10 Easy Leftover Roast Beef Recipes (2024)

Got some lovely roast beef leftovers and want to turn them into a quick and easy midweek meal? Check out these 10 Easy Leftover Roast Beef Recipes… from beef curry to beef chilli, beef stroganoff to beef korma – there’s so many things you can do with leftover roast beef!

What to do with leftover roast beef…

I love roast beef – it’s such a special celebratory meal – especially when served with Yorkshire puddings, delicious beef gravy and all the trimmings. But one of the best things about roast beef is the leftovers!

When I buy beef, I always make sure I buy extra, so I am certain there will be leftovers.

And the good news is there are lots of lovely things you can make with roast beef leftovers. From curry to chilli, stew to stroganoff – there are plenty of delicious recipes!

Simple Roast Beef and Mini Yorkshire Puddings

10 Easy Leftover Roast Beef Recipes

I have gathered together 10 Easy Leftover Roast Beef Recipes from my site – many of them were originally written for roast beef leftovers, and the rest I explain clearly below how to adapt them to use leftover roast beef.

I have also included timings and quantities, so you can easily choose the perfect recipe for the quantity of leftover beef you have, as well as the amount of time you want to spend cooking.

If you have other leftovers you need to use up, please check outmy full collection of leftovers recipes.

Simple Roast Beef and Mini Yorkshire Puddings

Dull but important note on food safety…Please remember to get your roast beef leftovers into the fridge or freezer within 2 hours of the beef coming out of the oven. Beef leftovers can usually be safely stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or the freezer for up to 1 month. Never freeze cooked beef more than once. Always make sure you reheat cooked beef until it’s piping hot! If in doubt throw it away…food waste is bad, but food poisoning is worse!!

Leftover Roast Beef Curry

Get the recipe =>Leftover Roast Beef CurryHow to adapt using leftovers: This recipe was designed for leftover roast beef. Follow the exact instructions in the recipe.
Total time using leftovers:30 minutes
Use 600g/21oz leftover roast beef, serves 4

Leftover Roast Beef Stroganoff

Get the recipe =>Leftover Roast Beef StroganoffHow to adapt using leftovers: This recipe was designed for leftover roast beef. Follow the exact instructions in the recipe.
Total time using leftovers:15 minutes
Use 600g/21oz leftover roast beef, serves 4

Leftover Roast Beef Biryani

Get the recipe =>Leftover Roast Chicken BiryaniHow to adapt using leftovers: For a delicious Leftover Roast Beef Biryani, simply use your roast beef leftovers instead of chicken.Otherwise follow the recipe exactly as written.
Total time using leftovers:25 minutes
Use 400g/14oz leftover roast beef, serves 4

Roast Beef Leftovers Stew with Dumplings

Get the recipe => Roast Chicken Leftovers Stew with DumplingsHow to adapt using leftovers: For a delicious Leftover Roast Beef Stew with Dumplings, simply use your roast beef leftovers instead of chicken, use beef stock instead of chicken stock and omit the apple. Otherwise follow the recipe exactly as written.
Total time using leftovers:1 hour
Use 500g/18oz leftover roast beef, serves 4

Leftover Roast Beef Chilli

Get the recipe => Leftover Roast Beef ChilliHow to adapt using leftovers: This recipe was designed for leftover roast beef. Follow the exact instructions in the recipe.
Total time using leftovers:30 minutes
Use 500g/18oz leftover roast beef, serves 4

Leftover Beef Fajitas

Get the recipe =>Easy Lamb FajitasHow to adapt using leftovers: For delicious Leftover Beef Fajitas, simply use your roast beef leftovers instead of lamb. Coat the beef in the fajita seasoning. Add all the beef and seasoning to the frying pan after stir-frying the veggies for 3-4 minutes. Stir-fry for a further 5 minutes, or until the beef is piping hot all the way through. Otherwise follow the recipe as written.
Total time using leftovers:20 minutes
Use 400g/14oz leftover roast beef, serves 4

Leftover Roast Beef Korma

Get the recipe =>Leftover Roast Beef KormaHow to adapt using leftovers: This recipe was designed for leftover roast beef. Follow the exact instructions in the recipe.
Total time using leftovers:25 minutes
Use 500g/18oz leftover roast beef, serves 4

Leftover Beef Goulash

Get the recipe =>Hungarian Beef GoulashHow to adapt using leftovers: Follow the recipe as written, except omit browning the beef, add the peppers in straight away and only cook for 1 hour, not 2.
Total time using leftovers:1 hour 15 minutes
Use 800g/28oz leftover roast beef, serves 6

Leftover Roast Beef Cottage Pie

Get the recipe =>Leftover Roast Lamb Shepherd’s Pie
How to adapt using leftovers:To make a delicious leftover roast beef version of Shepherds Pie (AKA Cottage Pie!), follow the recipe as written, but use beef instead of lamb, and beef stock instead of lamb stock.
Total time using leftovers:45 minutes
Use 500g/18oz leftover roast beef, serves 4

Leftover Beef Thai Green Curry

Get the recipe =>Lamb Thai Green CurryHow to adapt using leftovers: To make a delicious Leftover Beef Thai Green Curry, follow the recipe as written, except omit frying the meat. Instead add the leftover beef to the frying pan immediately after you have added the coconut milk. Cook for 5 minutes, or until you are sure the beef is piping hot all the way through.
Total time using leftovers:20 minutes
Use 400g/14oz leftover roast beef, serves 4

More roast meat leftovers recipes…

Want more delicious ideas for your Sunday roast leftovers? Check out these other roast meat leftovers roundups…

10 Easy Ideas for your Roast Lamb Leftovers
12 Easy Leftover Roast Chicken Recipes
10 Easy Ideas for your Turkey Leftovers

Pin 10 Easy Leftover Roast Beef Recipes for later

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10 Easy Leftover Roast Beef Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with leftover overcooked roast beef? ›

A simple fix for overcooked meat is to dump it in your food processor with some olive oil, purée it, and use it as a stuffing for everything from hand pies and empanadas to dumplings and ravioli.

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How to make leftover roast beef tender? ›

Add chopped onions and minced garlic to the skillet and continue to cook until the onions and garlic are soft. Put the mixture in a large pot or Dutch oven, and then cover the meat with beef broth. Cover the pot and simmer the mixture, stirring occasionally, for about 45 minutes, or until the beef is tender.

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How long can you use leftover roast beef? ›

USDA recommends using cooked beef within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within 3 to 4 days.

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How long does roast beef last in the fridge? ›

Beef, veal, lamb and pork roasts, steaks and chops may be kept 3 to 5 days. After cooking, meat, poultry and seafood can be safely stored in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days.

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How do you make roast beef tender after cooked? ›

I would suggest braising. Braising is the act of cooking food in a liquid to add flavor, moisten, and tenderize. It does usually require a longer cooking time, which works best for tougher cuts of meat.

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Can I freeze leftover cooked roast beef? ›

The meat is still perfectly edible, but it can affect the taste, so you may want to trim off any affected areas. It's fine to freeze cooked meat, including meat leftovers and meals cooked from previously frozen meat. Just let it cool before freezing.

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How do you reheat roast beef and keep it tender? ›

Oven: Cover beef with foil and reheat in a preheated oven at a low heat of around 160C for 5-10 minutes. Microwave: Transfer roast and any juices to a microwave-safe dish. Cover with a microwave-safe steamer, and reheat using 30-second intervals on “reheat” setting.

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How to salvage a tough roast beef? ›

You can add a little bit of water or broth to a pan and simmer the meat for a few minutes. The goal is to allow the liquid to penetrate the meat without allowing it to overcook even more. This should take a couple of minutes. If you add a couple tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice, this also helps revive the meat.

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How do you know if roast beef has gone bad? ›

Obvious signs of spoilage, like mold, are clear indicators that you'll be tossing that cut and buying a new one. Other tell-tale signs of spoilage include meat that looks slimy, shiny, crusty, and/or off color. Raw beef should ideally be a beautiful red or even purplish hue and look moist but not wet.

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Can you eat cooked beef after 5 days? ›

Cooked ground beef can last in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days. To ensure it remains safe to eat, store the cooked beef in an airtight container and refrigerate it promptly. If you want it to last longer, you can freeze cooked ground beef for up to 3-4 months.

Is it safe to eat cooked roast beef left out overnight? ›

The Two-Hour Rule

Cooked food can only stay in the temperature danger zone for so long before it becomes unsafe to eat. Havern explains: "The maximum amount of time perishable foods can [spend] in the danger zone is two hours. At two hours, the food must be consumed, stored correctly, or thrown away.

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Can you save an overcooked roast? ›

Cook in a sauce or gravy: When using the beef roast as leftovers, cooking it slowly in a sauce or gravy is an excellent way to soften it up. The addition of more liquid helps to tenderize the meat. Cut the roast into small chunks if you know it's tough, as this will aid in the softening process [2].

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How do you reheat roast beef to make it tender? ›

If your roast beef tends to be dry, moisten it with gravy or broth. Cover it and warm it in a oven 325–350. Sometimes leftover roast beef is easier to slice thinly while it is cold. If it's not previously sliced, slice it then pour gravy over it.

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Why is my roast still tough after 6 hours? ›

If your crock pot roast is tough, it is possible you didn't use a boneless chuck roast, in which cases some cuts of meat will never become fall-apart tender OR more likely, you did not cook your beef long enough.

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Can you slow cook already cooked meat? ›

Information. Reheating leftovers in a slow cooker is not recommended. Cooked food should be reheated on the stove, in a microwave, or in a conventional oven until it reaches 165 °F. Then the hot food can be placed in a preheated slow cooker to keep it hot for serving—at least 140 °F as measured with a food thermometer.

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