Beyond the classic turkey sandwich, discover a delightful new way to enjoy your Thanksgiving bounty! These Thanksgiving Leftover Enchiladas are the perfect recipe to transform holiday remnants into a vibrant, flavorful meal that the whole family will love.
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This post has been kindly sponsored by Old El Paso, but all culinary opinions and love for leftovers are entirely my own. Your support helps me continue creating delicious recipes!
Transform Your Thanksgiving Leftovers into Irresistible Enchiladas
Can you believe it’s already the week of Thanksgiving? For many, this time of year signifies a beautiful blend of gratitude, family gatherings, and, of course, an abundance of delicious food. Thanksgiving has always held a special place in my heart – it’s not just about the incredible feast, but also the precious moments spent with loved ones, the warmth of tradition, and the joy of coming together. From the succulent turkey to the creamy mashed potatoes, the flavorful stuffing, the sweet potato casserole, and the soft dinner rolls, every dish contributes to a culinary symphony I eagerly anticipate all year long.
But let’s be honest, as much as we cherish the main event, there’s another hidden gem of Thanksgiving that gets many of us equally excited: the leftovers! The day after Thanksgiving holds its own unique charm, allowing us to relax, reflect, and continue indulging in the festive flavors without all the cooking hustle.
The Post-Thanksgiving Feast: A Celebration of Leftovers
Our family tradition usually involves a Thanksgiving lunch, which means by dinner time, everyone is happily lounging, engaged in conversation or board games. The thought of cooking again seems utterly unappealing. This is when the initial round of leftovers makes its grand appearance, usually in the form of simple, yet satisfying, turkey and roll sandwiches. It’s a casual, comforting way to wind down the holiday, perfectly capturing the relaxed spirit of the evening.
However, it’s the next day that truly sparks my culinary creativity. I confess, I *must* have my traditional turkey sandwich every year. It’s a simple pleasure: tender turkey, a generous dollop of mayonnaise, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper on soft white bread. It’s a nostalgic bite that marks the end of the holiday cooking and the beginning of a different kind of culinary journey. But as delightful as that sandwich is, we often find ourselves with an overwhelming amount of leftover turkey, stuffing, and other trimmings. Eating turkey sandwiches for days on end, while initially appealing, can quickly become monotonous. This is where the real fun begins – getting creative and transforming those leftovers into something entirely new and exciting!
Introducing: Thanksgiving Leftover Enchiladas – A Delicious Twist
That’s precisely how these Thanksgiving Leftover Enchiladas came to be. They represent a brilliant fusion of holiday comfort and vibrant Mexican-inspired flavors. This recipe takes your leftover turkey and combines it with that wonderfully savory stuffing (or dressing, depending on what you call it!) to create an unexpected and utterly delicious meal. It’s a fantastic way to extend the life of your holiday ingredients and surprise your taste buds with a fresh perspective.
When I set out to create this recipe, my primary goal was simplicity. After the marathon of Thanksgiving cooking, no one wants to spend hours in the kitchen preparing another elaborate meal. This recipe delivers on that promise. All you need are a few key ingredients: your Thanksgiving leftovers (shredded turkey and stuffing), some shredded cheese, soft flour tortillas, and a good quality enchilada sauce. My pantry is never without Old El Paso Red Enchilada Sauce – it’s a reliable staple that provides the perfect base for authentic flavor. And for the tortillas, I always reach for Old El Paso flour tortillas; their softness and flexibility are unmatched, making them my absolute favorite for enchiladas.
Effortless Preparation for a Flavorful Meal
The beauty of this recipe lies in its straightforward preparation. You simply combine the shredded turkey, stuffing, and a generous amount of cheese in a bowl. Then, you spread a portion of this flavorful mixture down the center of each flour tortilla, roll it up neatly, and place it seam-side down in a baking dish. The final touch involves generously pouring the rich Old El Paso Red Enchilada Sauce over the rolled tortillas and topping everything with the remaining cheese. A quick bake in the oven, just long enough for the cheese to melt and the sauce to bubble, and voilà – your delectable, post-Thanksgiving dinner is served!
This dish is not only incredibly simple to assemble but also remarkably delicious. It offers a wonderful contrast to the traditional flavors of Thanksgiving, introducing a savory, slightly spicy, and incredibly satisfying profile. If you’re finding yourself a bit weary of turkey sandwiches, these Thanksgiving Leftover Enchiladas are truly a game-changer. They’re an innovative, tasty, and easy way to enjoy your holiday leftovers, ensuring that no good food goes to waste and your taste buds remain excited.
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Thanksgiving Leftover Enchiladas
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Don’t let your Thanksgiving leftovers go to waste! These easy and delicious Thanksgiving Leftover Enchiladas offer a fantastic Mexican-inspired twist on traditional holiday fare, perfect for a quick and satisfying meal the day after.
Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded cooked turkey
- 1 1/2 cups leftover stuffing or dressing
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 2 (10 oz) cans Old El Paso Red Enchilada Sauce
- 1 (8-count) package Old El Paso Flour Tortillas for Burritos
- Fresh cilantro, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC).
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded turkey, stuffing, and 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese. Mix thoroughly until well combined.
- Pour approximately 1/3 of one can of the enchilada sauce into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Tilt the dish to ensure the bottom is evenly coated with the sauce.
- Take one flour tortilla and spread about 1/8 of the turkey mixture down its center. Carefully roll the enchilada up and place it seam-side down in the prepared baking dish. Repeat this process with the remaining tortillas and turkey-stuffing mixture until all are arranged in the dish.
- Pour the remaining enchilada sauce evenly over the tops of the rolled enchiladas. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over everything.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is beautifully melted and bubbly, and the sauce is heated through.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving, if desired. Enjoy your transformed Thanksgiving leftovers!
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