Looking for something to do with all of that yummy leftover roast beef? Why not throw it in a hotpot with some tasty veg and potatoes for another delicious family meal? Perfect whether you are cooking on a tight budget or trying to cut your food waste.
If you are reading this in the future, hopefully, life has returned to normal. But, as I write, we’re in the midst of Covid-19.
In the UK, pubs, cafes, restaurants and other social settings have recently been closed, going to the supermarket is one of the most traumatic experiences going, and coming by some of our favourite foods, or even essentials like toilet roll is hard.
It’s all very uncertain, and anxiety levels are high.
Now I’m not an anxious person. But, this last week all the uncertainty has left me feeling sick, unable to sleep, not wanting to eat, and feeling desperately worried that if I eat the eggs that we’ve got in the cupboard, I might never eat another one.
I know that I’m by no means alone in these feelings.
Husband is a chef, I’m self-employed, and it’s all been a bit terrifying. But, it hasn’t (yet) stopped us enjoying some fabulous family meals.
We’ve been able to sit down and enjoy our food, even if we’ve had to sometimes make some swaps, or try to make things go a little further.
Sitting down as a family after all of the worrying news has been a way to get back to some kind of normality.
Leftovers have become an essential part of feeding our family. We’re trying to avoid waste at all costs, and doing what we can to create filling meals, without spending a fortune, or needing complicated ingredients.
Using Up Leftover Roast Beef
One thing that we’ve tried to continue is a good old Sunday roast. So far, we’ve been able to get big joints of meat, like beef or pork, fairly easily, and even if we’ve had to serve it with some frozen cauliflower, it’s still lovely to all sit down to a big hearty meal.
But, I never like to waste leftovers, nor do I like to keep them just for sandwiches. Unless it’s a super cool leftover roast beef burrito type of sandwich!
Wherever possible, I love to make another hearty family meal. It’s a great way to avoid food waste, to make your money go further, and to get another easy meal into everyone.
This Beef Hotpot is absolutely perfect. I’ve used chantenay carrots and parsnips, but you can put any vegetables in it, and even if you’ve only got a bit of leftover roast beef, it’s easy to bulk it out with more veg.
Oh, and Leftover Roast Beef Hotpot is super, super simple. Which is perfect when you’ve got kids, and work and all that other life stuff going on.
Other leftover roast beef recipes we love include beef stroganoff, curry, Chow Mein, chilli, Cottage Pie and ragu.
What is the Difference Between a Stew and a Hotpot?
I always think of it as, the potatoes are in a stew (or not included at all) but on a hotpot.
When you make a beef hotpot, the sliced potatoes form a lid over the beef stew, sealing in all of the flavours.
Is a Hotpot a Casserole?
Kind of.
Generally speaking, we use the term stew for something that is cooked on the hob, and casserole for something that is baked in the oven. But to be honest I use them interchangeably most of the time.
A hotpot is cooked in the oven, so you could think of it as a casserole.
What Potatoes Should You Use for a Hotpot?
You want a potato that is going to hold shape as it bakes. It should be crunchy on top, and soft and fluffy on the bottom. I tend to use something like a Maris Piper or King Edwards.
Can You Use Fresh Beef?
Of course, you can. This recipe is my go-to when I’ve got leftover roast beef. But, that doesn’t mean that you can’t make it with fresh, diced beef.
Just flash fry the beef so that the outsides are browned, and then follow my Leftover Roast Beef Recipe as normal.
Can You Freeze Leftover Roast Beef Hotpot?
I personally wouldn’t.
I try to only reheat leftover meat once, and to freeze, or save any of this hotpot, you’d have to reheat twice.
Do You Have to Make This Hotpot Straight Away?
I tend to dice my beef on Sunday night, once we’ve all eaten and the leftovers are cooled.
I then keep it in the fridge in an airtight tub and cook up my Leftover Roast Beef Hotpot the day after.
But, you certainly don’t have to. Your leftover roast beef will be fine in the fridge for up to 2 days, or, alternatively, you could freeze the beef in an airtight tub for up to two months, before defrosting it to cook your hotpot.
What Should You Cook a Hotpot in?
As you can see I usually use a large, deep cast-iron dish.
These are ideal because they are both flameproof and heatproof, so you can use them on the hob to brown the onions, and beef if you need to, and in the oven to finish the hotpot and brown your potatoes.
If you haven’t got anything that you can use on the hob and in the oven, start your beef hotpot in a large frying pan, before transferring to an ovenproof casserole dish to bake.
If you’ve found this guide useful, why not take it a step further? The Leftover Makeovers Challenge is packed with clever ways to use up the most commonly wasted foods, plus handy tips on storage, reheating, and delicious step-by-step recipes to help you make the most of every ingredient. Save money, reduce waste, and enjoy stress-free meals! Grab your copy here.
*The recipe card below may contain affiliate links to products I find useful when making this recipe. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.*
Leftover Roast Beef Hotpot
Equipment
Ingredients
- Cooking Spray (or a splash of oil)
- 500 g Cooked Roast Beef (Diced)
- 200 ml Red wine
- 1 Onion (Diced)
- 1 tablespoon Plain Flour
- 500 g Chantenay Carrots (Topped and Bottomed)
- 3 Parsnips (Peeled and sliced)
- 1 tablespoon Henderson’s Relish
- 500 ml Beef Stock
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 1 teaspoon Ground Rosemary
- Pinch Salt and pepper
- 750 g Potatoes (Peeled and sliced 3-5mm thick)
- 100 g Butter (Melted)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 160 degrees (or 180 if not fan assisted).
- Mist a large flameproof and heatproof dish with cooking spray, or heat a splash of oil on the hob.
- Add the onions and fry for 5 minutes until soft.
- Add the beef and the wine and simmer for 3 minutes.
- Add the carrots and parsnips and stir well.
- Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Pour in the Henderson’s and stock.
- Add the bay, salt and pepper, and rosemary and mix well.
- Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir.
- Lay the potatoes on top, to create a lid, covering as much of the stew as you can.
- Brush or dab on the melted butter.
- Place in the oven, uncovered for 1 hour.
- Increase the oven temperature to 200 degrees for a further 10 minutes, until the potatoes are golden brown.
Notes
- If you want to make this Beef Hotpot with fresh beef, flash fry the beef in a little oil before you do anything else. Then remove it from the pan, set to one side, and follow this recipe.
- If you don’t have a pot that you can use on the hob and in the oven, start the recipe in a large frying pan, before transferring it to an ovenproof casserole dish to bake.
Nutrition
Any nutritional information is given as a general guide only and may not be accurate. The information is provided using an online calculator and is specific to my ingredients. Please make your own calculations if you want precise information.
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