We have all been there. You have prepared a mouth-watering Christmas dinner and hoped it will be all gone and yet… everyone is on diet. If you struggle with ideas for your leftovers, take a look at these easy festive food recipes to try out this year.
Leftover turkey
There are hundreds of ways to serve your leftover turkey for breakfast, lunch or dinner, so we are just sharing the ones that caught our eye.
Turkey and Cannelloni Pie
This deliciously filling pie is packed with proteins thanks to the leftover turkey and creamy cannellini beans. It’s the perfect dish to serve on Boxing Day for a lazy post-Christmas family meal.
Serves: 6
Cooking time: 1 hr plus cooling
Calories: 461 calories
Freezable: ✔️
Turkey and Chorizo Stew with Chickpeas
This rich in flavour stew with a dash of spice makes a perfect dinner. And all you need is leftover turkey (or chicken) chorizo, chickpeas, some onion and tomato sauce and voila!
Serves: 4
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Calories: 540 calories
Freezable: 
Turkey Curry
This perfect recipe to try in the days following Christmas can help you get rid of the leftover turkey and serve your guests a fragrant and warming dish.
Serves: 4
Cooking time: 40 mins
Calories: 368 calories
Freezable:
Stuffing Waffles
Transform your leftover stuffing into these creative and oh-so-delicious crispy waffles. Perfect for breakfast with poached eggs or lunch with potato mash. The choice is yours.
Serves: 2
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Calories: 640 calories
Freezable:
Leftover potatoes
Mashed, roasted, boiled or fried – you name it. There are potatoes on every Christmas table and chances are – you will end up having some of them leftover, so if you don’t fancy using them for Shepherd’s Pie, get inspired with these recipes and make a dish or 5 to impress your family and guests.
Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes
These pancakes make a great appetiser that can be served up to a few days after Christmas and require only a few ingredients – including potato mash.
Serves: 4
Cooking time: 25 mins
Calories: 120 calories/serving
Freezable: X
Refried Smashed Roasties with Green Harissa and Yoghurt
A perfect way to use up your leftover roasted potatoes. With only a few ingredients you can impress your guests with this delicious dish. It is gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly.
Serves: 4
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Calories: 534 calories
Freezable: X
Mashed Potato Croquettes
This fast and incredibly easy mashed potato croquette recipe can be altered to suit your cravings and they are simply what dreams are made of. Soft, warm, comforting and the perfect way to use leftover mashed potatoes.
Serves: 4
Cooking time: 13 mins
Calories: 160 calories/serving
Freezable: X
Pierogi
The Polish in me could not go without mentioning the most traditional Polish dish out there. The national pride. Pierogi. Traditionally made with potato and cottage cheese filling or meat or cabbage and mushrooms, nowadays pierogi are available with all sorts of fillings so don’t feel obliged to use potato necessarily… though you will regret if you don’t 
Serves: 12
Cooking time: 2 hours
Calories: 246 calories
Freezable:
Leftover brussels sprouts
Not the most loved of the dishes on the table, brussels sprouts can be actually really taste when prepared well. Here are couple of recipes we are definitely adding to our menu.
Cheesy Brussels Sprout Bake
Cheese makes everything better. This is one of those dishes that everyone will love, I guarantee! You can alter the recipe to make it suitable for your vegan and vegetarian guests too.
Serves: 6
Cooking time: 35 mins
Calories: 320 calories
Freezable: ✔️
Crispy Sprout and Chestnut Baked Crêpes
We know not everyone feels all cheery about sprouts (neither do we), but here’s an acceptable suggestion which looks purely delicious.
Serves: 6
Cooking time: 45 minutes
Calories: 352 calories
Freezable:
Leftover veggies of all sorts
Leftover Combo Tart
This delicious and incredibly nutritious tart is a great way to use up your leftover greens, seeds and cheese. Perfect with spinach, broccoli and kale.
Serves: 6
Cooking time: 50 mins
Calories: depends on the ingredients
Freezable: ✔️
Carrot dip
Inspired by Middle Eastern cuisine, my personal favourite, this dip is a great appetizer and a way to impress your guests with your cooking skills.
Serves: 6
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Calories: 352 calories
Freezable:
Roasted Veggie Pasta
Pasta is a dish that can be prepped with about anything This easy Roasted Vegetable Pasta recipe just requires a handful of ingredients, most of which should be your leftovers.
Serves: 4
Cooking time: 30 mins
Calories: 449 calories
Freezable: X
Roasted Root Veggies & Greens over Spiced Lentils
This is an incredibly easy dish to make with your leftover root veggies and lentils. Make it vegan by drizzling tahini instead of plain yoghurt.
Serves: 6
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Calories: 352 calories
Freezable:
Leftover cheese
Cheese is one of those products that can be eaten with every meal and has more lovers than haters, so while I don’t suppose you will have any issue using it up, you might want to experiment with new dishes, so here they are.
Easy Italian Pizza Sliders
These easy-to-make Italian Pizza Sliders are just the perfect snack for a cosy evening. These are the most ingenious sliders you’ll ever bake. They only take minutes to make and are perfect for any time you’re craving something satisfying.
Serves: 12
Cooking time: 25 mins
Calories: 125 calories/serving
Freezable: X
Crispy Sprout and Chestnut Baked Crêpes
We know not everyone feels all cheery about sprouts (neither do we), but here’s an acceptable suggestion which looks purely delicious.
Serves: 6
Cooking time: 45 minutes
Calories: 352 calories
Freezable:
Cheese, Potato and Onion Soup
Warm up on winter afternoons with this rich and satisfying soup recipe.
Serves: 4
Cooking time: 50 mins
Calories: 372 calories/serving
Freezable: ✔️
Leftover cranberry sauce
Leftover cranberry sauce makes a great base for different desserts, drinks and snacks.
Cranberry Sauce Oat Bars
Easy and delicious cranberry sauce oat bars with a soft, chewy and buttery crust, and sweet cranberry filling – a great way to use up your leftover cranberry sauce from a Christmas dinner.
Serves: 9
Cooking time: 50 mins
Calories: 419 calories
Freezable: X
Cranberry Sauce Mini Cheesecake
Cranberry and cheese go so well together that these mini cheesecakes got us all daydreaming about how delicious they are. These mini cheesecakes are the perfect way to use up leftover cranberry sauce.
Serves: 4
Cooking time: 35 minutes
Calories: 292 calories/serving
Freezable:
Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip
A great dish to serve as an appetiser to your guests.
Serves: 6
Cooking time: 25 mins
Calories: 148 calories
Freezable: X
Leftover desserts
Give your leftover desserts a second chance with this creative recipes.
Panettone French Toast
Panettone makes a perfect bread for a French toast and it is the perfect breakfast to impress your guests on a Boxing Day breakfast. Prepare and garnish to your liking.
Serves: 4
Cooking time: 30 mins
Calories: 350 calories/serving
Freezable: X
Pear & Chocolate Panettone Tiramisu
If you have had enough of the fluffy Christmas delicacy, but still have some left, here is a great recipe to turn it into a delicious dessert.
Serves: 3
Cooking time: 50 minutes + cooling time
Calories: 
Freezable: X
Gingerbread Truffles
This easy, 3-ingredient recipe gives you a great new snack to enjoy post Christmas.
Serves: 6
Cooking time: 35 mins
Calories:
Freezable: ✔️
Gingerbread Milkshake
Turn your leftover gingerbread cookies into a delicious drink with this fab recipe
Serves: 1
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Calories:
Freezable: X
If you are still in the planning stage, make sure to read our post about mindful Christmas feasting.
I hope you enjoy this selection of dishes made with your leftovers. Reducing waste couldn’t be more delicious.
