I know some people are not fans of leftovers, but it’s a great way to repurpose a home-cooked meal and turn it into something just as delicious as it was the first time around. This also helps to limit food waste. It’s amazing how many recipe ideas I can come up with when meal planning and turning a meal from last night into another meal. In England, we are a big fan of using leftovers. From easy weeknight dinners to the infamous Sunday dinner (Sunday Roast) that resulted in the invention of Bubble and Squeak that was all the leftover food from the roast beef dinner.
Soup
We all know soup is one of the best leftover meals for two reasons: 1) you can make a big batch, and 2) you can serve it alongside whatever you like. I have over 20 different soups to choose from, so here is a small selection: Milanese Minestrone Soup is so easy and hearty enough to be a complete meal as is Chicken Wonton Soup. I would be remiss if I left The Best Chicken Soup off this list. Check out more soups here.
Pasta
Pasta is one of the easiest and most popular dishes for leftovers, as you can make double batches. Healthy Sicilian Lentil Pasta is filling and a great vegetarian option. Greek Pasta Salad is a one of the best ways to use up cooked pasta, and my favorite, Lasagna Bolognese, is one of my go-to’s. Find more pasta ideas here.
Pizza
Who doesn’t love leftover pizza? Great for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—and you can always add extra toppings. Try Italian Sausage and Caramelized Onion Pizza; I like to add fresh basil after reheating. Vegetable Pesto Flatbread Pizza is a delicious veggie option. If you like bacon on your pizza, Caramelized Onion, Apple, and Bacon Flatbread Pizza is always a winner. Find more pizza recipes here.
Reheating Pizza
The best way to reheat pizza is to place the slices in a large pan with a lid over low heat. This crisps up the bottom and re-melts the cheese really well without drying it out or making it rubbery, like the microwave does.
Chicken
Winner, winner chicken dinner. Roast chicken to be precise and what I love about my Rosemary Roasted Chicken with Delicious Gravy is, everything is made in 1 go, including the vegetables and you’re ready to go the next day. Stews and casseroles are great leftover ideas and Creamy Chicken Stew with Sage & Chive Dumplings is comfort food personified, as is Chicken Pot Pie with Winter Vegetables.
Leftovers Recipe Inspiration
Now that you’ve seen all the recipes that make up my collection of Dinners That Make The Best Leftovers, how about some actual leftover recipes? I have recipes for Shepherd’s pie using leftover turkey and leftover rice (Fried Rice, to be exact). Leftover chicken recipes are about as popular as they get, and Shredded Chicken Taquitos are the perfect use of leftover roast chicken. You can also turn any of my chicken recipes into a chicken salad.
Leftover Butternut Squash
I always have leftover butternut squash when in season. You can transform it into a creamy sauce to serve with pasta, or mix with root vegetables and serve the sauce as a comforting soup.
Meat Dishes
Leftover hearty meats like beef roasts and pork tenderloin are just calling out to be repurposed. Turn any leftover ground beef into tacos, or stuffed peppers. If you tried any of these Dinners that Make the Best Leftovers, leave a comment, question or review below).
