Other than adding it to the annual Thanksgiving sandwich.

If, like so many of us, you turn to one Thanksgiving sandwich as your method of getting rid of leftovers after the holidaysyou probably already know there is a limit to how many turkey sandwiches a person can eat in a week without losing their mind.

There are plenty of suggestions out there for clever ways to use up that extra turkey without having to toss it between two slices of bread, but the same isn’t true for dressing. Although it reheats well, on its own, especially after a few days in the fridge, it’s not the same.

However, with a little zhuzhing, you can turn leftover filling, excuse me, *dressing* (my northern roots showing) into breakfastslunches and dinners you actually want to eat.

Six ways to enjoy leftover dressing

If you’ve already tried slapping it on sandwiches, turning dressing into “muffins,” or trying to fold it into a Thanksgiving leftover, these new techniques will be a welcome break from the usual tactics.

Waffle it

Yes, you read that right. Pull out the waffle maker. Whip up the leftover dressing with the classic breakfast appliance. Top the crispy dressing with a fried egg, grated cheese, and a few dollops of hot sauce and you have a hearty, zero-waste breakfast the whole family can enjoy in the days after Thanksgiving.

Shape it into patties

Associate editor Kaitlyn Yarborough swears by her grandmother’s trick for using leftover dressing: Shape it into patties.

The technology couldn’t be simpler either. Simply rehydrate the baked dressing with a little turkey stock, mix until moist, then form into patties. Bake the patties on a sheet pan at 450°F until golden brown and crispy. Top with extra sauce, serve topped with an egg, or use the steaks as a base in one Eggs Benedictinstead of English muffins.

Fill with mushrooms, squash or peppers

For an extra easy post-Thanksgiving dinner, use leftover dressing as a filling for stuffed peppers, portobello mushrooms, zucchini’ssquash or any other vegetable that is easy to carve. Top with cheese and bake until the vegetable dish is soft and the dressing is warmed through.

Family: Stuffed mushrooms

Make Dressing Hush Puppies

Combine leftover dressing (this is especially good with cornbread dressing) with enough eggs to form a cohesive mixture that holds well to itself. Divide the mixture into small balls and fry until golden brown. (You can dredge the batter in breadcrumbs before frying, if desired.) Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, or simply serve with leftover sauce and cranberry sauce.

Turn it into meatballs

You are used to adding bread or breadcrumbs to meatballs. Well, you can use leftover dressing in much the same way. Simply mix it into your meatball mix as you would breadcrumbs, form the mixture into balls and cook as usual. Serve with your favorite pasta sauce over a bed of fresh cooked noodles and enjoy a well-deserved reprieve from turkey.

Turn it into croutons

Divide the remaining dressing into bite-sized pieces and spread them out on a baking sheet covered with baking paper. Mix lightly with oil. Bake at 350°F until golden and crisp. If desired, you can add additional spices, such as garlic, rosemary, paprika or cayenne.

Get the recipe

How to store leftover dressing

According to USDAleftovers should be refrigerated within two hours of serving (i.e. you should not leave the dressing out for more than two hours at room temperature). Best practice is to divide the dressing into smaller portions, as larger quantities can take a long time to cool to a safe temperature (which can increase the growth of harmful bacteria), and place the portions in airtight containers. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to four days, or freeze for longer storage.

How to reheat leftover dressing

There are a couple of ways you can reheat leftover dressing. The fastest is certainly the microwave. Be sure to stir the dressing occasionally while heating this way to ensure even cooking. You also heat the dressing on the stove or in the oven, and further stock can be added during reheating to ensure the dressing does not dry out. Regardless of how you choose to reheat leftovers, the USDA recommends reheating to 165°F just to be safe.

Family: 22 Leftover Turkey Recipes for the Days After Thanksgiving