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Thanksgiving leftover recipes: What to do with Thanksgiving leftovers

Transform leftovers into chili, pancakes, waffles and more easy new dishes.
What to do with thanksgiving leftovers, thanksgiving leftover recipes, leftover turkey recipes, turkey chili, what to make with thanksgiving leftovers
Use leftover Thanksgiving turkey to make chili for a football feast.Zach Schiffman / TODAY
/ Source: TODAY

As satisfying as a well-constructed sandwich made with leftover Thanksgiving turkey can be, it's not the most exciting way to eat Thanksgiving leftovers. Without having to go to the store again, there are plenty of tasty spins that can be made with dishes from the holiday.

Whether there are heaps of mashed potatoes, an extra bowl of stuffing or just a few handfuls of turkey meat in the fridge, it's possible to reinvent the leftover foods into dishes that will help almost any host who is entertaining family all weekend.

Here are seven delicious recipes that are made with Thanksgiving leftovers and will keep the crowd pleased after the big feast.

Thanksgiving leftover recipes

Having some snacks ready to pass around the living room during a family game of charades is always a good idea. This Buffalo turkey dip is perfect because it only requires 2 cups of shredded turkey, which may be all that's left after the big meal. Throw everything in a slow cooker for just 25 minutes and get back to that family fun time.

Parmesan Mashed Potato Pancakes

These savory pancakes transform leftover mashed potatoes into a soft, crispy snack. Serve them as an appetizer or for breakfast along with fried eggs and bacon. They're also a great side dish that may be even better than the taters that were served on Thanksgiving.

Sweet Potato Biscuits with Cranberry Butter

Fill up on these tasty treats before hitting the shops on Black Friday. The biscuits are made with leftover Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole, and the creamy butter is flavored with extra cranberry sauce. The beautiful pop of color from both the biscuits and the butter will bring any brunch to life.

Leftover Stuffing Waffles

Here's a fun way to add some excitement to leftover stuffing. Waffle it! It's a savory spin that's delicious for any meal after turkey day. Just be sure to warm the stuffing a bit before mixing it up and putting it in the waffle maker.

Holiday Pie Trifle

When everyone wants some leftover pie, but there isn't enough to go around, make trifles. In small glasses, layer a little bit of pie, melted vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and whipped cream. If several pies are leftover, consider combining all of them into one beautiful layered trifle.

Black-Eyed Pea Turkey Chili

This chili is a win-win, no matter which team everyone's rooting for during Thanksgiving weekend. Using shredded turkey, instead of ground beef, is a nice way to lighten up the often heavy dish. Also, the spices are a nice kick to the tastebuds after all that turkey and gravy. It feeds up to 10 people, so it's also a great dish to serve if family is staying through the weekend.

Thanksgiving Turkey Sliders

If everyone's demanding a turkey sandwich, but there's only a little bit left, consider whipping up a batch of these sliders. They can feed a bunch of people since they're mini. Topped with Swiss cheese and leftover cranberry sauce, they're also easy to bake all at once.