There’s nothing to eat! 15 dinners made with leftovers

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We’ve all heard it — the lament from our family that there’s nothing to eat. Maybe we’ve even said it to ourselves at the dinner hour. Well, with these 15 dinners, you can pull them together using leftovers.

A lasagna being dished up.
Veggie Lasagna. Photo credit: Splash Of Taste

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.

Did you make risotto earlier in the week to serve with another meal? Well, discover how you can turn that leftover risotto in arancini, cheese-filled fried risotto balls. They taste like the ones Trader Joe’s used to sell.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Trader Joe’s Arancini Rice Balls

Pizza Toppings Bar

Five assorted pizza slices arranged side by side on a wooden surface.
Pizza Toppings Bar. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

If you’ve got leftover plain pizza and no one is interested, jazz things up by creating a pizza toppings bar with vegetables, slices of pepperoni and more. That way the pizza gets a second life and you get dinner served.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Toppings Bar

Best Way to Reheat Lasagna

A slice of freshly baked lasagna with melted cheese on a white plate.
Best Way to Reheat Lasagna. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Have you ever tried reheated leftover lasagna in the air fryer? If not, you’ve got to try it. It’s delish. Here are other ways to reheat next-day lasagna so it tastes like it just came out of the over for the first time.
Get the Recipe: Best Way to Reheat Lasagna

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 includes three different leftovers that you can grab from the refrigerator. With leftover rice, chicken and cheese, you can make a cheesy yummy dinner in minutes.
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 three different leftover items from a previous dinner in tonight’s meal. This includes ground beef, cheese, and pasta.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cheesy Hamburger Casserole

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 much on Taco Tuesday and not sure what to do with the leftovers? Well, this cheesy taco pasta recipe is your solution. It’s a taste combination that lets you make dinner fast.
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 earlier this week you served sweet potato fries with burgers for dinner, here is a clever way to reuse those leftover sweet potatoes. Add them to Sweet Potato Fajitas.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Fajitas with Zesty Lime Sauce

Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Dip

Image shows a corn chip with Chicken enchilada dip on it and the full container behind it.
Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Dip. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Who says you can’t serve an appetizer as a dinner? With this Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Dip, you’ll make excellent use of leftover rotisserie chicken. Serve with tortilla chips or as a topping for nachos.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Dip

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.

Potato pancakes aren’t just for Chanukah. If you have leftover mashed potatoes from a dinner earlier in the week, you can make crispy mashed potato pancakes with fried eggs on top. It takes only 15 minutes to make.
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 to leftover chicken or another kind of meat plus vegetables, like peas, potatoes and carrots. Put them all into a pot pie that you top with puff pastry.
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 may not think about making fried rice with a leftover brisket. But trust me. With this Brisket Fried Rice recipe, you get to serve your family a Southwestern, spicy meal that is easy on you to make.
Get the Recipe: Brisket Fried Rice

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? What about cooked pasta, such as bowtie pasta? Cut up some vegetables and add a creamy dressing, and you’ve got Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad for dinner in no time.
Get the Recipe: Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad

Salmon Pasta Salad

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

Another pasta salad and another brilliant use of leftovers. This time it is leftover salmon that you’ll add to leftover pasta. Add a dressing, plus a touch of dill and lemon, and dinner is served.
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.

Did you recently serve beef brisket at a backyard barbecue and have some leftovers? Great. You can make this easy Brisket Chili with the meat, plus beans, peppers and corn in a thick and chunky tomato base.
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 can use leftovers from a main course — rotisserie chicken — and a side dish — cooked quinoa — to create a brand new dinner in no time.
Get the Recipe: Cheddar Chicken Bake

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