Are you tired of wasting food every week? Not interested in eating the same thing you had last night? I’ve got you covered. I’m not a fan of leftovers either but it kills me to toss money in the trash each week when they don’t get eaten. I have gotten creative over the past year and have really noticed a difference in my grocery savings.
I’ve listed some suggestions for some of the dishes I make most frequently. If you have clever ideas that you’d like to share please post them in the comments, I love hearing your suggestions!
Leftover Mashed Potatoes
- Try my Potato Pierogi it’s the perfect balance of savory and crunchy.
- Use as your topping for a Cottage Pie
- Try this Crispy Fried Mashed Potato Balls
Leftover Soups & Sauces
- If you don’t think you’ll want soup again for the next few days, wait until it is completely cooled, use gallon or quart size freezer bags – label and fill a little less than 1/2 way, remove as much air as possible, zip tight and freeze flat to save room in your freezer
- Once they are frozen, I like to store them upright like an organized file system.
Leftover Chicken Easy Options
- Chicken cutlet & rotisserie chicken are great pizza toppings or calzone ingredients.
- Pulled chicken from my Crockpot Chicken Tacos would be a great option for nachos, burrito bowls, or taquitos.
- Leftover rotisserie chicken can also be great for a small batch of chicken salad.
Leftover Meatballs
- Cut in half or fourths depending on how big they are and use as a pizza topping or a delicious meatball calzone.
- Cut meatballs in half, toast sub rolls, add meatballs and melt some provolone or mozzarella cheese on top.
Left Over American Chop Suey
- Season a little ricotta 1/4 – 1/2 cup depending on how much you have leftover. Use parsley, pepper, salt, and oregano.
- Mix the ricotta into the leftover pasta
- Place in an oven safe dish and top with shredded mozzarella
- Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes, to brown the mozzarella slightly turn the oven to broil and watch closely for 1-3 minutes.
👆🏼Think deconstructed lasagna!
Final Thoughts
Going to the grocery store and spending hundreds of dollars for just a few bags can be frustrating, it’s even more frustrating when you spend time cooking that food, storing the leftovers, and throwing it away untouched a few days later. Save your money and your time cooking with a few of these tips. Let me know what you’ve tried that works for you! Hey Ivy 🌿