These Christmas leftovers pies are an easy and delicious way to use up festive leftovers, made with a creamy filling and topped with golden puff pastry. Cooked quickly in the air fryer, this versatile recipe is perfect for Boxing Day and beyond and can be adapted for vegetarian, vegan or meat-based leftovers.
The Ultimate Christmas Leftovers Pies: A Quick & Versatile Boxing Day Recipe
Looking for the perfect way to use up your festive feast? Repurpose your Christmas leftovers pies into a delicious, golden-crust meal that the whole family will love. Whether you have leftover turkey, ham, roasted veg, or even nut roast, this recipe is incredibly quick and easy to adapt.
If you love using this appliance, check out my full collection of vegetarian air fryer recipes.
These pies cater to everyone: vegetarians, vegans, and meat-eaters alike. Simply swap the fillings to suit your guests. The base is a rich, creamy, and cheesy béchamel sauce, topped with flaky, golden puff pastry.
I always make two [pie versions (one meat and one vegan) so everyone has an option on Boxing Day.
🌱 MAKE IT VEGAN : You can easily make this recipe vegan by swapping the milk, butter, cheese, and puff pastry for plant-based alternatives.
I like to use leftover pastry to cut out star shapes of varying sizes, which I then use to decorate the pies. This not only adds a festive touch but also helps differentiate the pies based on their filling, making it easier for everyone to pick their favourite.
Once assembled, the pies are baked in an air fryer for just 15 minutes, giving them that perfect crispiness in no time.
Watch How To Make These Christmas Leftover Pies
The Haier 11L Flex Double Drawer Air Fryer: Perfect for Family Meals
When you’re catering for a crowd during the festive season, you need appliances that work as hard as you do. I use this Haier 11L Flex Double Drawer Airfryer to make these Christmas leftovers pies.
This clever appliance is designed to make everyday cooking smarter and easier, which is particularly helpful during the busy festive season when you need to cater for large gatherings.
Why I Love the Haier 11L Flex Double Drawer Air Fryer
- 11L Large Capacity with Viewing Window: Perfect for families or for hosting 8–10 guests. The transparent window allows you to monitor your food without interrupting the cooking process.
- Dual-Zone Flexibility: The removable divider lets you this air fryer as one single unit or two with the ability of setting different temperatures and cooking times.
- 8 Pre-set Smart Functions: From ‘Bake’ for these pies to ‘Reheat’ for your roasties, the pre-programmed settings take the guesswork out of cooking. Choose from Air Fry, Grill, Roast, Bake, Slow Cook, Dehydrate, Reheat, and Defrost. Individual controls to manually set the time (1-60 mins) and temperature (up to 200°C/392°F).
- Crispier Results with Less Fat: The high-speed 200°C hot air system gets food much crispier than a conventional oven, using up to 85% less fat.
- Inspiration via the hOn App: If you’re stuck for ideas, the Smart hOn app offers a limitless collection of free recipes to keep you inspired well into the New Year.
Other Christmas Recipes You Might Enjoy
- Pull Apart Bread Roll Wreath
- Christmas Salad
- Air-Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Christmas Cinnamon Rolls with Cranberry
How To Make These Christmas Leftovers Pies
Ingredients:
To make these Christmas leftovers pies you will need:
- leftover roasted vegetables
- leftover turkey, ham or other meat (optional)
- puff pastry sheet
- butter
- plain flour
- milk
- Dijon mustard
- nutmeg
- cheddar cheese
- salt & pepper
Step 1: Make the Béchamel
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add in the flour, and whisk continuously until a light brown paste forms. Make sure it does not burn.
- Still whisking continuously, add the milk slowly. Keep whisking until the mixture looks creamy and thickened, about 5 minutes. The sauce should coat the back of a spoon. Add the Dijon mustard and nutmeg. Mix in the cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Step 2: Prepare The Pies
- Place 2 tablespoons of béchamel sauce at the bottom of each ramekin. Fill each ramekin with the leftover of your choice.
- Share the remaining béchamel sauce between the ramekins. Stir the leftover filling slightly so that the sauce spreads evenly.
- Roll out the puff pastry sheet and cut out 4 squares big enough to cover the tops of the pies.
Step 3: Seal and Decorate The Pies
- Use the leftover pastry to cut out star shapes. I prefer cutting stars in various sizes, so I can decorate the pies differently depending on their filling, making it easier to tell them apart.
- Place the pastry squares on top of each pie, folding the edges as necessary to ensure the pastry fits neatly inside the ramekins.
- Brush a little milk over the tops of the pies, then arrange the pastry stars on top. Don’t forget to brush the stars with milk as well.
Step 4: Bake the Christmas Leftover Pies and Serve
- Bake the pies in the air fryer at 180°C (350°F) for about 15 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and crisp. Check them halfway through to make sure they’re cooking evenly, and give them a little shuffle in the basket if needed.
- Serve hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use a wide variety of leftovers, including turkey, ham, chicken, stuffing, roast potatoes, carrots, parsnips, Brussels sprouts and cheese. Gravy can also be added instead of béchamel for extra flavour and moisture.
Use the ‘Reheat’ function on the Haier Air Fryer for 3–5 minutes to keep the pastry crisp
Yes, they are perfect for freezing once assembled but before air frying
Yes, Christmas leftovers pies cook very well in a conventional oven. Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan) and place the pies on a baking tray. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the puff pastry is golden, crisp and the filling is piping hot throughout.
I hope you enjoy this Christmas leftovers pie recipe as much as I do. If you do make it, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram!
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own and completely honest.
Christmas Leftovers Pies (in an Air Fryer)
Disclaimer: the equipment list above includes affiliate links to products I use and like.
Watch How To Make This Recipe
Ingredients
- 320 g puff pastry sheet
- milk of choice to brush the pies
FOR THE BÉCHAMEL:
- 40 g butter
- 40 g plain flour
- 500 ml milk
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- grated nutmeg to taste
- 100 g grated cheddar cheese
- salt & pepper to taste
FOR 2 VEGETARIAN and 2 MEAT PIES: (see note to customise to only veggie or meat)
- 500 g leftover roasted vegetables
- 100 g leftover turkey, ham etc… ( or a mix of both)
Instructions
- Make the béchamel sauce: Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add in the flour, and whisk continuously until a light brown paste forms. Make sure it does not burn.40 g butter, 40 g plain flour
- Still whisking continuously, add the milk slowly. Keep whisking until the mixture looks creamy and thickened, about 5 minutes. The sauce should coat the back of a spoon. Add the Dijon mustard and nutmeg. Mix in the cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.500 ml milk, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, grated nutmeg, 100 g grated cheddar cheese, salt & pepper
- Place 2 tablespoons of béchamel sauce at the bottom of each ramekin. Fill each ramekin with the leftover of your choice.500 g leftover roasted vegetables, 100 g leftover turkey, ham etc… ( or a mix of both)
- Share the remaining béchamel sauce between the ramekins. Stir the leftover filling slightly so that the sauce spreads evenly. (see recipe note on how to make vegetarian and/or meat pies).
- Roll out the puff pastry sheet and cut out 4 squares big enough to cover the tops of the pies.320 g puff pastry sheet
- Use the leftover pastry to cut out star shapes. I prefer cutting stars in various sizes, so I can decorate the pies differently depending on their filling, making it easier to tell them apart.
- Place the pastry squares on top of each pie, folding the edges as necessary to ensure the pastry fits neatly inside the ramekins.
- Brush a little milk over the tops of the pies, then arrange the pastry stars on top. Don’t forget to brush the stars with milk as well.milk of choice
- Bake the pies in the air fryer at 180°C (350°F) for about 15 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and crisp. Check them halfway through to make sure they’re cooking evenly, and give them a little shuffle in the basket if needed.
- Serve hot.
Notes
- For 4 meat-free pies: use around 600g of leftover roasted vegetables
- For 4 meat pies: use around 400g vegetables + 200g leftover turkey and/or ham
- For 2 meat-free and 2 meat pies: use around 500g of leftover roasted vegetables + 100g leftover turkey and/or ham
Nutrition
Find this recipe online:
Christmas Leftovers Pies (in an Air Fryer)
https://theflexitarian.co.uk/recipe-items/christmas-leftovers-pies-in-an-air-fryer/
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