Skip to content
collage of foods to make with Thanksgiving leftovers

Even if Thanksgiving is your favorite meal of the year, you might be hungry for something a little different by day three or four of its leftovers.

Luckily, you can do a lot with the Turkey Day remnants in your fridge. Give them a bit of new life with these recipes.

Turkey Fried Rice

turkey fried rice

Makes 4 servings  •  Prep time 10 minutes  •  Cook time 20 minutes

  • 2 tbs. sesame oil, divided
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 large carrot, diced
  • ½ medium white onion, diced
  • 3 green onions, sliced, plus more for garnish
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp. minced fresh ginger
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 3 cups leftover cooked rice, any variety
  • 2 cups shredded leftover turkey
  • ½ cup frozen peas
  • 3 tbs. soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminos
  1. Preheat a wok or saucepan over medium-high heat.
  2. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil and swirl to coat the pan evenly.
  3. Add the diced vegetables and cook until tender, about four to five minutes.
  4. Add the green onions, garlic, and ginger, and cook until fragrant, about one minute more.
  5. Create a well to the bottom of the pan in the middle of the cooked vegetables, add the eggs, and stir. Continue cooking to a soft scramble.
  6. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the pan, then add the rice, turkey, frozen peas, and soy sauce. Stir to mix thoroughly, and continue cooking until everything is heated through, about three to five minutes.
  7. Serve hot, garnished with additional green onions if desired.

Mashed-Potato Pancake

mashed potato pancake

Makes 4 servings  •  Prep time 10 minutes  •  Cook time 15 minutes

  • 1 egg
  • 1½ cups leftover mashed potatoes
  • ¼ cup potato starch or cornstarch
  • ½ tsp. sea salt
  • ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 green onions, sliced
  • 1 tbs. minced chives, plus more for garnish
  • 1–3 tbs. milk, as needed
  • 1 tbs. butter
  • 1 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt, for serving
  1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the egg until lightly beaten.
  2. Add the mashed potatoes and sprinkle with the potato starch, salt, pepper, green onions, and chives. Mix until combined. If needed, add milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the mixture resembles a thick batter.
  3. Preheat a cast-iron or other heavy skillet over medium heat, then add the butter and oil.
  4. Add the potato mixture to the pan and spread into an even layer about ½ inch thick. Cover and cook for about eight minutes, or until the bottom is deeply golden brown.
  5. Flip the pancake and continue cooking for another three to four minutes, or until browned on the second side.
  6. Slice into wedges and serve with additional chives or sour cream, if desired.

Turkey and Stuffing Dumplings

turkey and stuffing dumplings

Makes 4 to 6 servings  •  Prep time 25 minutes  •  Cook time 30 minutes plus 2 hours for the bone broth

Pressure Cooker Bone Broth

  • 1 turkey carcass
  • 3 carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 3 celery stalks, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 1 tbs. apple-cider vinegar
  • 1 tbs. sea salt
  • Fresh herbs such as sage, thyme, or rosemary (optional)

Stew

  • 3 tbs. butter
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • ½ tbs. minced fresh rosemary
  • ½ tbs. minced fresh sage
  • ½ tbs. fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 tbs. cornstarch
  • 4 cups Pressure Cooker Bone Broth (or store-bought chicken or turkey stock)
  • 3 cups shredded leftover turkey
  • Sea salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • ¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish

 Stuffing Dumplings

  • 2 cups leftover stuffing
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • ½ cup oat flour (plus more as needed)
  • ¼ cup plain, full-fat Greek yogurt (plus more as needed)
  • 1 tsp. baking soda

Make the bone broth (if using):

  1. In a pressure cooker, add the turkey carcass, carrots, celery, onion, vinegar, salt, and optional herbs.
  2. Add enough water to completely submerge the bones, then seal and cook on high pressure for two hours. Allow the cooker to depressurize naturally, then strain the broth with a fine-mesh strainer.
  3. Set aside four cups for the stew and dumplings; refrigerate or freeze the rest.

For the stew:

  1. Preheat a Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, then add the butter and heat until it’s melted.
  2. Add the onions, carrots, celery, rosemary, sage, and thyme, cooking until tender, about six to eight minutes. Sprinkle in the cornstarch and stir until the vegetables are evenly coated.
  3. Slowly pour in the broth, stirring continuously and scraping anything off the bottom of the pan. Add the shredded turkey. Bring the mixture to a low simmer, then taste and add salt or pepper as needed.
  4. Allow to simmer uncovered while preparing the dumplings.

Prepare the dumplings:

  1. Add the leftover stuffing to a large mixing bowl and break it up into small chunks with a spoon.
  2. Add the egg, oat flour, Greek yogurt, and baking soda, and mix well.
  3. Add extra yogurt or oat flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the mixture holds together when compressed.

Bring it all together:

  1. Add the peas and parsley to the stew and stir to combine, then use a cookie scoop or large spoon to gently drop golf-ball-size dumplings into the stew.
  2. Stir to distribute the dumplings.
  3. Cover and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the dumplings are cooked through.
  4. Serve hot, garnished with additional fresh parsley if desired.

Baked Brie With Cranberry Sauce

baked brie with cranberry sauce

Makes 4 servings  •  Prep time 5 minutes  •  Cook time 15 minutes

  • 8 oz. Brie wheel
  • ¼ cup cranberry sauce
  • 1 tbs. honey

For Serving

  • Apple or pear slices
  • Whole grain bread
  • Seed crackers
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Score the Brie on the top, just through the rind, in a grid pattern and place in a ceramic baking dish.
  3. Bake the Brie for 10 minutes, or until gooey in the center.
  4. Add the cranberry sauce over the top of the cheese and bake for an additional two to three minutes, or until heated through.
  5. Drizzle with honey and serve hot with fresh apple or pear slices, bread, or seed crackers.
Photographer: Terry Brennan; Food Stylist: Betsy Nelson
Maddie
Maddie Augustin

Maddie Augustin is a Minneapolis-based recipe developer.

Thoughts to share?

This Post Has 0 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT

More Like This

a variety of fall squash and mushrooms.

4 Hearty Plant-Forward Recipes for the Holidays

By Maddie Augustin

These entrées bring plants to the center of your holiday table.

Back To Top