There is definitely something to be said for the traditional Thanksgiving feast. It’s hearty, beautiful and oh-so-American. But after so many Turkey Days it might be time to switch things up a bit. Why not keep with the spirit of the holiday by sticking with all the major ingredients, but use them in a whole new way (turkey empanadas, anyone?) Whether you want to add these to your Thanksgiving menu or use them for what’s bound to be an excessive amount of leftovers, here are 20 of the hottest Thanksgiving dishes trending on Pinterest right now.
1. Mashed Potato Pancakes: Use that extra mash to whip up these potato pancakes that are somewhat of a hybrid between a latke and a hashbrown. Fry them up with breakfast and serve them with a fried egg on top. (via Just a Taste)
2. Turkey Empanadas: Give that American turkey a Latin American twist by shredding up the meat and popping it in this handheld snack. (via Cheap Recipe Blog)
3. Turkey Tacos With Cranberry Salsa: If you’re hosting a small Thanksgiving, forget about the giant turkey and just buy a turkey leg for shredding. Stuff that tasty meat into taco shells and add in cream cheese and cranberry salsa. Boom! Thanksgiving. (via Mountain Mama Cooks)
4. Bacon Wrapped Stuffing Bites: Oh, stuffing. We have mixed feelings about you. Transform the classic side into an appetizer that nobody is going to be able to resist, because… bacon. (via Tablespoon)
5. Gluten-Free Turkey Hand Pies: Differing slightly from the turkey empanadas, these hand pies are gluten-free and use an assortment of savory flavors like thyme, parsley and even white wine. (via Gluten-Free Canteen)
6. Turkey Cranchiladas: It might seem strange to use cranberries in enchiladas, but the fruit adds just a hint of sweetness, which is balanced out by its tartness and the spiciness from the pepper jack cheese and hot sauce. And besides that I mean c’mon, they’re called cranchiladas… (via Pink Parsley)
7. Mashed Potato Cheddar Chives Waffles: An excuse to bust out our waffle iron? We’ll take it. This savory, totally genius way to use leftover mashed potatoes will definitely come in handy beyond the Thanksgiving holiday. (via Joy the Baker)
8. Homemade Gnocchi: This is probably one of the easiest recipes out there. All you need are some mashed potatoes, flour, an egg and salt. (via The Art of Doing Stuff)
9. Thanksgiving Leftovers Stromboli: It’s going to be pretty hard not to like this dish that combines all your Thanksgiving leftovers inside of a fluffy, crispy crust. (via Betsy Life)
10. Mashed Potato Waffle Melt: Taking that mashed potato waffle one step further, this recipe adds avocado, eggs, brie, turkey and bacon. YUM. (via Half Baked Harvest)
11. Pumpkin Pie Milkshake: Skip out on the giant pumpkin pie and just buy a couple of pre-sliced pieces from your local grocery store. While you’re there, pick up some vanilla ice cream. Now go home and blend them all together and voila! A real pumpkin pie milkshake. (via Blogging Over Thyme)
12. Thanksgiving Tostada: Put a Mexican spin on your meal this Thanksgiving by throwing shredded turkey, cranberry sauce, feta and rosemary on top of a tostada. (via Family Fresh Cooking)
13. Turkey Quiche: Quiche. We always seem to forget about it and all its eggy goodness. This quiche is a bit lighter, subbing out the pastry crust for a tortilla and using sweet or mashed potato. (via Imma Eat That)
14. Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps: This recipe uses minced turkey as opposed to shredded. If you’re trying a new kind of turkey dish for Thanksgiving, go ahead and use this recipe as is. If you want to use it for leftovers, just make a few adjustments to the recipe by using shredded turkey as opposed to minced. (via Tartine and Apron Strings)
15. Thanksgiving Leftovers Quesadilla: Use up that leftover turkey and cranberry sauce with some sage and cheese in this super quick post-Thanksgiving dish. (via The Cookie Rookie)
16. Turkey Taquitos: Give this classic Mexican appetizer a healthy spin by substituting the beef for turkey and deep frying for oven baking. (via Sugar Free Mom)
17. Pumpkin Risotto: If that handmade pumpkin pie left you with an awkward amount of puree, use it up with this hearty, cozy dish. (via Healthy Seasonal Recipes)
18. Turkey Curry: You won’t even feel like you’re eating leftovers with this totally unrecognizable turkey curry. (via The Cookie Jar)
19. Mashed Potato and Stuffing Patties: Stuffing can be hard to repurpose, but it seems there’s finally a recipe that manages to do it. Combine stuffing, mashed potatoes, onion and even some leftover turkey to create these crispy patties. (via Pocket Change Gourmet)
20. Turkey and Mashed Potato Croquettes: The ultimate leftover dish, this recipe uses mashed potatoes, turkey and cranberry sauce in a whole new form: as a fried, breaded croquette. (via Martha Stewart)
How do you use up Thanksgiving leftovers? If you have a good recipe or idea, share it with us in the comments below.
