Try these delicious recipes using the remains of your Christmas feast to make wonderful meals and treats. They are, of course, good enough to serve to company. But also treat your family to a warm, comforting meal on one of the cold and crisp days after Christmas.
Christmas Leftover Recipes
- Ham Stuffed Manicotti
This rich and comforting dish uses leftover ham in the most wonderful way. Enjoy it whether you have leftover ham or if you go out and purchase it just for this recipe! - Chicken Tomato Wraps
These fresh tasting wraps are so easy to make. Put together the filling and keep it in the fridge, then your guests or kids can roll their own! - Wild Rice Chowder With Ham
The combination of textures and flavors in this easy recipe are really wonderful. You can make the chowder without ham too, if you'd like. - Ham and Polenta Casserole
This simple five ingredient recipe is so quick to make; use refrigerated prepared polenta, a container of alfredo sauce, ham, asparagus and Parmesan cheese for a wonderful meal in minutes. - Updated Turkey Mornay
This is my favorite updated and easy classic holiday leftover recipe. It's a sophisticated version of Turkey ala King. Or if you feel like making something from scratch, the original Turkey Mornay recipe is perfect. - Ham Filo Roll
Nobody will ever think that this recipe is made using leftovers. It's elegant enough to serve to company. - Turkey Club Pizza
Yes, this recipe is for Chicken Club Pizza - but use leftover turkey slices instead. Yum. - Wild Rice Turkey Bake
This casserole combines two of my favorite ingredients; wild rice and turkey, in an easy five ingredient recipe. - Beef Spinach Salad
Sometimes a cold salad is the perfect choice for a winter's meal. The different temperature and textures are a nice change from typical hot dishes. - Italian Beef Rolls
If you had roast beef and mashed potatoes for your holiday dinner, this is the leftover recipe for you. It's rich, elegant, and absolutely delicious. - Turkey Sandwiches with Spinach Aioli
Aioli is a spicy garlic-scented mayonnaise. This version includes spinach for color, flavor, and nutrition. - Cranberry Brownie Pie
This is kind of a complicated recipe to use up a simple leftover, but it's so wonderful. The tartness of cranberries is offset by the rich sweet creamyiness of a brownie baked in a pie shell in this easy recipe. - Cheesy Roast Beef Wraps
Okay, so these are sandwiches - but with a bit more unusual ingredients. I love the combination of blue cheese with roast beef. - Beef Stuffed Manicotti
Turning leftovers into pasta casseroles is one of the best ways to disguise the fact that they are, well, leftover! Your family will love this recipe. - Cranberry Grilled Chicken
Leftover cranberry sauce makes a wonderful glaze for simple grilled chicken breasts. - Cranberry Meatballs
Save the cranberry sauce to use in this simple recipe that's perfect for a New Year's Open House. - Chocolate Cranberry Mousse Pie
This simple and luscious recipe uses just six ingredients to transform leftovers into an elegant dessert. - Candy Cane Ideas
Did you know that you can use candy canes to make crafts from homemade candles to a vase? These fun projects are great ideas for Christmas vacation. - Candy Cane Dessert
This luscious dessert comes from Cake Works Central. - Cafe Bavarian Mint Mix
Use two candy canes in place of the round peppermint candies in this mix and enjoy the leftovers for weeks. - Candy Cane Kisses
Make candies out of candy canes! This is another great project for kids at home during Christmas vacation.
Big chunks of meat are too good to waste, and boring if not treated with imagination. Casseroles, soups, stratas, and stuffed pastas are some of my favorite ways to transform meats into delicious meals. And leftovers should be used quickly, for food safety reasons. Turkey should be eaten within two or three days. Ham lasts a little longer - four or five days. Roast beef should also be used within a few days. Freezing these ingredients will keep them safe and delicious for about a month.
You don't have to spend this week making ham or turkey sandwiches. Cranberry sauce is a wonderful dessert ingredient. Mashed potatoes can be an elegant filling for beef rolls. And ham is delicious in pasta, soups, and a crispy, savory filo roll. I love turkey in a rich cheese sauce, layered over toasted English muffins and broiled until bubbly. Roast beef is excellent in manicotti, and in a delicious spinach salad. And leftover Christmas cookies aren't leftover - they're meant to be eaten!
