Thanksgiving Leftover Genius Ideas You’ll Love. Turn Your Thanksgiving Leftovers Into Culinary Gold! Reinvent Your Thanksgiving Leftovers with These Genius Hacks.
When Thanksgiving wraps up, the last thing you want is to let all that delicious food go to waste. Well, there will be no wasting alright! Becuase Chef, recipe developer, and TV personality Andrea Buckett is here to save the day with her genius tips on how to use your Thanksgiving leftovers. With nearly 580k Instagram followers, she’s known for her popular series, “What the hell am I going to do with this?”, where she shares creative and easy ways to repurpose leftovers.
Her tips will not only help you save time and money but will also ensure your Thanksgiving feast lasts longer in the most delicious way possible. From transforming turkey into new meals to reimagining mashed potatoes, you’ll be inspired to look at your fridge with excitement instead of dread.
These ideas will help you avoid the post-holiday food rut and bring fresh life to your leftovers. You don’t have to stress about planning new meals—Andrea’s tips will do the heavy lifting. If you love her hacks, be sure to follow her on Instagram to get even more brilliant cooking tricks and inspiration!
Thanksgiving Leftover Genius Ideas You’ll Love
Proteins: Turkey, Beef or Ham
REFRIGERATE:
● Remove meat from bones. The meat itself will keep for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. Discard the bones or refrigerate for up to 3 days.
HOW TO USE FROM FRIDGE:
● Use the meat to top a fall salad, sliced on sandwiches or wraps, add to soups, pot pies, to top pizza, or a classic poutine with a twist.
● The bones from Farm Boy™ Turkey, Farm Boy™ Bone-In Smoked Ham, and Farm Boy™ Roast Beef can be used to make stock for soups.
FREEZE:
● Remove meat from bones and freeze the meat for 3-6 months. Bones can be frozen to make broth at a later time.
● Slice or chop the meat into pieces. Store in food-safe containers in single-serve portions or family-sized portions and store in the freezer.
● Freeze gravy and meat together to get a head start on a meal you don’t feel like cooking. Gravy ensures that the meat stays nice and moist.
HOW TO USE FROM FREEZER:
● Meat frozen without gravy is great for soups and stews. Ideas include turkey vegetables, beef & barley or split peas & ham.
● When ready to serve, thaw in the refrigerator then warm up in the oven or microwave – serve with a side of mashed potatoes or vegetables.
● Freeze as is or cover in leftover gravy and freeze.
Vegetables: Mashed potatoes and roasted root vegetables
Mashed Potatoes
REFRIGERATE:
● Store for up to 3 days in a food-safe container.
HOW TO USE FROM FRIDGE:
● Use as a base for fully loaded potato soup.
● Add mashed potatoes to a pot and whisk in some vegetable stock until it reaches your desired consistency. Cook to warm through. Garnish with shredded cheese, green onions, and bacon bits.
Please note freezing mashed potatoes is not recommended.
Roasted Vegetables – Squash, Carrots, Beets, Brussel Sprouts
REFRIGERATE:
● Store for up to 3 days in a food-safe container.
HOW TO USE FROM FRIDGE:
● Roasted vegetables make a great base for a hearty fall lunch salad. Top with nuts, feta cheese, and a drizzle of your favorite salad dressing.
● Root vegetables can be thawed and used as the base for a creamy root vegetable soup. Think curried butternut squash!
FREEZE:
● In food-safe containers for 3-6 months.
HOW TO USE FROM FREEZER:
● Thaw in the fridge. Warm up in the oven or microwave for a ready-to-go side dish.
● Use root vegetables as the base for a pureed soup.
Sides: Stuffing/Dressing
REFRIGERATE:
● Store for up to 3 days.
HOW TO USE FROM FRIDGE:
● Spread leftover Farm Boy™ Corn Bread or Farm Boy™ Original Stuffing Mix on a sheet pan. Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, breaking it up and stirring it halfway through, until it crisps up into a crouton-like consistency. Cool and use as a topper on Farm Boy™ Leek and Potato Soup or on a salad.
FREEZE:
● In food safe containers for 3-6 months.
HOW TO USE FROM FREEZER:
● Thaw in the fridge. Heat up your waffle iron and cook the thawed leftover stuffing into a waffle! Top with a poached egg for a satisfying meal.
Thanksgiving Leftover Genius Ideas You’ll Love
With these Thanksgiving leftover ideas from Andrea Buckett, you’ll be able to make the most out of every dish from your holiday feast. Instead of letting the food go to waste or eating the same meals over and over, you can get creative and turn those leftovers into something fresh and exciting.
Whether it’s a new spin on turkey or a clever way to use mashed potatoes, these tips will keep your post-Thanksgiving meals fun and delicious. Plus, you’ll save time, money, and effort.
