While Thanksgiving is a holiday to remind us to be grateful, especially for chance to gather as friends and family to break bread, it is also a time where we are confronted with more food than we can eat; resulting in an astonishing amount of food that is wasted. According to the National Turkey Federation, more than 46 million turkeys are expected to be eaten on Thanksgiving and another 22 million for Christmas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that 35 percent of turkey meat purchased ends up in the trash.
With the Thanksgiving holidays behind us, you probably have found yourself with large amounts of leftover food. Not sure what to do with those leftovers? This is your chance to get creative as you transform leftovers into an exciting new meal. Below are some easy recipes to repurpose and help you polish off those Thanksgiving leftovers, along with ideas for future meals over the holiday season.
DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING SOUP
7 cups water
1 package Knorr® Rice Sides™ – Chicken flavor
2 tubs Knorr® Homestyle Stock – Reduced Sodium Chicken
2 cups bite-size chunks cooked turkey
3 cups cut up assorted cooked vegetables, such as green beans, carrots and potatoes
Bring water to a boil in large saucepan over high heat. Stir in Knorr® Rice Sides™ – Chicken flavor and Knorr® Homestyle Stock – Reduced Sodium Chicken. Return to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered until rice is almost tender. Add turkey and vegetables. Cook until rice is tender.
Recipe here
EVERYDAY THANKSGIVING CASSEROLE
1 package Knorr® Rice Sides™ – Creamy Chicken flavor
2 cups cut-up cooked turkey or chicken
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 1/2 cups seasoned cube stuffing mix
1/2 cup water
Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare Knorr® Rice Sides™ – Creamy Chicken flavor according to package directions, increasing water by 1/4 cup. Stir in turkey and cranberries during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Turn into 1-quart baking dish; set aside. Combine stuffing with 1/2 cup warm water. Pour over turkey mixture. Bake 15 minutes or until top is golden.
Recipe here
HARVEST TURKEY & RICE DINNER
1 package Knorr® Rice Sides™ – Creamy Chicken flavor
2 cups water 1 box (10 oz.) frozen cut green beans, thawed
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 lb. cut-up cooked turkey or chicken
Bring Knorr® Rice Sides™ – Creamy Chicken flavor and water to a boil over high heat in 12-inch nonstick skillet. Reduce heat and simmer covered 5 minutes. Stir in green beans and cranberries and simmer 2 minutes or until rice is tender. Stir in turkey and heat through, about 1 minute.
Recipe here
THANKSGIVING LEFTOVER TURKEY CASSEROLE
3 cups leftover prepared stuffing, divided
4 cups coarsely chopped leftover cooked turkey (about 1 lb.)
3/4 cup Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise, divided
1/4 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven to 375°. Spray 8-in. baking dish with no-stick cooking spray. Spoon in 1-1/2 cups stuffing, then top with turkey. Combine 1/4 cup Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise with cranberry sauce; evenly spread over turkey. Combine remaining 1/2 cup Mayonnaise, potatoes and cheese in large bowl. Evenly spread on turkey, then top with remaining 1-1/2 cups stuffing. Bake 40 minutes or until heated through. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Garnish, if desired, with dried cranberries.
Recipe here
MONTEREY TURKEY PIZZA
1/2 cup Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise
1 cup diced cooked turkey
1/2 cup diced tomato
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 can (4.25 oz.) chopped green chilies
4 green onions, sliced
1 clove garlic
1 1/2 cups Monterey Jack cheese (about 6 oz.)
1 (12-in.) chopped green chilies
Preheat oven to 450°. Combine Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise, turkey, tomato, Parmesan cheese, chilies, green onions, garlic and 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese in large bowl. Arrange pizza crust on baking sheet. Evenly top with turkey mixture, then remaining 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese. Bake 15 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted.
Recipe here
