Your fridge is stuffed with leftovers … ham, turkey, cheese, pudding…. And you really, REALLY can’t face the idea of another ham sandwich, or another slice of Christmas cake? We hear you. Here are our favourite ways to make the most of all that food, transforming it into tasty snacks and meals and making sure that none of it eventually ends up in the bin.
Chicken and turkey
A sandwich might seem obvious – but this is no ordinary sandwich. The tangy dressing transforms chicken or turkey into a sandwich fit for a Queen (or that's how the story goes: coronation chicken is said to have been created in honour of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953). At its simplest, a consists of cooked chicken and a creamy curry dressing – just the sort of dressing that can also transform your Christmas turkey, which can, let's be honest, sometimes be a little dry.
You can also give chicken or turkey new life in Justine Schofield's .
Coronation chicken sandwich Source: Smith Street Books / Chris Middleton
Shredded chicken and cabbage salad with sesame dressing Source: Justine's Flavours of Fuji
Ham
If you're still feeding a hungry horde, then this d is a great way to put a new spin on leftover ham and fill hungry bellies.
Tacos can also be a great way to use up leftover ham and pork – check out the SBS Food for lots of ideas.
Cheese and ham bread Source: Alan Benson
And the ham bone, too…
Nothing beats full-of-flavour baked beans in a cheesy jaffle! This recipe for is a great way to use up the remnants of the Christmas ham bone (you can also make the tasty beans with a smoked ham hock, so this is one to put on your comfort food list for any time of the year.)
Boston baked bean and cheddar jaffle Source: Smith Street Books / Chris Middleton
Lamb
In her TV series , Donna Hay not only but a great idea for turning leftover lamb into a vibrant lunch or dinner. "My crispy lamb and pea fritters are inspired by a dish my mum used to cook. Every time we'd have the lamb roast you could guarantee the night after we’d have lamb fritters. So I've come up with a little bit of a variation," she says. Get Donna's fritter recipe .
Donna Hay's pea and lamb fritters Source: Donna Hay: Basics to Brilliance
Pork
Rice paper rolls are so good in the hot days of summer, so they're a great way to use up leftover Christmas roast pork. Try it in from chef Dan Churchill; using leftovers will make this already-quick recipe even faster.
Dan Churchill's Vietnamese fresh rice paper rolls Source: The Good Cooks
Bacon, salami and other deli meats
These scone-dough , by chef Adrian Richardson, are a fast and easy way to use up leftover bacon, chorizo or salami. The dough (made with self-raising flour, not yeast, so it comes together quickly) is really a canvas for whatever you fancy eating - or want to use up. Think leftover pizza sauce, meat, antipasto, cheese or herbs.
Adrian Richardson's meat scone scroll Source: Secret Meat Business
Prawns
Channel the '80s and make the sandwich version of the prawn cocktail in this !
Prawn and Marie Rose sauce sandwich Source: Smith Street Books / Chris Middleton
Salmon
If a side of salmon had pride of place at your festive gathering, try this for the leftovers. This recipe for includes instructions for smoking the salmon fillets, but it’s also a great flavour combination for using up leftover cooked salmon.
Or if you’ve got leftover smoked salmon slices, turn them into a tasty breakfast in these .
Salmon salad with crispy potatoes Source: Petrina Tinslay
Cheese
These wrap a creamy cauliflower cheese filling in a crunchy cheesy crust! Cheddar is a good choice, but you can use any kind of cheese in the filling, as long as it melts well. 
You can also turn leftover cheddar into a :
And this is a great template for using up leftovers, not just cheese but salad greens and vegetables, too. Just change up the toppings to suit what you have on hand, topping it all with some good melty cheese.
Cauliflower cheese pasties Source: China Squirrel
Poblano bacon cheddar skillet cornbread Source: Pati's Mexican Table
You can also use cheese in the batter for (and top them with leftover ham!); if you’ve also got kimchi at hand, melt some in these ; or throw several kinds of cheese into this .
A bit of everything
Muffaletta is basically layers of smallgoods, cheese and grilled antipasto vegetables, tucked into a loaf of bread – which makes it not only excellent picnic fare, but a great way to use up all kinds of leftovers. Think of as a guide, and substitute whatever you have on hand. Make it a few hours ahead, so it has time to settle and achieve that perfect stuffed-loaf consistency!
And these (made using purchased puff pastry) are great for using up leftover roast meat (beef, chicken, lamb or pork), vegetables and gravy.
Muffaletta Source: Chris Chen
Mini meat pies Source: Melissa Darr
Cake and pudding
Christmas pudding turns into a cool treat in these !
And if your festive gatherings have left you with cake, here's a round up of ideas, tips and recipes for using up all kinds, from fruity Christmas cake to plain cake crumbs, transforming them into trifles, boozy balls and more.
Boozy Christmas popsicles Source: China Squirrel
More ways to love your leftovers
Step aside, ham sambos: 9 tasty ways to use up your Christmas ham
