Top 5 Christmas leftovers recipes (2024)

Try our quick and easy recipe ideas for using up those Christmas leftovers, including leftover turkey, potatoes, parsnips, sprouts and Christmas pudding

Apple and mincemeat strudel

★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars. 1 Rating

Delicious Christmas dessert to serve with ice cream or custard

50 Mins
Easy
Vegetarian

Boxing Day soup

★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars. 1 Rating

Potato, parsnip and veg soup

25 Mins
Easy
Healthy
Gluten Free

Boxing Day turkey salad

★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars. 1 Rating

Colourful festive salad with turkey, rocket, berries and wild rice

45 Mins
Easy
Healthy
Gluten Free

Brussels sprouts puree for babies

Easy Brussels sprouts weaning puree recipe for babies to enjoy on Christmas Day

7 Mins
Easy
Healthy
Vegan
Gluten Free
Dairy Free

★★★★★ Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars. 4 Ratings

A great way to use up leftovers from a Sunday roast or Christmas dinner

20 Mins
Easy
Vegetarian
Gluten Free

★★★★☆ Rated 4 out of 5 stars. 1 Rating

These are a nice variation on traditional bubble and squeak...

35 Mins
Easy
Vegetarian

Camembert and cranberry tartlets

★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars. 1 Rating

Delicious savoury tartlets for Christmas parties

Cavolo nero crisps

An easy, nutritious and delicious snack that kids will love; the perfect healthy swap!

17 Mins
Easy
Vegan
Dairy Free

Celery and maple soup

★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars. 1 Rating

Comforting vegetable soup for chilly days

1 Hr
Easy
Healthy
Vegetarian

★★★★☆ Rated 4 out of 5 stars. 2 Ratings

A family favourite that everyone will love...

1 Hr 20 Mins
Easy

Chicken soup for kids

★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars. 4 Ratings

Recipe for good old fashioned chicken soup - nothing beats a homemade soup...

40 Mins
Easy
Healthy

Christmas breakfast hash

★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars. 1 Rating

Indulge in this festive family breakfast idea

55 Mins
Easy

Christmas chutney

★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars. 1 Rating

Festive apple and cranberry chutney

1 Hr 20 Mins
Easy
Healthy
Vegan
Gluten Free
Dairy Free

Christmas leftovers jacket potatoes

Jackets loaded with Brussels and blue cheese

Easy
Gluten Free

Christmas leftovers pizza

Gluten-free pizza topped with turkey and stuffing

Christmas pudding brownies

★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars. 1 Rating

Rich chocolate brownies studded with chunks of Christmas pud

40 Mins
Easy

Christmas pudding ice cream

★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars. 1 Rating

This homemade Christmas pud ice cream is a festive showstopper

2 Hrs 25 Mins
Medium
Vegetarian
Gluten Free

Chunky vegetable soup for kids

★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars. 4 Ratings

A hearty and healthy soup - great for filling hungry tums...

40 Mins
Medium
Healthy
Vegetarian

Creamy Christmas leftover pie

★★★★☆ Rated 4 out of 5 stars. 1 Rating

A delicious family meal using up leftover cooked turkey & ham - perfect comfort food for warming you up...

1 Hr 10 Mins
Easy

Creamy potato and Brussels sprout soup

★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars. 1 Rating

A delicious soup which is great for using up leftovers...

50 Mins
Easy
Vegetarian

Easy chicken soup for kids

★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars. 1 Rating

This super easy chicken soup is a great way to use up your leftovers and can be frozen for quick and easy lunches or dinners

40 Mins
Easy
Healthy

Easy chocolate tiffin

★★★★★ Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars. 8 Ratings

This easy recipe for chocolate tiffin – or rocky road – is quick and simple to make, and requires no cooking. It can even be made vegan too!

15 Mins
Easy

Hot turkey sandwich

★★★★☆ Rated 4 out of 5 stars. 3 Ratings

Perfect for using up leftovers from either Sunday roast or Christmas dinner...

5 Mins
Easy

Mincemeat sponge

A lovely pudding recipe for a cold day, especially near Christmas! This is also a great way of using left over mincemeat...

50 Mins
Easy
Vegetarian

Potato casserole

★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars. 1 Rating

This is my daughter's favourite food: it's easy, nutritious and economical...

8 Hrs 5 Mins
Easy

Quinoa, turkey and cavolo nero salad

A tasty and healthy way to use up leftovers

30 Mins
Easy
Healthy

Stilton, potato and parsnip cakes

An easy idea for Christmas leftovers

50 Mins
Easy

Tear and share cheddar Christmas tree

★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars. 1 Rating

Giant cheesy pastry to share this Christmas

40 Mins
Easy

Turkey and cranberry wrap

★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars. 1 Rating

Try making some healthy and delicious wraps today...

10 Mins
Easy

Turkey and mozzarella loaf

A loaf stuffed with turkey, cranberry sauce and mozzarella

15 Mins
Easy

Top 5 Christmas leftovers recipes (2024)

FAQs

What foods make great leftovers? ›

Meatloaf. Though meatloaf is often restricted to the weeknight dinner table, it is a powerhouse leftover. ...
Lasagna. Sure, there's nothing better than lasagna coming out of the oven hot with bubbling cheese. ...
Pulled Pork. ...
Beef Stew. ...
Chili. ...
Frittatas, Quiches and Tarts.

How long to eat Christmas leftovers? ›

Food experts said that leftovers should only last three to four days, but when in doubt, you should throw them out.

How to heat up Christmas leftovers? ›

Reheat in the microwave, on the hob or in the oven until food is piping hot. Once you've re-heated something you shouldn't chill it again. Only re-heat what you'll eat. Meat is best reheated in gravy or sauce.

Discover More Details ›

How do you make leftovers exciting? ›

Think “ingredients,” not “leftovers.”

Turn extra pasta or cooked vegetables into a frittata. Blend cooked vegetables with a can of whole tomatoes and create a veggie-packed sauce for pasta. Create burritos with leftover cooked rice, meat and vegetables, and top them with sour cream and salsa.

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What are the most common leftover foods? ›

BEST FOODS TO HAVE AS LEFTOVERS

Soup/stew (79%)
Pizza (63%)
Meat (62%)
Pasta (60%)
Rice (55%)
Vegetables (54%)
Chinese food takeout (53%)
Roasted potatoes (52%)

More items...

Jan 4, 2022

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What do you eat after Christmas? ›

What to eat after Christmas

Fish. Fish, especially salmon, that increases the level of satiety and white fish. ...
Frittatas. Frittatas are a great way to combine all your leftover veggies and cheeses to create a yummy dish that you serve up with a salad. ...
Soups. Soups are great way to help keep weight under control. ...
Snacks.

Dec 26, 2023

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How much food is wasted over Christmas? ›

However, it sadly results in 270,000 tons of Christmas food waste being disposed of despite being edible – that's around seven million bins full of waste food. And it's not the only shocking Christmas food waste statistic.

Keep Reading ›

Can you freeze Christmas dinner leftovers? ›

After enjoying your Christmas dinner feast with family and friends, it is common to have leftovers. To minimise food waste and make your Christmas foods go further, your leftovers can be prepared and frozen to use in future meals.

What leftovers should not be reheated? ›

Oct 17, 2023, 07:14 PM IST. 7 Foods Items That Can Turn Toxic When Reheated. ...
Vegetables With High Amounts of Nitrate. Vegetables with high amounts of nitrate, like carrots, turnips, celery, or spinach, can turn toxic when reheated. ...
Rice. ...
Potatoes. ...
Mushrooms. ...
Cold Pressed Oil. ...
Eggs. ...
Chicken.

Oct 17, 2023

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What is the best appliance to reheat food? ›

Using a countertop oven, air fryer or even a simple skillet can provide excellent results for reheating many leftovers. I use my countertop oven daily for initial cooking as well as reheating most of our family meals.

How do you keep food warm for Christmas dinner? ›

Slow Cooker or Chafing Dishes

For hot vegetables, sauces, stews, and soups, a slow cooker or chafing dish may be used on the low setting to keep the food warm. Similar to an oven, if you plan to store foods for longer than an hour, you may notice a change in texture or taste.

Read On ›

What food is best leftover? ›

Soups, Chilis & Stews

Soups and chili are probably some of the most well-known leftovers-friendly recipes there are. But for good reason! Soups and chilis often taste even better after they've sat in the fridge overnight. Soup is also incredibly easy to reheat and customize after reheating.

Get More Info ›

How do you jazz up leftovers? ›

1) Transform last night's leftovers into a new meal.

Rice + veggies + eggs = fried rice.
Roast chicken leftovers = chicken salad.
Turn soup into a casserole.
Turn leftovers into tacos or burritos.
Make a pizza.
Whip up a frittata or quiche.
Combine veggies, starch, and protein for a hash.

Oct 23, 2023

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What foods are good for reheating? ›

Foods to Reheat in the Microwave

Soups.
Stews.
Sautés and stir-fries.
Steamed or boiled vegetables.
Rice, pasta, and noodles.
Casseroles.

What can I use everything but the leftovers? ›

To create Trader Joe's Everything but the Leftovers, we've distilled the essence of a stellar stuffing and a great gravy down to a shake-able-and vegan- Shake this Seasoning on eggs, roasted vegetables, sandwiches, popcorn, or use it to liven up your next sheet pan meal!

Learn More ›

What food tastes better with age? ›

It's not only wine and cheese that get better with age, some other foods taste better with a little bit of time.

1Tiramisu. Prepare tiramisu a day in advance. ...
2Lasagne. ...
3Syrup cake. ...
4Curry. ...
5Brownies. ...
6Sour cream banana cake. ...
7Moussaka. ...
8Pulled pork.

More items...

Explore More ›

What do most restaurants do with leftover food? ›

Many restaurants cook with fresh ingredients, but what they don't use is often saved for another day or sold to other restaurants for a cut price. Some establishments will give them to their employees to take home to ensure the food isn't wasted.

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