Holiday hangover? 15 ways party leftovers turn into dinner

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Did you outdo yourself for a July 4th barbecue bash? Are you simply too exhausted to make dinner from scratch tonight? Well, if you’re got party leftovers, here are 15 easy and creative ways to turn them into dinner.

A fork holding a bite of cheesy rice dish with visible pieces of yellow corn and green herbs, with the main bowl of the dish blurred in the background.
Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Grandma’s Deviled Eggs

Four deviled egg halves on a green plate, garnished with paprika, accompanied by pink and orange artificial flowers.
Grandma’s Deviled Eggs. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Did you make hard boiled eggs for egg salad at your party or old fashioned potato salad and have leftovers in the fridge? Well, here’s an easy way to turn them into deviled eggs that taste like what Grandma made.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Deviled Eggs

Easy Shrimp Scampi

A blue bowl filled with shrimp and rice, topped with green herbs, with a metal spoon in the bowl.
Easy Shrimp Scampi. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Got leftovers from a shrimp cocktail tray? Turn them into Shrimp Scampi, which is a quick and easy meal to make any night of the week. It requires minimal prep time and delivers a restaurant-quality meal.
Get the Recipe: Easy Shrimp Scampi

Shrimp Scampi Over Linguine

Close-up of linguine pasta with shrimp and parsley.
Shrimp Scampi Over Linguine. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Made the Shrimp Scampi mentioned earlier but don’t want to serve it plain? No worries. Simply boil water for the linguine and serve with the shrimp scampi for a brand-new dinner tonight.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Scampi Over Linguine

Copycat Trader Joe’s Arancini Rice Balls

A person pulling apart a gooey, cheese-filled arancini with more of the fried rice balls and sauce in the background.
Copycat Trader Joe’s Arancini Rice Balls. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Transform leftover cold risotto into arancini, cheese-filled fried risotto balls. They taste just like the ones Trader Joe’s used to sell. This recipe is a great choice for repurposing risotto into a tasty new dish.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Trader Joe’s Arancini Rice Balls

Cheesy Leftover Taco Meat Pasta

A close up of cheesy leftover taco meat pasta dish.
Cheesy Leftover Taco Meat Pasta. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

Did you make too many hamburgers for your holiday BBQ? Crumble them and use in this cheesy taco pasta recipe. It’s a flavor combination that lets you make dinner fast and efficiently, without waste.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Leftover Taco Meat Pasta

Sweet Potato Fajitas with Zesty Lime Sauce

A close up of sweet potato fajitas on a platter with fresh lime.
Sweet Potato Fajitas with Zesty Lime Sauce. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

If you served sweet potato fries at your holiday BBQ, here’s a clever way to reuse those leftover sweet potatoes. Add them to Sweet Potato Fajitas. No one will ever know you’ve incorporated leftovers into an entirely new dish.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Fajitas with Zesty Lime Sauce

Easy Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole

A bowl of rice with corn and herbs on a striped cloth with garnishes on the side.
Easy Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This Easy Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole Recipe uses three different leftovers from your party or your freezer: rice, chicken, and cheese. This recipe is a practical option for a quick and easy meal using leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole

Easy Cheesy Hamburger Casserole

Easy cheesy hamburger casserole in bowl with onion garnish.
Easy Cheesy Hamburger Casserole. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

With Easy Cheesy Hamburger Casserole, you can use leftover party food in tonight’s meal: ground beef, cheese and pasta. It’s a quick and practical way to make a hearty dinner with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cheesy Hamburger Casserole

Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes

Two mashed potato pancakes on white plates topped with fried eggs, sauteed mushrooms, spinach, and fresh herbs.
Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes. Photo credit: fANNEtastic food.

If you have leftover potatoes from your party, you can make crispy mashed potato pancakes with fried eggs on top. It takes only 15 minutes to prepare, making it a quick and easy option for a satisfying meal.
Get the Recipe: Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes

Chicken Pot Pies

Two individual chicken pot pies.
Chicken Pot Pies. Photo credit: Downsizing Dinner.

This is a brilliant solution for leftover chicken or other meats from your party. Just combine them with peas, potatoes and carrots into a pot pie topped with puff pastry and, voila, a hearty meal made from leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Pot Pies

Brisket Fried Rice

Brisket fried rice in black serving dish on white background.
Brisket Fried Rice. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

You might not think about making fried rice with leftover brisket, but it’s a great idea. You can serve your family a Southwestern, spicy meal that’s easy to prepare from brisket leftovers from your holiday BBQ!.
Get the Recipe: Brisket Fried Rice

Salmon Pasta Salad

Salmon pasta salad in a black bowl with forks nearby.
Salmon Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Here is a pasta salad that makes great use of leftover salmon and pasta you may have served for your party. With dressing and just a touch of dill and lemon, dinner is served in no time.
Get the Recipe: Salmon Pasta Salad

Brisket Chili

Brisket chili in a bowl topede with green onions and avocado.
Brisket Chili. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

You can make this easy Brisket Chili with the leftover brisket, plus beans, peppers, and corn in a thick and chunky tomato base. It’s a hearty and flavorful way to repurpose barbecue leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Brisket Chili

Cheddar Chicken Bake

Chicken cheddar quinoa casserole in a pyrex dish.
Cheddar Chicken Bake. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

With this Cheddar Chicken Bake, you have a tasty way to make the most of your leftovers, including chicken and maybe quinoa you made for a cold salad. In no time, you have a brand new dinner to serve.
Get the Recipe: Cheddar Chicken Bake

Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad

Rotisserie chicken pasta salad in a bowl.
Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Got leftover rotisserie chicken, plus some cooked pasta? Great. When you add vegetables and creamy dressing, you’ve got Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad for dinner. It’s an excellent use of leftovers and it’s delish.
Get the Recipe: Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad

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