Leftover Magic: Creative Ways to Transform Holiday Favorites
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We’ve all been there – day three of Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner leftovers, and by then, you’re sick of eating the same meal over and over. This year, let’s skip the holiday food burnout and have a plan for reinventing those leftovers into something magical.
In this post, I’ll share creative ways to transform your favorites into completely new meals that are sure to impress friends and family this holiday season. I’ll also give you some ideas for those awkward odds and ends you’ll be left with, like excess cranberry sauce, or a small amount of French’s fried onions leftover from your green bean casserole recipe. Plus, I’ll give you my recipe for an Ethiopian inspired turkey seasoning that will have everyone in your home drooling by the time it comes out of the oven, and show how a hint of global flavor can transform your holiday meal.
Think of these ideas as a starting point — your leftovers, your creativity, and a little experimentation are all it takes to transform yesterday’s holiday dishes into something fresh and exciting.
Stuffing Croutons for Soups & Salads
Crisp up leftover stuffing in your air fryer. Crumble into small pieces and spray lightly with a neutral oil such as olive or avocado oil. Air fry at 350°F for about 8 minutes, tossing halfway.
Size variation in stuffing pieces will give you some that are totally crispy, while others are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.
Carrot or Sweet Potato “Banana” Bread or Muffins
If you had roasted sweetened carrots or sweet potato as a side for your main meal, let’s turn those leftovers into sweet bread or muffins!
Follow your favorite banana bread recipe, swapping the bananas for mashed carrots or sweet potato, add a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg, and top with a cream cheese or marshmallow frosting (optional).
You might need to adjust liquid ratios in your recipe! I added more milk to mine until the consistency of the batter was normal and it baked perfectly!
Cranberry Sauce Options
For a simple use of leftover cranberry sauce, swirl some into your morning oatmeal.
Alternatively, create a yogurt parfait: with cranberry sauce on the bottom, layer vanilla yogurt next, then top with granola, craisins, and a dash of cinnamon.
Turn cranberry sauce into a vinaigrette by whisking with olive oil and red wine vinegar for a festive salad dressing.
French Onion-Style Turkey Soup with Crispy Onions
Caramelize sliced onions. Use onion or turkey gravy as your base, then add turkey/chicken broth (or even water) to reach your desired consistency. Add in leftover turkey if desired.
Top with leftover French’s fried onions for crunch, or the traditional slice of bread with melted cheese for a true French onion soup feel.
Niter Kibbeh Spiced Turkey
This year, I decided to try something different and more unique than the standard herb seasoned turkey. Earlier in the year, I made niter kibbeh (nee-TAIR kib-BEH) – an Ethiopian clarified spiced butter – for a lentil stew recipe. The moment I tasted it, I noticed the warm, seasonal aroma of the spices and thought “I wonder if this would work with turkey for the holidays?” So, I tested it out.
Prep your turkey as you normally would and separate the skin from the meat without removing it. Next, slather clumps of softened niter kibbeh in between the skin and meat, then sprinkle with salt. Roast and baste throughout as you normally would. For an additional Ethiopian flair, pat the turkey dry and sprinkle on an even coating of bebere seasoning blend before roasting.
This is the niter kibbeh recipe I use. If you can’t find all of the ingredients, do your best to improvise! It will almost definitely still be delicious.
Holiday leftovers don’t have to be boring — they’re a chance to get creative, try new flavor combinations, and even add a little culinary adventure. Every kitchen ends up with a different mix of leftovers, so use this post as a starting point, not a rulebook. Whether you’re turning sweetened carrots into muffins, crisping up stuffing for a salad, or experimenting with a savory spiced turkey, let your fridge inspire you. The magic happens when you think beyond reheating and give your holiday favorites a new life.
Want more ideas for reinventing leftovers all year long? Follow along on social media or sign up to be notified when new posts drop — I’ll be sharing plenty of creative ways to turn yesterday’s meal into today’s next favorite!
