Leftovers often get a bad reputation as boring or uninspired meals. Yet, with a little creativity, they can transform into delicious dishes that save you time and reduce food waste. Instead of tossing out extra food, you can turn it into something fresh and exciting. This post shares 10 inventive leftover meal ideas that help you make the most of what’s left after the holidays.

1. Pulled Turkey Sandwiches

Move over pork, its time for turkey to shine. Nothing goes better with shredded meat than a nice, smoky barbeque sauce. Top it with some slaw, pickles, or cheese for a perfect bite that doesn't taste like Thanksgiving.

Recipe Ingredients: 

1/2lb leftover turkey

4 buns

1 bottle barbeque sauce

Optional: Coleslaw

Optional: Cheddar cheese slices

Stovetop Instructions:

1. In a medium heat pan, add shredded turkey and reheat for about 3-4 minutes, or until warm.

2. While turkey is heating, toast buns until slightly browned and set aside.

3. Add 1/2 bottle of BBQ sauce to a bowl. Mix in the warm shredded turkey and let sit together for a few minutes.

4. Optional: Add coleslaw to the top bun of each sandwich.

5. Stack bbq-covered turkey onto the bottom bun. Optional: Top with cheddar cheese.

6. Put both sides together and viola, the perfect pulled turkey sandwich!

For an additional different recipe see Pillsbury's Georgia-Style recipe.

2. Ham and Bean Soup

Soups are perfect for using up leftovers without much work. Dice leftover ham into cubes (or don't, its your choice!) and brown in a hot pan to render the fat, toss in some celery and diced up carrots (leftover even better) for a hearty soup.

Recipe Ingredients:

Diced carrots

Cubed ham

Diced celery

Diced onions

1(15oz) can of white beans

2 tsp parsley

32oz Vegetable broth

Stovetop Instructions:

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Crockpot Instructions:

1. In a stovetop pan on medium, cook down the fat from the cubed ham. Add in celery, onions, and carrots to the rendered fat and cook until onions are soft.

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3. Macaroni Casserole

Macaroni and cheese is a staple of American holiday meals, and what better way to reuse them than in the form of a casserole. Throw in some cubed ham, some turkey, or some broccoli to turn this simple side dish into a main course meal. If you're tired of the holiday meats, another great option is adding ground beef and some garlic powder.

Recipe:

1lb of macaroni and cheese

1lb of broccoli

Optional: 1/2lb shredded turkey or cubed ham

Optional: 1/2c of breadcrumbs for the top

Optional: 1/2c cheddar cheese

*Note: Proportions of items can be as much or as little as you want (or have left)!

Oven Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.

2. Combine macaroni, broccoli, and turkey together in a large bowl and mix well.

3. Fill casserole dish with an even layer of mixture.

4. Optional: Top with breadcrumb and/or shredded cheese before baking.

5. Bake for 25 minutes, until slightly browned.

6. Serve.

For a from-scratch recipe, see Flavorful Life's recipe.

4. White Turkey Chili

Move over chicken, it's time for turkey to shine. With all the traditional fixings of white chicken chili, the turkey variation gives you the same flavor, without all the work.

Recipe Ingredients:

1 McCormick White Chicken Chili Seasoning Packet

1/2lb Leftover Turkey

1/2c Chopped Onion or Celery (or both!)

1/2c leftover yellow corn

1 can (15oz) of white cannelli beans

Crockpot Instructions:

1. Add turkey, corn, onion and/or celery, and beans into crockpot.

2. Add 2 cups of water to pot and add seasoning packet.

3. Adjust water as needed to meet desired amount.

4. Stir.

5. Let cook on low for 4 - 6 hours for a developed flavor.

Stovetop Instructions:

1. In a pan on medium heat, add 1tbsp of oil or butter and the onion/celery.

2. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until onions are slightly soft.

3. Add corn, turkey, and beans to the pan.

4. Mix in seasoning packet and 1 cup of water to the pan.

5. Let simmer for another 5 - 8 minutes, then serve.

6. Top with shredded cheese, green onions, sour cream, or any other preferred topping.

For the McCormick recipe, click here.

5. Turkey Cheese Quesadillas

Why stick with traditional holiday flavors, when you can spice it up? Turkey is a perfect filler for quesadillas, with its versatile flavor and protein hearty nature. Cheese, green onions, sauteed bell peppers, or jalapenos; the choices of filling are endless. Add a hint of cumin and garlic powder for a tasty Spanish twist.

Recipe Ingredients: 

4 medium size tortillas

1/2lb shredded turkey

1/2c shredded cheddar

1tbsp oil or butter

Stovetop Instructions:

1. In a pan on medium heat, add 1 tbsp oil or 1tbsp butter. Place one tortilla in pan.

2. Top with 1/4c shredded cheese and 1/4lb turkey. Optional: Add additional toppings like onion, broccoli stuffing, etc. Add tortilla on top.

3. Cook on one side for 3-4 minutes until cheese begins to melt, then flip and cook the other side for an addition 3-4 minutes.

4. Repeat with the remaining 2 tortillas and 1/4c cheese and 1/4c turkey.

For a more sophisticated quesadilla, see The Family Food Kitchen recipe here.

6. Grilled Cheese w/ Ham

There is nothing more comforting than a grilled cheese with ham, and what better ham than one carved right from the source. Add mayo or tomatoes to enhance the grilled cheese flavor, or pair with some delicious tomato soup.

Recipe Ingredients: 

2-3 slices of Thanksgiving ham

2 slices of bread

2 sliced of cheddar cheese

Optional: Sliced tomato

1 tbsp butter

Stovetop Instructions:

1. Butter one side of each slice of bread.

2. Set one slice into a heated pan, on medium heat.

3. Add one slice of cheese, then the ham. Top with 2nd slice of cheese and add the 2nd bread slice.

4. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until browned then flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes until cheese is fully melted.

For another great recipe, check out Villari Food's recipe.

7. Stuffing Turkey Meatballs

It might sound weird, but it is not a far stretch from the standard breadcrumb and milk soak that goes into regular meatballs. With the unique flavor profile of stuffing, its a fun holiday twist on meatballs. It is great served with a side of cranberry sauce. For the recipe, see it here.

8. Ham and Cheese Sliders

What is Thanksgiving without dinner rolls? If you manage to have some leftover, they make the perfect vehicle for a delicious slider to enjoy alone, or with friends.

Recipe Ingredients: 

Leftover Thanksgiving ham

6 to 8 rolls

6 to 8 Swiss Cheese slices

4tbsp Butter

1tsp Garlic powder or 1 tbsp minced garlic

1tsp Parsley

Oven Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.

2. Assemble sliders in a casserole dish, with ham and cheese on each roll.

3. Melt 4tbsp of butter and mix in parsley and garlic.

4. Brush butter mix over the top of the sliders, and make for 15 to 20 minutes, until warm and melted.

5. Enjoy!

For an elevated slider recipe, check out I Heart Naptime's post.

9. Frittata with Leftover Ingredients

A frittata is an easy way to use leftover vegetables, meats, and cheese. Add some egg and it turns any item into a delicious servable meal for any time of day. Frittatas are great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and can be served hot or cold.

Recipe Ingredients: 

6 eggs

1/4 milk

Any filling you'd like!

Filling ideas: Cheddar and Ham, Broccoli and Cheddar, Turkey Tomato & Swiss, Turkey and Stuffing, Corn Onion Cheddar and Turkey, the possibilities are endless.

Oven Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.

2. Crack all the eggs into a bowl and whisk. Add milk, and whisk again.

3. Add filling to the egg mixture and stir until evenly distributed.

4. Pour into a cake pan or casserole dish and cook for 20-25 minutes.

5. Internal temperature should be 160F, and be firm without any runny egg left.

6. Slice and serve!

For additional non-Thanksgiving ideas, check out Love and Lemons.

10. Homemade Pot Pie

What better way to round out some leftovers than a warm, comforting pot pie? Leftover carrots, turkey, green beans, and corn turn this traditional meal into a perfect combination of filling, and clearing out the fridge.

Example: Use leftover gravy for the pot pie filling.

For this recipe, check out Serious Eats' recipe.

BONUS RECIPE: Tinga Style Turkey Tacos

Shredded turkey is a great base for some tinga style tacos. Fresh cilantro, diced red onion, and a squeeze of lime turns the classic Thanksgiving into taco Tuesday special.

Recipe Ingredients: 

2 Canned chipotles in adobo, coarsely

1c chicken broth

2tbsp minced garlic, or 3 fresh minced garlic cloves

1 (28oz) can diced tomatoes

Thinly sliced white onion

1lb leftover turkey

12 Corn tortillas

Cojita cheese

3 limes

Cilantro, chopped

Stovetop Instructions:

1. Combine garlic, tomatoes, onions and chicken broth into a pot.

2. Coarsely chop chipotles and add them into the pot, along with the adobo sauce.

3. Let simmer on medium heat for approximately 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Add in turkey and mix together into the sauce, let simmer for another 10 minutes.

5. Toast or pan-fry corn tortillas.

6. Top with the turkey tinga mix, sprinkle some cojita cheese, top with cilantro and serve with a wedge of lime.

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