Are you out of ideas on what to make for dinner? Have you considered creative ways to use leftovers? Well, with these 17 dinner ideas, no one will ever know that these meals weren’t made from scratch.
Easy Shrimp Scampi
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
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
Easy Cold Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
Do you have leftover cooked pasta from another night? Well, you can create a brand-new meal, not by heating it up again with sauce but, instead by making this Easy Cold Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cold Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
Goat Cheese Pizza Sauce
Here’s two great ways to use leftovers to create this yummy Goat Cheese
Get the Recipe: Goat Cheese Pizza Sauce
Copycat Trader Joe’s Arancini Rice Balls
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
Grandma’s Deviled Eggs
Did you make hard boiled eggs for egg salad or old fashioned potato salad earlier this week and you have leftover cooked eggs in the fridge? Turn them into deviled eggs that taste just like what Grandma made.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Deviled Eggs
Easy Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole
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
Sweet Potato Fajitas with Zesty Lime Sauce
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 Cheesy Hamburger Casserole
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
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
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
Cheesy Leftover Taco Meat Pasta
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
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 from brisket leftovers from your holiday BBQ!.
Get the Recipe: Brisket Fried Rice
Salmon Pasta Salad
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
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, 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
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