36 Boxing Day recipes

Looking for Boxing Day food ideas? Want to put on a lazy buffet spread? We've got plenty of inspiration for effortless party pleasers.

Boxing Day is best spent in your PJs, gorging on a Christmas selection box and watching the telly. The fridge will be overflowing with leftover turkey and half-eaten trifle, so when it's time to think about food again, why not lay on an easy yet impressive Boxing Day spread? Try our mouth-watering Boxing Day buffet ideas below.

Clear out your fridge and make the most of your favourite ingredients with our best Christmas leftover recipes and indulge in our best winter comfort food recipes. After, take a look at our festive entertaining ideas and party food recipes for more inspiration.

Salmon flatbread

Try this salmon flatbread at your Boxing Day party for a modern twist on festive entertaining. Soft cheese, smoked salmon, capers and pickled onions are layered over Turkish flatbread, creating an impressive sharing board that’s as easy to eat as it is to serve.

Whipped feta with apricots, olives and oranges

Start your Boxing Day party with this whipped feta dip, loaded with festive dried fruits, olives and a pomegranate molasses drizzle. Served with crackers or crudités, it’s a crowd-pleasing starter that’s guaranteed to get everyone in the celebratory spirit.

Giant sausage roll

No Boxing Day spread is complete without a sausage roll, and this giant version is a real showpiece. With a tamarind glaze for tropical tang and a pistachio-studded filling, it’s perfect for slicing and sharing at your festive gathering.

Honeyed squash, sage and feta filo cigars

These honeyed squash filo morsels are ideal for Boxing Day parties. Crisp filo pastry encases a sweet and savoury filling, making them a delightful finger food to pass around as everyone enjoys the post-Christmas festivities.

Swedish roasted beet and apple salad

Brighten up your Boxing Day spread with this Swedish roasted beet and apple salad. Roasted beetroot, crisp apple and fresh dill are tossed in a sharp honey and mustard dressing, creating a vibrant and crunchy Nordic dish. It’s just the thing to add colour and freshness to your festive buffet, perfectly balancing the richness of Boxing Day indulgence.

Smashed parmesan potatoes with avocado

Crunchy, golden potatoes are topped with spicy avocado, pink pickled onions and a sprinkle of chilli flakes, making a vibrant and satisfying Boxing Day canapé.

No-churn Irish coffee ice cream with hazelnut and chocolate biscuits

Bring a touch of boozy flair to your Boxing Day celebrations with this no-churn Irish coffee ice cream, served with hazelnut and chocolate biscuits. The punchy coffee and splash of Baileys and whiskey cut through the sweetness, making this a sophisticated dessert that’s ideal for sharing with guests after the main event.

Swedish Janssons frestelse (potato gratin)

This comforting potato gratin layers creamy potato, sweet onion and tangy blue cheese, all baked until golden and bubbling. It’s the ultimate warming accompaniment for a festive feast.

Chocolate orange tart

This chocolate orange tart is a fancy take on a Christmas classic, with a rich chocolate filling and a burst of orange flavour. It’s sure to delight guests of all ages.

Ham hock, spinach and cheeseboard lasagne

Make the most of your Christmas leftovers with this ham hock, spinach and cheeseboard lasagne – a Boxing Day essential. Packed with chunks of ham and a mixture of cheeses, this rich and creamy bake is an ideal way to feed a crowd and clear out the fridge.

Chocolate truffle cake

Treat your guests to a slice of decadence with this chocolate truffle cake. This flourless cake is rich and fudgy, topped with a generous layer of chestnut cream for a seasonal touch. It’s a show-stopping dessert to end your festive celebrations on a high note.

Polenta bites with caramelised onion and gruyère

These cheesy polenta bites make a great Boxing Day nibble. Serve these bite-sized treats with drinks as guests arrive, or add them to your buffet spread. They’re versatile, moreish and can be customised with your favourite toppings – parma ham and dolcelatte would work nicely, or brie and chilli jam.

Sticky toffee monkey bread

This sticky toffee monkey bread is a pull-apart treat that’s made for sharing. Small balls of bread dough are coated in a sticky caramel glaze, creating an irresistible centrepiece for guests to enjoy.

Mulled wine cherry pavlova

Make your Boxing Day table sparkle with this mulled wine cherry pavlova. The crisp meringue is topped with boozy cherries and soft cheese whipped cream, making it a festive, make-ahead treat that’s both light and indulgent.

Radish butter terrine

Add a touch of elegance to your Boxing Day spread with this radish terrine bites. Slices of buttery, dill-scented radish are perfect served on toasted rye bread, offering a light and refreshing bite that’s ideal for grazing as guests mingle.

Prawn and chorizo skewers

Impress guests with these prawn and chorizo skewers – a surf-and-turf bite that’s quick to make and packed with flavour. With only six ingredients, these are perfect for serving a crowd and will disappear quickly from any party platter.

Pickled melon and prosciutto skewers

Give your Boxing Day buffet a refreshing lift with these pickled melon and prosciutto skewers. The quick pickle adds a tangy twist to this classic combination, perfect for a Boxing Day canapé.

Swedish citrus-cured gravadlax with juniper and pink peppercorns

Bring a Swedish touch to your Boxing Day table with this citrus-cured gravadlax. Cured with orange, juniper and pink peppercorns, this elegant salmon dish is wonderful for sharing.

Dubai chocolate trifle

Serve up this Dubai chocolate trifle for a decadent Boxing Day dessert. Inspired by the flavours of the viral chocolate bar, it’s rich, creamy and a real showstopper for your festive table.

Beetroot and gin-cured salmon

You'll have to prep this salmon in advance, but it's worth the wait. Pop it in the centre of your buffet table to wow your family. The orange gives it a slight sweetness while the gin gives it a great boozy kick. If you have leftovers, it'll still taste great for the next couple of days. What better way to carry on the festivities?

Honey-glazed roast gammon

This is a fuss-free way of cooking a Christmas gammon joint. It steams in the oven alongside aromatics, and is then finished with a honey mustard glaze.

The smörgåsbord

This Swedish-inspired sharing feast makes for an impressive spread. Featuring cheese, fish, potato and egg, it's a great alternative to a buffet if you're feeding a crowd at a Boxing Day gathering.

Glazed cocktail sausages

Who would say no to these glazed cocktail sausages? Here, they’re taken up a notch or two with a hint of black cardamom, fennel, cumin and honey.

Bûche de noël

Serve this bûche de noël for a Boxing Day dessert showpiece. This festive log features decadent layers of chocolate sponge, chantilly cream and chocolate buttercream.

Rum truffles

A batch of these homemade rum truffles wouldn't go amiss at your Boxing Day buffet. They make great last-minute gifts, too.

Stollen bites

Make these pretty stollen bites for a fun Christmas baking project – you can use any mixed dried fruit, such as cranberries, sour cherries or apricots.

Cheese and onion quiche

Using spring onions and ready-made pastry cuts down the cooking time so you can bake this classic vegetarian tart midweek.

Fig and goat’s cheese puffs

If you're planning a fancier Boxing Day buffet, and have friends and family coming over, these fig and goat's cheese puffs are the right balance of easy to make yet impressive to look at. They can be made in less than half an hour and popped on the table. They're a great way to use up leftover goat's cheese that you don't want stinking out the fridge.

Tiramisu brownies

Up your brownie game with this mash-up that combines fudgy chocolate brownies with a boozy tiramisu-inspired topping. Perfect for an grown-up dessert.

Christmas pudding ice cream

A clever way to use up left-over Christmas pudding – add it to ice cream! This four-ingredient, no-churn recipe also comes laced with brandy or rum – the perfect winter pud.

Salted caramel cheesecake

Our elegant, no-bake cheesecake can be made up to two days in advance, so it's ideal for stress-free entertaining.

Epic Christmas toastie

Avoid buying more food by using up your Christmas dinner leftovers to make our ultimate toastie with turkey, stuffing and homemade bubble and squeak.

Turkey sandwich for Boxing Day

Keep costs low after the big day by turning any leftover Christmas turkey and ham into this jam-packed Boxing Day sandwich.

Tear and share sausage roll

Perk up your Boxing Day party buffet with our epic sausage roll and camembert wheel.

Sage and honey butter roasted chestnuts

A bowl of these sage and honey butter-roasted chestnuts won’t go amiss at your Boxing Day spread.

Boxing Day cheeseboard

You can make this impressive cheeseboard with leftovers by adding apple slices, bowls of chutney and other bits, to make your cheeseboard last two days in a row.