Published: by Diana Reis · This post may contain affiliate links
It’s no secret that groceries are getting more expensive by the minute and making your meal plan fit into your budget is getting harder to do. There are some luxury items we can go without, but the everyday meals are hard to cut back on, especially on those things that our families love. So, how do we stretch a buck without giving up too much?
As food gets more expensive, the one thing we can do to keep our bills in line with our budgets is to cut out the waste. I don’t know about you, but I don’t mind a steak or buying a nice, large pork shoulder if I know that whole thing is going to end up nourishing my family, but even the cheapest things at the store are too expensive if they end up in the trash.
How do you use leftovers to save money?
The key to getting everyone on board with eating leftovers, is to do what I like to call the Leftover Makeover. There are many times I don’t mind eating leftovers in the same form they were the night before, but many things lose their appeal once they’ve gone cold. Leftover Makeovers use up everything in the fridge and keep our meals fresh and interesting.
Last night's steak is tonight's steak quesadilla. That one lonely salmon baked salmon filet is turned into beautiful Salmon Cakes.
Cooking With Leftovers is all upside?
Leftover recipes save time because the hard stuff was cooked ahead of time. They often take less of the more expensive ingredients like meat and dairy. They give new life to food that was destined for the waste bin. Cooking smart can keep your family eating like kings on a shoestring.
Leftover Chicken Recipes
Chicken is used so much in daily cooking that it is easy to find yourself with leftovers. Whether you cooked the super economical Whole Roasted Chicken, or have pieces of breast and thigh meat, chicken is one of the easiest leftovers to find a use for. That whole chicken can be used right down to the carcass, but the trick is making leftover chicken interesting.
Mushroom Chicken Wild Rice Soup
This delectable soup is filled with tender mushrooms swimming in a rich, creamy broth full of tender vegetables, savory chicken, and filling wild rice.
Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
In just about 20 minutes, you’ll be digging your spoon into a creamy and delicious bowl of mac and cheese that’s been upgraded with tender shredded chicken and spicy buffalo sauce.
Waldorf Chicken Salad Recipe
Take any leftover chicken and remake it into a delicious, hearty salad filled with grapes, apples, celery, and red onion. This Waldorf Chicken Salad is perfect for stuffing a rich croissant or having a lighter lunch with romaine lettuce hearts.
Leftover Chicken Curry
This leftover chicken curry recipe is a great way to use up leftover roast chicken or store bought rotisserie chicken.
Thai Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing
This Thai Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing is the perfect combination of crunchy shredded vegetables, tender chicken, and a mouth watering dressing that is sure to satisfy your hunger. This coleslaw style salad combines some of my favorite Thai inspired flavors into one super special dish that is quick and easy to throw together and lasts up to three days in the fridge.
Crispy Leftover Chicken and Shells
Leftover chicken recipes are pretty popular in our home because we eat a lot of chicken recipes. This is the number one favorite of our boys. You can make this delicious casserole for about $1 per serving and it will taste great the next day too!
Cheesy Chicken Baked Taquitos
What’s the perfect answer to boring leftover chicken? These Cheesy Chicken Baked Taquitos are baked to a perfect crisp and filled with savory chicken smothered in enchilada sauce, and gooey cheese. Top them off with a little sour cream and you have a delicious, easy meal in 30 minutes.
Easy Leftover Rotisserie Chicken Stock
Don't toss that carcass! Your picked-over rotisserie chicken can have new life in a homemade chicken stock. Easy to make and perfect for soups, stews or any other place you'd use broth or stock.
Easy Creamy Chicken Pasta
Easy Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake. Just as advertised, super simple creamy sauce with only 2 ingredients, then just add your bacon and ziti/penne pasta and bake this pasta casserole in the oven.
5-Minute Buffalo Chicken Wraps
A delicious and easy Buffalo Chicken Wrap that uses leftover chicken tenders and only takes 5 minutes to make!
Leftover Beef Recipes
Beef can top the list of high priced grocery items, so making good use of every bit will make those splurge meals extra satisfying. Steak in particular can be hard to use up. A hot juicy steak is delicious, but a cold leftover steak warmed in the microwave is just not appetizing. All it takes is a little imagination to transform those cold hunks of leftover beef into a mouth watering meal.
Leftover Steak Quesadillas
These steak quesadillas are a super easy leftover makeover with gooey cheese, tangy guacamole, and the perfect crunch.
Leftover Corn Beef Hash
This homemade Corned Beef Hash is made with your leftover corned beef and potatoes. It's made in under 20 minutes and is way better than the canned stuff!
Leftover Steak Fajitas
Leftover steak fajitas are a quick and delicious way to use up extra flank steak. Onions and peppers give this dish an amazing burst of flavor!
Leftover Roast Beef and Wild Rice Soup
A fast, cosy and comforting one pot, Leftover Roast Beef and Wild Rice Soup is a family friendly meal in a bowl.
Leftover Steak Tacos
Those leftover steak tacos are packed with savory goodness and perfect for any weeknight dinner!
Leftover Roast Beef Sandwich
Make the most of your leftovers by making this epic Leftover Roast Beef Sandwich. Slices of melt in your mouth roast beef in between your favorite bread with spicy horseradish sauce, brie and cheddar, gherkins, spinach and sun-dried tomatoes.
Leftover Pork Recipes
Many pork cuts are sold as large, economical portions. If you have an average sized family, it may seem difficult to find ways to use a large baked ham or a whole pork shoulder. Pork shoulder is most often turned into pulled pork which can be reimagined into nachos, potato topping, Chili Relleno filling, and much more. Baked ham is a bonus because it comes cooked and can be turned into so many budget friendly and time friendly meals.
Easy Chili Relleno
You'll love this easy and versatile Chile Relleno Recipe! Poblano peppers are stuffed with leftover smoked brisket (or use Smoked Pulled Pork, ground beef, or cheese).
Ham and Potato Soup
An Easy Ham & Potato Soup Recipe everyone will love! Make it in your crockpot, instant pot or on the stove. Creamy & delicious! Easily made gluten/ dairy free and paleo or Whole30!
Pork Green Chili Loaded Nachos
If the idea of french fries smothered in spicy shredded pork and all your favorite nacho fixins sounds like a good idea, you’re going to love this recipe for Pork Green Chile Loaded Fries! This hearty recipe is a real fan favorite, and is perfect for serving on game day.
Leftover Easter Ham Pasta
This dish has your pasta, veggies and protein all wrapped up in a yummy lemon sauce. Bright, light and delicious you’ll love this Leftover Ham Asparagus & Lemon Pasta that’s free of: gluten, dairy, egg, fish, shellfish, peanut and tree nuts, making it top-8-free as well!
Loaded Pulled Pork Baked Potato
These Pulled Pork Loaded Baked Potatoes are a perfect way to use up that leftover BBQ pulled pork!
Cast Iron Cuban Casserole
Turn your leftover pulled pork into a delicious low carb Cuban Casserole. This healthy dinner is ready in no time using the leftovers out of your fridge.
Leftover Turkey Recipes
Turkey is the mother of all leftovers. Most of us go way overboard, during Thanksgiving, roasting a giant bird for our families only to be left with mountains of meat. We are all too familiar with those late night turkey sandwiches, but the real conundrum is how to use up all that meat in creative new ways so we don’t feel like we are just choking down the same old thing for a week.
These amazing recipes pump up some classic turkey makeovers and introduce us to some exciting flavors around the world. No more turkey doldrums! Maybe we’ll be inspired to cook this delicious bird year round.
Leftover Turkey Corn Chowder
This Leftover Turkey Corn Chowder is the perfect makeover for heavy Thanksgiving leftovers. Sweet corn and a light chowder base are delicious and satisfying without being too heavy.
Leftover Turkey Banh Mi Baquette
This fresh and zingy banh mi baguette is an easy and delicious recipe for leftover turkey, with quick pickled carrots, herbs and – optional – chili, all piled into soft and crunchy bread to make the ultimate sandwich.
Butter Turkey Curry
If you like butter chicken then you will LOVE Butter Turkey Curry. It's the best way to use your Thanksgiving (or Christmas) turkey dinner leftovers!
Leftover Turkey Shepard's Pie
Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie is the ultimate comfort food. Veggies are cooked until soft, lightly seasoned, then mixed with leftover shredded turkey meat. Top with mashed potatoes and bake until bubbly and golden. It's an easy and delicious way to repurpose your Thanksgiving dinner.
Simple Thai-Style Leftover Turkey Green Curry
Let’s kick it up a notch, and get creative! Here’s my newest favorite turkey leftover recipe: a simple Thai-Style Turkey Green Curry.
Leftover Turkey Taquitos
Got leftover Thanksgiving turkey? Of course you do! These Turkey Taquitos are one of my favorite ways to use up leftovers and they’re so easy to make!
Leftover Turkey Carnitas Nachos
So, with Thanksgiving Turkey leftovers in my fridge, I concocted the crazy idea of pan frying the shredded meat for some homemade carnitas (a dish I would never otherwise make or order). Pan fried in a bit of olive oil, mixed with the right seasonings, and we had deliciousness on our hands.
Leftover Turkey Pot Pie with Cheddar Biscuits
This Leftover Turkey Pot Pie with Cheddar Biscuit Crust is packed full of turkey and fresh vegetables all in a delicious, creamy homemade sauce and topped with cheddar bacon biscuits. This classic comfort food uses leftover turkey and Bisquick to make dinner even easier.
Leftover Potato Recipes
Potatoes are a great leftover and can easily be remade into something new and exciting. The best part about turning potatoes into fun fritters, pasta, or even waffles is that they are so filling and don’t require adding a lot of other expensive ingredients. This inexpensive side dish turns into an even cheaper main dish.
Loaded Potato Fritters with Zucchini and Green Onion Dip
Appetizers, Brunch, Dinner, or Leftover Makeover, this amazing loaded potato fritter is filling and flavorful.
Baked Pirozhki
These pillowy soft Russian pirozhki, stuffed with leftover mashed potatoes and ground beef, are baked hand pies made with easy yeast dough.
Leftover Mashed Potato Gnocchi
Wondering what to do with leftover mashed potatoes? This easy homemade potato gnocchi is light, pillowy, and ready in 20 minutes! With how-to video. Vegetarian.
Leftover Mashed Potato Waffles
A Super Simple Recipe for Waffles…that uses ingredients you ALREADY HAVE!
Leftover Rice Dishes
Rice is another great leftover. I would highly recommend purposely making leftover rice. It is super inexpensive and can be made into time and money saving friend rice dishes with new and interesting combinations.
Leftover Rice Tacos
Baked Ground Beef Tacos using a whole container of leftover rice! These easy cheesy tacos are ready in 25 minutes and are DELICIOUS!
Leftover Bulgogi Fried Rice
Reducing food waste by repurposing our bulgogi leftovers into a very flavorful and delicious bulgogi Korean fried rice. The tender Gochujang marinated beef and onions work perfectly with the fluffy leftover rice. And if you've got leftover kimchi, you can add that as well!
Tomato Rice
Tomato rice is an easy way to re-use left over rice. It is a great tiffin recipe for kids for lunch box. You can make it easily for a picnic or brunch. Tangy and flavorful, it is a great way to make kids eat rice who do not like plain version
Hawaiian Pineapple Fried Rice
This colorful, pretty little bowl is loaded with so many flavors. Sweet? Yup. Savory? Yeah. Umami? Oh boy!! All this from a few left over ingredients lying around your house.
Leftover Side Dishes, Bits, and Pieces
Side dishes and small bits of food often get tossed because it is hard to find a use for them. Take it from these great cooks that odds and ends can be delicious.
Fromage Fort
Fromage fort is one of my favorite recipes to use up leftover cheese. Blend odds and ends of cheese with a splash of wine, cream cheese or butter, a little parsley – and enjoy!
Sautéed Leek Greens with Bacon
Don’t toss out those leek tops! This Sautéed Leek Greens with Bacon recipe shows you a delicious way to enjoy this too often discarded part of a leek plant.
Broccoli Stem Slaw
My Broccoli Stem Slaw is crisp, colorful and totally delicious. I make it from simple, everyday ingredients and yet every bite of this salad is full of texture and bright flavours, all of which complement each other. It is the perfect side dish to serve with a barbecue, alongside a family dinner or to take on a picnic. It is also ideal to serve alongside a burger or in a sandwich.
Leftover Stuffing Waffles
Repurpose your leftover stuffing with this recipe! Leftover stuffing waffles are an easy and absolutely delicious way to reimagine and enjoy your Thanksgiving and holiday leftovers! Best of all, they come together quickly and everybody loves them.
Bacon Wrapped Stuffing Balls
Jump to Recipe
Bacon Wrapped Stuffing Balls are here to rock your holiday! Dress up leftover stuffing with cheese, barbecue sauce, and dried cranberries, wrap in bacon and bake for these super tasty, salty sweet stuffing balls.
Easy Vegan Peanut Pasta Salad (With leftover Spaghetti)
Leftovers are one my favorite things in this world! There isn't much that beats cooking once and eating twice, right? This healthy leftover noodle recipe for Spicy Vegan Peanut Pasta Salad uses leftover spaghetti noodles and lots of fresh veggies.
Sweet Sweet Leftovers
Turning leftover cranberry sauce, cream, and breads into fun desserts or breakfasts is a huge budget saver. Baking and desserts can often put a bigger dent in the budget than we would like for things that we don’t technically need. Rather than give up on sweets, use up those leftovers to create a sweet treat without the big bills.
Banana Bread with Almonds and Chocolate Chips
Sweet and Easy quick bread or banana cake with chopped almonds.
Leftover Holiday Breakfast Casserole
This Holiday Leftovers Breakfast Casserole is something I came up with to avoid throwing away my favorite holiday leftovers: rolls and cranberry sauce.
Sweet Potato Casserole Pancakes
Reinvent your Thanksgiving leftovers in the form of pancakes, using sweet potato casserole and cranberry sauce. You’ll be so glad you had leftovers to make these!
Leftover Barfi Ice Cream
Ice-cream or Kulfi is incredibly versatile sweets, if you have left over Indian Mithai (Sweets) from your refrigerator at home, you can use it in ways you've probably never thought to before.
Cinnamon Sugar Bread Crusts
Instead of letting it go to waste, I decided to play with it and make a "Cinnamon Sugar Bread Crust". The whole concept of left-over Bread Crust is very simple and easy to prepare.
Cranberry Sauce Bars
Since many of our holiday gatherings are a little smaller than usual this year, there’s a good chance you’ve got leftover cranberry sauce. Here’s a new way to use it to make a delicious treat: cranberry sauce bars!
Leftover Halloween Candy Tarts
It's fun to eat your Halloween Candy in a different form. And you know what goes great with chocolate? More chocolate!
Cranberry Coconut Trifle
A quick and easy cranberry coconut trifle served as individual servings and using leftover cranberry sauce, whipped sweetened coconut cream and ginger nut cookie crumbs. An elegant dessert that takes little effort.
