What to do with Christmas leftovers so you never get bored

Add flavour, freshness and oomph to a fridge-full of Christmas leftovers with the help of these cupboard staples. Deliciously varied meals and zero food waste, guaranteed.

Food Editor

Malou Herkes

Not sure what to do with those Christmas dinner leftovers? Stock up your cupboards and fill your freezer with these fall-back ingredients to help you make deliciously varied meals throughout the festive period.

Betwixtmas recipes More Christmas leftover recipes

Stuff it, fill it

Stock up your freezer with tacos, bao buns, pizza dough or ready-made pastry as ready-to-go receptacles to take on your leftovers. Can’t use up your cheeseboard? Tear, shred and grate the lot onto this cheese and sweet leek pizza, using our Ready-To-Roll Sourdough Pizza Dough, or onto shortcrust pastry to make this pear and stilton galette. Roll pigs in blankets in golden puff pastry to make these festive sausage rolls and stuff bao buns with crispy, sticky, shredded turkey – the possibilities are endless! If you’ve got more fresh veg than you know what to do with, chop the lot into these fresh, zingy Christmas tacos.

8 delicious ways with pastry

Just add flavour

Whether you’re adding sweet and fiery Chilli Jam to charge up these leftover cheeseboard and pineapple toasts or whipping up festive turkey nachos with the help of our Tikka Masala Sauce, some handy, flavour-boosting jars will turn your leftovers into something delicious. Think of spices, seasonings and pastes as your flavour-hack toolbox – make these mega melty turkey enchiladas with our Fajita Seasoning, turn crabmeat into these crispy pea and crab fritters with the help of Za'atar, or shred turkey into our use it up frittata recipe with a spicy ’nduja twist.

Browse cupboard flavour boosters

pigs in blankets dunked into oozy cheese fondue with pickles

Brighten your plate (and your palette)

After all the indulgence of Christmas Day, put on a picky tea spread with a selection of pickles to brighten your plate and palette, and to add some much-needed contrast to roasted meats and veg. Whether it’s a ploughman’s salad, a festive fondue or smoked salmon latkes, a jar of cornichons, gherkins or pickled red onions will add tang, acidity and refreshing balance.

Browse gherkins and pickles

Time to bulk

Fill your cupboards with shelf-stable fillers to bulk up your Christmas leftovers to create a substantial meal that the family will enjoy. Try our cheesy Brussels sprouts gnocchi pie, packed with fluffy and filling potato gnocchi, sprouts and leftover greens and topped with crisp, cheesy Cornish Cruncher Biscuits. Stock up on noodles for a turkey pho and orzo pasta for soups, while jars or tins of beans and pulses are a healthy staple to have in the larder, too – try these chipotle bonfire beans to serve up with your leftover Christmas ham or turn red lentils into this roasted carrot and lentil dal.

More festive recipes More beans recipes

poached eggs on bubble and squeak patties

The egg on top

Whether it’s a bubble and squeak brunch or gammon and spuds or a fridge-raid stir-fry, there aren’t many Christmas leftovers you can’t transform without putting an egg on top. Invest in flavoursome toppings that will add crunch and texture, too. Our fragrant Dukkah is a gorgeous blend of sunflower and sesame seeds, dried chickpeas and heady spices that will elevate eggs, soups and stir-fries, as well as this recipe for festive roasted carrots with garlic tahini yogurt. Chopped salted peanuts, caramelised pecans and other nuts will do a similar job, as in this sticky peanut tofu stir-fry (feel free to switch out the tofu for leftover roasted meats) and red cabbage and cranberry winter slaw.

Boxing Day food ideas

Published 12.15.2025