Guest post by Jenna from Wichita Coupons
I know this is something that many of you already do and it is something that I have wanted to do for a very long time, but just could not quite get used to the idea of it. But, I’m happy to say that my husband and I have started cooking with leftovers.
I can’t tell you how many times we would make dinner only to have food left over. We would put it away in Tupperware and toss it in the refrigerator with every intention of eating it. However, a few days or even a week would pass and we would end up throwing it out.
I know, I know! This goes against my saving money policy, but let’s face it: some things just don’t taste very good when reheated.
Last night was our second attempt at cooking with leftovers. On our first attempt, we used leftover grilled chicken drumsticks. I pulled all of the chicken off of the bone and we used some of it for chicken enchiladas and put the rest in freezer bags for casseroles. It was a great success.
Last night, however, we decided to use our leftover burgers from a party this past weekend. I looked online for different options and many people suggested freezing them and just eating them as burgers later. But we decided to break up the patties and make Sloppy Joes. This way, we used both the burgers and buns.
They were quite delicious, thanks to the amazing sauce my husband made. Tonight, we’re going to make sloppy joe quesadillas; we’ll just add some cheese and put the Sloppy Joe meat between tortillas. We still have hamburger patties left, so later this week we will probably use them to make chili.
I know we are not making anything gourmet here, but we are using what we have and not letting it go to waste. I’m excited to see what else we’ll be able to come up with and I look forward to no longer having to clean out the refrigerator and throwing away perfectly good food.
What are some of your family’s favorite leftover meals?
Jenna is mom to two, soon to be three, and loves finding great deals and ways to save money. She currently shares all of her money saving ideas and bargains at Wichita Coupons.
Lorie says
If I have just a small amount of leftovers, especially rice & veggies, I add them to a container in my freezer. Once it’s full I make what I call “kitchen sink soup.” I add whatever needs to be added: noodles, rice, more meat, garlic, etc. Some type of broth – either chicken or tomato juice. It usually turns out very tasty. I’ve been doing this all summer and I’m about ready to make some soup with it. It’s a great way to not waste food and then you get to clean out the freezer. I also do some of the other suggestions above – pizza, quesadilas, etc., etc.
Melanie says
Whenever I find a good deal on fresh ground beef I take it home brown it in a pan with salt, pepper worchestshire sauce and garlic (we pretty much start all of our ground beef meals with those seasonings!). Then I divide the cooked beef into meal size baggies and freeze. Cooking the meat is the longest part of meal prep to me, and this gives me a great head start when I get home from work. We are always ready to put together a quick spahgetti, Sloppy Joe (we also make Sloppy Jose by adding refried beans and cumin to the meat), sheppards pie, french bread pizzas, mix it into cornbread with veggies for a quick casserole, and on and on…
melissa says
My favorite item for left overs is a roast. I can cook the roast in the crockpot, and serve with potatoes and veggies day 1, then shred leftovers, add your favorite BBQ sauce and put on a bun for delicious sandwiches, or use salsa, cheese and tortillas to make quesadillas. I also saw a suggestion somewhere that the leftover beef is also great to use in beef stew, but I never have enough left to try it. This is one item that never goes to waste at our house. I always buy an extra to keep in the freezer when they go on sale. They can go from the freezer straight to the crockpot. Great for those busy weeks when there is little time to cook.
Laura says
Use the leftover salmon for chowder. You can add leftover corn and/or potatoes as well. Very yummy!
Christy says
I just had a great success with leftover salmon last night – never before thought that fish could be reheated and still taste good! I cut it up into bite size pieces and heated it on the stove with some oil, added cumin, cayenne, garlic powder, and oregano. I made fish tacos with it – put the fish on a small corn tortilla, topped with shredded cabbage (from a coleslaw mix), a mayo mixture (mayo mixed with tabasco and lime juice – could also use half plain yogurt), avocado, and homemade pico de gallo salsa. Yum yum.
Denise says
I tend to use up leftovers ‘over rice’. The other night I cooked 4 roasting chickens I got on clearance for 0.59/lb. I stripped off all the meat after cooking and made broth and gravy. So night 1 we had pot pie, #2 was chicken soup – which I thot was making a double batch, but we ate way more than 1/2 so I thickened what was left and served night#3 over rice. #4 we had buffalo chicken pizza, #5 I made burritos and then put the rest in the freezer, but I still have way more than 1/2 the chicken so I should get another 5 meals out of it 😀 We have a large family so I work extra hard at not letting anythign go to waste.
Serafina says
I love it! I do whatever I can to use every bit of food we have. How to use leftover salmon?? Any ideas?
Christy says
I posted a salmon idea below. 🙂
Cora-Sue Jackson says
one secret to using leftovers is when you have vegetables,don’t heat them up on the stove. Do it in the microwave–might have to add a touch more salt or butter,but they will taste just like they did when you first made them. Same with noodles or macaroni.I use to think warmed up noodles had a funny taste,but heated up in the microwave they taste as good as when they were first made.Even leftover hamburg patties can be popped in the microwave for a quick hamburg for lunch.
Amanda says
Like some others have said, leftovers never go to waste at our house because we use them for our lunches. Almost every meal I make gives us the right amount for one dinner and a lunch (typically we do a rotation of having the lunch 2 days later so we don’t have to eat the same thing 2 days in a row). After dinner I just divide the leftovers into 2 containers, one for my husband to take to work and one for the kids and I to have at home. It uses up our leftovers, saves money on lunches, and is less planning I have to do!
Michelle says
I haven’t read all the comments but I noticed many have talked about making chicken broth. I just wanted to add that to get the most nutrition into your broth you can add 1 or 2 Tbls. of an acid such as vinigar or lemon juice to the water and let it sit for about an hour before you turn on the heat. Then simmer for between 12 to 24 hours. The acid helps draw out all those minerals that are in the bones. You can also save egg shells to add to the pot and they will add a ton of calcium and other good stuff. I only do this with the bones after I have taken all of the meat off because any meat that is left is not really worth eating after it has been simmered so long. Broth is such a good nourishing food that has so many benefits.
Alaina says
I make meatloaf one night (using 1 lb ground turkey or ground beef) and we have that for dinner, plus my husband takes leftover meatloaf to work the next day, leaving me about 1/3 to 1/2 of a meatloaf to work with. Usually I use it on my “lazy night” dinner where I throw it into a saucepan with a jar of Ragu to make a meat sauce to have over spaghetti, or I’ll use it in a few pans of manicotti or stuffed shells. Yum!
Andrea says
I purposefully plan leftovers into the menu plan. I typically only cook three large dinners each week. The other nights are leftovers or something easy like sandwiches or frozen pizza. If I need to stretch what we have left, I make cornbread (or something similar) and make up a plate of raw veggies and sliced apples.
Wichita Coupons says
I love all of these leftover meal ideas! You all are so creative; I can’t wait to try some of them out.
ChrisM says
Don’t forget you can bake potatoes and top it with leftover chili, leftover broccoli and cheese, leftover chicken and salsa, leftover sloppy joe or taco meat and cheese… This is good if you don’t have enough leftover chili to feed the whole family.
Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef says
i am very fortunate that my husband loves leftovers for lunch. he’d rather have a “real meal” than a sandwich, so after dinner every night i make lunch portions in tupperware and freeze them for him. if dinner is something that i actually want leftovers of (usually soup & pasta are my leftovers of choice) then i tell him so he doesn’t eat it all! 🙂
Jeannine says
We have a meal about once a week called a mixer meal. I will pull out all leftovers, reheat them and set them out on the table. If it is not enough for an entire meal I will add some apple slices, cheese, bread or something else to make it a larger meal.
Last night we had leftover lentils and rice, scrambled eggs, fried chicken and egg noodles. That was out mixer meal.
Kellie says
I dont think I could eat left over scrambled eggs. I eat them every morning for breakfast but left over does not sound appealing.
Janet says
I have 5 kids and we homeschool, so some days I’ll have what we call “crazy lunch” and eat up all the little containers of this and that. If I have leftover rice, I’ll make stir-fried rice and add all the little bits of leftover veggies and meat in the fridge. Yummy!
Last night I had one leftover grilled pork steak, so I chopped it up, boiled some pasta, cut up carrots and peppers from the garden, and made a dressing out of olive oil, white wine vinegar, and lemon pepper seasoning, and I had a delicious pasta salad.
Using your leftovers creatively is the ultimate repurposing!
Lana says
Any suggestions for using up leftover homemade mac and cheese, y’all?
Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef says
mac & cheese pizza is really good! no pizza sauce, just crust, then mac & cheese and veggies if you want. sounds weird but it is so good! make a little extra cheese sauce if you need it a little more liquidy to sit on the crust.
Emily @ Our Frugal Happy Life says
I have added leftover taco meat to my mac n cheese – so good!
Blythe says
My grandmother buys our family steaks once and a while. When she does we always have leftovers. We make steak burritos! YUM! I cook the steak in a sauce (it changes all the time, with what i have or feel like) put rice, black beans, cheese, and sour cream all wrapped in a tortilla.
Jodi says
Frittatas and stir-frys are great ways to use up bits of veggies and even leftover pastas you have in the fridge. Pasta added to a frittata makes it seem like more of a dinner, less like a breakfast omelet.
Lynn says
Our family loves leftovers! About once a week we have CORD/or CORN for a meal (Clean Out Refrigerator Day or Clean Out Refrigerator Night). Often times this is Saturday lunch, but sometimes if we have an abundance of leftovers I’ll just bump down the menu plan and insert CORN for a supper. I make a list of all of the available options, plus add in fresh fruits/veggies to round out the meals, and the family puts in their order, so to speak. The kids think it’s like going to a restaurant because you get to pick what you want! Works for us!
Bridgette @ Blessings Multiplied says
We try to eat up the majority of all our leftovers too. The best way is to make the “perfect” amount so everyone is fed well and there are no leftovers, however that doesn’t happen every meal. We typically use up our leftovers the following ways:
*I divide leftovers up into several smaller containers and take them to work / school for lunches (or make sandwiches with the leftover chicken).
*Sometimes I make a double batch to freeze for a later meal and will either divide up the extra before serving or freeze the leftovers at the end of the meal.
*Pot Pie is a great way for us to use up the extra meat and veggies in the fridge
Amber @ SiMoneySavers says
Bridgette,
We are a family of four and for the most part I have gotten really good at making what we will eat with no leftovers. However it occasionally backfires on me if everyone is especially hungry one night, then there will be snacking going on. 9 times out of 10 though I have it right. 🙂
Nora says
Try to avoid wasting food. I separate a portion of our meals in containers for my parents. They are also getting good food already prepared from my sisters too. An elderly or sick relative or neighbor would really appreciate those leftovers.
Guest says
What a lovely idea! We had a neighbor who was a fabulous cook and she would often take a portion to neighbors she knew loved it. For example, one neighbor loved her greek chicken so she would take a Tupperware to that couple. She always brought me some of her famous chocolate sheet cake. 😀 It was such a thoughtful gesture and made me feel good that she thought of each of us when she was cooking her delicious meals.
Sarah says
My husband hates leftovers so I have to be creative. One of our favorites is meatloaf and mashed potatoes, and a couple of nights later I have a cheater shepherd’s pie recipe: break up the meatloaf, add a can of tomato soup and a can of whatever vegetable is around (green beans are our favorite), and put the potatoes on top. If I’m feeling fancy I might sprinkle on some parm. I’ve tried all kinds of fancy shepherd’s pie recipes, but this one is still our favorite!
Lena C. says
I use leftover meatloaf to make Hambuger Helper. I actually hate boxed Hamburger Helper, but the flavor added to the meal by crumbling up the leftover meatloaf is amazing. It’s the ONLY way I’ll eat it. Period.
Rachel says
I think it’s fun to figure out ways of using leftovers. With sloppy joes, though, we leave them as is. We have some Tupperware hamburger molds that fasten together, so we fill those up with the sloppy joe filling and then Dad can take them out one at a time for his lunches.
MegganB says
I like to make up a bunch of beef for the week. It’s so much cheaper to buy 3 pounds at once. Then we have “made rites” – loose hamburger meat sandwiches, spaghetti w/meat sauce, tacos, chili, sloppy joes, taco salad, etc… I do the same with chicken. I always try to buy the biggest to it will stretch to two or three meals easily. Thanks for all the ideas everyone!
Renee K says
great ideas- but here’s the thing with me- I am so picky- MAJOR texture and smell issues. I don’t eat:
hamburger bc of the texture- ughh!
no seafood- can’t stand smell
casseroles- don’t like my food mixed, keep it separate please!
no dairy- no yogurt, cheese, milk- can’t stand taste and smell-gag
bc of health issues, limit of 2 salads a week
My husband actually jokes that I don’t like anything that has taste! haha
I actually hate being so picky bc it hugely decreases what me and my family eat. I try to branch out for my kids but it is hard to get them to eat new things while I set there with toast and fruit for dinner. I have a horrible gag reflex, so there is no “making” myself eat some stuff. We are not rich, we just get by, so please don’t think I have lots of options, lots of money. I just eat lots of carbs, chicken, fruit, some veggies, and sweets (lol).
Anyone out there that is picky like me but manages to eat healthy and use leftovers?
Lana says
You actually may have some major food allergies. My allergist said that if you really don’t like something the way you do then it is the body rejecting it. I was so food allergic at one time that I could only eat 14 foods with out becoming ill and smells of foods I was allergic too made me ill when I cooked for my family.
Angie D says
We throw out very little food unless I make something that is a total bomb…and then I eat it for leftovers as long as I can stomach it. =S However, I always get excited for the holidays becauase I am the “carcass gal.” Years ago, I asked for the turkey carcass and the ham bone to take home and my in-laws said “Why? You don’t have any dogs?! You should have seen the look I got! Needless to say, no one fights me for them.
Nikki says
That looks delicious! I always cook in bulk so we can at least eat each meal twice. I cooked fried chicken fingers tonight and of course made plenty for salads tomorrow! Here’s a post of our dinner. http://livinglifeofriley.com/?p=889
Sara says
Just thought of something else…some meals we just can only stand to eat once (at most twice) in a single week, but the recipes call for them to be made in 9×13 pans (way too huge for 3 of us). When I’m making the recipe, I just go ahead and split it into smaller pans to begin with – 3 loaf pans or 2 square pans and just put the extra portions in the freezer to bake in the future. Some examples are lasagna, king ranch chicken casserole and pot pies.
Jodi says
Great idea!
Guest says
I do that as well. I like chicken tetrazzini but can only eat it so long before I’m tired of it so I make two 8×8 pans instead of one 9×13. I’ve also used loaf pans for lasagna and it worked great!
Michelle says
I can’t imagine throwing leftovers away–I just ate leftover homemade baked ziti with mini meatballs for the third day in a row!
I’m always trying to figure out clever things to do with our leftovers:
http://navigatingdomesticity.blogspot.com/search/label/Liven%20up%20Leftovers
Janell Poulette says
Here’s what I do with leftover rice, spaghetti, chicken or other meat – http://www.savingyoudinero.com/2009/08/11/using-leftovers/
Nan says
We love pot roast & beef stew, but there’s only two of us. I make pot pie with the leftovers. I chop everything into smaller pieces, thicken the broth, put it in a 8×8 pan and pop it in the oven. When it’s hot & bubbly, put biscuits (I use Bisquick) on top & bake until brown. My mother always did this & it reminds me of her. Last week there wasn’t enough beef left, so I added some leftover meatloaf. Delicious!
Elizabeth says
Sounds yummy Nan…speaking of meatloaf, my husband LOVES LOVES LOVES leftover meatloaf in sandwiches. I like mine with a fresh sliced tomato and some mayo, while he prefers his mostly just the meatloaf and a tad of mayo. Also, sometimes for breakfast, I will fry some meatloaf in oil till nice and crispy and then some eggs on the side…we love this too.
Amber says
That sounds delicious!
Melanie says
I love that idea with the beef stew, I just called my husband and told him about putting the biscuits on top of thew stew in the oven and he was very excited! Thanks Nan!
mysecrethabit says
I have never like reheated chicken in the microwave, I am not sure why it just taste very weird, even though the night before it was a delicious recipe it just doesn’t taste the same.
It so funny that I never thought to take the chicken, throw some seasoning it (something that would agree with the night befores recipe) and toss it on the grill. I have done this and wala, i just may start eating that chicken in the back of the fridge!
Good post!!
Stephanie says
I love cooking with leftovers. It cuts down on cooking time the next day. Most times when I plan a meal I think “what can I make extra of for the next day or two.”
When my husband BBQs, I will give him extra to cook for a crockpot meal or freezer cooking the next day. Same thing if I am making some sort of meat in the oven or stove top. I always have to make double just in case my husband is super hungry that night…
When I chop Vegetables, I will chop up extra for the next day and cover in the fridge so I don’t have to spend the time to do it the next day.
I am trying to get better at meal planning and finding the time to cook from scratch. I really liked Sara’s meal plan post. You are really taking the concept to the next level. I have something to aspire to!
Melissa says
Please don’t forget about the dog. Chicken, rice, and veggies is great for them.
Lisa s says
Just make sure they are garlic and onion free. Those can be toxic to pets. Raisins and grapes too.
AnneJisca says
When I was 18, I worked with missionaries overseas for 3mths. Things there didn’t go to waste due to cost, and difficulty in getting the items. I learned so much on ways to reuse foods!! It doesn’t have to be obvious either, there are great ways of “reusing” foods discretely. I am so grateful for that experience and how it still benefits me today!
Amy Zuck says
My favorites to use leftover chicken with is chicken pot pie (put a little cream cheese in the broth makes it awesome!) and a big pot of chicken chow mein! yum! ps I normally make 2 chickens at a time just for the leftovers : )
Jessica says
Potatoes are terrible as leftovers. Add cream or milk to them and reheat them on the stove, or make them into Twice Baked Potato Casserole.
Nan says
You can also fry them in a bit of butter until brown.
Elizabeth says
Or make potato pancakes with a bit of flour, milk, egg, baking powder, salt, etc. Makes yummy additions to other meals.
I also like to use leftover mashed potatoes and add a can of chicken (broth and all), dill weed, onions, and maybe a dash of garlic powder, and an egg (or egg substitute) and whatever kind of flour you like (this recipe is very yummy with gluten free flours too). Make into patties and fry in oil (I love grapeseed oil, but olive or safflower is also good).
Sara says
I cube them, saute them with a bit of salt and olive oil and add them to breakfast tacos with eggs, cheese and salsa.
Andrea says
No complaints here about leftover potatoes.
Sharon Peterson says
Spaghetti leftovers I use to make spaghetti cups. Take Grand biscuits, line a muffin tin–there are 8 Grands in a pack so I break them apart a bit to make 12. Place a meatball in each “cup,” cover with spaghetti and top with cheese. Bake on 350 for 12-14 mins. Kids love it! For that matter, so does my husband.
I make a whole chicken in the crockpot with a bit of water. I rub olive oil and herbs and spices on the chicken, cook on low all day. That’s meal #1. Save all the liquid from crockpot and pick the bones dry. Meal #2 is chicken quesadillas. Meal #3 is homemade chicken noodle soup. Dump liquids (which will be totally solid), a can of chicken broth, leftover chicken, cut up carrots and celery, simmer on medium for about an hour to soften veggies. Add in noodles–I usually use star-shaped pastini (and I don’t cook it in the liquid, although you could. Just sucks up lots of liquid). Season to taste. Not bad for a $3.50 chicken!
Laura says
I slice or cube up leftover hamburgers to put on top of a pizza, making a “Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza”. I usually always have a couple of bacon slices leftover from Sunday, I add those on the pizza too, crumbled up ,along with red onion slices. A family favorite!
Amber says
Ooh, yum!
Elizabeth says
PS…though some foods are NOT very yummy if used leftover, some actually are BETTER….like chili, spaghetti sauce etc…they become more flavorful left over…so do not be afraid to try out things, girls…hey to me most of you are girls yet…heehee….I am past 59 now….
Nan says
Hey Elizabeth, I’m 66 and still learning. And I love leftovers, too. If I don’t have 2 or 3 leftovers in the fridge to choose from, I feel deprived :o)
Elizabeth says
Yea, still learning too, Nan…rather obvious if we like to come here, huh? It is fun to see what other foods people combine too…most families have their own ways of doing and sometimes those are ways we can use too. We do not have left overs all that much as we are down to just 2 now. He still works however, so often wants enough left over for his lunch the next day. I did our favorite black bean chili tonight…he is always happy when that is on the menu. We are trying to use more veggies and less meat…we do not need so much meat at our ages now.
Nan says
Chili – yum!
Andrea says
So true about chili! I make my chili the day before I serve it and let it sit overnight in the fridge. Then heat it in the crockpot the next day.
Susan says
I take my lunch to work almost evey day, so I like to make enough dinner so that I have some for lunch the next day. I think of it as “planned overs” instead of “leftovers.”
To Melinda’s point – I’m in general not a picky eater, but I find some foods are not nearly as good when re-heated as they are when they are fresh. But some dishes reheat well, so those are the ones I tend to keep for my next day’s lunch.
Elizabeth says
Good ideas for leftovers! One thing we enjoy is using leftover chili in making Chili Mac…some macaroni cooked, added to left over chili, some salsa or tomato sauce or tomatos chopped (if fresh), sliced black olives, more onions and/or bell peppers, if you enjoy them, cheese, especially on top and baked until the top is crispy looking.
Or left over taco meat or chili is yummy the next day in an omelet, with a bit of cheese and whatever other things you enjoy, such as guacamole, salsa, chopped tomatoes, chopped green onions, bell peppers, black olives, etc.
Sometimes we get a loaf of Challah bread and with the leftovers the next day I make some of the yummiest french toast you can make.
Leftover chicken or turkey, of course, is superb in making Chicken Soup (mine is rather thick, so a bit more like a stew) and you can always put some kind of biscuits, homemade or otherwise, on top and finish up with the lid over the kettle, or in the oven. I like to use celery, carrots, onions, shallots, broccoli chopped VERY small (this adds the most awesome taste), garlic, peas and broth or gravy and noodles if desired.
Another way we use leftover chicken is to prepare some noodles (I like the curly kind or penne type best), olive oil as needed, garlic, basil, black olives and parmesan cheese, and the leftover chicken all chopped bitesize…just takes a few minutes in the pan to warm up and be ready to eat. I often prepare petite (baby) peas on the side, or even dump them in for a one dish meal.
Thanks for the reminder to make better use of our leftovers…I am also guilty of letting stuff get too old. Or leaving it in the freezer too long too.
Jennifer says
I always make shepherd’s pie out of leftover sloppy joes. I add a bag of mixed veggies to the meat, and usually toss some jarred BBQ sauce in, to give it a more BBQ flavor (than sloppy joe again). Top with mashed potatoes, and heatup in the oven. Yummy!
JoAnn says
I crock pot boneless/skinless chicken breast (as many as will fit) with onion soup mix and a little water. The first night we have the chicken “as is.”. The leftover, I separate meal-sized servings into freezer bags. When I’m ready to use, I can make chicken & biscuits, shredded chicken BBQ sandwiches, chicken quesadillas, chicken salad, chicken enchilada casserole, and many other dishes. It works great, and by cooking the chicken in the crock pot it’s always tender – plus it’s super easy. Lawry’s also makes yummy marinades that I will cook into the chicken (if I do smaller portions of chicken) and gives it loads of flavor. Ok, now I’m hungry!
Tanya says
I’ve used left over grilled burgers before to make hamburger helper. Just chopped it up small. Gave it a nice smokey taste it doesn’t usually have 🙂
Melinda says
I hate leftovers, ok I really HATE them. I have texture issues and most things have a completely different texture when reheated. After reading your post I was thinking what else you can come up with. How about shepards pie, open faced pizza burgers (using some of your buns), chicken for chicken noodle soup, and chicken pot pie.
I will use some foods and make a hash (normally leftover pork chop/steak, throwing it in at the end).
I have started using a lot less meat, and more veggies. I will reuse veggies in scrambled eggs.
Sara@Save Money, Live Joyfully says
I used to hate leftovers too until I realized that most restaurants will actually make their food ahead of time, then reheat it when you order. So, I figured I was probably reheating things incorrectly. I don’t use the microwave–ever–it messes up the consistency. With noodles and sauce, I will reheat them by steaming in a pan. I will also steam leftover meat, either in the oven or in a pan on the stove. And rice? Steam it in a pot in a veggie steamer tray, and it will taste like you just made it!
Kathie Cherry says
You can also make Salisbury steak with the patties with mashed potatoes and gravy… yum! Or noodles, broken up patties, mushrooms, and make a white cream sauce… mock hamburger helper but healthier!
I always bake a whole chicken. We eat the legs and then I shred the rest and use all week… chicken enchiladas, green chili soup, bbq chicken sandwiches, chicken salad, poppyseed chicken casserole, ect.
I love reusing leftovers. It gives me a chance to get creative. A few flops have occurred, but it is always worth a try.
Kristine says
We hardly ever have leftovers–unless my hubby doesn’t like something. 😀
Meredith says
That’s how it is here too unless I make a giagantic roast or a 10 gallon bucket of soup (exaggerating)! Most of the time, our leftovers are from our daughter that she will gladly eat the next day for lunch.
Emily H says
With 3 teenagers I also hardly have leftovers. I miss having some of those creative dishes not to waste food.
Sara says
We use up leftovers in many ways:
MEAL 1 – Roast chicken – LEFTOVER MEAL 1 – use the carcass to make chicken broth for soups. LEFTOVER MEAL 2 – shred the remaining meat and combine it with BBQ sauce for sandwiches or BBQ chicken pizza. LEFTOVER MEAL 3 – use the pan drippings from the original roast chicken to make biscuits and gravy (haven’t been doing this as much lately in an effort to eat healthier food)
MEAL 2 – Pot Roast (or Corned Beef Roast) – I make the meal in the crockpot and add extra water to have a lot of broth after the cooking I use the broth for LEFTOVER MEAL 1 – Veggie Beef Soup.
MEAL 3 – Chili. LEFTOVER MEAL OPTIONS – I use the leftover chili for taco salad or nachos (our favorite splurge junk food meal).
MEAL 4 – Grilled Chicken Breasts LEFTOVER MEAL – sometimes I purposely have my hubby grill more so I can use the extras to make chicken salad.
MEAL 5 – Spaghetti – I serve spaghetti and sauce unmixed. It seems the ratio of one to the other never really works out. LEFTOVER MEAL 1 – if it’s noodles I have left I can add Asian ingredients for a yummy cold Asian noodle salad LEFTOVER MEAL 2 – if it’s sauce I have left I’ll throw it in a freezer container and pop it in the freezer for a future meal. It’s usually the perfect amount of sauce for a couple meatball subs or for a pizza in the future.
MEAL 6 – Rice as a side item LEFTOVER MEAL 1 – Fried rice
MEAL 7 – Random leftover items – tomatoes, grilled fajita veggies, other veggies, etc. LEFTOVER MEAL 1 – many times if the veggies are somewhat Mexican in nature I’ll throw them in breakfast tacos. LEFTOVER MEAL 2 – If the veggies are Italian in nature I might boil some pasta, add some Italian dressing and the veggies and use them that way.
MEAL 8 – Roast honey ham LEFTOVER MEAL 1 – leftover slices get used as sandwich meat on croissants. I don’t usually go through it fast enough though so I break it into 2-3 day portions and freeze the slices. LEFTOVER MEAL 2 – I use the hambone to make stock and use the stock to make a BBQ Bean Soup or Sweet Mustard Lima Bean Soup. LEFTOVER MEAL 3 – cubed pieces (not all the ham is usually sliced and cubing the remaining unsliced meat seems easiest) I use in omelets, quiches or breakfast casseroles or throw it in the soups in leftover meal 2.
I may do other things, but this is what comes to mind.
I started doing this about 4 years ago when I came home to be a SAHM. With practice, I now more-or-less run our kitchen with zero waste now. Makes a HUGE difference in our food budget.
Love the idea to use leftover hamburgers for sloppy joes. That is one meal I’m usually really careful about not having leftovers because I hate leftover hamburgers! 🙂
Sara says
A couple other things came to mind:
Thanksgiving dinner – I make white chili and/or turkey pot pies from leftovers
Fruit and/or Yogurt that is about to go bad – I use either/both to make muffins and either/both to make smoothie “kits” for the freezer. I freeze the yogurt in ice cube trays and then combine one cup of chopped fruit and 1-2 cubes of yogurt. When I’m ready to use it I blend it with 1 cup of juice.
Jessica @ The Abundant Wife says
All good ideas!
My parents always make turkey sandwiches, turkey taco soup, and other turkey dishes after Thanksgiving.
After Christmas (ham) they make Senate-style Bean Soup. I could always count on Bean Soup throughout the month of January!
My husband will dispose of any aging fruit or yogurt (and even that last bit of jelly that’s hard to get out of the jar) in his world-famous smoothies!
Angela says
Our Thanksgiving leftovers usually consist of almost all of the turkey dark meat. Everyone in my family always seems to go for the white meat on Thanksgiving and then none of my sisters or my mom want to take home the dark meat left overs! Not me…I always take it and it usually amounts to an almost full gallon-sized freezer bag of meat (we have about 20 people for the holiday so we get at least a 20 lb. turkey plus a turkey breast)!
In the past, I have always used this for turkey corn soup and pot pies. But then I found a new recipe courtesy of Crystal…turkey/chicken gravy stuffing bake! I make this last spring for the first time and it was a HUGE hit! My husband loves it so much that this is his first suggestion whenever we have leftover poultry meat. I’m sure you can find the recipe here on her site, but basically it is cubed cooked turkey or chicken mixed with cream of chicken soup (I have also added our leftover gravy) and sour cream…I add in any leftover veggies too! You put that in the bottom of a baking dish and top it with uncooked stuffing…the recipe calls for Stove Top Stuffing but I make my own from scratch. You then just bake it for about 30-40 minutes.
I made this with meat from a leftover roasted chicken about 6 weeks ago and got two 8X8 pan of it, which I put in the freezer. It froze very well…just pull it out to thaw and then bake! YUMMMY!
Erin says
When I make tacos, we always have a small amount left-wing not enough for another night of tacos, or chili, or much else really, except for pizza! I reheat the meat with a can of beans and it’s perfect to top a pizza with 🙂
Erin says
Argh, auto correct! Not “left-wing”, just “left-“!
Amber says
What an awesome idea!! Shame on me, but it seems that I always end up tossing taco meat left overs.. I am definitely going to use it to make pizza next time! Thanks Erin! 🙂
Emily @ Our Frugal Happy Life says
Taco meat leftovers make great quesadillas, too! Use meat and some shredded cheese, fry in a skillet – and you’ve got a quick lunch!
{In fact, this might be my lunch today!}
Jennifer says
Ah auto correct! I got a laugh out of that one! 🙂
Lana says
I use leftover taco meat for a taco salad the next day. Just enough for me 🙂
Janet says
My kids count on there being leftover taco meat so I can make a plate of nachos!
Amber says
Ooooh, yum! 😀
Jennifer says
There are only two of us {myself and my young son} and sometimes I throw away too {*winces*, because I know it’s so bad!!}. I have been planning the use of left overs and making the same thing every week…. I know this might not appeal to everyone, but it works for us! Chicken in soup, then mixed with broccoli and pasta and Alfredo sauce, then into tostadas with beans and cheese. I have left over beans, so I make chili or eat taco salad for lunch, then Friday is homemade pizza w salad. That’s 5 meals! It’s just easier lately to buy the same things and know nothing gets wasted 🙂
Susan says
Jennifer, you sound a lot like me. It’s just me and my young daughter, and we do very similar things that you describe.
If I cook up some ground beef and put the rest of the raw meat in the fridge, it will most likely go bad. So I cook up the whole package at once. The first night we’ll have hamburgers, or we like hamburger in simple casseroles. Then I’ll keep a third or so of the package to throw into spaghetti or other pasta dish the next night, then the last third I’ll season for tacos or burritoes.
I do similar things with chicken.
If I dont’ think I’ll use the meat in a couple of days, I’ll put in the freezer, but usually we eat the same kind of meat three days in a row, in different dishes.
Crystal says
One of my friends gave me a recipe for mini quiche that I use all the time! Instead of throwing out leftover chicken or the last pieces of lunch meat, I whip up a batch and freeze them for my daughter’s lunchbox (if they last that long)! I also chop up leftover veggies and send them to school with her. If I give her a little container of ranch, she gobbles them up. My son and I usually have the same at home.
Dreya says
I do my best to use up leftovers. Yesterday, pork roast was marked down to less 79 cents a pound. So, I bought a huge one. We are a family of five, but I obviously have several meals worth leftover. Anyone have kid friendly suggetions? I would just freeze it, but my hubby always complains that it effects the texture. Would love some new ideas! Thank you!
Diane says
I make pulled pork in the crock pot but I think you can make them into burritos with a little cheese and tomato, too. Maybe check all recipes .com?
Melissa says
All correct! There is no end of what you can do.
Sara says
I agree with shredding it. Mixing it with BBQ sauce makes great sandwiches. Mixing the shredded meat with salsa makes nice taco meat for tacos, nachos or quesadillas. I like to use a green salsa or chipotle salsa with pork. Also, if you haven’t cooked it yet, you could cut it into the portion sizes your family would use as a roast and put the extras in the freezer before cooking. Freezing before cooking doesn’t change the texture as much as freezing after cooking.
Ann says
I use leftover pork in tortilla soup. I think it tastes better than chicken. My kids always loved crushing up the chips to put in their soup.
Jennifer says
We love Mexican food, so my first thought was enchiladas or on top of a toastada! Also, I know I have made it before on sandwiches with sauteed onion and peppers and provolone. Or as bbq pulled pork? Good luck! 🙂
Erin says
I put a flank steak in the crockpot with some taco seasoning and diced tomatoes. It made for some amazing shredded beef tacos! And tomorrow night I’m using the leftovers to bake up some taquitos! I’m sure you can do the same with your pork.
Meredith says
I’m doing a crock pot pork roast this week too. Being carolinians we have no problem making hoards of BBQ sandwiches with them. I don’t know how young your kids are but my daughter (3 almost 4) likes to make sliders with them with dinner rolls, biscuits, or even cornbread. I usually buy those anyway instead of buns. Or you can chop it up fine and made quesadillas. Also haystacks, or I call them taco salads…you can use instead of ground beef. Also, reserve some without sauce and put in some Mac and cheese. Save some of the fatty part to throw in some crock pot green beans. Another idea I do from time to time is if you have any crescent rolls are to roll them out and separate triangles, add a bit of pork plus a scoop of peas. I would add sauce too. Fold over with another triangle and seal. Bake in oven per directions. Makes
mini pot pies.
Leigh says
Use the pork to make a BBQ pizza. Put BBQ sauce on crust, then meat. Top with monterey jack cheese (can use jalapeno jack if you like it spicy), corn, red onion and cilantro. Delicious!!
Dreya says
Thanks for the wonderful suggestions. I don’t know why it hadn’t occurred to me to use it in a mexican dish. Great ideas!
Emily @ Our Frugal Happy Life says
Pork carnitas!
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Carnitas/detail.aspx
That recipe is similar to the one I use. I also add salsa to mine. Very yummy 🙂
Sarah Chandler says
I use chicken in Pot Pies, same with steak, I process it in the blender or food processor. Hamburgers I process as well and put the “ground beef” into my spagetti Sauce. It’s also yummy and quick in Hamburger helper nights! I always double my taco meat and use the taco meat in Quesadillas later! I freeze mac-n-cheese in little containers for finger food for my 18 month old’s lunch, if we have corn or peas I mix that in for an extra for her lunch.
Get creative its fun! Everything goes in the freezer from our table and I figure it out later…..we’ve been on the NO waste plan for sometime now….Somethings I am careful on how to reuse it.
Sarah Chandler says
I also save all scraps of veggies (heart of celery, heart of lettuce, onion scraps, carrot ends or peels, potato peels washed) and any meat bones (chicken bones, steak bones, etc) and boil them all in a stock pot with water salt and pepper to make my own veggie stock/broth. I strain the chunks out and then freeze the broth. Some in ice cube trays for flavor for mashed potatos, or other recipes, and then bulk freeze the rest for soups and such
Julie Oliver says
Pizza. At the end of the week, I throw leftovers on a pizza or make omelets. Rotisserie chicken, spinach, tomatoes, cheese, mushrooms, eggplant, ham, ground beef, etc. So yummy!
Lana says
A friend who raised 9 children did that too. Their pizza often had such things as green beans and corn on it. Her kids never complained!
Laura says
I make big batches of sloppy joes, then we used the leftovers for what my husband calls “Sloppy Burritos.” Similar to your quesadilla idea, but instead of making it that way, I’ll make a package of spanish rice, put a little rice, some shredded cheese, some of the leftover sloppy joe (I add a little bit of Frank’s Hot Sauce or similar to spice it up a little bit more), salsa, and a little bit of sour cream. The kids inhale it and it stretches the meal from one dinner to two. Leftover chicken can also be thrown into macaroni and cheese (veggies too, broccoli in mac and cheese is a fave in our house); you can use it in chicken soup where you can get a greater number of servings by adding veggies, soup macaroni, and/or matzoh balls. Sadly, I end up wasting more of our leftovers than I’d like, so I’ll be watching for new ideas, too. Leftover sauce I use to make english muffin pizzas or the kids can dip grilled mozzarella sandwiches in it. The possibilities are really endless if you take a few minutes to think about it.
Carrie says
Nobody steal this line, because I use it in my workshops, but my grandma used to explain the fact that her house had fewer garbage bags out front by saying, “We eat our garbage.”
Meagan says
Ha! Sounds like something my grandma (who lived thru the Great Depression) would say. She considered it sinful to throw out food.
lana says
I hear that! My grandma also went thru great depression and worked in a diner in the Midwest… They called them rolling menus! Because EVERYTHING leftover rolled into and dictated the menu- haha.
Jessica @ The Abundant Wife says
My grandma is the same way! My mom would always tell how her mom wouldn’t even let the “pea juice” go to waste, but would sop it up with a slice of bread. 🙂
Kimberly says
My Grandma’s saying was, “Waste not, want not” and I repeat it to myself when I’m in the kitchen, all the time! Scrape that last bit of batter into a cup for another muffin, pick that last bit of chicken hanging out on the bone, plan your leftovers into your week’s meal plan, and cook a lot of casseroles 🙂
Andrea says
We definitely plan our leftovers into the weekly plan. In fact, I only cook about three big dinners each week…the other nights are leftovers!
Melissa says
Same message from my grandmother. Never waste!
Danielle B says
All time best Depression era saying:
Eat it up, Wear it out, Make it do or Do without.
This is my family’s new motto.
Jada says
I make the Sloppy Joe Lentils from Passionate Homemaking
(http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2009/10/sloppy-lentils-in-the-crockpot.html).
Then, with the leftovers, I make Sloppy Joe Soup by adding chicken or beef broth (I just eyeball it, depending how many leftover sloppy joes we have and how ‘soupy’ we like it), a diced onion, a can of kidney or pinto beans and a cup of frozen corn (or canned corn). Let come to a boil; then simmer for around 30 minutes.
To serve, we top with chopped purple onions, diced tomatoes, avocado and shredded cheese. It’s fun to serve over brown rice. Serving alongside of pita chips is fun, too. Sort of the bun, but in chip form.
Wanda says
I bought a whole chicken last week and got three meals out of it (amazing even myself!). First we had roasted chicken, then we pulled 90% of the meat off the bone and saved it. We put the bones in the crock pot and made a nice rick stock out of it from which we made chicken and dumplings. Then we used the meat and made chicken enchiladas for the third meal! Blown away by how far we stretched it. We do have a small family but still…. 🙂 Wasn’t even doing it out of need but want to train myself to think about using it all up. We too throw away leftovers after they sit in the fridge…trying to get better!
Michelle K says
We had a need to do that last Feb. My hubby had been out of work and I hadn’t been able to grocery shop for a month. I cooked up a chicken, deboned it and seperated it into bags. I made chicken lasagna, chicken pot pie, chicken noodle soup, and two more things that I can’t recall. I fed my family of 8 on one chicken and my stockpile of food for a week! for $15! I was astounded what one can actually do when there is a need!
Melissa says
If you boil your chicken, not only do you have the the broth, but chicken noddle soup ( I use only 1/2 of the chicken), and all the deboned ckicken for future use.