Leave No Holiday Leftover Behind With These Delicious Ideas

by Stephanie Callen

Once the celebrations wind down, you’ll be left wondering what to do with all the extra food and treats piling up. Don’t waste them!

Transform Ham and Turkey Into Hearty Meals

It’s one-dish pot pies and casseroles to the rescue! Use leftovers to make this comforting Turkey Pot Pie with just a few additional ingredients. For a cozy meal, a Deluxe Ham Casserole comes together quickly and is topped with French-fried onions.

Or how about a satisfying soup? This Turkey Noodle Soup gets its flavor from a bounty of fresh herbs, including thyme and rosemary. Looking for a game-day crowd pleaser? This Ham Chowder is loaded with bacon, potatoes and cheese.

It doesn’t get much simpler than using your extra meat in sandwiches. These Turkey Sliders get their zip from apple slaw and a barbecue-cranberry sauce. Your leftover naysayers will love these Ham and Swiss Sliders with pickled jalapenos and honey.

Reimagine Uses for Hardworking Veggies

Whether you have mashed, baked or roasted potatoes on hand, there are endless possibilities for your surplus spuds. Served with tangy sour cream, these crispy and cheesy Mashed Potato Pancakes make an excellent side dish. This diner-style Home Fries recipe calls for crisping up your taters and is a perfect accompaniment to eggs for breakfast.

If you have a mix of veggies left over, you can whip up a frittata for a quick and comforting brunch, lunch or dinner with just some eggs and cheese. This Brussels Sprout Frittata is a wintery rendition that includes smoked gouda. Or try this Roasted Vegetable Frittata with peppers, onions and zucchini.

Feast on These Options for Cookies and Candies

Mounds of holiday cookies and chocolates are all-too tempting! Tuck them out of sight in the freezer – then pull them out later for a new post-holiday concoction. These Chocolate-Peppermint Brownies are a good way to use up extra candy canes. And here’s a blank-canvas Fudgy Brownie recipe that can be gussied up with any type of chopped candies.

Your cookie stash can serve as yummy ice cream toppers, either broken up or pulsed in a food processor. They can also serve as the basis for a decadent treat like this Cookie Pudding featuring a lemony pudding. Or layer cookies in a Trifle recipe for an indulgent retro dessert.

Give your leftovers a second chance to shine. From savory to sweet, enjoy every last bite with these tasty options.