Who knew there were so many delicious ways to use up leftover beef?
Using up leftover beef couldn’t be easier with this great selection of recipes. From curry to casserole, pie to stroganoff and plenty more scrumptious meal ideas, there are loads of tasty ways to use up your leftover beef.
So, if you have any leftovers left from a recipe you’ve made or Sunday lunch, don’t bin them! Use them up instead and make a whole new dinner for the family, or just a special lunch for yourself.
Starting off, what is the best cut of beef for a roast dinner? There are so many to choose from and with many people opting to go to the supermarket rather than the butcher these days, it’s not always easy to get crystal clear advice. We suggest going for rib or loin, and always looking for the Quality Standard Mark label to ensure you’re getting the highest quality of meat for your money.
As well as some classic dinner options like chilli cone carne and shepherd’s pie, we’ve got some more unique options to use up your leftover beef. You can also create some of your favourite mince-based meals and replaced the fine meat with chunky bits of beef – this is delicious with homemade chilli or burgers.
Once cooked, your leftover beef can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days – or in the freezer for up to 4 months. If you don’t think you’ll use all your beef at once, cut it into strips and put it in the freezer, so you can grab a handful at a time as you go.
Looking for more brilliant leftover recipes? If you’re a lamb lover but you’ve got a bit too much of it in your freezer at the moment, look no further. Our recipes to use up leftover lamb are just what you need.
Click through our favourite leftover beef recipes…
Beef stir-fries
Leftover beef casserole
A warming beef casserole is a delicious way to use up your leftover beef. Traditionally a casserole will need a few hours for the flavours to develop but as your beef is already cooked, it can be done a lot quicker. If you make your casserole base with beef stock you won't loose out on much flavour. Warm through the beef towards the end of cooking.
Ingredients you need:
- Chopped tomatoes
- Beef stock
- Veggies
Recipes to try:
More casserole recipes
Leftover beef burritos
Burritos are a classic Mexican dish that uses up your leftover beef wonderfully. Shred your leftover roast beef using just a knife and mix with pinto beans to get started on your burrito. For a healthier option, leave out the tortilla wrap and opt for a salad instead.
Ingredients you need:
- Shredded beef
- Pinto beans
- Rice
- Onion
- Tortilla wrap
- Garlic cloves, crushed
- Soured cream
- Avocado
Recipes to try:
Beef hotpot
A deliciously warming winter dish that's a great way to use up leftover beef. The beef hotpot is a heart dish that's actually healthier than you think, full of vegetables and lots of lovely herbs and and sauces, such as mustard and Worcestershire sauce.
Ingredients you need:
- Root vegetables
- Beef stock
- Flour and butter
Leftover beef curry
A rich, spicy sauce will bring your leftover beef plenty of flavour. Beef is often used in tomato-based curries such as vindaloo or Madras but you can combine it with a creamy korma sauce if you would like. Just warm through with your curry sauce and serve with a generous portion of rice.
Ingredients you need:
- Chopped tomatoes
- Curry paste/powder or ready made curry sauce
Recipes to try:
Leftover beef pie
Mmmmm beef has got to be one of the most tasty pie fillings and it's
such an easy way to use up your leftovers! Grab some ready made pastry,
warm your leftover beef with a little stock-based sauce, combine and
bake - delicious!
Ingredients you need:
- Ready made pastry
- Beef stock
- Flavourings (ale is a favourite)
- Veggies (carrots and mushrooms work well)
Recipes to try:
More pie recipes
Leftover beef stroganoff
A creamy sauce with a tangy mustard taste, beef stroganoff is a tasty and easy way to make a meal out of your leftover beef. You won't believe how simple the sauce is to make.
Ingredients you need:
- Crème fraîche
- Mustard
- White wine
- Rice or noodles (to serve)
Recipes to try:
Leftover beef sandwich
Thin strips of cooked beef makes a nice sandwich filler. You can serve it warm or hot with a variety of different flavours - mustard, red cabbage, gherkins and BBQ sauce are favourites of ours.
Ingredients you need:
- Bread/bun
- Salad
- Sauce/flavourings
Recipes to try:
More sandwich recipes
Leftover beef pasta
Beef and pasta? It's not as common a combination as chicken and pasta but it can work quite nicely. Minced beef is often used in pasta recipes but you can finely chop your beef to get the same consistency. You need to make sure your sauce has a strong enough flavour so the beef doesn't overpower it - a nice ragu or chilli sauce is a good option to go for.
Ingredients you need:
- Pasta
- Sauce
- Veggies
Recipes to try:
More pasta recipes
Leftover beef burgers
Beef burgers are traditionally made with minced beef but you can cheat a little and replace the patties with a chunk of cooked beef. Serve with regular burger fillings and sides and your cooked meat is transformed into a fun meal.
Ingredients you need:
- Buns
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Chips/wedges
- Sauces
Recipes to try:
More burger recipes
Leftover beef chilli
Another dish you may only think you can make with mince, chilli can be made up chunks of chopped cooked meat. Treat it the same way you would mince and warm through in the sauce. Our chunky chilli recipe shows you how it's done.
Ingredients you need:
- Chopped tomatoes
- Spices
- Kidney beans
- Rice to serve
More chilli recipes
Leftover beef fajitas
Mexican food is a fun and easy way to use your leftover beef. Cut into strips, cooked beef can be flavoured with spices, lightly fried and wrapped up to make fajitas or burritos. Having strips of beef in the fridge or freezer will mean this type of food can be made on the quick.
Ingredients you need:
- Mexican spices
- Wraps
- Peppers
- Sauces
Recipes to try:
More Mexican recipes
Leftover spanish beef
Warming Spanish flavours can give any cooked meat a fresh burst of life and beef is no exception. Paprika, chorizo and peppers will give your beef a lovely summery twist. You can also add beef to traditional Spanish dishes like paella.
Ingredients you need:
- Spices - paprika
- Chorizo
- Pepper
- Chopped tomatoes
Recipes to try:
More Spanish recipes
Leftover beef noodles
Quick, easy and full of flavour, noodles are the perfect ingredient to turn your leftover beef into a brand new meal. Noodles can be cooked in as little as 3 mins (depending on the type) so all you need to do is fry up a little veg, warm up your beef with the noodles and top with a sauce - super speedy!
Ingredients you need:
- Noodles
- Veggies
- Sauce
Recipes to try:
More noodle recipes
Leftover beef salad
Slices of warm or cold cooked beef will give your salad a nice meaty twist. A tangy mustard dressing and some tomatoes will give the meat plenty of flavour.
Ingredients you need:
- Salad leaves
- Tomatoes
- Salad dressing
Recipes to try:
More salad recipes
Leftover beef kebabs
Chunks of cooked meat can be teamed with onions, tomatoes, peppers - pretty much any veg you have in - and grilled on a kebab. Marinade the meat in lots of herbs, spices and a little oil and serve with a fresh green salad. You can also make kebabs with the cold meat, just make sure the veg used can be eaten raw.
Ingredients you need:
- Bamboo or metal skewers
- Seasonings
- Veggies
Recipes to try:
More kebab recipes
Leftover beef wellington
Beef Wellingtons are classically made with fillet steaks but you can take the essence of the dish to use up your leftover beef. Cover your beef with a meaty or veg-based pate and wrap in pastry and bake. As the meat is already cooked, you just need to wait for the pastry to crisp.
Ingredients you need:
- Ready made pastry
- Pâté (shop-bought or homemade)
- Parma ham (optional)
Recipe to try:
