The holiday season is often marred by an age-old problem: making far too much food for the family gathering. We cook and bake with the best of intentions, only to be left with a surplus of leftovers that can quickly become tiresome. But what if you could transform these remnants into something fresh and exciting? That’s where our Christmas leftovers recipes come in – a collection of creative ways to repurpose your holiday excess into new culinary delights.
Leftover Cranberry Sauce Overnight Oats
Start your day off on the right foot with a vibrant and flavorful twist on traditional oatmeal. Simply combine rolled oats, chia seeds, your preferred milk, Greek yogurt, leftover cranberry sauce, and chopped walnuts in a bowl. Allow the mixture to chill overnight in the fridge before warming it up the following morning for a quick and effortless breakfast solution.
Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes
Imagine indulging in crispy, cheesy fritters that are every bit as satisfying as they sound. Not only do they make for an impressive snack, but they’re also incredibly easy to prepare. With just a few simple ingredients – including leftover mashed potatoes, cheddar cheese, scallions, flour, oil, and an egg – you can have these tasty treats ready in under 30 minutes.
To take them to the next level, simply top with a dollop of sour cream, some fresh scallions or chives, and any other garnishes that catch your eye. The result is a savory, crunchy delight that’s sure to become a new favorite.
Mashed Sweet Potato Cakes
Indulge in these delectable potato cakes, crafted using the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes rather than traditional mashed potatoes. The result is a delightful twist on the classic recipe, yielding a lighter, more subtly sweet flavor profile that’s equally as mouthwatering as its heavier counterpart.
Leftover Turkey and Stuffing Croquettes
The allure of these bite-sized croquettes lies in their ability to capture the essence of a festive Christmas dinner within a single, satisfying morsel. Imagine the perfect blend of savory stuffing, juicy turkey, and tangy cranberry sauce all harmoniously combined in one tiny package. This culinary delight not only satisfies our taste buds but also offers the convenience of being effortlessly devoured, sans the mess and fuss of traditional holiday fare.
Leftover Ham Lasagna
When it comes to using leftover ingredients, some options are more obvious than others. The classic combinations of dressing, turkey, cranberry sauce, and potatoes have been a staple so far. However, what do you do when you’re left with half a baked ham? You might be surprised to learn that it’s the perfect addition to a delicious lasagna. This unexpected twist on a traditional dish yields a cheesy, meaty masterpiece that’s sure to please even the pickiest eaters.
Leftover Ham and Potato Casserole
One delicious way to repurpose leftover baked ham is by crafting a mouthwatering ham and potato casserole. This hearty, comforting dish combines the rich flavors of ham with the simplicity of potatoes and cheese, resulting in a satisfying meal that’s sure to please even the pickiest eaters.
Eggnog Latte
Transform your morning coffee into a luxurious treat by incorporating leftover eggnog, milk, and sugar. The result is a rich, creamy, and indulgent beverage that’s elevated even further with the addition of whipped cream and nutmeg. However, be mindful not to overdo it on the spiked eggnog if you have a busy day ahead, as it may impair your morning commute.
Leftover Christmas Lunch Patties with Gochujang Mayo
Regardless of what you choose to call them – fritters, patties, latkes, or something entirely different – these tasty, herb-infused snacks are truly irresistible. What’s more, they’re surprisingly nutritious, considering the wealth of veggies and protein packed into each one. Don’t let the lengthy ingredients list intimidate you; instead, focus on the fact that you can use just about any leftover ingredients you have on hand to create a deliciously customized snack.
Feel free to stick to the recipe as written or get creative by substituting in your favorite green and leafy veggies if you don’t happen to have Brussels sprouts and cabbage lying around. The truth is, the majority of the flavor comes from the herbs, garlic, and ginger anyway – so don’t stress too much about it. And let’s be real, that gochujang mayonnaise is a game-changer.
Leftover Cranberry Sauce Muffins
Indulge in the delightful combination of tartness and tanginess that these scrumptious muffins offer, boasting an explosion of rich cranberry flavor. What’s more, you can whip up half a dozen of these fluffy treats in just 35 minutes – perfect for a post-Christmas breakfast or a midday pick-me-up.
Fruit Cake Bread Pudding
Fruitcake, once a staple of holiday celebrations, has lost some of its luster in recent years. However, for those who still hold it dear, there’s no need to let it go to waste. In fact, with a little creativity, you can transform leftover fruitcake into a rich and indulgent bread pudding that’s sure to delight. This recipe is quick, easy, and requires just 10 ingredients, making it the perfect solution for those looking to repurpose their holiday treats.
Leftover Turkey Sandwich
While it may seem like just another leftover turkey sandwich at first glance, the truth is that this creation is an epicurean delight. Gone are the days of bland, uninspired sandwiches when you can elevate your lunch game with buttery bread grilled to perfection, caramelized onions, rich gouda cheese, and a burst of flavor from sun-dried tomatoes.
With each bite, you’ll be transported to a five-star dining experience, where the humble leftovers become a gourmet treat that will leave you wanting more.
Leftover Stuffing Waffles
Elevate your holiday leftovers with a simple yet ingenious recipe that repurposes common post-feast items into scrumptious five-ingredient waffles. This innovative solution transforms leftover stuffing, cranberry sauce, and gravy into a delicious breakfast or brunch treat, requiring only a waffle maker and approximately 15 minutes of your time.
Loaded Mashed Potato Balls
Savoring the simplicity of loaded mashed potato balls is a treat for the senses. The outer shell, a golden-brown masterpiece of crispy texture, gives way to a warm and creamy interior where the harmonious blend of potatoes, bacon, chives, cheese, and other delights awaits. Whether serving as an impressive appetizer or a satisfying side dish, these bite-sized wonders are sure to please even the most discerning palates.
Leftover Turkey Soup
Imagine a comforting bowl of goodness that’s essentially the turkey equivalent of chicken noodle soup – minus the noodles, of course. This chunky, brothy delight is packed with large pieces of tender turkey, an abundance of aromatic herbs, and a medley of softly cooked carrots, celery, and onions. While it shares many similarities with its poultry counterpart, this turkey-based creation has a unique charm that’s sure to warm your heart (and your cold-weary body) on a chilly winter’s day.
Leftover Cranberry Sauce and Apple Crisp
While maintaining the essence of traditional apple crisp, this dessert incorporates leftover cranberry sauce for an added burst of tanginess and vibrant color. The result is nothing short of phenomenal, boasting an even more stunning visual appeal than its original counterpart. Moreover, despite being simplicity itself to prepare, it’s guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on your audience.
Leftover Cranberry Sauce Bars
Indulge in a delectable breakfast treat with these cranberry sauce bars, which expertly balance crunchy texture with sweet notes from brown sugar and cinnamon. But what truly sets them apart is the tangy burst of flavor courtesy of the cranberry sauce, providing a refreshing morning pick-me-up that’s sure to banish any lingering sleepiness.
Roasted Turkey Ramen
Let’s put any doubts about ramen being solely a college student staple to rest with this show-stopping roasted turkey ramen. This delectable dish boasts an impressive array of ingredients, including shiitake mushrooms, garlic, various sauces and broths, tender turkey, crispy scallions, eggs, and more. The combination is nothing short of gourmet, defying the notion that ramen is solely confined to a humble cardboard box.
I assure you, even if you’re not typically a fan of ramen, this recipe will win you over.
Roasted Vegetable Pasta
Transform your leftover roasted or grilled vegetables into a delicious and satisfying roasted veggie pasta dish. Simply combine cooked pasta, olive oil, sautéed shallots and mushrooms, and those tasty leftover veggies. Season with salt and pepper to bring out the flavors, then finish it off with a sprinkle of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and some fresh parsley for an added burst of flavor and color.
Leftover Turkey Tacos
With pre-cooked turkey in hand, whipping up a batch of scrumptious turkey tacos is a breeze. In fact, it’s a culinary feat that can be accomplished in under 20 minutes. Simply warm those tortillas to your liking and load them up with an array of mouthwatering toppings for a truly unforgettable Turkey Taco Tuesday experience.
Ham Pot Pie
While it’s undeniable that pot pies require a considerable amount of effort upfront, the payoff is substantial. With approximately 30 minutes devoted to preparation and another 30 minutes spent baking, the end result justifies the means. As you take your first bite, the harmonious union of savory crust, rich butter, and chunky filling will leave you wondering why you ever doubted the value of this culinary endeavor.
Leftover Turkey Chili
In just 30 minutes, you can transform leftover turkey into a satisfying, filling meal without sacrificing flavor. This hearty chili boasts an impressive array of ingredients, including pintos, kidney beans, crushed tomatoes, onions, peppers, and an assortment of herbs, not to mention the star of the show: tender turkey.
To take it to the next level, top with melted cheese, a sprinkle of chives, and your go-to chili fixings for a stick-to-your-ribs dinner that’s sure to keep you satisfied all evening.
Eggnog Pancakes
Indulge in a stack of fluffy, sweet pancakes, perfectly suited for a festive treat. To get started, swap out the savory ingredients and reach for the eggnog. With just 20 minutes on your hands, you can whip up these decadent breakfast treats using only flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, eggnog, milk, oil, and one egg. Feel free to top them with a drizzle of syrup, a dollop of whipped cream, or a sprinkle of your favorite berries – the possibilities are endless!
Christmas Rocky Road
This Christmas rocky road is nothing short of extraordinary. The sheer indulgence of using the sweetest and most decadent leftovers on your table – including chocolates, butter, Christmas cake, pudding, biscuits, nuts, dried fruit, and nougat – is truly breathtaking. While they may be a sugar lover’s dream come true, it’s undeniable that these treats are exceptional.
Cornbread Pudding
Imagine a warm, comforting culinary treat that’s the savory counterpart to traditional bread pudding. To create this delightful dish, combine eggs with an assortment of fragrant herbs like parsley, along with melted cheese and a medley of other pungent flavors. The result is a rich, cheesy concoction that’s equal parts indulgent and satisfying – every morsel is sure to leave you craving more.
Candy Cane Snowballs
It’s a common phenomenon around Christmas time: our homes become overflowing with peppermint candies. If that sounds like your experience, you’re in for a treat. These seven-ingredient candy cane snowballs require minimal effort but deliver maximum flavor and satisfaction.
