Ultimate Thanksgiving Leftovers Poutine: An Easy & Delicious Holiday Comfort Food Recipe
Transform your Thanksgiving feast into an extraordinary comfort meal with this delightful Thanksgiving Leftovers Poutine recipe. A festive twist on a classic, this dish combines your favorite holiday remnants – savory turkey, fluffy stuffing, rich gravy, and tangy cranberry sauce – piled high on crispy fries and gooey cheese curds. It’s the perfect easy recipe to whip up when you’re craving something hearty and unique after the big day. This recipe generously serves 4, making it ideal for a family lunch or a cozy evening snack.
The post-Thanksgiving food coma is a real phenomenon, often followed by the delightful challenge of utilizing all those wonderful holiday leftovers. While classic turkey sandwiches and next-day casseroles are always welcome, sometimes you crave something truly innovative, something that takes those familiar flavors and presents them in an entirely new, exciting way. This week, we’re diving deep into just such a creation, building on the success of past holiday ham recipes like my Southwestern Ham Hash. But today, it’s all about the quintessential Thanksgiving spread.
You know the combination I’m referring to – the harmonious quartet of succulent turkey, aromatic stuffing, velvety gravy, and that essential dollop of sweet-tart cranberry sauce. These ingredients, in their collective glory, define the very essence of Thanksgiving. But instead of just reheating them in their original forms, imagine them transformed into something utterly decadent and deeply satisfying. That’s where the magic of poutine comes in.
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Thanksgiving Poutine: A Holiday Twist on a Classic Comfort Food
Doesn’t the thought of combining crispy fries with rich gravy, squeaky cheese curds, and your beloved Thanksgiving trimmings sound absolutely divine? This year, we’re taking the Canadian classic, poutine, and giving it a distinctly American holiday makeover. It’s a culinary fusion that promises to delight your taste buds and utilize those precious leftovers in the most satisfying way possible.
This recipe idea has been brewing for a while, a delicious vision that I, regrettably, couldn’t bring to fruition last year. Being eight months pregnant, completely exhausted, and navigating the stresses of a global pandemic meant some ambitious kitchen projects had to be shelved. But this year, the stars (and my energy levels) aligned! I’ve already had the immense pleasure of devouring this incredible dish once, and let me tell you, it’s definitely happening again this weekend. Because who can resist an excuse to indulge in the ultimate combination of fries, gravy, and cheese curds?
Why Thanksgiving Leftovers Poutine is Your Next Holiday Tradition
The beauty of this Thanksgiving poutine lies in its textural and flavor contrasts. Imagine perfectly crispy, golden fries acting as the ideal foundation, sturdy enough to hold a generous layering of your holiday favorites. Tender, shredded turkey and savory stuffing find a new home nestled amongst the fries, all brought together by a hefty, warm drizzle of your homemade gravy. But it doesn’t stop there. We take it a step further by dotting bright, tangy cranberry sauce all over the top. These little pops of tart and sweet flavor cut through the richness of the savory elements, creating a perfectly balanced and incredibly addictive experience. Each bite delivers a symphony of textures and tastes – the crispness of the fries, the chewiness of the turkey, the softness of the stuffing, the squeak of the cheese curds, and the comforting warmth of the gravy, all punctuated by the vibrant cranberry.
Beyond its incredible taste, this dish is a lifesaver for those days immediately following Thanksgiving. After the marathon cooking session of the main event, the last thing you want is another complicated recipe. This poutine is super easy to whip up when you’re still recovering from the previous day’s festivities. It’s also a fantastic cure-all if, perhaps, you overindulged a little too much in holiday cheer (and wine!) the night before. We’ve all been there, and this hearty, comforting meal is just what the doctor ordered to get you back on your feet and ready for more holiday enjoyment.
Other Delicious Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes: Thanksgiving Leftover Stuffed Egg Rolls | Leftover Thanksgiving Enchiladas | Fried Turkey Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich | Thanksgiving Leftovers Tostadas
Essential Ingredients for Your Thanksgiving Poutine
The beauty of this Thanksgiving poutine recipe truly lies in its simplicity and versatility, leveraging ingredients you likely already have on hand. For the base, you’ll need a good batch of fries. Whether they’re crispy homemade fries, a bag of frozen favorites, or even a takeout order from your local restaurant (a great way to support local businesses!), any kind will work beautifully. A half sheet baking pan is typically all you need if you’re baking your fries, or a sturdy Dutch oven if you prefer to deep fry them for that extra golden crunch. Beyond that, the rest of the magic comes from simply warming up your treasured Thanksgiving leftovers. This means having your shredded turkey, savory stuffing, and plenty of rich turkey gravy readily available. And of course, no poutine is complete without those essential fresh cheese curds – their signature “squeak” and melt-in-your-mouth texture are non-negotiable for an authentic poutine experience. A spoonful of bright cranberry sauce adds that final, crucial touch of holiday flavor.
How to Make Thanksgiving Leftovers Poutine: Step-by-Step
Creating this festive poutine is remarkably straightforward, especially since most of your ingredients are already cooked! Here’s a simple guide to assembling this delicious, hearty dish:
Step 1: Prepare Your Fries
The foundation of any great poutine is perfectly cooked fries. You have a multitude of options here, so choose what best suits your preference and time. If you’re opting for homemade fries, deep-fry them in a good quality oil until they are golden brown and wonderfully crispy. For a healthier or quicker alternative, an air fryer works wonders, achieving a fantastic crunch with less oil. Frozen fries are a fantastic choice for convenience; simply bake them in your oven according to package directions, ensuring they reach peak crispiness. Alternatively, support a local business by grabbing a fresh batch of fries from your favorite restaurant. The key is to have them hot and ready right before assembly to maintain their structural integrity and provide that satisfying textural contrast against the soft, warm toppings.
Step 2: Warm Your Thanksgiving Leftovers
While your fries are cooking, it’s time to gently warm your Thanksgiving components. Place your shredded turkey, savory stuffing, and rich gravy into separate microwave-safe bowls. Heat them until they are thoroughly warmed through, but be careful not to overheat the turkey, which can dry it out. You can also warm the gravy on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally, until it’s hot and pourable. The goal is to have all your elements warm and ready to go for immediate assembly, as the heat from the ingredients helps melt the cheese curds and meld all the flavors together.
Step 3: Assemble Your Poutine Layers
Now for the fun part – building your Thanksgiving Leftovers Poutine! Begin by spreading half of your hot, crispy fries onto a large serving platter. This creates a solid base for the layers to come. Next, evenly distribute half of your warmed turkey and half of your stuffing over the fries. Scatter half of the fresh cheese curds generously over these layers. Finally, drizzle a liberal amount of your hot turkey gravy over everything. The warmth of the gravy and other ingredients will start to soften and melt those delicious curds. Repeat these layers once more with the remaining fries, turkey, stuffing, cheese curds, and gravy, ensuring you create a bountiful and impressive mound. For that iconic holiday touch, dot the cranberry sauce all over the top of your poutine. The bright red against the savory brown and yellow will look as appealing as it tastes. Serve immediately to enjoy the optimal temperature and textures. For an extra touch of freshness and color, I often like to add a garnish of freshly chopped parsley – it brightens the dish and adds a subtle herbaceous note. Enjoy this magnificent creation!
Need some more inspiration for snacks? Check out my snack recipes page!
Creative Variations: Can I Use Sweet Potato Fries or Other Leftovers?
Absolutely! One of the most wonderful aspects of this Thanksgiving Leftovers Poutine is its incredible flexibility. While classic golden fries provide a perfect canvas, feel free to unleash your culinary creativity. Sweet potato fries are an excellent alternative, offering a lovely touch of natural sweetness that beautifully complements the savory turkey and gravy, and harmonizes wonderfully with the tart cranberry sauce. The slightly different texture of sweet potato fries can also add an exciting dimension to the dish. Beyond sweet potato, consider other fun variations like crispy waffle fries, curly fries, or even crinkle-cut fries – each type brings its own unique shape and surface area to catch all that delicious gravy and scattered toppings.
The “door is wide open for creativity here,” as they say! Don’t be afraid to experiment with the type of fries that best suit your palate or what you happen to have on hand. The most important thing is that your fries are hot and crispy to ensure the best possible poutine experience. The killer combo of flavors – the savory, the sweet, the tangy, and the rich – will shine through regardless of your chosen fry base. This dish is designed to be a fun, no-fuss way to enjoy the lingering flavors of Thanksgiving, so make it your own and savor every delicious bite!
Thanksgiving Leftovers Poutine
equipment
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Shun Chef’s Knife
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Silicone Baking Mat Sheets
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Half Sheet Pan
ingredients
- 2 lb of your favorite fries any kind works! frozen, homemade, or even fresh from a restaurant for ultimate convenience and crispiness.
- 1 cup leftover Thanksgiving turkey shredded or chopped into bite-sized pieces for easy layering.
- 1 cup leftover stuffing or dressing adds incredible flavor and texture, an essential holiday component.
- 1 1/2 cups leftover turkey gravy the richer and more flavorful, the better! Ensure it’s warmed and pourable.
- 1/2 cup leftover cranberry sauce provides a delightful sweet and tart contrast to the savory elements.
- 1 cup cheese curds fresh is best for that signature “squeak” and perfect melt.
- Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish (optional, but highly recommended for a touch of freshness).
instructions
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First, prepare your fries. If you are cooking them from scratch or from frozen, ensure they are cooked to a golden crispness using your preferred method – whether that’s deep-frying for ultimate crunch, air-frying for a healthier twist, or baking in the oven. For best results, aim for maximum crispiness to support the toppings.
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While the fries are cooking, gently warm your leftover Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing, and gravy. You can do this in separate microwave-safe bowls, or for a more even heat, use the stovetop for the gravy. Ensure everything is hot but be careful not to dry out the turkey. Set them aside, keeping them warm for assembly.
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Once the fries are ready, immediately begin assembling your poutine on a large serving platter. Start with a layer of half of the hot fries. Evenly top these fries with half of the warmed shredded turkey, half of the stuffing, and half of the fresh cheese curds. Generously drizzle half of the hot turkey gravy over these layers; the heat will begin to melt the cheese curds. Repeat these layers with the remaining ingredients: another layer of fries, turkey, stuffing, cheese curds, and the rest of the gravy. Finally, dot the cranberry sauce all over the top of the poutine for vibrant color and a burst of sweet-tart flavor.
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For an extra touch of freshness and visual appeal, garnish your Thanksgiving Leftovers Poutine with freshly chopped parsley. Serve immediately while everything is wonderfully warm and the fries are still crispy, allowing the cheese curds to melt into gooey perfection. Enjoy this ultimate post-Thanksgiving comfort food!