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33 easy recipes that make leftovers taste incredible
Genius ideas for reducing food waste
By Emily Price · November 12, 2025
Originally published on loveFOOD
Stretch your meals (and budget)
With food prices still on the rise, there's one simple solution to help you cut down on spending: loving your leftovers. Anyone who's ever sneakily snacked on cold roast potatoes straight from the refrigerator or used up scraps of roasted veg in a frittata knows the potential of the bits so many of us tend to throw in the bin. With a little planning, a lot of inspiration, and clever use of pantry ingredients, you can stretch every meal, save money, and waste less food in the process.
Here we reveal how to turn your leftovers into something new and delicious, counting down to the most versatile (and tasty) leftover of all.
14. Leftover broccoli
If you've got some broccoli leftover from yesterday's dinner, you can easily repurpose it. In particular, it goes really well with cheesy and carby dishes, adding a much needed dose of greens, but it can also be thrown into stir-fries with great success.
Try it: broccoli and Gorgonzola quiche
Broccoli and Gorgonzola complement each other beautifully in a quiche, and you can give it a kick by adding chili. Any other green vegetables you have lying around would work wonders in this too. Use store-bought pastry to make it extra speedy.
Try it: Kung Pao broccoli
Recycle roasted broccoli in this spicy but simple dish that sees the cooked veggie coated with a sweet and sour, sticky Sichuan-style sauce and put under the grill to crisp up. Toasted nuts, jalapeños, and scallions are sprinkled on top for texture, tang, and heat.
13. Leftover sausages
Got a few sausages kicking around the refrigerator? Save having to make the same meal again and again by adding the chopped pieces to casseroles, risottos, and pasta dishes.
Try it: sausage and veg roast
Make a one-pan roast of crispy new potatoes, crunchy asparagus, sweet vine tomatoes, roasted garlic, and leftover sausage. Allow the new potatoes to crisp up first, then add the cooked sausages at the final stage, along with the rest of the vegetables.
Try it: sausage, asparagus, and pea risotto
A risotto is another great way to use up sausages and you probably have all the ingredients you need in the cupboard already. Add the cooked sausage in slices during the last 10 minutes of making this creamy asparagus and pea risotto and the family will have no idea it’s made from leftovers. Risotto is also the perfect vehicle for other leftovers, from roast veg to bits of cheese.
12. Leftover corn on the cob
Corn on the cob smothered in butter, herbs, and salt makes a great side or snack. Whether you boiled it or grilled it, there are plenty of things you can do with what's left. The same applies to opened cans of sweetcorn.
Try it: corn fritters
If you have a couple of corn on the cob leftover, remove the kernels and combine with flour, cayenne pepper, onion, milk, and eggs to make mouthwatering sweetcorn fritters. Fry until golden and serve with a poached egg for breakfast or fresh salsa for a speedy lunch.
Try it: corn, lentil, and squash chowder
Leftover corn works a treat in a Caribbean-style chowder with lentils, squash, coconut milk, garlic, thyme, and Scotch bonnet chili. This recipe makes a great vegan alternative to seafood chowder and is full of fresh and warming flavors.
Get the recipe for corn, lentil, and squash chowder here
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11. Leftover spinach
If you find a bag of green leaves in the fridge that needs eating or have some cooked spinach leftover, do not fear: there are plenty of recipes begging to be made.
Try it: spinach and Cheddar muffins
These spinach and Cheddar muffins are a great snack and particularly good for those who prefer savory food. All that’s required is cooked spinach, nutmeg, flour, baking powder, milk, and grated cheese.
Try it: spinach and ricotta gnudi
These tender dumplings made from ricotta and flour require a little effort, but once you've got the technique down you'll be richly rewarded. They're best served simply with a little melted butter.
10. Leftover roast beef
A slow-cooked joint of juicy beef is the ultimate treat meal. Buy a piece of meat that's slightly larger than what you need and it's also a cost-effective way to add meat to a number of different dishes, from salads and sandwiches to stews and noodle soup.
Try it: cold roast beef with dill and mustard
It's hard to beat a meal featuring cold cuts a piquant dressing. Whizz up a sauce from Dijon mustard, dill, vinegar, sugar, and olive oil to drizzle over cold beef and watercress – serve with crusty bread for a light but satisfying dinner. This combination also makes a great sandwich filling.
Get the recipe for cold roast beef with dill and mustard here
Try it: beef noodle soup
For a soothing meal, pile leftover slices of beef, plus beansprouts and bok choy into a steaming bowl of noodle soup. It's quick to assemble, and the aromatic spices and fresh chili, lime, and cilantro take the meat in a completely different direction.
9. Leftover mashed potatoes
Comforting mashed potatoes go with pretty much any meat, fish, or veg, but what do you do when it starts to feel boring? Luckily, it can be rustled into a new dish in minutes –think smoked salmon fish cakes or potato gnocchi.
Try it: smoked salmon fish cakes
When you’ve got leftover mashed potatoes, step one of salmon fish cakes is already complete. Skip straight to adding in the smoked salmon, mackerel, herbs, horseradish, scallions, and lemon zest. The little beauties are then fried and served with zingy garlic mayo.
Try it: tomato and basil gnocchi
Making gnocchi is easier than you think. The secret to these little dumplings is to make the mashed potato as lump-free as possible, then after seasoning, mix with flour and knead. We love gnocchi with the rich tomato and basil sauce in the recipe below.
8. Leftover pork belly
Roast pork belly really is the gift that keeps on giving. If you can resist second helpings, the crisp and succulent leftover meat makes a wonderful addition to a number of new dishes.
Try it: pork tacos with pineapple
If you've got ready-cooked pork belly, the hard work is already done to make these crowd-pleasing tacos. All you need to do is make the avocado and onion salsa and chop up the pineapple, which makes a lovely sweet and sour accompaniment to the rich meat.
Try it: summer rolls
Leftover pork belly really shines in these Thai-style summer rolls. In our recipe, rice paper wrappers are filled with fresh herbs, noodles, and shredded vegetables – all you'll need to do is whip up a chili dipping sauce to serve it with and you’ve got yourself a quick, healthy and very tasty meal.
Try it: pork hash cakes
Roasted vegetable and pork hash cakes are made by combining leftover pork belly and veg with cooked potato, making it the perfect simple supper to follow a blowout lunch. Top with a runny poached egg to finish the dish.
7. Leftover roasted squash
You’ll be amazed at how much you can do with roasted squash. The soft, sweet veg is just as at home as an addition to a meal as it is center stage. It can even be incorporated into baked treats too.
Try it: asparagus, salmon and squash rice bowl
Add roasted butternut squash, asparagus, and salmon to a bed of brown rice for a colorful and healthy dinner. A sprinkling of chopped peanuts, a squeeze of lemon, a few slices of fresh chili, and chopped cilantro are the final touch.
Get the recipe for asparagus, salmon, and squash rice bowl here
Try it: squash and saffron pappardelle
A super speedy meal and a great way to use leftover roasted butternut squash, this squash and saffron pappardelle dish is bright, sweet, rich, and smoky. A crumbling of blue cheese takes it to new levels and a spoonful of crème fraîche makes it smooth and saucy.
Try it: butternut squash, sage and Comté risotto
This risotto tastes great, packed with sweet, earthy butternut squash and full-flavored Comté cheese, which is similar to Gruyère. Since your squash is already roasted you can skip straight to step four in the recipe below. Serve this gorgeously rich dish with a fresh green salad for an absolute treat of a meal.
Get the recipe for butternut squash, sage and Comté risotto here
6. Leftover rice
It's hard to cook the perfect portion of rice and there's almost always some left. The good news is we've got some great ideas for surplus grains. There are many things you can do, including crispy arancini balls and a fancy fried rice dish.
Try it: arancini
The crispy Italian appetizer usually consists of risotto rice coated in breadcrumbs and deep fried. However, there's no reason you can't make it with other types of rice. Flavor your rice with the likes of grated Parmesan, mozzarella, cooked mushrooms, or pesto and serve the arancini with a fresh tomato salsa.
Try it: shrimp and cabbage fried rice
Day-old rice is actually the best kind for fried rice. This recipe with shrimp and cabbage is one of our favorites. The leafy green adds crunch to the dish and the combination of wok-fried garlic, juicy shrimp and sweet petit pois is wonderful.
5. Leftover roast chicken
Does anyone ever finish a whole roast chicken in one meal? Luckily there are lots of great ways to repurpose it, including sandwiches and stir-fries, so you don’t have to eat the same dinner twice.
Try it: chicken and basil sandwich
Homemade chicken sandwiches are the perfect way to use up leftover roast chicken. Here a tangy dressing made with muddled sun-blushed tomatoes and basil keeps it from being boring. You could even sneak in a couple of slices of mozzarella, then toast it to perfection.
Try it: chicken chow mein
Chicken chow mein is always a winner and you can make a sped-up version using shredded leftover chicken. So, skip the takeout and give it a go at home – we guarantee it'll be cheaper and tastier.
Try it: Vietnamese chicken salad
Leftover cooked chicken really shines in this fresh, crunchy, aromatic, salad. It's simple to throw together, too; there's a sharp lime dressing to make, some vegetables and herbs to chop, and it's ready to go. Enjoy as a tasty light lunch or pile into lettuce cups and serve as an appetizer.
4. Leftover steak
At some point we've all pan-fried a succulent steak that was so big and filling we couldn’t finish it. However, steak is far too good to put in the bin. Try reinventing what’s left in a Sichuan-style stir-fry or Italian salad.
Try it: steak and arugula salad
This is possibly the most simple and satisfying of salads: sliced steak, Parmesan, and arugula are combined with a dressing of olive oil, garlic, rosemary, and lemon juice to produce something of a taste sensation.
Try it: Sichuan beef stir-fry
One way to make the most of leftover steak is a fiery Sichuan beef dish infused with soy, ginger, garlic, and Chinese five spice. Skip the marinating stage and start by frying peppers, then adding the chopped leftover steak and sauce. Dial the heat up or down the according to your personal preference.
3. Leftover ham
Whether you have a little or a lot left, leftover ham can be added to all manner of pasta and potato dishes to pep them up with its salty, sweet flavor.
Try it: ham croquettes
Bring some tapas to your table by replacing the Serrano ham in this crunchy croquette recipe with finely chopped ham or gammon. It works just as well in the oozing béchamel center.
Try it: Ham and rice casserole
Leftover ham really shines in this hearty, easy one-pot casserole with rice, vegetables (any will do), plenty of cheese, and a secret sauce made from a tin of condensed soup. This dish makes for a brilliant midweek meal when time is tight – vary the ingredients according to what you have available and feel free to tweak the seasoning by adding herbs and spices – smoked paprika and fresh parsley would work really well.
Try it: ham and egg linguine
Leftover ham, linguine, scallions, mustard, honey, and parsley come together to make this comforting pasta dish. It's topped with a poached egg and when you break the yolk, it runs into the sauce. We challenge you to find something quicker or more satisfying than this tasty meal.
2. Leftover roasted vegetables
Roasted veg is a batch-cooking essential, delicious on its own or as an accompaniment to everything from pan-fried fish to grilled chicken breasts. Here's how you can incorporate what's left into new dishes.
Try it: Brie and roasted vegetable tart
A vegetable tart is a super easy way to use up leftovers. Make it indulgent by adding grated Cheddar to the pastry and topping with chunks of creamy Brie and sesame seeds. If you're short on time, use store-bought puff or shortcrust pastry.
Try it: vegetable lasagna
Give roasted Mediterranean veg a new lease of life in a speedy one-pot lasagna. Soften garlic and onions in an ovenproof pan, then throw in cooked veggies and a tin of chopped tomatoes. Once heated through, in go the pasta sheets. Top with Parmesan and mozzarella and slide under the grill until bubbling and golden.
1. Leftover Bolognese
You can make Bolognese from any mince, but beef or pork are the most popular. It's usually served on top of pasta, but there are plenty of other ways to use it – so make extra and you'll have the base for several completely different meals.
Try it: stuffed peppers
Leftover Bolognese can be reheated and spooned into halved and deseeded bell peppers. Top with grated cheese and place under a hot grill for 10 minutes for a healthy and light dinner.
Try it: loaded nachos
Reheat bolognese sauce then spoon it over tortilla chips and finish with guacamole, jalapeños, and plenty of cheese. This is the ideal low-effort snack – and none of your leftovers will go to waste.
Try it: enchiladas
Turn your leftover Bolognese into chili con carne by adding a can of kidney beans, a can of sweetcorn and a sprinkling of chili power. Then all you need to do to make enchiladas is roll the meat base up in some flour tortillas, spread with smoky chipotle paste, and cover with grated cheese. Bake your enchiladas in the oven until the cheese is wonderfully gooey and melting, then serve.
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Get the recipe for enchiladas here
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