Finding Magic in Christmas Dinner Leftovers
One of my favorite parts of hosting large Christmas dinners, whether for church parties, community events, or family gatherings, is the creativity that comes afterward. Once the dishes are washed, the tables cleaned, and the last guest has headed home with a full belly and a happy heart, I often return with a few leftovers. Sometimes this is intentional (a little gift to myself so I don’t have to cook for a day or two while I recover from the mass cooking marathon!), and other times it’s simply because fewer people showed up than expected.
Fought-over Treasures
But here’s the thing: leftover turkey dinners can go one of two ways in a household, either they sit untouched in the fridge for days, or they become the most fought-over treasures of the week. My kids have never been big fans of a traditional turkey dinner, so over the years, I learned that the real secret to leftover magic is in changing up how it’s served. Once I started reimagining the leftovers, suddenly I had kids calling dibs on the last morsels.
The Stuffing They Beg For
If there’s one dish that never lasts long, it’s our family’s traditional stuffing recipe; the very one I grew up with. My kids absolutely love it, and it’s become one of the most requested dishes at the church Christmas dinners I help with. Some families even ask me to make a pan just for their own holiday table to make their meal feel extra special.
The Beloved Lion House Rolls
And then there are the Lion House dinner rolls. Oh, these rolls have quite a fan club! I’ve made thousands of them over the years. They're soft, buttery, and comforting; right up there with my garlic knots in popularity. While nothing beats pulling them straight from the oven, they stay wonderfully fresh for days, making them a fantastic choice when you want that homemade touch without the day-of baking rush.
Butternut Squash That Surprises Everyone
Another favorite is my roasted butternut squash with craisins, feta, and maple syrup. It’s sweet, savory, colourful, and often mistaken for roasted sweet potatoes! Guests are always surprised to learn they’re enjoying squash. It’s one of those bright, cheerful sides that brings warmth to any plate.
Simple Veggies, Simply Delicious
A colourful mix of frozen vegetables is another go-to for big dinners. Season them with a little butter, salt, and pepper, and you have a simple, comforting companion to the rest of the meal. It’s amazing how something so easy can bring so much life to a plate.
When the Gravy Needs to Be Easy
For years, I made gravy for these events the traditional way, carefully simmering all the turkey drippings, tasting and adjusting until the flavour was just right. Everyone always raved about it, which made me want to get it perfect every single time. But with so many last-minute tasks piling up in the final stretch of preparing a large meal, the pressure of crafting the perfect gravy on top of everything else became a little overwhelming.
I always kept a backup package of gravy mix on hand just in case the turkeys didn’t give off enough drippings, and eventually I realized something important: using the mix wasn’t just easier, it preserved my sanity. While it may not taste quite as magical as my homemade version, it still makes a delicious gravy, and I can prepare it ahead of time and keep it warm in a slow cooker (or two!). This simple change lets me focus on getting the rest of the meal out hot, fresh, and on time; without the whirlwind of last-minute gravy stress.
I’ll be honest, while homemade gravy is lovely, events of this size are all about sanity, so I always reach for a trusty gravy mix. It keeps the last-minute chaos manageable when you’re juggling multiple roasters, side dishes, and serving tables.
The Secret to Tender, Fall-Apart Turkey
One of the things I hear most often is how tender the turkey is. And I’d love to say it’s my culinary brilliance, but truthfully, I give full credit to my large electric roasters. These things never fail me. The turkey practically falls off the bone when it’s time to carve.
My method is simple:
Place the turkey in the roaster, add 8 cups of water, sprinkle generously with salt (at least a tablespoon), and roast at 350°F until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Perfect every time.
And then comes one of my favorite post-dinner traditions, making bone broth. I save the drippings and carcass, add onions, carrots, celery, bay leaves, whole peppercorns, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, and a splash of apple cider vinegar. I fill the roaster with water and let it go for 24 hours. Usually outside, because smelling turkey for that long would have the whole house protesting. But the resulting broth? Worth every moment. I freeze it in 4-cup portions or simmer it down and freeze-dry it into a concentrated, shelf-stable powder that reconstitutes beautifully.
The Turkey Transformation My Kids Actually Love
While my kids aren’t fans of turkey straight from the roaster, they love it when I prepare it the way my mother used to. Growing up, she would take leftover turkey or chicken, coat it in a simple herb seasoning (similar to stuffing flavors), and pan-fry it in butter until it was golden and crispy. That became our kids’ favorite too. I’ve even roasted whole turkeys just to carve, season, and fry them because my family enjoys it so much.
Mashed Potatoes: The Comfort Classic
Creamy mashed potatoes are always a hit. For a 10-lb bag, I use about 2 tablespoons of salt, plenty of butter (½ to 1 pound), and a splash of milk if needed. The KitchenAid now does the heavy mashing for me; a lifesaver after years of trying to mash mountains of potatoes by hand.
Leftover mashed potatoes, though, are only appealing to my kids for so long… unless I transform them.
Fried Potato Balls Inspired by My Omi
This is where one of my favorite childhood memories comes in. When we visited my Omi and Opa, she would take leftover mashed potatoes, mix in flour, an egg, and salt, and roll the dough into short logs. Then she’d fry them until golden. They were delicious little snacks she’d serve while we crafted or painted.
Hearty Shepherd's Pie
Another wonderful way to use up leftover vegetables and mashed potatoes is by turning them into a hearty shepherd’s pie; a dish that feels like a warm hug on a winter evening. Whether you use fried hamburger or chopped leftover turkey, it’s a fantastic all-in-one meal that brings new life to holiday leftovers.
I usually start with about a pound of cooked ground beef and mix in 4–6 cups of leftover vegetables. If you enjoy onions, sauté a finely diced medium onion and a clove of minced garlic with the meat for extra flavour. Stir in either one or two cans of condensed mushroom soup or about 2 cups of prepared beef gravy, then spread the mixture into the bottom of a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
To top it, I use a potato masher to break apart the leftover mashed potatoes, sprinkling them evenly over the meat and vegetables until everything is fully covered. My kids love a generous potato layer, so I make sure it’s at least an inch thick. Using the masher creates those lovely ridges and peaks that turn beautifully golden in the oven. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes to an hour, until hot and bubbly. For a turkey or chicken version, simply swap the hamburger for leftover poultry and use turkey or chicken gravy instead. It’s cozy, comforting, and a delicious way to stretch your feast just a little further.
Turkey Tetrazzini
Another great dish to make with leftover turkey is a comforting turkey tetrazzini. Even though my children aren’t big fans of mushrooms, this creamy pasta bake still wins them over every time. It’s rich, cozy, and satisfying, another wonderful way to stretch those holiday leftovers into a hearty, soul-warming meal. With tender turkey, a velvety sauce, and pasta baked until bubbly and golden, turkey tetrazzini brings everyone back to the table with smiles (even the mushroom skeptics!).
Stretching The Joy a Little Further
In the end, leftovers aren’t just about stretching a meal, they’re about stretching the joy a little further. They carry the warmth of the gathering, the laughter shared, and the memories made. Whether I’m transforming turkey into something my kids cheer for, frying up nostalgic potato treats inspired by my Omi, or simply enjoying a quiet moment of rest after feeding a crowd, these leftover creations remind me that good food has a way of bringing comfort long after the feast is done. I hope these ideas inspire you to look at your own holiday leftovers with fresh eyes and a little spark of creativity. After all, the magic of Christmas doesn’t end when dinner does, it lingers in every cozy bite that follows.