After the grand feast, it's almost a guarantee that you'll have leftovers. The good news? There are countless creative and healthy ideas for Thanksgiving leftovers!
And they go way beyond slapping turkey between two pieces of bread!
Don't let your Thanksgiving leftovers go to waste or limit yourself to uninspired turkey sandwiches.
With a little creativity, you can transform your leftovers into delicious and healthy meals that go beyond the traditional fare.
These recipes make the most of your holiday feast and help you savor the flavors of Thanksgiving in new and exciting ways.
Keep reading for six of our favorite Thanksgiving leftovers recipes!
Learn how to approach big meals during the holidays and avoid the effects of overeating!
6 Healthy Thanksgiving Leftovers Ideas
Try any of these, and you’ll wish it was Thanksgiving every week just so you can enjoy these tasty, healthy Thanksgiving leftovers!
Cucumber Topped Bites
This is really simple to make and full of protein, giving you and your muscles a much-needed boost in the middle of the day.
Ingredients:
- 1 or 2 cucumbers
- 1 pot hummus
- Leftover turkey pieces
Instructions:
- Cut the cucumbers into chunky slices.
- Add a spoonful of hummus; this can be flavored if you desire.
- Place a piece or pieces of leftover turkey on top.
This is the perfect accompaniment for an evening of entertainment, light yet delicious and easy to grab with your fingers. You can even pack them into a box and take them to work with you to snack on during the day.
Turkey and Vegetable Soup
This may seem fairly standard after Thanksgiving, but it is an excellent way to get back into a healthy eating plan if you give yourself the day off. It also uses up the turkey and keeps it as moist as when it was cooked.
Ingredients:
- Baby spinach
- Olive oil
- Onion, chopped
- Carrot, chopped
- Celery, chopped
- Brown lentils (canned are fine), but they will need to be drained
- Leftover turkey without the skin
- Chicken stock, low sodium alternative, preferably
- Bay leaves
- Cayenne pepper
- Japanese sweet rice
Instructions:
- Take a handful of baby spinach and slice it up into small pieces.
- Next, add your chopped onion to the carrot and celery to a large pot.
- This should have a tablespoon of olive oil in it and be ready to simmer your vegetables for approximately 4 minutes.
- You can then add your can of lentils, approximately 6 ounces of chopped turkey, roughly 6 cups of the stock, and one tablespoon of Japanese sweet rice.
- You can also add two bay leaves.
- This mixture should be cooked for approximately 20 minutes.
- Then add a pinch of cayenne pepper and stir one more time before dishing up.
- Don’t forget to remove the bay leaves.
Turkey Omelet
This is a great option to enjoy as a snack during the day or for your breakfast. Not only does it use a little of all the Thanksgiving leftovers, but it also provides a protein-rich snack or meal.
Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs plus 4 egg whites
- Pinch of salt and pepper
- 2 ounces of your leftover turkey, skinless
- Cut asparagus spears, probably leftover as well
- 2 tablespoons of leftover cranberry sauce
- 2 ounces of Brie cheese
- Splash of cooking oil
Instructions:
- Start by whisking your eggs and egg whites together.
- Once blended, you can add a pinch of salt and black pepper.
- You then need to put a little cooking oil into a pan and bring it up to heat; this will allow you to pour your egg mixture into the pan without it sticking everywhere.
- Gradually push the cooked edges into the center, allowing the uncooked egg mixture to reach the edges.
- Once you’ve cooked the eggs, add your asparagus and turkey and continue cooking for approximately one minute.
- Then add the brie cheese and continue to cook until it has all melted.
- Serve and add cranberry sauce if you like!
Turkey Casserole
This is one of the easiest meals to make as it can be prepared and left to cook. It is important to note that a casserole dish or slow cooker is essential for this recipe to be successful.
Ingredients:
- 4 ounces of leftover turkey without skin
- 4 ounces leftover carrots, chopped
- 4 ounces green beans, again leftovers
- 4 ounces sweet potatoes, preferably mashed
- A little leftover stuffing
- Gravy or low-sodium chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons cranberry sauce
Instructions:
- Mix all the ingredients together and then tip them into a casserole dish.
- You can oil this if you'd like, but it shouldn’t be necessary.
- You can then leave this to simmer on low heat for several hours or cook on a higher heat for approximately one hour, then enjoy!
Toasted Pumpkin Pie
This is pretty much as the name suggests! This healthy snack idea for Thanksgiving leftovers can be ready in a few minutes and will make your mouth water without all the calories of a slice of pie!
Ingredients:
- 2 slices Ezekiel bread or whole wheat bread
- Leftover pumpkin pie filling
- Chopped fruit or nuts to your liking
Instructions:
- Put the Ezekiel or whole wheat bread into your toaster and wait for it to come up with the right color.
- Then spread some of the pumpkin pie filling on your toast.
- To finish, add some chopped apples, bananas, or even some nuts.
Alternative Turkey Wrap
Instead of slipping some skinless turkey in between two slices of bread, you can create a delicious snack or sandwich by using lettuce as bread.
Ingredients:
- Large lettuce leaves
- Leftover turkey
- Leftover veggies, chopped
- Leftover gravy or cranberry sauce
Instructions:
Lay the lettuce out, add some turkey, and drizzle with chopped green beans, gravy, or even a little leftover cranberry sauce!
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