7 Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes to Get You Back on Track | Livestrong.com (2024)

Don't toss your leftovers — try these tasty recipes that transform the holiday bird and side dishes instead.

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Thanksgiving leftovers are a blessing and a curse — they're delicious and save you from cooking, but they're not always calorie-friendly. And while you may be eager to get back to healthy eating after a holiday of indulgence, the tempting fridge full of food can hold you back.

No one likes to throw out food, and with these healthy Thanksgiving leftover recipes, you'll be able to get back on track and put the extras to good use.

Turkey pumpkin soup will put your leftover turkey and canned pumpkin to good use.

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If you've got some leftover turkey and pumpkin, this recipe combines these ingredients into a delicious soup that requires just 20 minutes to prepare and makes a great high-protein, low-fat meal.

Thanks to the pumpkin, this recipe supplies 4 grams of fiber per serving. Especially after a holiday feast, prioritizing high-fiber foods will help regulate digestion and can help prevent spikes in blood sugar, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

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Skip the mayo with this healthy sweet potato salad.

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Now's the time to get creative with those leftover sweet potatoes. This salad skips the mayo for a healthier potato salad alternative. At only 114 calories per serving, this dish makes a great side to your leftover turkey.

Sweet potatoes are especially high in vitamin A, providing more than 500 percent of your daily recommended value per tater. Vitamin A helps support your immune function, vision and reproductive system, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Shake up your morning meal with this easy Thanksgiving Leftovers Eggs Benedict.

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Enjoy your leftovers first thing in the morning with this 20-minute egg recipe. Eggs are also loaded with choline, a lesser-known but essential nutrient. While most of the systems in your body use choline to function properly, it's especially important for your brain health, including your memory, mood and muscle function, according to the NIH.

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Tired of seasonal flavors? Mix it up with turkey tacos.

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Mix up your meal prep with these turkey tacos. Instead of sour cream, this recipe uses plain yogurt, which is a great natural source of probiotics, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Probiotics (good gut bacteria) not only promote digestive health but can also help your body's nutrient absorption and immune function.

If you're looking to cut back on your gluten post Thanksgiving, try these roll-ups.

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Many of us experience some bloating after Thanksgiving dinner — luckily, the asparagus in this dish can help reduce some of those effects. Asparagus contains potassium, which can help counteract sodium-induced bloating.

This gluten-free wrap makes the perfect on-the-go lunch. It features romaine leaves stuffed with bell pepper strips, asparagus spears, brown rice and sliced turkey. Don't have cooked rice on hand? Feel free to make it from scratch, but be sure to add extra water. Stickier rice binds together and is less likely to spill out of the wraps.

Take your leftover stuffing on-the-go with these savory muffins.

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Wondering what to do with your leftover stuffing? Enjoy it as an on-the-go breakfast with this simple, healthy savory muffin recipe.

The spinach in these muffins is also a great way to increase your overall iron intake. Just a half cup of spinach packs 17 percent of your daily iron needs, according to the NIH. Iron is a crucial mineral for overall bone and muscle health.

Warm up with this bowl of turkey curry that clocks in under 500 calories.

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Incorporating some spicy foods into your meal can help warm you up, especially as colder weather sets in. This turkey curry recipe will not only provide a hefty amount of protein (41 grams) but will also give you a good serving of vegetables.

Although you may typically associate vitamin C with citrus fruits, broccoli — a key player in this recipe — actually provides 85 percent of your daily recommended value, according to the NIH. Vitamin C is not only great for boosting immunity, but it also helps your body process protein.