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What to Do With Holiday Leftovers: Easy Ideas for Turkey, Ham, Sides & Sweets
The guests have gone home, the dishes are finally done…and somehow the refrigerator is still completely full.
Holiday leftovers are great the first time around, but by day three, another plate of reheated turkey and mashed potatoes isn’t exactly exciting.
Before you start tossing food, take another look at what’s in the fridge. Turkey, ham, potatoes, roasted vegetables and even leftover holiday sweets can become completely different meals with a little creativity.
Here are some easy ways to give those holiday leftovers a second life.
1. Turn Leftover Turkey Into Something Completely Different
Turkey is one of the easiest holiday leftovers to reinvent because it works in so many dishes.
Instead of simply reheating it, try using shredded or chopped turkey in:
- Pot pie
- Turkey noodle soup
- Tacos or quesadillas
- Enchiladas
- Pasta
- Salads
- Sandwiches and sliders
One of my favorites is a turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce. Add stuffing if you really want to commit to the post-holiday experience.
For something warm and comforting, turkey pot pie is also a great way to use several leftovers at once—turkey, vegetables and even extra gravy can all find a home in the same dish.
2. Give Leftover Ham a Makeover
Ham might be even more versatile than turkey.
Dice it up and add it to scrambled eggs, an omelet or breakfast casserole the next morning. For lunch or dinner, use it in soup, pasta, casseroles or sandwiches.
A few ideas:
- Ham and cheese sliders
- Ham and potato soup
- Breakfast hash
- Quiche
- Macaroni and cheese with ham
- Split pea soup
- Ham fried rice
You can also portion extra ham and freeze it so you don’t feel like you have to eat the entire holiday meal again before New Year’s.
3. Make Mashed Potatoes the Star
Leftover mashed potatoes deserve better than the microwave.
Turn them into crispy potato pancakes by combining them with ingredients such as egg, cheese and seasonings and cooking until golden.
They’re especially good for breakfast with eggs.
Mashed potatoes can also be used as a topping for shepherd’s pie or incorporated into other savory dishes.
If you have leftover baked or roasted potatoes instead, chop them up and turn them into breakfast potatoes or a hash.
Suddenly yesterday’s side dish is tomorrow’s brunch.
4. Turn Leftover Vegetables Into an Easy Meal
That container of roasted vegetables in the back of the refrigerator has possibilities.
One of the easiest is a frittata.
Combine leftover vegetables with eggs and cheese, and you’ve got breakfast, brunch or a quick dinner without starting completely from scratch.
Roasted vegetables can also be added to:
- Pasta
- Grain bowls
- Soups
- Quesadillas
- Omelets
- Salads
It’s a good reminder that leftovers don’t have to be recreated as the same meal. Sometimes they just need to become an ingredient in something new.
5. Don’t Forget the Stuffing
Stuffing may be one of the most underrated leftovers on the holiday table.
Reheat it until crispy and serve it alongside eggs, use it as part of a savory breakfast bowl or experiment with turning it into stuffing patties.
And yes, you can absolutely put stuffing on a turkey sandwich.
There are no rules between Christmas and New Year’s.
6. Give Cranberry Sauce Another Job
If you have half a bowl of cranberry sauce hanging around, don’t throw it away.
Use it as a spread for sandwiches or pair it with cheese and crackers. It can also be incorporated into sauces or used as a topping depending on the recipe.
A turkey, cheese and cranberry sandwich is one of the easiest ways to use two holiday leftovers at once.
7. Reinvent Holiday Cookies and Candy
Somehow we always end up with enough holiday sweets to feed twice as many people as actually attended.
Fortunately, many cookies and candies can be saved for later.
Depending on the item, freezing may be an option. You can also crumble cookies and use them as toppings for ice cream or incorporate them into another dessert.
Extra candy can become:
- Brownie mix-ins
- Cookie toppings
- Hot chocolate toppings
- Ice cream toppings
- Dessert decorations
Peppermint candies and candy canes are particularly easy to crush and sprinkle over brownies, cookies or hot chocolate.
8. Create a “Use-It-Up” Night
This might be the easiest solution of all.
Instead of cooking another complete dinner, pull out the leftovers and create a buffet.
A little turkey, some roasted vegetables, leftover cheese, bread, dips and whatever else is hiding in the refrigerator can become an easy grazing dinner.
It’s not fancy.
But after hosting, cooking and cleaning for the holidays, not fancy sounds pretty wonderful.
A Quick Food-Safety Reminder
Creativity is great, but food safety comes first.
Perishable leftovers should be refrigerated promptly, and storage times vary depending on the food. When you’re unsure whether something is still safe to eat, check current food-storage guidance rather than relying only on how it looks or smells.
The USDA FoodKeeper can help you check recommended storage times for specific foods.
Make the Most of What You Have
Some of the best post-holiday meals aren’t recipes you planned at all.
They’re the ones you create after opening the refrigerator, seeing what’s left and figuring out how to turn it into something completely different.
A little creativity can stretch one holiday meal into several—and hopefully keep perfectly good food from going to waste.
Happy holidays and happy leftover-ing!
Michelle Elliott
Coldwell Banker Realty
DRE #01777533
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About the Author – Michelle Elliott
With over 20 years of experience navigating the fast-paced Silicon Valley market, I provide a strategic, results-driven approach to residential real estate. My career is built on a foundation of deep local expertise and a relentless commitment to my clients’ success, resulting in over $235 million in lifetime sales volume and a consistent ranking in the top 3% of agents in Santa Clara County and top 2% at Coldwell Banker. My expertise has been featured on KTVU Fox 2, Real Producers and the Willow Glen Resident. She is also the co-host of the San Jose Podcast “Say What You Want About Real Estate”
A Hyper-Local Expert with Global Reach
I specialize in San Jose, in the neighborhoods of Willow Glen (95125 & 95124) Cambrian Park and Almaden, Downtown San Jose/Japantown (95112) markets. As a certified Luxury Property Specialist with Coldwell Banker Realty, I combine high-end marketing strategies with granular neighborhood knowledge to help my clients achieve premium results.
The “Tiger” at the Negotiating Table
My clients have characterized me as a “tiger” at the negotiating table who remains “sweet and patient” with my clients throughout the process. I pride myself on being a fierce advocate for my buyers and sellers, ensuring the best possible terms in every transaction, and I strive to be the best Realtor in 95125! This balance, drive, and tenacity have earned me consistent 5-star ratings across Google, Zillow, Realtor.com, and Yelp.
Michelle Elliott
Michelle@michelleelliottrealtor.com
1712 Meridian Ave, Ste C, San Jose, CA
DRE 01777533
