Fabulous Leftover Ideas

I keep two weeks' worth of menus posted on the refrigerator. At a recent family get together my brother-in-law discovered this list and exclaimed " this is all new food!" He was very surprised there were no "leftover" days. Little does he know. Heh, heh. Many nights we eat leftovers -- they are just creatively disguised as something else.

One of the things I like best about using a menu plan is that it allows me to make the best use of leftovers and to even make planned leftovers. For example, on Sunday we might enjoy a delicious pot roast dinner. As good as pot roast is, we get tired of it by the second or third meal. Instead of another night of the same old meal, I will make an entirely new meal like beef stew, beef pot pie or bbq beef sandwiches and serve it with fresh side dishes. Sometimes I will freeze the leftovers to use as part of another meal at a later date.

Roast Chicken

Leftover chicken can be turned into hundreds of wonderful, brand-new meals that your family will love! Here are just a few of my favorites.

Chicken Pot Pie
Almond Chicken Casserole
Chicken Salad
Chicken Taco Salad
Chicken & Black Bean Burritos


Leftover Mashed Potatoes

Shepard's Pie
Mashed Potato Casserole
Fried Potato Patties

Leftover Noodles

Layered Spaghetti (this is my husband's favorite pasta dish)

Leftover Pork

BBQ Pork Sandwiches

Small Amounts of Leftover meats and vegetables

Save these in the freezer and continue adding to the bag until you get enough to make a pot pie or soup. I'm deliriously happy when I have a bag of these mixed leftovers ready to use. The variety of flavors and seasoning in these leftovers make the best tasting pot pie and soup. Whip up a garden salad and some bread and you have a delicious meal with very little work and expense.


What are some of your favorite ways to use leftovers?