Some people were raised to look down their nose — or their fork — at serving leftovers. Not me. I love them. What I love even more are creative ways you can use them in new dishes, like the 15 dinner recipes here.
Shrimp Scampi Over Linguine
Shrimp Scampi Over Linguine works well as an easy meal at home or a dish to serve to guests. Using leftover scampi, simply boil water for the linguine. This recipe is a smart way to turn leftovers into an elegant meal.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Scampi Over Linguine
Copycat Trader Joe’s Arancini Rice Balls
Transform leftover 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 leftovers into a tasty new dish.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Trader Joe’s Arancini Rice Balls
Pizza Toppings Bar
Got leftover plain
Get the Recipe: Pizza Toppings Bar
Best Way to Reheat Lasagna
Have you ever tried reheating leftover lasagna in the air fryer? If not, you should definitely give it a go. It’s delicious and is an unexpected technique for making leftovers taste fresh.
Get the Recipe: Best Way to Reheat Lasagna
Easy Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole
This Easy Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole Recipe uses three different leftovers from your refrigerator: 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
Cheesy Leftover Taco Meat Pasta
Did you make too much on Taco Tuesday and not sure what to do with the leftovers? This cheesy taco pasta recipe is your solution. 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
If earlier this week you served sweet potato fries, 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 Cheesy Hamburger Casserole
With Easy Cheesy Hamburger Casserole, you can use three different leftover items 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
If you have leftover mashed potatoes from another dinner, 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
This is a brilliant solution for leftover chicken or other meats, along with vegetables like peas, potatoes and carrots. Combine them all 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
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. It’s a creative way to transform leftovers into a flavorful dinner.
Get the Recipe: Brisket Fried Rice
Salmon Pasta Salad
Here is a pasta salad that makes great use of leftover salmon and pasta. With dressing and just a touch of dill and lemon. Dinner is served in no time. This recipe is a quick and fresh way to repurpose leftover ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Salmon Pasta Salad
Brisket Chili
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
With this Cheddar Chicken Bake, you have a tasty way to make the most of your leftovers. And that would be leftover rotisserie chicken plus cooked quinoa. In no time, you have a brand new dinner to serve.
Get the Recipe: Cheddar Chicken Bake
Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad
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