These easy ways to use up your beef are all wholesome, balanced meals that will help avoid food waste, save you money and time on food shopping, and please the kids every bit as much as the adults.
"If you’re making a roast on a Sunday, it can be a good idea to cook a large joint so that you have extra meat left over for during the week," says nutritionist Alex Allan. "Beef ramen is a great way of using up leftover meat. Cutting the beef into strips, it can then be added to a ramen with veggies and noodles. This is a very quick, easy, and nutritious meal, ideal for a midweek supper and always a popular hit with teens. Tacos are another great way to use up leftover beef. Soft tortillas, stir-fried veggies, guacamole, and salsa can be paired with strips of leftover beef to form a quick midweek meal. By putting all the different elements into small bowls in the centre of the table, you can encourage your child to assemble their own tacos."
"Roast beef pinwheels can be a fun, protein-rich packed lunch too. Spreading a wrap with good quality cream cheese, a splash of mustard for adults and more adventurous children, and a decent couple of handfuls of spinach, add in the leftover beef. Starting at one end, roll the tortilla up tightly into a tight roll. Wrap tightly with baking parchment and foil and leave in the fridge for at least 4 hours. To serve, unwrap and slice into 2 or 3 pieces."
From noodles to pies, burritos to stews, there are ideas from all over the globe to make the most of your leftover meat, making easy work of midweek meals. Because a roast dinner can be for all week, not just for Sunday…
Best ways to use up leftover beef
Keep your meat pink – or Gordon will not be happy
1. Gordon Ramsay's roasted beef fillet
Serves: 6 | Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 25 mins
A summery take on roast beef, it's all in the dressing with Gordon's delicious creation. His insanely flavoursome tangy sauce features every condiment known to man – tabasco, balsamic, lemon, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and even ketchup is in there, along with shallots and tarragon. Served with wild rocket, this one really does pack quite the punch.
Get the recipe: Gordon Ramsay's roasted beef fillet
That'll see us nicely through the next cold snap
2. Hairy Biker's steak and ale pie
Serves: 6 | Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 1 hr 20 mins
What the Hairy Bikers don't know about pies really isn't worth knowing. And this one is a classic. Beef and veggies flavoured with thyme and ale and topped with ready-made puff pastry (so no fears in the soggy bottom department), it's a proper winter warmer. If your leftover meat is already cooked, chop it into small-ish chunks and reduce the cooking time.
Get the recipe: Hairy Biker's steak and ale pie
You can't go far wrong with a burrito
3. Beef burritos
Serves: 8 | Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 25 mins
Flavour your leftover shredded beef with spices, chilli flakes, and sun-dried tomato paste, add pinto beans, and serve with soured cream and guacamole on warm tortillas. The addition of grated cheese is also a winner with kids. It's one way to liven up the start of the week, thanks to the remnants of your weekend roast.
Get the recipe: Beef burritos
Just because it is leftover doesn't mean it can't be a showstopper
4. Gordon Ramsay's beef wellington
Serves: 4 | Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 50 mins
Best with any uncooked leftover beef, as this one should be pleasingly pink in the centre, this is a special dish that really doesn't take up as much time as you might think. Wrapped in a mushroom duxelle (that's a sort of pâté to you and me), then covered in parma ham and encased in puff pastry, this dish really knows how to treat a good piece of beef. A great one for guests, so that other people appreciate and admire your efforts.
Get the recipe: Gordon Ramsay's beef Wellington
The 70s called, they want their dinner back
5. James Martin's beef stew with dumplings
Serves: 4 | Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 2 hour 30 mins
Now, we all know a good stew uses slow-cooking cuts of meat and needs hours to bubble away – but you could opt for a cheat's hack and reduce the oven time by using your leftover roast meat. James Martin's classic casserole dish also features suet dumplings in a nostalgic nod back to dinners and decades past. Vegetable suet is an option if the meat variety doesn't appeal. A hearty hug of a dinner.
Get the recipe: James Martin's beef stew with dumplings
Like a hug in a dish, this is so comforting
6. Slimming World beef lasagne
Serves: 4 | Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 45 mins
It's a crowd favourite, but it's fair to say that lasagne ain't exactly a healthy food. This version reduces the saturated fat content quite considerably, using yogurt in place of bechamel sauce and adding a stack of extra veggies. Traditionally made with mince, it's possible to make using finely chopped beef from your leftover roast.
Get the recipe: Slimming World beef lasagne
Give your unloved leftover meat a new lease of life
7. Beef and pepper stir fry
Serves: 4 | Prep time: 5 mins | Cook time: 10 mins
A wonderful and super speedy way to liven up your leftovers. Just slice your beef into strips and wok fry it with fresh veggies, bean sprouts, ginger, garlic, and hoisin sauce. Serve with fresh egg or udon noodles, or make some egg-fried rice if you prefer. A real livener for the taste buds.
Get the recipe: Beef and pepper stir fry
Ooh lala, what a meaty treat
8. Slimming World beef bourguignon
Serves: 4 | Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 2 hours 30 mins
A French classic that normally uses two whole bottles of wine, this slimmed down (literally) version uses just 150ml of vin rouge (meaning there's plenty left to wash the resulting dinner down with…) The cooking time can be massively reduced if using leftover beef that has already been in the oven, meaning it's a viable option for a busy weeknight when you don't have three hours to wait for dinner to be ready…
Get the recipe: Slimming World beef bourguignon
Don't mind if we do
9. Beef cobbler
Serves: 1 | Prep time: 5 mins | Cook time: 40 mins
A cheat's version of a classic, this old-school minced beef and dumplings recipe is given a speedy makeover, perfect for a midweek dinner (the recipe quantities are for one, so you'll want to increase the amounts of the ingredients when cooking for all the family). Use your chopped roast meat in place of the mince, and serve with plenty of green veggies on the side.
Get the recipe: Beef cobbler
A stew filled with sunny Spanish flavour
10. Spanish beef
Serves: 8 | Prep time: 25 mins | Cook time: 2 hours
This smoky, hearty, delicious stew might come from the Spanish sunshine but it's a wonderful winter warmer for a chilly evening in Blighty. Great with rice or some crusty bread to mop up the juices, this dish is packed with protein from the beef, beans, and chorizo, and has a warm, spicy hit from the chilli and paprika. Delicious.
Get the recipe: Spanish beef
A classic for a cold day
11. Beef stroganoff
Serves: 4 | Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 20 mins
An excellent one for leftover cooked beef because this, unlike many beef dishes, is not a slow cook – you can make the sauce and stir in the meat for the last few minutes. Great served with fluffy rice, mashed potato, or even French bread to mop up the sauce, it can be made less rich and creamy, if you prefer, by using reduced-fat crème fraîche in place of sour cream. We also like to add a generous sprinkling of paprika.
Get the recipe: Beef stroganoff
Monday night dinner plan perfection
12. Quick chilli beef noodles
Serves: Easy | Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 10 mins
The perfect speedy midweek meal, and the ideal use for leftover meat. Slice your beef and quickly stir fry with garlic, chilli, a bag of mixed veg, and a generous glug of teriyaki sauce. The key ingredient to elevate this dish to the next level is the toasted crushed peanuts, for a brilliant texture and flavour hit. A few sliced spring onions and grated carrots over the top would be a bonus.
Get the recipe: Quick chilli beef noodles
Burger and chips, the healthier midweek version
13. Slimming World burger and chips
Serves: 4 | Prep time: 25 mins | Cook time: 50 mins
Add onion, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce to your beef, shape into patties, and grill, along with the classic Slimming World chips to dramatically reduce the saturated fat content of your meal. Load burger baps with plenty of salad and add grilled bacon (or switch for mushrooms if you prefer). Try different styles of bread to make things more interesting – ciabatta rolls are a great choice.
Get the recipe: Slimming World burger and chips
A dish to transport you instantly to south east Asia
14. Gordon Ramsay beef chilli wraps
Serves: 4 | Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 15 mins
If anyone knows how to make a dish sing, it's Gordon Ramsay. An excellent choice for anyone avoiding wheat or gluten, his lettuce cups are filled with beef bursting with South East Asian flavours and a punchy dipping sauce made with fish sauce, sesame oil, chilli, and lime. Excellent as a starter or a light meal, they could also be bulked out with a portion of rice for a larger main dish.
Get the recipe: Gordon Ramsay beef chilli wraps
If there's a better pick me up at the end of a long day, we'd like to know about it
15. Beef brisket sandwich
Serves: 4 | Prep time: 5 mins | Cook time: 30 mins
This one is only really going to work if you've made your own beef brisket for a Sunday roast, but, boy, is this the greatest way to eat the leftovers. Shred the beef and served up with homemade coleslaw and barbecue sauce, all on a crusty roll (or a brioche bun is pretty wonderful too). A pinch of poppy seeds and a dash of Tabasco finish things off just perfectly. Serve with a side of sweet potato wedges.
Get the recipe: Beef brisket sandwich
A pie of champions
16. Beef, Stilton and ale pie
Serves: 4 | Prep time: 30 mins | Cook time: 2 hours 30 mins
A hearty pie for hungry mouths after a long day. The Stilton gives a classic pie a new flavour dimension, along with the stout, and it won't need to be cooked for such a hefty amount of time if you're using leftover roast meat. Serve with some steamed greens on the side.
Get the recipe: Beef, Stilton and ale pie
"I do love an inventive use for a leftover. Beef is always the favourite in our house for a Sunday roast, cooked a little pink with big fluffy Yorkshires and tons of gravy. I use up the remains for sandwiches with peppery watercress and a dollop of horseradish, or in a stir fry or ramen soup the following evening. I also switch mince for my beef leftovers in a bolognese sauce, bulked out with lentils, or add it to a stroganoff sauce with plenty of paprika and some sliced mushrooms, which is marvellous served with mashed potato (or dauphinoise if feeling fancy) and a side of greens."
It's not only beef that will see you through the week after a roast, try our easy leftover chicken recipes, our leftover lamb recipes and these leftover pork recipes too. We also have ideas for other dishes that help us avoid food waste and save money at the same time – why not try these 9 ways to use up leftover rice?
