Buttermilk Cornbread in Cast Iron Skillet

Bake some cornbread with a twist! This Buttermilk Cornbread is beyond good served warm from a cast iron skillet. Brown the butter first for a fantastic flavor.

Potato Salad with Chickpea Aquafaba Mayo

A lighter potato salad with chickpea aquafaba mayo, mustard, herbs, and veggies for a flavorful plant-based side.

Cauliflower Lima Bean Au Gratin

Or, for a lighter option, whip up a cheesy Cauliflower Lima Bean Au Gratin with fresh cauliflower, lima beans, creamy cheese sauce, and crispy breadcrumbs on top.

Southern Summer Succotash

No southern meal is complete without succotash. This Southern Summer Succotash features fresh veggies like corn, okra, peppers, onion sautéed in bacon drippings, and lima beans.

Lady Pea Salad

Salads are always a hit at potlucks. Lady Pea Salad combines lady cream peas, fresh herbs, lettuce, and a bright vinaigrette for a simple yet satisfying salad.

Zippy Lentil Salad

For heartier flavor, try Zippy Lentil Salad with collard greens, chopped veggies, olives, and a lemon-herb dressing over lentils.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread with Black Bean Aquafaba

A perfectly moist chocolate zucchini bread made with whipped black bean aquafaba for a fluffy texture and fudgy crumb.

Photo by Chris Granger.

If your holiday feast includes a turkey, you’re in for a treat on the day of your big celebration. And if you’re resourceful and appreciate eating “nose-to-tail” eating, you’ll also benefit in the days following — because you’ve got the makings for many delicious dishes to come.

Every part of the turkey (whether it’s roasted, smoked, or fried), from the carcass, giblets, and necks, to legs and leftover meat, offers the opportunity to add richness, flavor, and extra protein to dishes like gumbo, beans, chili, and more. Of course, the same philosophy applies to a holiday ham! From ham bones and ham hocks to shanks and meat, there are so many tasty ways to use the leftovers.

Check out some favorite recipes that use leftover holiday turkey and ham.

Pableaux’s Turkey Bone Gumbo

Pableaux Johnson of The Red Bean Road Show shares his personal turkey gumbo recipe. Delicious! Photo by Chris Granger.

Red Beans with Smoked Turkey Legs

Chef Isaac Woo of Catahoula Catering in Denver, Colorado is a Louisiana native who loves to make his red beans with smoked turkey legs.

Turkey Black Bean Pumpkin Chili

Hearty and comforting, this recipe makes good use of leftover holiday favorites like cooked, cubed turkey and solid-pack pumpkin.

Great Northern Beans & Ham

This tasty recipe comes courtesy of Chef Jennifer Hill Booker. Featuring diced ham and a large ham bone, it brings amazing flavor to white beans.

Simple Slow Cooker Blackeye Peas

This is a simple but delicious blackeye pea recipe made in the slow cooker, with a ham hock or diced ham. With no hands-on attention required, it’s a perfect post-holiday dish.

Simple Southern Lima Beans

A great recipe for deliciously creamy butter beans that’s sure to satisfy. Serve over hot cooked rice and alongside your favorite cornbread or biscuits.

Every holiday gathering is a chance to celebrate family, traditions, and the love that brings us together. This collection of flavorful, homemade sides is sure to bring back memories, offer up something new, and please all who are seated ’round the table. Whether you’re serving up requested favorites, or preparing classic recipes with a modern twist, planning and cooking for the holidays is a gift to treasure.

Bourbon-Bacon Field Peas with Collards

Featuring the combo of a favorite spirit and a beloved salt-cured meat, this decadent, downhome side will complement any main dish — from turkey to roast to ham.

Simple Southern Lima Beans

Buttery goodness at its best, Simple Southern Lima Beans bring comfort food to the holidays.

Cranberry Barbecue Beans

Sweet, savory, and bursting with cranberries, these barbecue beans are begging to be served alongside your holiday ham.

Creamy Green Baby Lima Bean and Shrimp Casserole

Right out of the oven, this browned, bubbly casserole makes a delicious addition to any holiday table.

Warm Wild Green Salad with Pecan Dressing

Made with your choice of turnip greens, mustard greens, collards or kale, this salad features a crunchy, sweet, and tangy dressing.

Southern Blackeye Peas

Add a Southern accent to your holiday menu with these savory blackeye peas.

Red Beans and Rice Boudin Balls with Dipping Sauce

With lots of Cajun and Creole flavor wrapped up in one amazing appetizer, boudin balls are a great starter for any festive holiday meal.