I hope everyone who celebrated Thanksgiving had a great day full of plenty of stuffing and pies!
We celebrated with a sea salt overnight brined turkey, stuffing, roasted carrots, creamy mashed potatoes, soft potato rolls and a oreo chocolate mousse pie (recipe coming soon!). We had a nice dinner, lit a few candles, cats each had their own bowl and we got down to business. Essy who has the best nose in the business, smelled the Butterball turkey as soon as it was unwrapped the night prior. Essy would eat turkey every single day of her life if she could, it really is the greatest day for her. She begins to pace the kitchen as soon as she gets the first whiff of the turkey (cooked or not), then she starts meowing (or howling in excitement), then she finally jumps up to our table and watches every single recipe step we do with her nose wiggling and tongue licking her lips. Essy has been celebrating Thanksgiving since 1994 – she is the Turkey Queen.
Because we will be having turkey in different forms for the next few days I wanted to share some of our favorite recipes to feature some yummy ways to use left-overs!
Mexican Pumpkin Chili – a delicious chili with green chiles, salsa verde and corn. Shred the turkey up, or throw in the food processor to make it ground turkey.
Leftover Turkey Casserole – This Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Casserole is the best way to use up your holiday leftovers!
Turkey and Gravy Sandwich – it doesn’t get easier than this, doesn’t it look super delicious? I love this open faced sandwich.
White Bean and Turkey Chili – I love white beans so I’m all over this chili. You could use canned beans, throw on a pot on the stove to make it super quick.
Leftover Nachos – does this not look like the best meal right now?
Breakfast Sandwich – why not have breakfast for dinner?
Turkey Potpie – great for using leftover vegetables too.
Apple, Turkey Grilled Cheese Sandwich – Instead of using deli turkey, use up shredded turkey. If you have no apple butter, just go with the apples. My mouth is watering just thinking about this combination.
Lemon Pesto Turkey Pasta Dish – I love a great smelling lemon pasta.
If you have any other suggestions, please feel free to leave in the comments! Have a great weekend everyone!
Amy @ Elephant Eats says
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, Pamela! Your menu sounds amazing 🙂 So many great recipes to make with leftovers…
The Café Sucre Farine says
I’m thinking you might have to make another turkey to be able to make all these yummy leftover meals. Plus it would sure make old Essy happy!
ela @ gray apron says
That urkey sandwich…love it!
Anne ~ Uni Homemaker says
I love this round-up Pamela! And I can’t stop thinking about that open turkey sandwich –YUM! Hope you and Matthew had a lovely Thanksgiving. Have a great week my friend!
Pamela says
Thanks Anne, hope you had a great one too!
Ash-foodfashionparty says
That chili and sandwich looks so yummy, then again everything looks delicious.
Pamela says
Thanks Ash!
Sophie says
Great & tasty leftover turkey ideas, Pamela. Yeahhhhh. It is great to hear that you all had a fabulous time.
Pamela says
Thanks Sophie! Hope you had a great weekend!
Robyn @simply fresh dinners says
Oh, what a lovely surprise – thank you so much, Pamela for including my baked penne on your beautiful round up of tasty turkey leftovers. You made my day!
Hope your Thanksgiving was fabulous!
Pamela says
Thanks Robyn, can’t wait to eat that baked penne, great recipe!
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
Leftovers is definitely one of the best parts of Thanksgiving! Love all these recipe ideas, especially the chilis! Yum!
Pamela says
I am a big leftover fan too Chris!
Joanne says
These are some great ways to mix it up with those leftovers! Definitely don’t want to get bored early on.
Pamela says
Agreed, plus I can never say no too many taco or nacho options.. 🙂
Irina @ wandercrush says
Oooooh great round-up; that white chili looks particularly tempting. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with plenty of leftovers to work with!
Pamela says
Hope your day was great as well Irina!
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com says
Pamela – now I wish I had made a turkey this year! 🙂
Cannot wait for that oreo chocolate mousse pie recipe – don’t think there would be any leftovers of that in our house!
Pamela says
Thanks Shashi, it’s quite the delicious and addicting pie! 😉 Hope you had a great weekend.
Liz says
I love, love your turkey leftover suggestions. Frankly, I’m tired of cooking…and easy is how I’m handling the rest of the week 🙂 Hope you had a terrific Thanksgiving!
Pamela says
Hope you’re able to have a super relaxing long weekend Liz!
jackie @ Marin mama cooks says
You know sadly we don’t have any leftovers, as we went to a friends house for Thanksgiving yesterday, which was great because I only had to make a kale salad, batches of popovers and a chocolate coconut pie, but not so great because we didn’t get any tasty leftovers. Sometimes leftovers are the best part of Thanksgiving dinner 🙂 I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving girl! xoxo, Jackie
Pamela says
I bet that kale salad was a hit, I can’t imagine it not being it.. you are the kale salad master Jackie! 🙂 Hope your time was great with your family and friends!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, Pamela! Glad to hear that Essy enjoys her turkey!
Pamela says
I wonder if your precious little kitty had a nibble or two.. 😉 Hope you had a great day too Ashley!
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs says
I wish we celebrated Thanksgiving so we had some turkey leftovers (or a bit of that oreo pie, mind you)… I want everything on this list!! That turkey pot pie is calling my name, yuuuum!
Pamela says
I’ve been craving pot pies lately Consuelo so I definitely hear you on that yum!
Suzanne says
All really good leftover turkey options. Nice!!
Pamela says
Thanks Suzanne! That Oreo chocolate pie was made with that chocolate you sent over! So delicious!
Alex says
Great ideas! Loved the sandwich!
Pamela says
Glad you enjoyed Alex!
Kelly says
What a great round up, everything looks amazing Pamela! Sounds like a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner and hope you have an amazing weekend 🙂
Pamela says
Hope you and your family had a great time and enjoy your weekend Kelly!
Daniela @ FoodrecipesHQ says
I love that breakfast sandwich!
Pamela says
Me too!
Nora @ Buttercream Fanatic says
Thank you thank you for all of the recipe ideas! I swear, the leftovers are better than the meal itself. Did you host people last night or was it just you guys and the kitties? Either way, I hope you had a great day!
Pamela says
I’m big on the leftovers too Nora! This time it was more relaxed and just us and kitties as we were also working on a project that day too. The last few years we hosted so this year I got to make turkey in my pajamas. 🙂 Hope you have a great weekend!
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
Scrumptious recipe roundup to use all those turkey leftovers from Thanksgiving, Pamela! Your Oreo Chocolate Mousse Pie sounds divine! And, Essy…she looks adorable with that tongue hanging out sideways for some special Thanksgiving turkey. 🙂 Thanks for sharing, my friend. Have a lovely weekend! xo
Pamela says
Hope you have a lovely weekend too Stacy! Essy loves her turkey.. on Thanksgiving and many days after. In fact she’s meowing (requesting) for some right now! 😉
Mary Frances @ The Sweet {Tooth} Life says
That creamy soup looks amazing! Thanks for rounding these all up; I don’t know if I can choose!
Pamela says
Enjoy Mary Frances! I always love a good creamy soup!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says
Send me turkey leftovers pleaaaase!
Pamela says
Ok, turkey leftovers coming special delivery! 🙂
Samina | The Cupcake Confession says
Happy Thanksgiving Pamela! 🙂 The turkey tacos look amazing!!!!! How cute is Essy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^.^ <3
Pamela says
Thanks Samina! Hope you had a nice weekend yourself. Essy sends some turkey smooches your way! 😉
Francine says
That apple turkey grilled cheese looks awesome! Happy Thanksgiving!
Pamela says
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving Francine! I’m craving a good grilled cheese right now!
Laura @ Lauras Baking Talent says
Happy Thanksgiving 🙂 Love the idea for turkey tacos. I bet those taste great 🙂
Pamela says
I can definitely tell you the turkey tacos were yummy, hehehe. Enjoy your weekend Laura!