Making the Most of Your Christmas Dinner Leftovers

Christmas dinner is one of the highlights of the festive season. The centrepiece is carved, the sides are polished off, the gravy boat scraped clean… and then come the leftovers! Far from being an afterthought, it’s half of the fun of the following meals to come. Enjoy your Christmas favourites all over again, in entirely new ways. 

At Donald Russell, we believe great food should never go to waste. With a little inspiration, your Christmas dinner leftovers can be just as exciting as the main event itself. From comforting curries to quick stir-fries and hearty breakfasts, here’s how to transform your festive favourites into meals you’ll look forward to after Christmas Day. 

Leftover Turkey: From Festive Feast to Everyday Favourite 

Turkey is one of the most versatile meats you can have in the fridge, and it lends itself beautifully to a variety of different meals. Whether it’s breast meat, leg or even shredded leftover meat from your turkey, there are countless ways to enjoy it all over again. 

Turkey Curry: A Boxing Day Classic 

One of the most popular turkey recipes for Christmas dinner leftovers is a simple curry. After a rich festive meal, a spiced curry is warming without being too heavy. 

Sauté onion, add peppers, ginger, garlic and chilli, stir in your spices like cumin, garam masala, ground coriander, onion seeds and turmeric, and finish off with tomatoes, coconut milk and chicken stock, before adding in your turkey. Ready in little more than an hour, and ideal served with fluffy rice and naan, this is a leftovers-winner.  

Take a look at the full recipe. 

Turkey Sandwiches & Toasties  There’s something undeniably nostalgic about a proper turkey sandwich on Boxing Day. Layer thick slices of turkey with mayonnaise, tomato slices, avocado, bacon, egg, and crisp lettuce.   For extra indulgence, go for a hot toastie instead, with melted cheese and cranberry sauce. It’s quick, comforting and unbeatable for those relaxed afternoons between Christmas and New Year.  We’ve got our own Turkey Club Sandwich recipe to help you out.

Leftover Beef: Rich, Hearty and Full of Possibilities 

If you choose roast beef for Christmas, you’ll be rewarded with leftovers that are deeply flavourful and ideal for bold, savoury dishes in the days that follow. 

Beef Stir Fry: Fast, Fresh and Full of Flavour 

Thinly slice your leftover beef and add it to a hot pan with fresh vegetables, ginger, garlic and soy sauce. Because the meat is already cooked, it only needs to be well-heated through, making for an easy, quick dinner. Finish with spring onions and lime juice for freshness. 

This is one of the lightest ways to enjoy your leftover roast beef, and a brilliant contrast to the richness of the day before. 

Shepherd’s Pie with Roast Beef 

For something more comforting, leftover beef makes a superb filling for a wholesome Shepherd’s Pie. Finely chop or shred the beef, simmer with onions, carrots and gravy, then top with creamy mashed potato and bake until golden. 

It’s hearty, warming and perfect for cold winter evenings, the sort of meal that makes leftovers feel like a treat!  

Although our Shepherd’s Pie recipe uses mince, you can certainly adapt to use up your roast beef leftovers. 

Roast Beef Hash 

For a relaxed lunch or brunch, try a roast beef hash. Pan-fry your leftover potatoes, onions and leftover beef until crisp, then finish with a fried egg on top. It’s simple, deeply satisfying and ideal for using up odds and ends from the fridge. 

Leftover Ham & Glazed Gammon: Sweet, Savoury and Versatile 

If your Christmas table featured a glazed ham Christmas centrepiece or gammon joint, you’re in luck. Sweet, salty and full of flavour, it works excellently in leftovers! 

Ham Bubble & Squeak 

An absolute classic for a reason, this is a fantastic way to use up leftover potatoes and cooked vegetables, especially cabbage! Make it extra tasty with your leftover ham, chopped up and stirred through your classic Bubble & Squeak, finished off with mature cheddar, all grilled until bubbling and golden. Easy, crispy, delicious. You have yourself an unbeatable festive leftover lunch. 

Ham Fried Rice 

Dice your leftover ham and stir through fried rice with egg, spring onions and soy sauce. It’s fast, flavour-packed and a brilliant way to use up small portions that might otherwise be forgotten. 

Creamy Ham Pasta 

Leftover ham is also perfect in creamy pasta dishes. Simply add to a classic macaroni cheese recipe, or heat through with garlic, cream and parmesan, then toss with tagliatelle or penne and finish with black pepper and a squeeze of lemon. 

Making the Most of Every Christmas Meal 

One of the joys of ordering from Donald Russell is knowing that every cut has been carefully selected, the type of quality that carries through not just the main event, but every meal that follows. 

From turkey curries and Boxing Day sandwiches, to stir-fried beef and hearty hashes, your festive centrepiece can continue to shine long after it’s been carved! So this year, embrace the joy of leftovers. Plan for them, look forward to them, and turn your Christmas feast into more than one delicious moment around the table.