With fresh turkey, sugary sweet potatoes and all things cranberry, it’s tough to beat the traditional Thanksgiving feast. But the turkey doldrums that inevitably follow? That’s a tedious stretch of leftovers most feasters could do without.
Turkey sandwiches are the obvious solution for leftovers, but bread-and-bird isn’t the only way to serve up extras. Turkey’s mild flavor makes it interchangeable for many chicken dishes; expert chefs recommend rejiggering tried-and-true recipes like noodle soup to use up the holiday bird in a new, delicious way. Extra cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes and green beans can also make repeat appearances post-holiday, as side-dish solutions include everything from rolls and biscuits to soups and salads.
To sprinkle some pizzazz into this year’s post-holiday menu, we’ve enlisted the experts ― a variety of James Beard-recognized chefs who have their own leftover adaptations. From creative sides to unique spins on the main bird, here are seven must-try Thanksgiving leftover recipes from the experts.
Chunky Chicken Noodle Soup
Angie Mosier/Lighten Up Y’all by Virginia Willis
Vidalia Onion Turkey Tacos
Courtesy of Virginia Willis
Get theVidalia Onion Chicken Tacos recipefrom Virginia Willis.
Beverly Brown’s Potato Rolls
Keirnan Monaghan and Theo Vamvounakis
Get theBeverly Brown’s Potato Rolls recipefrom the James Beard Foundation.
Squash and Apple Soup with Fresh Cranberry Sauce
Mette Nielsen, from The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen
Tofu and Haricots Verts with Chraimeh Sauce
Jonathan Lovekin, from “Ottolenghi Simple”
Get theTofu and Haricots Verts with Chraimeh Sauce recipefrom the James Beard Foundation.
Turkey and Courgette Burgers with Spring Onion and Cumin
Jonathan Lovekin, from “Jerusalem”
Get the Turkey & Courgette Burgers with Spring Onion & Cumin recipe fromYotam Ottolenghi.
Spiced Sweet Potato-Walnut Biscuits
Stephanie Bourgeois
Get theSpiced Sweet Potato-Walnut Biscuits recipefrom the James Beard Foundation.
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