Clear your fridge with these 34 creative ways to use leftovers.
Food waste comes at a big cost for your budget and for the planet. To reduce food waste and save money on groceries, you need to learn new ways to transform leftovers into new meals.
Here are 34 leftover-friendly recipes that don’t taste like leftovers!
Leftover bread recipes:
Bread is one of the most consumed food in the world. Sadly, almost 900,000 tonnes of bread is wasted annually around the globe. There are so many recipes you can make with leftover or stale bread:
1- Homemade Herby croutons recipe:
Learn how to make homemade Herby croutons that are crunchy on the outside, and chewy on the inside.
Leftover breads, olive oil, butter and a few herbs are all you need for this yummy croutons.
The best thing of this recipe, it helps you reduce your kitchen waste and save money. Every time you have a stale bread, toss it with oil and herbs and bake it in the oven!
Read here 21 brilliant ideas and delicious recipes to use leftover bread.
Leftover chicken recipes:
Do you you want to know what to do with leftover chicken?
Here are some yummy recipes with leftover chicken:
2- Creamy red lentils and mung beans soup:
Rich, delicious and creamy red lentils and mung beans soup is wonderfully satisfying to enjoy any time of the year, especially winter. It’s a hearty and full of flavour soup recipe prepared in just one pot.
If you have any leftover chicken, just use it in this soup instead of using the chicken wings in the recipe.
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3- Simple Curry Chicken Salad:
Simple Curry Chicken Salad is a lightened up version of classic chicken salad with rich, warm curry added in. Shredded chicken is mixed together with Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, honey and curry and then combined with golden raisins, shredded carrots, chopped celery, fresh green onion and parsley. This is a nice option for a picnic, weekly lunches or a shower or brunch!
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4- Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Manicotti:
Your family is going to love this creamy and delicious Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Manicotti recipe using leftover chicken stuffed into pasta shells and topped with a rih and creamy alfredo sauce, it is definitely a keeper!
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5- Dill Pickle Chicken Egg Salad:
This zesty Dill Pickle Chicken Egg Salad is the ultimate upgrade to everyone’s favourite chicken salad. Pickle lovers will adore the addition of dried dill, garlic dill pickles, salty capers, and EGGS! Perfect for any occasion from picnics to potlucks and school lunches.
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6- Buffalo chicken wrap:
These Buffalo chicken wraps are made with leftover chicken to make in just 5 minutes!
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7- Buffalo chicken tater tot casserole:
This Buffalo Tater Tot Casserole is the perfect dish for using up leftover chicken. A cheesy, scrumptious casserole with lots of texture that everyone will love!
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8- Cheesy potato-crusted chicken pot pies:
Potato and cheese topped it pies are a great way to use up leftover turkey or chicken.
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9- Leftover roast chicken congee (jook) recipe:
A great way to use up your roast chicken leftovers is to make rice porridge (jook), the ultimate Asian comfrot fodo.
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10- Creamy chicken enchiladas:
Use up that leftover chicken in these amazingly creamy chicken enchiladas!
Leftover turkey recipes:
If you want to know what to do with leftover turkey, then this is a list of Thanksgiving leftover recipes:
11- Turkey Bolognese recipe:
A rich and hearty sauce is paired with cooked turkey for a quick and delicious dinner that tastes gourmet! It’s perfect for using up your leftover holiday turkey, and is a family favorite!
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12- Turkey cranberry sliders:
Use leftover turkey meat for these delightful sliders topped with cheese and cranberry sauce.
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13- Leftover turkey puff pastry pie with cheddar sauce:
Leftover Turkey Puff Pastry Pie with Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli, and Cheese Sauce is easy to make, and a great way to reinvent Thanksgiving leftovers into a completely different meal!
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14- Leftover turkey tacos:
Transform your leftover turkey with these scrumptious leftover turkey tacos! Bright, flavorful and your family will love them!
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15- Turkey Stew:
Transform your leftover Thanksgiving turkey into this cozy and hearty Turkey Stew. Loaded with veggies and potatoes, and featuring a thick thickly tomato based broth.
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16- Turkey and rice soup:
A mouthwatering blend of savory and bright, this Turkey Rice Soup is an ideal way to enjoy leftover turkey.
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17- Leftover turkey salad:
Leftover turkey salad is the perfect way to use up leftover holiday turkey! Like a creamy chicken salad, this makes fantastic sandwiches or dip for crackers.
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18- Turkey Thai curry:
Great way to use leftover turkey! This weeknight meal is a 20-minute dish with the flavors of an all-day simmer.
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19- Leftover turkey chili:
Utilize that leftover holiday turkey in a hearty chili! Made with a deeply delicious blend of spices, thick tomato broth, beans, and tender shredded turkey.
Leftover steak recipes:
What to do with leftover steak if you had a barbecue party, or you just have leftover steak from dinner? Here are some ideas for leftover steak and leftover beef:
20- Roast beef sliders:
This simply delicious roast beef sliders recipe makes the perfect party appetizer or quick main dish to feed a crowd. Everyone loves the combination of mouth watering roast beef and melty cheese.
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21- Tortellini Bolognese pasticcio pie:
A super way to use up leftover Bolognese or ground meat ragu, tortellini Bolognese pasticcio (or timballo) is a pastry encased pasta pie filled with tortellini, Bolognese and grated Parmigiano. This easy version makes a hearty and filling family meal that’s delicious eaten warm or cold.
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22- The best leftover steak sandwich:
Transform a small amount of leftover steak into an ultra flavorful sandwich! This easy meal doesn’t taste like it’s the same old “leftovers” at all.
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23- Steak beef enchiladas:
Leftovers beef or steak never tastes better than when it’s used in the east enchiladas recipe!
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24- British corned beef and potato pie:
Leftover corned beef is transformed into a simple pie. Corned Beef and Potato Pie is easy comfort food made with homemade pastry.
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25- Corned beef hash recipe:
Have Corned Beef leftover from St. Patricks day? Give this delicious homemade Corned Beef Hash recipe a try.
Leftover mashed potatoes and baked potatoes and recipes:
What to do with leftover mashed potatoes? Here are some ideas:
26- Chocolate Mashed Potato Cake:
Chocolate Mashed Potato Cake recipe takes leftover mashed potatoes and turns them into a moist chocolate cake that’s so light and fluffy!
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27- Veggie bites:
Use leftover mashed potatoes to make these delicious veggie bites! They’re the perfect snack or side dish for the whole family, including babies and adults.
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28- Mashed Potato waffles:
Leftover mashed potatoes? You’ll love these mashed potato waffles…so easy to make, easy to customize and super tasty!
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29- Skillet breakfast potatoes recipe:
Transform leftover baked potatoes into delicious breakfast potatoes. They cook up quick and easy so you’ll be enjoying a wonderful breakfast or brunch in not time at all.
Leftover cranberry sauce recipes:
Don’t let your leftover cranberry sauce go to waste! Here are some ways to use leftover cranberry sauce after the holidays:
30- Cranberry jalapeno dip:
Tart, sweet, spicy, and creamy, this cranberry jalapeno dip has it all! Repurpose that leftover cranberry sauce into a delicious dip to snack on while watching the big game! This festive holiday appetizer is a crowd pleaser and could not be easier to make!
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31– Cranberry Mayonnaise:
Not sure what to do with that leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving? Make this simple Cranberry Mayonnaise! It’s perfect to add to those turkey sandwiches with all that leftover turkey!
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32- Cranberry Oatmeal bars:
The flavors of vanilla, cranberries, and oats pair perfectly in this easy Cranberry Oatmeal Bars recipe. It’s the perfect use for leftover cranberry sauce!
Leftover pasta recipes:
Can you cook leftover pasta? Here are some ideas to make with leftover cooked pasta:
33– Mac and cheese bites:
Use your leftover Mac and cheese to make these creamy on the inside and crunchy outside Mac and cheese bites!
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34- Crispy leftover pasta:
Who doesn’t love the crispy edges of lasagna? Reheat pasta the way they do in italy and you’ll end up with a pan full of pasta that tastes like the crispy lasagna!