15 Ways to Use Turkey Leftovers to Cut Down on Food Waste

So you just enjoyed yourself with friends and family, but every time you open the fridge, you ask yourself the same question: What am I going to do with all this leftover turkey? Well, that's where these turkey leftover meals come in.

The holidays are all about indulgence, and there's nothing wrong with sitting down to a wonderful meal with your friends and family. However, Americans throw away

108 billion pounds of uneaten food every year. After

Thanksgiving, that's

200 million pounds of turkey alone.

Getting creative about cutting back on

food waste is a way to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle, and we're here for it at Brightly. As a matter of fact, my family treats leftover reuse as a competitive sport and we give each other high fives if we can successfully get rid of our turkey leftovers by the time December rolls around.

Here are some tried-and-true ways to use your turkey leftovers this holiday season.

Photo: Ends + Stems

If you've never had chilaquiles, you're missing out. This

Mexican staple defines creative leftover usage by traditionally using day-old tortillas combined with eggs to create a mouthwatering, hearty breakfast meal. This Thanksgiving edition combines your fall poultry of choice with tradition.

Photo: The Pioneer Woman

Far from the cafeteria nightmare of yesterday, turkey tetrazzini is a great way to use up leftover poultry—and we love this option from the Pioneer Woman. (Bonus: Make two helpings and freeze one casserole!)

Photo: Garlic & Zest

The next time you roast a humanely treated,

sustainably-sourced bird, don't forget to use every part of the animal to create a delicious bone broth or stock.

Photo: Sizzling Eats

Pair

eggs, a quick crust, and your turkey leftovers for a creative and scrumptious new main dish. This recipe also incorporates leftover sweet potato casserole and stuffing for a seriously low-waste feast.

Photo: Serious Eats

We're not talking about the late-night Hawaiian roll with cranberry sauce variety (although there's nothing wrong with that!). Have you ever thought to create a Kentucky Hot Brown with turkey leftovers? This recipe has you covered.

Photo: Isabel Eats

Enchiladas from scratch might not be a task you're up to taking on after a Thanksgiving meal, but you can prep this simple recipe that uses turkey leftovers in 10 minutes flat.

Photo: Little Broken

Soups are a quick and easy way to make a filling and diet-friendly meal. This one packs a lot of punch. For an extra kick, add lime juice in at the very end!

Photo: The Chunky Chef

Making a true poultry-based parmigiana is time-intensive and typically calls for chicken. In this recipe, you can save time by swapping in leftover turkey instead.

Photo: The Endless Meal

Bringing Thai flavors to holiday eating in an exciting way, this soup melds Tom Yum flavors with a creative way to reuse turkey leftovers.

Photo: A Sweet Pea Chef

If you're looking for something a little lighter after indulging, this salad packs a powerful punch and brings in flavors that will leave you wanting to recreate the recipe year-round.

Photo: Running to the Kitchen

Believe it or not,

mac and cheese tastes even better with a little leftover turkey added in. This one-pot recipe is sure to be a family favorite after the holidays.

Photo: Upstate Ramblings

Leftover turkey makes the perfect pizza topping. Shred it up and combine it with your other favorites: cheese, veggies, and maybe even some leafy greens if you're feeling fancy.

Photo: Completely Delicious

Turkey pairs perfectly with homemade broth, potatoes, carrots, and fluffy dumplings. It's a must-try meal on the next chilly day.

Photo: Healthy Recipes Blog

Skip the ground turkey and DIY some patties with your leftovers. Combine turkey with Greek yogurt, almond flour, mustard, eggs, and some spices for a quickie dinner.

Photo: The Spruce Eats

Leftover turkey and

mashed potatoes are the stars of the show in this croquette recipe. Serve them with leftover gravy for a delicious post-Thanksgiving meal.