What to do with Christmas Leftovers
The gifts have been opened, the crackers have been pulled, and there’s what feels like a mountain of leftovers in the fridge.
Don’t be overwhelmed! We’re going to show you how to transform your leftovers into brand new meals, reducing food waste and saving you money too.
For more food waste tips, check out our full rundown here.
For our best ever festive recipes, take a look at the full Christmas category on our website.
BBQ Turkey Sliders with Christmas Slaw
Arguably the turkey is the biggest part of a Christmas dinner, there’s so much more you can do with leftover turkey than a soggy Boxing Day sandwich!
It’s worth mentioning that you need to be really careful with cooked turkey, and you should eat it within a couple of days of being cooked.
You should also never freeze meat if it’s already been frozen.
Always check food safety guidelines or check the notes in the recipe for more information.
For an unforgettable family dinner that adds a smoky twist to the turkey, look no further than our BBQ Turkey Sliders with Christmas Slaw.
Perfect for feeding a group, these grab-size mini burgers are served with a delicious festive slaw that you’ll want to enjoy all year round!
Turkey Curry
If you’d prefer, use your leftover turkey to transport your tastebuds across the world with a Turkey Curry.
Lightly spiced and totally customisable for your preferred level of heat, this Indian-inspired curry is perfect for a lighter dinner after a heavy Christmas Day.
A pile of fluffy boiled rice is all you need alongside this curry:
Filo Crackers
Leftover turkey doesn’t have to be turned into a full meal.
If you don’t quite have enough left, or prefer something lighter, try our Filo Crackers.
Simple to make and versatile, they’re the perfect party snack to take to a Boxing Day buffet, or to snack on in the days following Christmas.
Christmas Calzone
With brie and sweet cranberry, these Christmas Calzones are great for using up leftover turkey and trimmings.
They’re also light and really simple to assemble, which is just what you need after the indulgence of Christmas.
We think these would be great made up for a Boxing Day buffet or to enjoy for supper!
Maple Glazed Carrots
If you’ve got a plate full of carrots that didn’t make the cut on the big day, Maple Glazed Carrots are a great way of upgrading a simple roasted vegetable dish.
It also makes a great side to pretty much any recipe you’d serve veggies with!
Carrot, Orange and Thyme Soup
Many supermarkets also sell off their vegetables straight after Christmas for really low prices, so if you do manage to grab an extra bag of carrots, blitz them up into Carrot, Orange and Thyme Soup.
Soup is so forgiving with flavours, so feel free to add pretty much any leftover vegetables for an extra nutrient boost; serve with a wholemeal roll or a slice of Cheesy Garlic Bread on the side.
It’s a warming, comforting pick-me-up that you can make in bulk and store in the freezer for a chilly winter day.
Christmas Pie
How amazing would this Christmas Pie look on the dinner table?!
It’s easily made veggie by skipping the turkey, and it’s so versatile: just chuck in whatever leftovers you have in the fridge and you end up with a rustic style pie that tastes just as good as it looks!
Chestnut Stuffing
If you’re anything like us, we love the smell and taste of roasted chestnuts over Christmas, so we usually end up buying too many!
Thankfully, they do last quite a while, and we have some delicious freezer-friendly recipes so you can use up your chestnuts or save them for another time.
If you’re too ‘stuffed’ full of chestnuts after the indulgence of Christmas (see what we did there?), don’t worry; you can pop these in the freezer and save them for another day.
We love adding stuffing to a roast dinner at any time of year, but there’s something really special about a couple of balls of rich Chestnut Stuffing!
Cheese and Pickle Twists
When the cheese board is almost gone, and there’s just a lone block of low fat cheddar lingering in the fridge, resist the urge to just take a bite.
With only three extra ingredients, you can turn it into these savoury, crispy Cheese and Pickle Twists.
Perfect for snacking or even giving to guests to take home with them, we love how simple this recipe is!
Pizza Twists with Pizza Dip
Lighter puff pastry is a great staple to keep in the house, and if you’ve got some left over after the Pigs in Blankets in Puff Pastry are long gone, you can switch out fillings for whatever takes your fancy: Pizza Twists with Pizza Dip are a firm family favourite that take only minutes to prepare.
Mince Pie Cheese Toastie
If you’ve got leftover mincemeat from Mince Pies, give our festive twist on a classic cheese toastie a try!
A Mince Pie Cheese Toastie may sound like a strange combination but trust us – it really works.
Savoury and delicious, it’s a great way to use up your leftovers and takes next to no time.
What’s your favourite way to use up any Christmas leftovers?
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