These healthy Thanksgiving leftovers ideas are the perfect way to turn basic Thanksgiving leftovers into unique meals! From leftover turkey to leftover veggies, these ideas are quick, healthy, and full of flavor, so you can enjoy your Thanksgiving leftovers without going to waste.
Table of contents
Make boring leftovers fun again with these healthy Thanksgiving leftovers ideas! After Thanksgiving dinner, you may find yourself with plenty of leftovers. However, eating the same thing next week may not sound as appetizing.
That’s where these recipes come in handy! You can use every bit of leftovers so nothing goes to waste. This list includes recipes using leftover turkey, vegetables, potatoes, rice or stuffing, and even cranberry sauce! If you want to learn how to make healthy dinner recipes with Thanksgiving leftovers, these recipes are perfect for you.
Why you’ll love these recipes
- Reduce preparation work: These recipes are so easy to make because you already make most of what you need!
- Interesting twist: Instead of simply reheating leftovers, you can add them to these recipes to make them even more exciting and delicious.
- No waste: Instead of throwing away the leftovers, you can reinvent them. No more food waste!
Leftover Turkey Breast Recipe
Here’s how to get creative with leftover roasted turkey breast in these delicious recipes:
Add a cozy touch to a Mexican-inspired meal with these turkey tacos! Instead of ground turkey, chop up some leftover turkey and use it in this recipe. Shredded turkey is mixed with seasonings, sautéed onions and peppers and then wrapped in a gooey cheese tortilla. This is a unique spin on leftover turkey that you’ll use over and over again.
This Slow Cooker Turkey Soup is a great way to turn leftover Thanksgiving turkey into comforting goodness. Blended with vegetables, beans, and delicious spices, this is the perfect comfort dish that can almost be made in the slow cooker!
Slow Cooker Turkey Quesadillas are a great way to use up leftover turkey from Thanksgiving! Instead of cooking the turkey in the slow cooker, you add leftover turkey to the slow cooker along with spices and salsa. Just reduce the cooking time and you’re good to go! When ready, serve turkey on a tortilla and top with your favorite taco toppings like sour cream, guacamole, or even a dollop of cranberry jalapeños for a festive touch!
This easy turkey and butternut squash chili is the perfect way to repurpose leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. You’ll use leftover shredded or shredded turkey as your protein base, rather than ground turkey. Then you add turkey to butternut squash and delicious spices for a comforting and satisfying meal!
Turkey Spinach Dumpling Soup is a great way to use up leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. This recipe uses ground turkey, but you can substitute it with leftover turkey. Then you’ll add spinach, white beans, and dumplings for a hearty, comforting meal that’s both healthy and satisfying!
Ditch the chicken, grab some leftover turkey and make these Grilled Chicken Taco Bowls with Cilantro Lime Quinoa! Serve turkey over cilantro-lime quinoa, add your favorite veggies, and squeeze the lime and salsa over the top.
This healthy taco soup is just as delicious using leftover turkey instead of chicken! Shred or chop the turkey and add to the soup base along with the beans, tomatoes and seasonings. Boil them together and you’ll have a comforting and delicious soup in no time.
Swap the turkey for chicken in this delicious lunch recipe. Can be used on sandwiches, wraps, salads and more. This is also a great option for using up leftover dinner rolls.
How to prepare leftover turkey for recipes
Here’s an easy way to prepare leftover turkey for use in your favorite leftover recipes:
- Remove any remaining meat from the turkey carcass.
- If you have large pieces of meat, you can shred or shred them.
- Store leftover turkey meat in the refrigerator for a few days to use in your favorite recipes.
Pro tip: Don’t throw away turkey carcasses! You can make your own turkey stock by simmering the bones in water with spices and vegetables for several hours to create a flavorful broth for soups and stews.
leftover vegetable recipes
Don’t overlook all those delicious leftover vegetables. Here are some creative ways to use leftover vegetables.
Roasted minestrone is the perfect way to use up those leftover veggies from Thanksgiving. Leftover veggies tossed with pasta, tomato sauce, and lots of mozzarella cheese make for a comforting and nutritious dish!
These Honey Balsamic Roasted Vegetable Bowls turn leftover Thanksgiving veggies into hearty, filling bowls! The recipe calls for a mix of hearty vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, and Brussels sprouts, but you can easily substitute any leftover vegetables. Toss everything in a delicious honey balsamic glaze and bake until caramelized. You can add some rice, tzatziki, hummus, or whatever you like to make your own bowl!
Lemony Brussels Sprouts and Bacon Pasta is a delicious way to repurpose leftover Thanksgiving Brussels sprouts! This recipe combines leftover Brussels sprouts with crispy bacon, Parmesan cheese, fresh lemon juice, and high-fiber pasta for a light yet flavorful pasta dish.
This easy salad is a great way to use up roasted veggies and leftover rice from a holiday meal. Add remaining nuts, dried cranberries or cheese from the appetizer board.
Swap leftover veggies for fresh roasted veggies into a delicious chicken and rice bowl with Mediterranean dressing.
Here are some great ideas for using leftover cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, and more.
Slow Cooker Cranberry Pork Recipe is the perfect way to use up leftover cranberry sauce! Lean pork roast simmered in the slow cooker with leftover cranberry sauce gives it a slightly sweet and tangy flavor. Serve with some mashed potatoes or polenta for a comforting holiday-style meal.
These turkey pinwheels combine turkey, spinach, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and dried cranberries. However, you can swap out the dried cranberries and use leftover cranberry sauce instead! Then, roll everything into a tortilla for a quick, satisfying appetizer or make-ahead lunch.
This Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash is perfect for using up those leftover sweet potatoes from Thanksgiving! Everything is cooked in the skillet, along with your choice of veggies, turkey sausage and eggs for a hearty breakfast. Top with cheese, avocado, or any of your favorite toppings!
Skip the meat and make these sweet potato tacos with black beans! Grab the leftover sweet potatoes and roast them with black beans, veggies, and spices. Pour everything into tortilla shells and add your favorite toppings for a fun twist on leftover Thanksgiving sweet potatoes!
Sweet Potato and Spinach Egg Muffins are the perfect mini frittata that are easy to make, nutritious and can be kept in the refrigerator or freezer to take on the go.
Chicken Quinoa Bowl is a healthy and delicious dish that combines grilled marinated chicken breast with steamed quinoa, fresh vegetables and tons of toppings.
FAQ
What other recipes can I make with leftover turkey?
There are so many fun ways to use leftover turkey. Here are some other creative ways to use leftover turkey:
- Turkey Enchiladas
- turkey sandwich
- turkey casserole
- Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
- turkey pot pie
Pro tip: If you have a recipe that uses chicken, you can substitute it with leftover turkey!
Are these recipes suitable for children?
Many of these recipes, like tacos, taco bowls, and soups, are perfect for kids! You can customize the toppings or flavors to suit their taste preferences.
