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Maximize Your Holiday Feasts: Creative Recipes & Smart Storage for Delicious Leftovers

Holiday meal leftovers aren’t just remnants; they’re opportunities! Transform tomorrow’s meals into something new and wonderful by repurposing holiday leftovers into delicious new recipes.

Countless movies revolve around the grandeur of Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners, capturing the joy, chaos, and heartwarming moments. But where are the films dedicated to the magic that happens *after* the main event – the glorious leftover meals?

When you truly think about it, the potential for creativity and culinary delight found in holiday leftovers is every bit as exciting as the initial banquet served on Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas, or any other festive occasion. It’s a chance to extend the celebration and savor those cherished flavors in entirely new ways.

Alright, perhaps the leftovers from Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving—buttered toast, pretzel sticks, popcorn, jelly beans, and an ice cream sundae—would present a unique challenge. Yet, even with such an unconventional assortment, a resourceful chef could find a way!

I absolutely adore the precious time spent with family and friends during the holidays. The tradition of preparing meals that have been passed down through generations is something I deeply cherish. While I revel in the familiarity and comfort these traditional dishes bring, I get an immense satisfaction from getting creative and innovative with leftovers. It’s truly a #foodnerd delight!

Whether you have an abundance of leftover turkey, succulent ham, roasted vegetables, savory stuffing, tart cranberries, crunchy pecans, soft dinner rolls, or even just pie crust scraps, this guide has you covered. We’ll explore a wide array of imaginative ways to transform these holiday remnants into brand new, mouth-watering recipes. From light salads and hearty soups to delectable appetizers, refreshing cocktails, and complete gourmet meals, the possibilities are endless for repurposing your holiday feast.

The Enduring Magic of Holiday Leftover Meals

Great leftover recipes offer more than just delicious taste; they evoke the happiest memories of the holiday itself. There’s a profound connection between the flavors and the cherished moments of laughter, togetherness, and love. This is precisely why Ross from Friends felt such passionate, almost protective, devotion for his “Moist Maker Sandwich” – it wasn’t just a sandwich; it was a memory in edible form.

I confess, I often feel a slight pang of bittersweet sadness as the last of the leftovers disappear. It’s a happy-sad sensation: happy for the wonderful memories, the full bellies, and the laughter shared, but sad in the knowledge that I’ll have to wait until the next grand holiday meal for that culinary abundance to return. Until then, these inventive leftover dishes help bridge the gap.

Essential Tips for Storing Your Holiday Leftovers Properly

Before you can embark on your culinary adventures with leftovers, the first and most crucial step is to ensure they are stored correctly and safely. Getting them into the fridge or freezer promptly makes an enormous difference in terms of both food safety and taste preservation. I understand, after a full day of cooking and hosting a huge holiday feast, the last thing you want to do is tackle kitchen cleanup. You probably just want to kick back, relax, and perhaps unwind with a classic holiday movie like “A Christmas Story,” which, incidentally, features both Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.

However, postponing the proper storage of leftovers is a risk not worth taking. It’s imperative to get everything put away quickly and correctly to prevent the growth of unhealthy bacteria or mold. Food poisoning is absolutely no joke, and even if mold just renders something inedible, the misfortune of wasting perfectly good leftovers that could have become delicious new meals must be avoided at all costs. Prioritizing this step ensures your food remains safe and ready for its delicious second act.

Prepare Your Leftover Containers in Advance

Even if the thought of extensive cleanup is daunting, making the effort to properly store your food immediately after the meal is non-negotiable for food safety and preventing waste. A smart strategy is to prepare for leftover storage *before* you even start cooking your main holiday meal.

Ensure you have an ample supply of clean, lidded plastic containers or glass storage dishes. Double-check that all lids fit snugly to prevent air exposure. Also, take a moment to clear out and organize your fridge and freezer beforehand, making sure there’s enough space for all the incoming containers. This simple bit of pre-planning can save you a lot of stress and frantic searching when you’re tired post-meal.

Organize Your Fridge and Freezer Space

To maximize your storage capacity for leftovers, dedicate a few minutes to decluttering your fridge and freezer. Remove any items that are expired, unwanted, or have simply been there too long. This small act of “housekeeping” can surprisingly free up significant space for your holiday bounty.

Next, strategically plan what goes where. Understand which items will maintain their quality better in the fridge versus the freezer. Items destined for the fridge will need to be consumed or repurposed more quickly, typically within 3-4 days. The freezer, on the other hand, offers a fantastic long-term solution, allowing you to enjoy your holiday flavors for weeks or even months, making it ideal for future meal planning.

Categorize and Store Leftovers Thoughtfully

Once the feast is over, take an inventory of what you have left and divide it based on how it will be stored and used. For instance, most cooked vegetables are best kept in the fridge and consumed within a few days. However, a rich stock made from the leftover turkey carcass can be frozen and stored for several months, providing a flavorful base for countless future dishes. Place items that spoil faster, like gravies or dairy-based sides, at the front of your fridge for easy access and quicker consumption.

The last thing you want is to discover a watery container of whipped cream or moldy mashed potatoes. If you have a substantial amount of leftover turkey or ham, consider separating it into portions suitable for both the fridge and the freezer. You can even go a step further by separating dark meat from white meat, as some family members might prefer white meat for sandwiches and dark meat for hearty soups or stews. Packing individual portions into freezer-safe bags allows for convenient thawing and use, ensuring you only unfreeze what you need, when you need it.

Inspiring Recipe Ideas for Your Holiday Leftovers!

Alright, you’ve successfully stored all your precious leftovers, the kitchen is gleaming, and your guests have departed. Now you can finally breathe a sigh of relief, knowing everyone had a wonderful time and even the grumpiest relative managed a smile. You might not feel like spending much more time in the kitchen, but behold—the leftovers! Oh, happy day! All that hard work preparing the holiday meal paid off when it was served, and now it’s truly paying dividends in future deliciousness!

I’ve gathered a fantastic collection of holiday leftover suggestions, and I’m always on the lookout for more creative ideas. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of recipes organized by the leftover ingredient, offering a diverse range of culinary transformations.

Transforming Turkey And Ham Leftovers

Turkey and ham are often the stars of any holiday feast, and their delicious leftovers are incredibly versatile. Many chicken recipes can also be easily adapted using your cooked turkey, offering a fantastic way to extend their savory flavors.

RECIPES FOR LEFTOVER TURKEY:

Turkey Noodle Soup – This classic is always at the top of the list for a reason. It’s the perfect way to get every last bit of meat off the bones and make good use of the carcass for a rich, homemade stock. Combining comforting noodles, tender turkey pieces, and fresh vegetables, it makes for a deeply savory and warming soup.
Turkey Stock – A truly great soup or many other flavorful dishes begin with a robust homemade stock. This foundational liquid can elevate sauces, moisten casseroles, and infuse a depth of flavor into countless recipes, extending beyond just soups.
Mexican Style Leftover Turkey Soup – A deliciously warming and flavorful soup that puts your leftover turkey to excellent use with a zesty, spicy kick.
Turkey Oscar – Elevate your leftover turkey by preparing it “Oscar style.” This elegant dish features sliced turkey topped with tender asparagus, creamy hollandaise sauce, and luxurious shrimp and crabmeat. It’s surprisingly simple to make yet feels incredibly fancy.
Chicken (or Turkey) Ala King – A remarkably easy recipe for Chicken (or Turkey) Ala King. It skillfully uses leftover meat and frozen vegetables to create a creamy, comforting meal. Serve it generously over warm biscuits, fluffy noodles, or baked potatoes for a satisfying dish.
Turkey Pot Pie with Biscuit Topping – This ultimate comfort food combines tender chunks of turkey and mixed vegetables baked in a rich, creamy, and savory sauce, all crowned with a golden, flaky biscuit crust. It’s a hearty meal that feels like a warm hug.
Roast Turkey Tater Tot Casserole – A delightful and ingenious twist on a classic comfort food casserole, making excellent use of your leftover turkey for a family-friendly dish.
Easy Turkey Tetrazzini – Featuring a luscious cheesy sauce, earthy mushrooms, and tender noodles, this turkey casserole is an incredibly satisfying and flavorful way to enjoy your leftover turkey.
Smoked Chicken (Turkey) and Grapes Hand Pies – These savory and slightly sweet hand pies are perfect for a light lunch, an elegant appetizer, or convenient tailgate food, easily made with leftover turkey.
Turkey and Roasted Sweet Potato Risotto – A wonderfully creamy risotto that harmoniously blends the sweetness of roasted sweet potatoes with the savory notes of leftover turkey.
Turkey Salad Sliders – These adorable little sandwiches are perfect as quick snacks while decorating the Christmas tree or for serving during a big game day. They’re easy to make and universally loved.
Peach Basil Chicken (or Turkey) Salad – Give your basic chicken salad a unique and incredibly flavorful twist by using leftover turkey. The combination of sweet peaches and aromatic basil is truly outstanding.
Chicken (or Turkey) Tortilla Soup – This vibrant tortilla soup recipe is an excellent starting point for a fresh take on using a chicken or turkey carcass for a flavorful stock. Even if you’ve never tried tortilla soup before, this recipe promises to be a delightful revelation.
Turkey Pot Pie with Biscuit Topping – Seriously, pot pies are among the most comforting dishes of all time. This turkey pot pie with its savory filling and golden biscuit topping should be high on your list of leftover ideas for a truly satisfying meal.
Roast Turkey Tater Tot Casserole – Casseroles offer an incredibly easy solution for utilizing several types of leftovers. If you adore chicken pot pies, you absolutely must try this hearty turkey pot pie variation.
Easy Turkey Tetrazzini – With its irresistible cheesy sauce, earthy mushrooms, and tender noodles, this Italian-style casserole provides an amazing and sophisticated way to transform leftover turkey into a memorable dish.
Turkey Corn Chowder – When you’ve had your fill of turkey sandwiches, this rich and creamy Turkey Chowder offers a comforting and delicious alternative.
Pulled Leftover Turkey BBQ Sandwich – Turn your leftover turkey into mouth-watering BBQ sandwiches, complete with a homemade barbecue sauce and fresh coleslaw.
Smoked Gruyere Turkey Bacon Panini – The addition of arugula and a smoked honey mustard takes these paninis over the top, creating a gourmet sandwich experience.
Easy Turkey Pot Pie – A simple-to-make pot pie featuring a convenient Bisquick top, perfect for a quick and satisfying meal with leftover turkey.
Caramelized Onion & Cream Cheese Turkey Enchiladas – While this recipe originated with chicken, the turkey version is absolutely out of this world, offering a creamy, savory, and slightly sweet flavor profile.
White Bean Chili with Turkey – A crowd-pleasing chili that uses leftover turkey, making it a low-fat, incredibly filling, and flavor-packed dish.

RECIPES FOR LEFTOVER HAM:

Ham and Cheese Sliders – These irresistible sliders feature savory ham and Swiss cheese piled high on soft King’s Hawaiian rolls, slathered with a tangy Dijon butter, and baked until golden. They are fantastic for company or watch parties.
Ham & Smoked Gouda Quiche – The rich flavors of smoked ham and smoked gouda cheese tantalize your taste buds, making this quiche a magnificent addition to any brunch table or a delightful light meal.
Ham Tetrazzini – A super-fast and incredibly satisfying dinner that comes together in as little as 10 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights.
Instant Pot Ham & Potato Soup – A savory, thick, and wonderfully creamy soup made with a blend of Yukon Gold and starchy Russet potatoes, perfectly complemented by flavorful ham.
Fettuccini Alfredo with Ham & Peas – This rich and creamy pasta dish is remarkably easy to prepare and offers a delightfully satisfying meal, perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.

Creative Recipes for Using Leftover Stuffing

For many, stuffing (or dressing, as some call it) is the undisputed favorite part of the holiday meal. If any of this savory side dish manages to survive being eaten cold directly from the Tupperware container before bedtime, these are some fantastic recipes to ensure it doesn’t go to waste!

RECIPES FOR LEFTOVER STUFFING:

Baked Pork Chops with Stuffing – As pictured above, these oven-baked pork chops are incredibly easy to make. They are topped with a savory stuffing and served with a creamy gravy, resulting in perfectly tender pork chops infused with delicious mushroom flavors.
Deep Fried Cornbread Dressing Balls – These delightful Deep Fried Cornbread Dressing Balls, served with a tangy Cranberry Dip, make for perfect appetizers that skillfully repurpose your leftover stuffing.
Sourdough Stuffing Egg Casserole – Put your leftover stuffing to excellent use by creating this flavorful sourdough stuffing egg casserole. The stuffing adds incredible depth and savory notes to this brunch dish, and it comes together with minimal effort.
Leftover Stuffing Bacon Cups – These clever cups are an inventive way to use up all your leftover stuffing! Simply form bacon into cups, spoon in the stuffing, and top with some cranberries and nuts for a delicious, bite-sized snack or appetizer.
Chicken and Rice Cordon Bleu Casserole – In this hearty casserole, the leftover stuffing is ingeniously baked as a flavorful and crispy crust on top, adding texture and taste.
Leftover Turkey Casserole – This incredibly easy casserole brilliantly utilizes both your leftover stuffing and leftover turkey, creating a complete and comforting meal in just three simple steps.

Inventive Recipes for Leftover Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes

Potatoes and sweet potatoes (or yams) are quintessential components of any holiday meal. Their creamy, comforting leftovers are incredibly versatile and can be transformed in countless delicious ways, extending their enjoyment far beyond the main feast.

RECIPES FOR LEFTOVER POTATOES:

Mashed Potato Cakes (pictured above) – These delightful cakes are crispy and golden brown on the outside, with a soft, fluffy interior. Serve them warm with fresh chives and a dollop of sour cream for an irresistible side dish or appetizer.
Baked Mashed Potatoes – Elevate your mashed potatoes by baking them with a generous topping of cheese and crunchy French fried onions. This creates a decadent and incredibly satisfying side, perfect with BBQ or any savory meal.
Sweet Potato Bisque with Truffle Oil – A luxurious bisque where sweet potatoes combine harmoniously with earthy truffle oil and buttery, crunchy homemade croutons, creating a truly scrumptious and elegant soup.
Southwest Potato Croquettes – These delightful croquettes are made by mixing mashed potatoes with bold Southwest seasoning, then frying them into perfect little dip-able appetizers, ideal for snacking or entertaining.
Loaded Mashed Potatoes – Transform plain mashed potatoes into a decadent side dish resembling a loaded baked potato, complete with cheese, bacon, and chives, then baked to perfection. They are absolutely fantastic with BBQ!
Savory Mashed Potato Puffs – These charming little puffs are like miniature Yorkshire puddings stuffed with creamy mashed potatoes, making for a truly yummy and fun side dish that kids and adults alike will adore.
Old Fashioned Potato Candy – A unique, peanut buttery sweet candy that boasts a fascinating history, having been a popular treat since the Great Depression. It’s a surprising use for leftover potatoes!

Delicious Recipes for Leftover Pecans

Even after the last slice of Pecan Pie has been devoured and is but a sweet memory, any leftover pecans can find countless wonderful uses! Their rich, buttery crunch adds a delightful texture and flavor to a variety of sweet and savory dishes.

RECIPES FOR LEFTOVER PECANS:

Turtle Cookies – These indulgent cookies perfectly combine rich caramel, decadent chocolate, and crunchy pecans, creating the ideal homemade turtle cookie that’s sure to impress.
Candy Cups – Homemade Chocolate Candy Cups are a delightful treat that will be a huge hit on any holiday cookie tray, offering a customizable and delicious confection.
Graham Cracker Toffee – This incredibly easy-to-make toffee is consistently one of the first things to disappear from my holiday treat trays. It’s absolutely perfect for any upcoming cookie exchange or festive gathering.
Caramel Toffee & Pecan Fudge – A wonderfully sweet toffee fudge made with luscious caramel and crunchy pecans, making it a perfect, indulgent addition to your holiday baking list.
Toasted Pecans – Learn how to make perfectly buttery toasted pecans (or any other nuts) to use as a garnish, an ingredient in various recipes, or simply enjoy as a delicious snack.
Sugared Pecans – These delightful sugared pecans are fantastic for enhancing cheese boards, adding a sweet crunch to salads, or simply packaging as thoughtful hostess gifts.

Creative Recipes for Leftover Cranberries and Cranberry Sauce

Don’t let those leftover cranberries or cranberry sauce go to waste! Far from being tossed, they can be brilliantly transformed into refreshing cocktails, delicious baked goods, savory appetizers, and even beautiful festive centerpieces, adding a burst of color and flavor to many creations.

RECIPES FOR LEFTOVER CRANBERRIES:

Cranberry Orange Muffins – Achieve perfect bakery-style muffins by incorporating bright orange zest and your leftover cranberry sauce. These are moist, flavorful, and incredibly delightful for breakfast or a snack.
Sugared Cranberries – Pictured above, these sparkling little bites are not only a great snack but also make a wonderful, festive addition to cheese and charcuterie boards, adding a touch of elegance and tart sweetness.
Cranberry Centerpiece – While not a recipe, this is an incredibly easy and visually stunning centerpiece made with fresh cranberries, perfect for adding a natural, festive touch to your holiday table.
Dorothy’s Cranberry Meatballs – Turn that leftover cranberry sauce into a gorgeous and incredibly flavorful meatball appetizer that’s perfect for parties and gatherings.
Cranberry Orange Christmas Pound Cake – Don’t hesitate to freeze your leftover cranberry sauce and use it to bake this delicious and festive pound cake for Christmas, brimming with citrus and cranberry flavors.
Baked Brie with Cranberries – This impressive holiday appetizer features creamy baked brie and tart cranberries elegantly encased in flaky puff pastry, a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Honey Roasted Cranberry Ricotta Crostini – A festive crostini appetizer for any party, these crispy baguette slices are topped with a creamy bed of orange-flecked ricotta cheese and drizzled with honey-roasted cranberries.
Roasted Cranberry Bourbon Crush – This sophisticated cocktail combines rich roasted cranberries with tart cranberry juice, caramel-hinted bourbon, and effervescent lemon-lime soda for a refreshing holiday drink.
CranApple Fizz Cocktail – This festive and bubbly cocktail, made with Alizé Apple, cranberry juice, and Prosecco, is beautifully dressed up for the holidays. Cheers to delicious leftovers!

Inspired Recipes for Leftover Pumpkin Puree

It’s always annoying when a recipe calls for only half a can of pumpkin puree. What do you do with the rest? Waste it? Absolutely not! Instead, transform that leftover puree into one of these incredibly delicious and inventive recipes, ensuring no pumpkin goodness goes unused.

RECIPES FOR LEFTOVER CANNED PUMPKIN:

Pumpkin Spiced Coffee Cake with Brown Butter Glaze – Quite possibly the most divine way to start your day or enjoy a sweet treat. This cake is moist, warmly spiced, and finished with an irresistible brown butter glaze.
Pumpkin Pie Turnovers – These delightful turnovers are made with flaky puff pastry, filled with a sweet pumpkin pie mixture, and topped with a spiced glaze, offering a portable taste of pumpkin pie.
Savory Pumpkin Cheese Dip with Bacon – Utilize that pumpkin puree for a fantastic and unexpected holiday or game day appetizer. The savory cheese and crispy bacon perfectly complement the pumpkin.
Pumpkin Pie Croissant Bundles – Easy-to-make croissants filled with a creamy blend of cream cheese, pumpkin, and classic fall spices. This recipe is designed to be lower in calories, allowing you to indulge in beloved fall flavors without guilt.
Chocolate Pumpkin Wontons – From Take Two Tapas, these crispy chocolate pumpkin wontons are filled with creamy pumpkin pie, sweet chocolate, topped with a maple sour cream glaze, and dusted with powdered sugar for an exquisite dessert.
Mini Spice Cookies with Pumpkin Dip – Soft and chewy spice cookies beautifully surround a bowl of creamy pumpkin dip, creating a perfect and festive treat for entertaining guests.
Pumpkin Curry Soup – A creamy and flavorful pumpkin soup infused with aromatic curry spices. This comforting dish is incredibly quick, done and ready for eating in less than 30 minutes.
Glazed Baked Pumpkin Donuts – Moist, perfectly baked pumpkin donuts, generously dunked in a spiced glaze, making for an irresistible breakfast or dessert.
Cinderella Cake – A stunning Pumpkin Bundt Cake generously adorned with a rich and creamy Cream Cheese Frosting, fit for any royal feast.

Delightful Recipes for Leftover Pie Crust

My grandma always made sure there was extra pie crust dough, knowing how much I adored those simple scraps baked with a dusting of cinnamon and sugar. Even if that particular nostalgic treat isn’t quite your style, one of these other creative recipes is sure to hit the spot and make excellent use of your leftover pie crust!

LEFTOVER PIE CRUST RECIPES:

Pumpkin Spice Swirls – Leftover Pie Crust Cookies – Pictured above, these charming little bites are absolutely perfect to enjoy with your favorite cup of coffee or tea, offering a delightful spiced crunch.
Dairy Queen Apple Pie Blizzard (Copy Cat) – This copycat recipe recreates the beloved Dairy Queen Apple Pie Blizzard, blending spiced apples, creamy vanilla ice cream, and crumbled cinnamon pie crust for an indulgent dessert.
Pie Crust Cookies – Simple yet delicious, these are pie crust scraps cut with cookie cutters and dusted generously with flavored sugar, offering a quick and satisfying sweet treat.
Pie Crust Cookies with Pecans and Whiskey Caramel Sauce – In this elevated treat, pie crust is transformed into easy cookies topped with a crunchy pecan and drizzled with a decadent whiskey caramel sauce, for an adult twist.

Creative Ways to Use Leftover Apples

Even after the glorious apple pies are just a fond memory, you might still find an abundance of fresh apples waiting in your fruit basket. Don’t let these versatile fruits go to waste! There are countless delicious ways to transform them into new desserts, sides, and even savory dishes.

LEFTOVER APPLE RECIPES:

Crockpot Cinnamon Applesauce – If the delightful aroma that fills your kitchen doesn’t immediately captivate you, the incredible flavor of this slow-cooked cinnamon applesauce certainly will. It’s wonderfully easy and delicious.
Persimmon Salad – This unique and refreshing salad combines crisp apples, sweet persimmons, and vibrant maraschino cherries, creating a keeper recipe that’s both beautiful and flavorful.
Apple Dumplings with Spiced Rum Caramel Sauce (pictured above) – These exquisite dumplings feature tender apples topped with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, then wrapped in flaky puff pastry and baked until golden brown, served with a luxurious spiced rum caramel sauce.
The Very BEST Apple Crisp – You will truly never need another apple crisp recipe once you try this one. I promise, it’s perfectly spiced, wonderfully crisp, and utterly delicious.
Apple Kuchen (German Apple Cake) – This delightful German Apple Cake is a not-too-sweet cake generously topped with spiced apples and finished with a delicate vanilla glaze, perfect for fika or dessert.
Apple Chicken Salad – Give your traditional chicken salad a whole new twist with the addition of crisp apples, crunchy cashews, and a sweet honey dressing, creating a fresh and exciting flavor profile.
Snicker Apple Salad – This playful dish is a delight to call a “salad”! It combines crisp apples, fluffy cool whip, and chunks of Snickers candy bars for an unexpectedly addictive and fun dessert.

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You definitely won’t want to forget this treasure trove of ideas for repurposing your holiday leftovers. Make sure to pin this entire collection to your favorite Pinterest board so you can easily access these creative and delicious recipes whenever you need inspiration!

More Fantastic Leftover Suggestions for Creative Cooks

The versatility of holiday leftovers is truly astounding, offering so many innovative paths for new meals. Here are some additional creative suggestions that I either wholeheartedly recommend or am eagerly looking forward to trying out myself very soon:

Leftover Turkey Dinner Pastries: Combine some shredded turkey, mashed potatoes, and a spoonful of cranberry sauce into small squares of puff pastry dough. Fold them up, seal the edges, and bake until golden brown for delightful individual savory pastries—a perfect mini holiday dinner in every bite.
Creamier Soups with Mashed Potatoes: Don’t discard that extra mashed potato! Use it as a natural thickening agent in your next soup. Stirring in a spoonful or two will give your brothy soups a wonderfully creamy texture and extra body, making them even more comforting.
Chilled Green Bean Salad: Transform leftover cooked string beans by chilling them and adding them to fresh green salads. Their crisp-tender texture and mild flavor make an excellent addition, enhancing the nutritional value and appeal of your everyday salads.
Turkey Nachos: Give taco night a holiday twist! Use shredded turkey meat instead of ground beef for your nachos. You can still incorporate all your favorite taco blend seasonings, cheese, salsa, and jalapeños for a festive and flavorful platter.
Sweet Potato Pancakes/Patties: Take leftover cooked sweet potatoes, mash them up, mix them with an egg or two and a pinch of flour or cornstarch, then form them into patties. Pan-fry them until golden and crispy, just like traditional potato pancakes, for a sweet and savory breakfast or side.
The Legendary “Moistmaker” Sandwich: Of course, you absolutely must use that extra gravy to recreate Ross Geller’s iconic “Moistmaker” sandwich from Friends. This legendary turkey sandwich features not only turkey and other ingredients but also a gravy-soaked slice of bread in the middle, ensuring ultimate moisture and flavor.
Gravy for Breakfast Biscuits: If by some miracle you have any gravy left, it’s fantastic over warm, fluffy biscuits for breakfast! Gravy often disappears quickly, but if you’ve made and stored a good hearty stock, whipping up more gravy is never an issue.

Favorite Holiday Meal Movies To Watch

Being surrounded by family and friends during the holidays is truly wonderful, and I never tire of these precious opportunities to spend quality time together. However, inevitably, at some point during the day or evening, the glorious food coma sets in, and everyone just wants to relax and unwind.

At that moment, it’s either time for a nap, a board game, or to settle down and watch a classic flick. Here are some of my top recommendations for those cozy post-feast cinematic moments:

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – This film is simply a classic, offering timeless and uproarious humor no matter how many times you watch it. It perfectly captures the chaotic charm of family holidays.
Elf – While Buddy the Elf’s preferred holiday meal (candy, candy canes, corn syrup, and candy corn) isn’t exactly what I’d serve, this movie is guaranteed to put an enormous smile on your face with its infectious festive spirit and heartwarming story.
The Last Waltz – This is actually a legendary music documentary chronicling The Band’s farewell concert, featuring an incredible lineup of musicians from Neil Diamond to Muddy Waters and many more. What makes it a holiday movie, you ask? The concert was filmed during Thanksgiving, and director Martin Scorsese famously served a huge turkey dinner to the entire audience, making it an honorary holiday classic.