Use up those Christmas leftovers with this fantastic Turkey Pasta Bake with Ham and Cheese from your party cheese board!
We’re having Christmas dinner at my sister’s house this year, and I’m looking forward to spending time with the family and eating lots of lovely food (best hide those Quality Street sis!).
It just wouldn’t feel festive enough if I can’t spend the days after Christmas day traipsing back and forth to the kitchen to make turkey sandwiches with stuffing and cranberry sauce, or to nibble on those leftover bacon-wrapped chipolatas. So yes, I’m cooking turkey purely for the leftovers.
We’ll also be stuffing our fridge like doomsday preppers for ad-hoc buffets and grown-up cheeseboard and wine evenings (Chris doesn’t even really like wine, but it makes us feel grown up).
But whilst I’m greedily looking forward to all of it, I know there are going to be lots of food loose-ends, and a time when I’ll just want to eat something more normal.
And that’s where this leftover turkey bake comes into play. Leftover turkey, leftover baked ham, and 4 types of leftover cheese. Heck, why no throw in some of those chipolatas and a few sprouts too ;-). A lovely family dinner!
The holidays have come and gone, and now you’re stuck with a fridge full of leftover ham and turkey. Although leftovers can make for easy sandwiches and snacks, you’ll quickly get bored eating the same old dishes again and again.
The good news is there are tons of delicious ways to use up leftover holiday meats! From hearty casseroles to easy weeknight pastas, these creative recipes will help you get the most out of your holiday hams and turkeys
Use Leftover Ham and Turkey for Hearty Casseroles
Casseroles are one of the best ways to transform leftovers into comforting, family-friendly meals Here are some of our favorite casserole recipes featuring holiday meats
Cheesy Ham and Turkey Rice Casserole
This cheesy rice casserole combines leftover diced ham and shredded turkey with a creamy sauce, broccoli, rice, onions, and cheddar cheese. It’s like a decadent broth meets mac and cheese! The savory flavors of the ham and turkey pair perfectly with the velvety cheese sauce.
Turkey and Stuffing Casserole
What’s better than leftover stuffing and turkey combined in one dish? This easy casserole packs all the nostalgic flavors of Thanksgiving into one pan. Toss together cubed turkey, stuffing mix or leftover stuffing, cream of mushroom soup, veggies, and cheese for the ultimate comfort food.
Ham and Hashbrown Casserole
Ham, egg, and cheese are a classic combination, and this casserole builds on those flavors. Diced ham, hashbrowns, eggs, cheddar, and green onions are mixed with a creamy sauce and baked until hot and bubbly. It’s like a savory ham and cheese breakfast in casserole form.
Whip Up Hearty Soups and Chowders
Soups are a great way to stretch small amounts of leftover meat into multiple meals. Try these soup recipes:
Creamy Ham and Potato Soup
This easy soup features a creamy broth loaded with diced potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, and of course, chopped leftover ham. It has all the comforting flavors of a loaded baked potato in soup form!
Turkey Wild Rice Soup
Wild rice adds lovely texture and nuttiness to this creamy turkey soup. It’s made by sautéing aromatics like onions and garlic, then simmering them in broth with wild rice, shredded turkey, vegetables, and herbs.
Corn and Turkey Chowder
Sweet corn and turkey complement each other perfectly in this chowder spiced with smoky poblano peppers. Simmer corn, poblanos, potatoes, turkey, and spices in a creamy broth for a hearty and comforting meal.
Enjoy Leftovers in Easy Pasta Dishes
Tossing leftover holiday meats with pasta and a simple sauce makes for a fast, filling dinner. Here are some winning recipes:
Ham and Cheese Stuffed Shells
Transform leftover ham into the creamy, cheesy filling for jumbo pasta shells. Mix diced ham with ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, eggs, and seasonings and stuff into cooked jumbo shells. Cover with marinara and more cheese for a delicious baked pasta.
Turkey Tetrazzini
This classic is made by tossing spaghetti with turkey, mushrooms, peas, Parmesan, and a creamy sauce. It’s everything you love about Thanksgiving dinner transformed into pasta form, and it’s a great way to use up leftover roast turkey.
Penne with Ham, Peas, and Cheese
Cook penne pasta and toss it with a garlicky cream sauce featuring diced ham, frozen peas, and Parmesan. The bright green peas provide pops of color and freshness against the rich, cheesy sauce. It’s a fast and easy weeknight dinner.
Whip Up Savory Pies and Pot Pies
Encasing leftover meats in a flaky pastry takes leftovers to the next level. These pie recipes are sure to impress:
Ham and Cheese Breakfast Hand Pies
You can enjoy holiday ham for breakfast too! These hand pies are filled with diced ham, scrambled eggs, cheddar, and green onions. They’re like portable ham and egg sandwiches wrapped up in a flaky crust.
Turkey Pot Pie with Mashed Potato Topping
This creative pot pie is topped with creamy mashed potatoes instead of pastry. The filling features turkey, carrots, peas, celery, and onions in a thick velvety sauce. It’s comfort food at its finest!
Ham and Brie Phyllo Cups
These elegant bite-sized appetizers are surprisingly easy to make. Phyllo dough cups are filled with diced ham, creamy Brie, and apples or pears. They’re perfect for holiday parties when you want to use up your leftover ham.
Enjoy Leftover Meats in Sandwiches and Wraps
Don’t forget the classic leftover sandwich and wrap! Here are some fun recipes to try:
Caprese Grilled Cheese with Ham
A grilled cheese gets a delicious Italian twist with the addition of ham, tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. The sweet, juicy tomatoes pair perfectly with the salty ham and nutty cheese.
Open-Faced Turkey and Cranberry Sliders
Make quick and easy slider sandwiches by topping mini buns with leftover sliced turkey, tangy cranberry sauce, gravy, and crispy fried onions. The contrast of sweet and savory is phenomenal.
Ham Salad Lettuce Wraps
Chopped ham is mixed with mayo, mustard, celery, pecans, and apple for a fresh and crunchy ham salad. Spoon it into lettuce cups for a light, healthy lunch or appetizer.
Enjoy Leftover Meats for Breakfast
Looking for breakfast inspiration? You can definitely cook up tasty morning meals featuring leftover holiday ham and turkey too.
Ham, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sandwiches
A hot breakfast sandwich is one of the best ways to start the day. Cook eggs any style and top with sliced ham, cheese, and anything else you love!
Leftover Turkey Hash
Sauté potatoes, onions, peppers, and turkey until lightly browned and crispy. Top with fried eggs for a satisfying turkey hash bowl. You can also scoop it into tortillas for quick breakfast burritos.
Turkey Sausage and Egg Casserole
Mix diced turkey sausage with whisked eggs, milk, cheese, and veggies like spinach, then bake in a pan until set. Slice and enjoy this easy breakfast casserole throughout the week.
Get Creative with Leftover Bones
Don’t throw away the turkey carcass and ham bones after carving! They add great flavor for stocks, soups and more:
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Simmer bones in water with veggies and herbs for homemade broth. Use it for soups, stews and risotto.
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Cook beans like navy, pinto or cannellini in broth with leftover bones for added flavor.
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Simmer bones with vegetables like cabbage, potatoes, carrots and celery for a hearty ham or turkey noodle soup.
So don’t let leftover ham and turkey go to waste! Breathe new life into holiday meats with these easy and delicious recipes. From satisfying casseroles to flavorful soups, pastas and breakfasts, you’ll enjoy the flavors of the holidays long after they’re over. Get creative in the kitchen and savor every bit of your holiday hams and turkeys.
Can I add other leftovers?
Add cooked leftover vegetables – such as carrots, green beans, brocolli, or leftover chipolatas (chop into bitesize pieces first) at the same time as adding in the pasta and spinach.
If you have leftovers from your buffet table, such as bacon, pancetta, salami, mushrooms or olives, they all work well too.
Try not to use too many overpowering cheeses. Use a higher quantity of regular cheeses such as white or red cheddar, mozzarella, red Leicester and Gruyere, with a lower quantity of stronger cheese such as brie and stilton. Unless of course you love strong tasting cheeses – then go ahead
Leftover Turkey Pasta Bake with Ham and Cheese
- ▢ 400 g (4 1/2 cups) dried pasta shapes (I used rigatoni)
- ▢ 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- ▢ 1 large onion peeled and chopped
- ▢ 1 red bell pepper de-seeded and chopped
- ▢ 1 yellow bell pepper de-seeded and chopped
- ▢ 2 cloves garlic peeled and minced
- ▢ ¼ tsp salt
- ▢ ¼ tsp black pepper
- ▢ 200 g (1 1/3 cups) leftover cooked ham cubed or shredded
- ▢ 250 g (2 cups) leftover cooked and shredded turkey
- ▢ 1 tbsp tomato puree paste for US
- ▢ 1 chicken or vegetable stock cube crumbled
- ▢ 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh thyme
- ▢ 3 x 400 g (3 x 14 oz) tins chopped tomatoes
- ▢ 1 tsp sugar
- ▢ 100 g (3 cups) fresh baby spinach
- ▢ 250 g (2 1/2 cups) mixed leftover cheese (we used brie, cheddar, mozzarella and red Leicester), grated or chopped finely
- ▢ 1 small bunch parsley roughly torn
- ▢ 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme
- ▢ pinch black pepper
- Preheat the oven to 190C/375F (fan). Boil a large pan of water and cook the pasta for 1 minute less than recommended on the pack. Drain.400 g (4 1/2 cups) dried pasta shapes
- Whilst the pasta is cooking, heat the oil on a medium heat, in a large frying pan. 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- Add the onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until the onion is softened.1 large onion
- Add the chopped peppers, salt, pepper and garlic and cook for 2 minutes.1 red bell pepper, 1 yellow bell pepper, 2 cloves garlic peeled and minced, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Add in the cooked ham and turkey, along with the tomato puree (paste), crumbled stock cube and thyme. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes.200 g (1 1/3 cups) leftover cooked ham, 250 g (2 cups) leftover cooked and shredded turkey, 1 tbsp tomato puree, 1 chicken or vegetable stock cube, 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh thyme
- Stir in the tinned tomatoes and sugar. Bring to a gentle bubble, then add the pasta and spinach. Stir everything together, then transfer to a large baking dish.3 x 400 g (3 x 14 oz) tins chopped tomatoes, 1 tsp sugar, 100 g (3 cups) fresh baby spinach
- Top with the mixed cheese, and place in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until the cheese is golden brown.250 g (2 1/2 cups) mixed leftover cheese
- Remove from the oven and serve topped with fresh herbs and black pepper1 small bunch parsley roughly torn, 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme, pinch black pepper
Leftover Turkey and Ham Pasta Bake. The BEST leftover turkey recipe!
FAQ
How long is leftover ham and turkey good for in the fridge?
Can I freeze leftover turkey and ham?
How do you reheat leftover turkey and ham?
How do you make leftover ham moist?
What to do with leftover Christmas turkey & ham?
Turn leftover Christmas turkey and ham into a delicious and easy one pot creamy pasta dish! Heat the oil in a large deep frying pan or casserole dish. Add the onion and garlic and cook for a couple of minutes. Add the milk, chicken stock and pasta. Bring to the boil and simmer for 6 minutes, stirring regularly.
What to eat with leftover ham?
Scalloped Potatoes and Ham is a classic old-fashioned comfort food with creamy sauce, melted cheese, and slices of tender ham and potatoes—perfect for leftover ham. In 10 minutes, you can have this easy Plain Fried Rice with Minute Rice™ customized to your needs and tastes to make the perfect side dish for your Chinese dinner.
How do you cook leftover Turkey Ham & Ham?
Bring to the boil then simmer for 6 minutes. Add the leftover turkey and ham along with some frozen peas and simmer for another 6-8 minutes until the pasta has cooked and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Finally, add some creme fraiche and grated parmesan and it’s ready to serve. Pasta – I used parpadelle but any shapes will work.
What to do with leftover ham bone?
An excellent ham soup bursts with potatoes, rice, carrots, and beans in a spicy broth. Give that ham bone a great ending today with this hardy soup you will love. Not everybody had ham, so let’s take care of the leftover turkey. Leftover freshly cooked turkey is refrigerated for four days if sealed well and maybe frozen for three months.