Skip to content

Top Navigation

MyRecipes MyRecipes
  • Course
  • Baking
  • Global
  • Healthy
  • Favorite Ingredients
  • Holidays and Occasions
  • Quick and Easy
  • Convenience Recipes
  • BBQ and Grilling
  • How To
  • Extra Crispy
  • Well Done
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Register
  • Recipe Box this link opens in a new tab
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Pin FB

Explore MyRecipes

MyRecipes MyRecipes
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 1 55+ Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights

      Everybody understands the stuggle of getting dinner on the table after a long day. If you're looking for a simple recipe to simplify your weeknight, you've come to the right place--easy dinners are our specialty. For an easy supper that you can depend on, we picked out some of our tried-and-true favorites that have gotten us through even the busiest of days. Whether you're cooking for yourself or for a family, these easy dinners are sure to leave everyone satisfied and stress-free. Read More Next
    • 2 The Brilliant Secret to Making Better Mashed Potatoes

      Trust me, it’s so worth it. Read More Next
    • 3 65 Super Easy Finger Foods to Make for Any Party

      From chips and dip to one-bite apps, finger foods are the perfect way to kick off a party. No forks or spoons required, just easy-to-pick-up party foods, so you can clean up in no time.  Read More Next
  • Course

    Course

    See All Course
    • Best Appetizer Recipes...Ever
    • Best Drink Recipes for Any Occasion
    • Salad Recipes
    • The Ultimate Guide to Sensational Sides
    • Soup and Stew Recipes
    • Easy Entertaining for Everyone
    • Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
    • Main Dishes and Entrées
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
  • Baking

    Baking

    See All Baking
    • Bread Recipes
    • Our Most-Loved Cake Recipes
    • Cookie Recipes
    • Pie Recipes
  • Global

    Global

    See All Global
    • Spanish Recipes
    • Thai Recipes
    • Vietnamese Recipes
    • Middle Eastern Recipes
    • Mexican Recipes
    • Malaysian Recipes
    • Korean Recipes
    • Japanese Recipes
    • Italian Recipes
    • Indian Recipes
    • Greek Recipes
    • French Recipes
    • Chinese Recipes
    • African Recipes
    • American Recipes
    • Cajun and Creole Recipes
    • Caribbean Recipes
    • South American Recipes
    • Southern Recipes
    • German Recipes
  • Healthy

    Healthy

    See All Healthy
    • Easy, Healthy Recipes
    • Healthy Breakfasts
    • Healthy Dinners
    • Healthy Desserts
    • Diabetic Recipes
    • Gluten-Free Diet and Recipes
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Low Carbohydrate Recipes
    • Low Cholesterol Recipes
    • Low Fat Recipes
    • Low Sodium Recipes
    • Low Calorie Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
  • Favorite Ingredients

    Favorite Ingredients

    See All Favorite Ingredients
    • The Ultimate Guide to Chicken
    • Vegetable Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Cheese Recipes
    • Chocolate Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Shrimp Recipes
  • Holidays and Occasions

    Holidays and Occasions

    See All Holidays and Occasions
    • A Foodie's Guide to Halloween Recipes
    • The Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide
    • Hanukkah Recipes
    • Your Ultimate Christmas Recipe Guide
    • Our Most Festive New Year's Recipes
    • Best-Ever Super Bowl Sunday Recipes
    • Best Valentine's Day Recipes
    • Mardi Gras Recipes
    • The Ultimate Guide to Easter Recipes
    • Labor Day Recipes
    • The Ultimate Fourth of July Guide
    • Memorial Day Recipes
    • Touchdown-Worthy Tailgate Recipes
    • Wedding and Shower Recipes
  • Quick and Easy

    Quick and Easy

    See All Quick and Easy
    • 15-Minute Recipes for Busy Home Cooks
    • 45-Minute Recipes
    • 5 Ingredients or Less
    • Dinner Tonight
    • No-Cook Recipes
  • Convenience Recipes

    Convenience Recipes

    See All Convenience Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Kid Approved
    • Our Top Make-Ahead Recipes
    • Our Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes
  • BBQ and Grilling

    BBQ and Grilling

    See All BBQ and Grilling
    • Grilled Beef Recipes
    • Grilled Chicken Recipes
    • Grilled Fish Recipes
    • Grilled Pork Recipes
    • Grilled Shrimp Recipes
    • Grilled Vegetable Recipes
  • How To

    How To

    See All How To
    • 7 Ways With...
    • Cooking Questions
    • Ingredients and Tools
    • Kitchen Cleaning
    • Videos
  • Extra Crispy
  • Well Done

    Well Done

    See All Well Done
    • Homemade vs. The Internet
    • How-to and Explainers
    • Mom vs.
    • Recipe Videos
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Register
  • Recipe Box this link opens in a new tab
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home Chevron Right
  2. The Holiday Table Chevron Right
  3. New Life for Holiday Leftovers

New Life for Holiday Leftovers

Updated December 01, 2016
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Peter Frank Edwards; Styling: Ginny Branch

Transform your holiday leftovers into dazzling new dishes and give yourself the night off.

Start Slideshow

1 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Chicken, Avocado, and Turkey-Bacon Sandwich

Chicken, Avocado, and Turkey-Bacon Sandwich Recipe

Chicken, Avocado, and Turkey-Bacon Sandwich provides just the right combination of hot and cold, crunchy and creamy. The key is to make sure the avocado and tomato are ripe and the bread is the best you can get your hands on.

1 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Tuna Niçoise Salad with Roasted Green Beans and Potatoes

Credit: Yunhee Kim; Stylist: Alistair Turnbull/Pat Bates and Associates

Tuna Niçoise Salad with Roasted Green Beans and Potatoes Recipe

2 of 40

3 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Turkey Sandwich With Spicy Cranberry Spread

Credit: Yunhee Kim; Styling: Dawn Sinkowski

Turkey Sandwich With Spicy Cranberry Spread Recipe

Prep: 10 minutes

3 of 40

Advertisement

4 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Chopped Turkey Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette

Credit: Charles E. Walton IV

Chopped Turkey Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette Recipe

This holiday version of chopped salad makes use of leftover turkey as well as cranberry sauce. Tart cranberries make a delicious addition to any vinaigrette, and using them in a relish or sauce eliminates the need to cook them first. Prep: 10 minutes.

4 of 40

5 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Mashed Potatoes: Latkes

Credit: Photography: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Fonda Shaia

Leftover Mashed Potatoes: Latkes Recipe

Looking for new ways to use your holiday leftovers? Check out these satisfying dishes, starting with latkes. Latkes are often made with shredded potatoes, but these vegetable and dill-flavored potato cakes are made with mashed potatoes. The recipe gives instruction for making the mashed potatoes, but if you have some in the refrigerator, just add the zucchini and leek to what you have. You'll need about 4 cups of mashed potatoes.

5 of 40

6 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Mashed Potatoes: Shepherd's Pie

Credit: Marcus Nilsson

Leftover Mashed Potatoes: Shepherd's Pie Recipe

Shepherd's pie was originally created as an economical way to use the leftovers from the Sunday dinner roast. It's a savory pie of cooked ground or diced meat that's mixed with vegetables and topped with mashed potatoes, so you can use not only your leftover meat but your potatoes as well. The recipe calls for a 16-ounce package of frozen mashed potatoes, which is about 2 cups.

6 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Mashed Potatoes: Vegetable Samosas

Credit: John Autry; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Leftover Mashed Potatoes: Vegetable Samosas Recipe

Samosas are a popular and filling snack in India, and this recipe uses up your leftover mashed potatoes and other veggies like onion, carrots, and peas. Traditionally samosas are fried, but this recipe keeps the fat content down by baking them.

7 of 40

8 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Ham, Peas, Dinner Rolls, Potatoes: Soup

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Amy Burke

Leftover Ham, Peas, Dinner Rolls, Potatoes: Soup Recipe

Leftover potatoes, peas, and ham are the base for this hearty, comforting soup. To acheive the crusty dinner roll "croutons", place the soup in broiler-safe bowls and top with rolls and cheese; broil in the oven for a few minutes until the cheese melts. However, if you don't have broiler-safe bowls simply place the roll pieces on a baking sheet, sprinkle with cheese, broil for 3 minutes or until golden brown, and then top the soup.

8 of 40

9 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Sweet Potatoes: Shepherd's Pie

Credit: Sang An

Leftover Sweet Potatoes: Shepherd's Pie Recipe

In this colorful version of a traditional shepherd's pie, mashed sweet potatoes are used for the topping instead of regular mashed potatoes. For the filling, use any onion or celery that you may not have needed in your dressing.

9 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Pancakes

Credit: Lydia E. Degaris

Leftover Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Pancakes Recipe

What better use for a small amount of leftover mashed sweet potato–either fresh or canned–than nutty sweet pancakes? You'll also need a small amount of chopped pecans.

10 of 40

11 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Turkey and Sweet Potatoes: Pizza

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Amy Burke

Leftover Turkey and Sweet Potatoes: Pizza Recipe

Use up your leftover turkey and sweet potatoes in this family-friendly dish. Instead of sauce, smooth mashed sweet potatoes onto pizza dough and top with shredded turkey, onions, mushrooms, spinach, and Havarti cheese. You can also substitute the Havariti Monterey Jack.

11 of 40

12 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Turkey and Cranberry Sauce: Turkey Tostadas

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Amy Burke

Leftover Turkey and Cranberry Sauce: Turkey Tostadas Recipe

Top toasted tortillas (tostadas) with a mixture of turkey, red bell pepper, poblano pepper, black beans, queso fresco and cilantro. To really put these tostadas over the top, drizzle on a sauce made from your leftover cranberry sauce and chipotle pepper. You'll need 3 cups of leftover turkey and 1 cup leftover whole-berry cranberry sauce.

12 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Turkey: Stir-Fry

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Dan Becker

Leftover Turkey: Stir-Fry Recipe

Turkey sandwiches are so last year! Top egg noodles with stir-fried mushrooms, vibrant red bell pepper, snow peas, and two cups of your leftover bird.

13 of 40

14 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Turkey: Stew

Credit: John Autry; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Leftover Turkey: Stew Recipe

Give your leftover turkey a spicy Mexican makeover when you add it to this hearty soup. Round out the soup with a variety of veggies and top with roasted pumpkin seeds to add a fun, nutty flavor.

14 of 40

15 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Canned Pumpkin: Muffins

Credit: Karry Hosford

Leftover Canned Pumpkin: Muffins Recipe

If you bought one too many cans of mashed pumpkin for your pies, or if you just happen to have a partial can remaining, use it in these sweet and spicy muffins. The brown sugar topping makes them extra-special.

15 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Vegetables: Soup

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Leftover Vegetables: Soup Recipe

A hearty vegetable soup is a common way to use up all your leftover veggies. This recipe calls for a 32-ounce bag of frozen mixed vegetables with peas, carrots, green beans, and lima beans, but you can use 8 cups of any vegetables that you have on hand. If you have fewer veggies on hand, you can half this recipe and get 9 cups of soup instead of 18.

16 of 40

17 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Green Beans: Mediterranean Salad

Credit: John Autry; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Leftover Green Beans: Mediterranean Salad Recipe

This light side dish is a welcome break from heavy holiday food. Combine bulgur and 2 cups of your leftover cooked green beans with the bright flavors of mint, red onions and lemon.

17 of 40

18 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Fresh Cranberries: Upside-Down Cake

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Dan Becker

Leftover Fresh Cranberries: Upside-Down Cake Recipe

If you've got some fresh cranberries in the freezer, use them as a tangy accent for this tender pumpkin cake. You probably already have some canned pumpkin and walnuts on hand for the holidays.

18 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Cranberry Sauce: Cranberry Créme Brulee

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Mindi Shapiro Levine

Leftover Cranberry Sauce: Cranberry Créme Brulee Recipe

Don't serve all of the cranberry sauce with the turkey–you'll want to save half of the can for this decadent créme brulee.

19 of 40

20 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Cranberry Sauce: Cocktails

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Amy Burke

Leftover Cranberry Sauce: Cocktails Recipe

The classic Old Fashioned gets a true holiday twist when you muddle together fresh orange slices and leftover cranberry sauce with bourbon and a dash of bitters.

20 of 40

21 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Bread: Strata

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Leftover Bread: Strata Recipe

The key to great strata is sturdy, dense bread, so leftover bread is perfect. This recipe calls for sourdough bread, but use whatever you have. Because it also contains chopped ham, this strata does double duty for "repurposing" leftover holiday food. Make it ahead and serve for brunch or a light supper.

21 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Cornbread: Cornbread Salad

Credit: James Carrier

Leftover Cornbread: Cornbread Salad Recipe

If you made a few batches of cornbread for your dressing but didn't use it all, make a bread salad to serve with pan-fried trout. Just cut the cornbread into cubes and bake for about 20 minutes until toasted. Then combine with pumpkin seeds, spices, kale, lemon juice and vinegar. Spoon the bread salad onto serving plates and top with a trout fillet.

22 of 40

23 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Pound Cake: Trifle

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Leftover Pound Cake: Trifle Recipe

Not only can you use make the most of the remaining pound cake, you can also use any fresh cranberries you may still have in the freezer. When you're making a trifle, you can actually use any kind of un-iced cake such as pound, angel or a plain yellow or white cake.

23 of 40

24 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Red Wine: Pasta Sauce

Leftover Red Wine: Pasta Sauce Recipe

If you have just a little bit of red wine left in the bottle, drink it! Or use it in rich tomato sauce for pasta. This sauce recipe features plenty of on-hand pantry items such as canned tomatoes, dried herbs, and a package of dry pasta.

24 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Leftover Green Bean Casserole: Sandwich

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Leftover Green Bean Casserole: Sandwich Recipe

Don't toss that last bit of green bean casserole. You can use it to make a tasty sandwich instead.

25 of 40

26 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

The Best Leftover Turkey Sandwich Ever

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

The Best Leftover Turkey Sandwich Ever Recipe

This crispy, crunchy, savory turkey sandwich will leave you wishing you had leftovers more often.

26 of 40

27 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Cheesy Thanksgiving Tamales

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Cheesy Thanksgiving Tamales Recipe

You'll love our genius way to use leftover stuffing, turkey, or sweet potato casserole by turning it into the starchy outer layer of tamales.

27 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Green Bean Quiche

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Green Bean Quiche Recipe

What's better than a clever new guise for extra green bean casserole (onion topping and all)? One that takes just 5 minutes to mix.

28 of 40

29 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

New Turkey Tetrazzini

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

New Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe

Loads of spinach and mushrooms freshen up this classic.

29 of 40

30 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Sweet Potato Casserole Hotcakes

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Sweet Potato Casserole Hotcakes Recipe

If your sweet potato casserole is very sweet, omit the brown sugar in the pancakes. Does yours come with a marshmallow topping? Even better. Simply stir it into your sweet potatoes, and make the recipe as directed.

30 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

31 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Sausage-and-Sweet Potato Soup

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Sausage-and-Sweet Potato Soup Recipe

A smart way to repurpose sweet potato casserole, this hearty soup drew rave reviews in our Test Kitchen. If your casserole contains marshmallows, remove them before stirring the casserole into this soup. The flavor will vary depending on your casserole recipe; simply adjust salt and pepper to taste before serving.

31 of 40

32 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Lemongrass-Turkey Soup

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Lemongrass-Turkey Soup Recipe

The fragrant flavors in this refreshing tonic of a soup are the antidote to a rich Thanksgiving feast. For a heartier spin, serve it over rice or noodles. Can't find fresh lemongrass in the produce section of your supermarket? Try our version that uses Thai ginger-infused chicken broth instead.

32 of 40

33 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Cranberry-Hoisin Turkey Buns

Credit: Peter Frank Edwards; Styling: Ginny Branch

Cranberry-Hoisin Turkey Buns Recipe

Look for frozen Chinese steamed buns at Asian specialty grocery stores. Or, if you'd rather, you can substitute mini pita breads for the buns.

33 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

34 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Crispy Green Beans with Sriracha Mayo

Credit: Peter Frank Edwards; Styling: Ginny Branch

Crispy Green Beans with Sriracha Mayo Recipe

No leftovers? Sub in a bag of microwaved steamed beans.

34 of 40

35 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Potato Pancakes with Salmon

Credit: Peter Frank Edwards; Styling: Ginny Branch

Potato Pancakes with Salmon Recipe

Serve pancakes with a dollop of applesauce in place of the fish for a fast meat-free option.

35 of 40

36 of 40

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Savory Harvest Vegetable Tart with Toasted Quinoa Crust

Credit: Peter Frank Edwards; Styling: Ginny Branch

Savory Harvest Vegetable Tart with Toasted Quinoa Crust Recipe

The deep flavors of the roasted vegetables pair perfectly with the nutty flavor and crunchy texture of the quinoa crust and the creamy herbed cheese in this tart.

36 of 40

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

37 of 40

Save Pin