While many people are still in the process of planning for their Thanksgiving dinner, I am already gathering recipes to make the most of my Thanksgiving leftovers. Food isn’t free, you spent money on that turkey and throwing away the leftovers is the same thing as tossing out money. While you may have eaten more turkey than you want to think about, there are yummy recipes out there that will make you forget your main ingredient was once Thanksgiving dinner.

What about turning your tired leftover turkey into spunky turkey tortilla soup? There’s a recipe for that! Cut 3 (6 inch) corn tortillas into strips, fry them in some oil until crisp, and let them cool on a paper towel. Meanwhile, boil some chicken broth and salsa, throw in some turkey, leftover corn or other veggies if you have some, and whatever Mexican seasonings you have on hand. When it’s warmed put the soup in bowls and add the tortilla strips on top. I’m adding a little sour cream to mine and sprinkling cheese on top. Doesn’t sound like a traditional turkey dish at all does it!

Get creative with the leftovers you have on hand. You can use turkey in a casserole and mix in any leftover veggies, pasta, or rice you have on hand. If you aren’t feeling like a creative cook, Google leftover turkey casserole recipes and see what pops up.

Ways to use leftover turkey include:

  • -Soups
  • -Casseroles
  • -Simple sandwiches
  • -Rolls ups
  • -Stir Fry

My husbands very favorite thing about Thanksgiving is being able to make a “moist maker”. It’s a sandwich from an episode of Friends. Smear some mashed potatoes on a slice of bread, place a little turkey on top, and pour on a little gravy. For days after Thanksgiving my husband will say “I’m going to get a snack, do you want a moist maker?”

When you just can’t stand to eat one more bite of turkey it’s time to freeze it! Store your turkey in an airtight container and bring it out one week when you’re running low on groceries. By then you’ll be over your Thanksgiving turkey issues and it’ll be a treat.

No matter if you have just a pound of turkey left or ten pounds it’s better to use your leftovers than throw them away. Do you have a great way to use up leftover turkey? If so we’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment with tips or even if you just want to say hi. Happy Thanksgiving!