26 Christmas leftovers recipes

Best Christmas leftover recipes

Left-over roast turkey pie

Keep costs down over the festive period by using the remains of any roast chicken or turkey and turning into a creamy 1-hour pie, perfect on a chilly day.

Posh bubble and squeak (with chestnuts)

The ultimate waste-cutting dish. By adding pancetta, cooked chestnuts and sneaking in some brussels sprouts, you've got yourself the perfect Boxing Day brunch.

Mix and match mac ‘n’ cheese bar

A cheeseboard is a classic for Boxing Day. While you can never have too much cheese, it's difficult to get through it all. If you're in this situation, try making this mac 'n' cheese. Not only is it a great way to use up left over cheddar and parmesan, but also it will be sure to keep all the family happy between Boxing Day and New Year.

Turkey and ham pie

What better way to use up your Christmas turkey leftovers? This meaty, creamy turkey and ham pie is made with shop-bought puff pastry to make life a little easier. Perfect for a simple post-Christmas family dinner which doesn't break the bank.

Pigs in blankets carbonara

If, by some miracle, you have any pigs-in-blankets left-over from your Christmas dinner, give them a new lease of life in this rich carbonara recipe.

Turkey ramen

Cut down on waste and cost by making your leftover Christmas turkey last in this nutritious and restorative ramen.

Epic Christmas toastie

Use up your Christmas dinner leftovers to make our ultimate toastie with turkey, stuffing and homemade bubble and squeak. Plus, we share the greatest toastie secret you'll ever learn...

Cheese pastry

Use up any left-over cheese from your cheeseboard to effortlessly elevate this pie – you don’t need a huge amount, so if you’ve got a strong cheese, a little will go a long way.

Refried smashed roasties with green harissa and yogurt

Use up your leftover potatoes from Christmas Day in this punchy recipe. Make this quick dish for an easy side at a festive get together with friends.

Bread sauce and stuffing croquettes

Check out our epic croquettes with leftover bread sauce and stuffing. These crispy balls are easy to make and perfect at keeping a hungry crowd happy over the festive season.

Leftover turkey toastie

This West Coast version of a deli sandwich uses smoked turkey rather than pastrami. Meaty leftovers from your Christmas food that are still lurking around after Boxing Day will work a treat.

Ham, spinach and mozzarella lasagne

Packed with leftover ham and oozing mozzarella, this inventive twist on the traditional lasagne is a great way to feed a crowd without buying more food. Try our lasagne recipes here.

Turkey chilli bean stew

This is a good way of using up leftover turkey over the holidays – chicken or ham would work nicely as well. The chipotle paste and smoked paprika gives this a lovely smoky, but not too hot, chilli flavour.

Leftover turkey ramen noodles

Transform left-over Christmas turkey into a cosy bowl of ramen, complete with ginger-spiked broth, thick noodles and fresh coriander.

Roast potato chaat

You can use left-over roast potatoes for this spicy treat, or frozen roast potatoes that have been cooked first following pack instructions. Serve with a sprinkling of bombay mix and plenty of coriander yogurt.

Mac ’n’ cheese with ham and pickled onions

Got ham or gammon to use up from the festive season? Check out our easy macaroni and cheese recipe with cooked ham, pickled onions and three types of cheese.

Christmas pudding ice cream

A clever way to use up left-over Christmas pudding – add it to ice cream! This four-ingredient, no-churn recipe also comes laced with brandy or rum – the perfect winter pud.

Shredded brussels sprouts salad

Looking for ways to use up your leftover brussels sprouts? Check out this low calorie Italian-style brussels salad with crispy pancetta and toasted walnuts for a lighter dinner.

Ham, pickled pear and blue cheese salad

This ham, pickled pear and blue cheese salad is a great way to use up Christmas food leftovers on Boxing Day and beyond. It's an easy starter for four people, or a quick meal for two.

Double cheese, pickle and ham toasties

Check out this quick and easy grilled cheese sandwich, a super simple lunch idea for Boxing Day and great way to use up both ham and cheese.

Pumpkin soup

Got a load of blue cheese leftover? Instead of serving it with crackers, try sandwiching between slices of bread and toasting to make these moreish toasties. Serve with big mugs of soup for a low-cost yet warming dinner.

Lobster mac 'n' cheese

Do you have leftover cheese to use up? Make this lobster mac and cheese for an indulgent dinner between Christmas and New Year. The mac and cheese uses both gruyère and parmesan. The addition of sweet, rich lobster turns this into a luxurious treat which would be great for a New Year’s Eve celebration dinner.

Smoked haddock and ham gratin

This smoked haddock and ham gratin turns everyday ingredients into a really comforting dish that doesn't create lots of washing up. It's a great Boxing Day dish for using up Christmas leftovers.

Parsnip soup

A spicy parsnip soup is a real winter favourite and is perfect for a chilly Christmas evening when you want something quick and easy. Of course, any other leftover Christmas veg will work too.

Caramelised onion, sprout and bacon hash with chilli fried eggs

Spruce up your leftover sprouts with our crispy bacon and caramelised onion hash topped with chilli fried eggs. This easy recipe will make a great, cheap dinner over the festive season in under 30 minutes.

Chicken and shredded sprouts pie with butterbean mash

Our chicken and shredded sprouts pie with butterbean mash is a healthy version of your favourite comfort food. Use up any leftovers brussels sprouts from Christmas dinner to cut costs.