and your taste buds.  

"Turkey sandwiches are a great way to use Thanksgiving leftovers," said Brendan Edwards, a chef from Michael Symon's Detroit restaurant, Roast.

Turkey sliders are a great example.  Did you have crescent or bread rolls yesterday? Cut the rolls in half, add three slices of turkey, a little stuffing, and cranberry sauce for a touch of sweet. If you want, you can even drizzle a little gravy on it.  Make as many as you need, then put them open-faced in an oven at 350 degrees, or in a conventional oven set to "toast."  Either way, place the top portion of the roll next to it to toast dry. After about 8 minutes, take them out and you have hot turkey sliders—a twist on leftover sandwiches!

Desserts: turning pie into brunch

But what about all of that pie?  Some families even have cake or cinnamon rolls—everyone loves the dessert after the turkey. One of the best solutions for families hosting members from out of town is to make a gourmet "bed-and-breakfast" the morning with the sweeter leftovers. 

Put on a pot of coffee and put the pumpkin pie in the oven. Have some almonds or walnuts laying around? Put them in a bowl in the center of the table.  If you have apples, pears, or anything other seasonal fruits and berries in your kitchen, cut them up and lay them out on a plate in the center of the table.  

With hot pumpkin pie, nuts for protein, coffee, and fruit, you and your guests will enjoy a relaxing morning after a busy day of family activity. Plus, the sugar rush doesn't hurt after a long night of joking and reminiscing.  The great part of this is that no matter what your dessert was yesterday, it will works.  

Vegetables: pleasing even the pickiest eaters

But what if you have  vegetarians in the family whose stomachs are growling the afternoon after everyone else enjoyed turkey? One of the best parts about Thanksgiving, however, is the variety: mashed potatoes, corn, roasted vegetables, sweet potatoes and other vegetable-based dishes are easily converted at lunch time. 

For example, sweet potatoes and corn make great side dishes for a roasted vegetable panini, or additional sides to those turkey sliders. If you have a panini-press at home, the vegetable panini is one of the easiest leftover solutions to any meal. Get two slices of bread, butter or lightly brush with oil each piece, then flip them over.  On the dry side of one piece of bread, pile three layers of roasted vegetables. Next, if your vegetarian still has dairy, try throwing on some parmesan, feta or any other cheese they love. Top this with the other slice of bread and pop it in the panini press. 

While it's cooking, put any vegetable side dish in the microwave; stir every thirty seconds until the desired temperature. Put all the components on a plate, and while some family members have turkey sliders, your vegetarian may enjoy a vegetarian panini.

Make sure to heat up the starchier leftovers, though; they don't freeze as well as foods like turkey and dessert.

When there's just too much to go around: turning to your freezer for help

Don't feel pressured, however, to eat all your leftovers the first three days after Thanksgiving. 

"One of the best and easiest things to do with Thanksgiving leftovers is to make a turkey stew. Put some vegetable or chicken stock on the stove, and throw in all the vegetables and turkey. Cook some wild rice and add that, too.  You can freeze the stew and thaw it anytime for a ready-made, healthy meal," said Edwards.

So when Christmas time comes, and you are feeling stressed about once again cooking a massive meal, feel free to open the freezer and enjoy the benefits of Thanksgiving leftovers once more on Christmas—just don't tell the rest of the family your secret to stress-free holiday cooking!