Family gatherings may be smaller this year, but it might not be possible to adjust the size of your turkey and side portions leaving you with excess food. Kroger Chef Aaron Nieman suggests picking recipes with minimal ingredients to avoid wasting food. Skip buying a large bottle of sauce you might only use a tablespoon of for a recipe. Instead, opt for a can of corn or green beans that you already likely have in your pantry. “Zero waste is a huge challenge. It’s something we try to cover at home with my family, because throwing out food from your own fridge is frustrating at times,” Nieman says. “If you don’t need that extra side dish, then don’t make it.”

Chef Nieman supports Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative by showing us how to repurpose Thanksgiving leftovers with three recipes that can be served together or separate. “The whole goal I was aiming for was [recipes that] taste good,” Nieman says. “And use items that I thought would be around the traditional American home: lemon, mayonnaise, cheese.” Try these recipes after Thanksgiving this year!

Photograph courtesy of Aaron Nieman

Ham and Eggs

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. spiral ham
• 2/3 cup BBQ sauce (Private Selection Hot Pineapple, Ginger, Rum)
• 2 cups arugula
• 1 lemon
• Eggs (over easy, as needed)

Directions: Place large chunks of ham in a baking dish, toss in BBQ sauce, and cook at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes. Cook eggs in a nonstick skillet. Toss arugula in and a little lemon juice right before serving.

Stuffing Cakes

Ingredients

• 2 cups stuffing/dressing
• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons shredded Monterrey Jack (any available shredded cheese will work)
• Butter or oil

Directions:

1. Combine stuffing, mayo, and cheese. If your stuffing is dry feel free to double the mayo.
2. Form into 2-ounce patties (using a scoop, or 1/4 cup), cook in nonstick skillet or griddle on medium high heat with butter or oil for about two minutes on both sides. Be careful when flipping.
3. Serve with ham and eggs or bacon wrapped turkey.

Photograph courtesy of Aaron Nieman

Bacon Wrapped Turkey

Ingredients

• 1 lb. turkey breast
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup shredded cheddar
• 8 slices of bacon
• Optional: serve with arugula tossed in light lemon juice

Directions: Shred turkey into large chunks in a bowl, then add in mayo and cheddar. Using a measuring cup, scoop and form into balls. Wrap with two pieces of bacon, skewer or toothpick as needed to hold bacon in place. Cook for approximately 25 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit or until bacon is cooked. Serve on a bed of Arugula that has been tossed in lemon juice.