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17 Easy Recipes for Repurposing Leftovers

Got last night’s chicken sitting in the fridge? Some meat from a fondue party over the weekend? Or maybe some wilted veggies that need to be used ASAP? Here are a few zero-waste recipes to make the most of your leftovers.

1. Ranch Chicken Salad

Salads are a great way to use up leftover cooked chicken. This recipe combines tomatoes, corn and store-bought dressing. The result is a zero-waste, quick and delicious lunch you can make again using other ingredients you want to keep from wasting.

2. Egg Bites with Creamy Vegetable Salad

What’s tasty and easy to make? These egg bites, made with eggs, cheddar and cottage cheese. For the filling, use whatever you have on hand, such as leftover ham, cooked broccoli and fresh herbs. Serve with a colourful salad for an appetizing meal.

3. Chicken Taquitos

Taquitos, or rolled tacos, are a Mexican dish made of rolled tortillas filled with meat and cheese and then pan-fried. Let it inspire you to whip up a delicious family meal. Use leftover chicken in this recipe, along with cheese and green onions, and dinner is served.

4. Pasta Frittata Pizza

When you turn a frittata into a pizza and top it with leftover pasta, you’ve got a great meal on your hands that’s ready in under 30 minutes. With mozzarella cheese, Parmesan, cherry tomatoes, mini bocconcini and basil, you’re in for a flavourful meal.

5. Potato and Ham Croquettes

Make weeknights easier with these patties made from mashed potatoes, leftover ham, cheese and green onions. Coat them in breadcrumbs and then pan fry for a texture that’s soft on the inside and crispy on the outside.

6. Corn Muffins

In this savoury muffin recipe, use leftover corn kernels along with extra sharp cheddar and chopped chives for a boost of flavour. You’ll simply love this tasty snack that you can enjoy anytime and that helps reduce food waste.

7. Shredded Turkey Sandwich with Gravy

It’s never too late to use leftover holiday turkey with this sandwich idea. It requires filling a baguette with mustard, onion confit and gravy (even better if it’s also left over!), and you’ve got a recipe that is sure to satisfy.

8. Tuscan Ribollita Soup

This soup of Tuscan origin was traditionally made using leftover minestrone soup that’s been reheated and to which stale bread has been added. This hearty recipe consists of bacon lardons, leek, white kidney beans and Savoy cabbage. Garnish with dry leftover bread and large Parmesan shavings when serving.

9. Pasta-Stuffed Bell Peppers

You can breathe new life into anything, even leftover pasta. Whether it’s beef and macaroni or spaghetti, mix it with artichoke hearts, green peas and cheese, then stuff it into a bell pepper. You’ll feel like you’re enjoying something entirely new. 

10. Clean-Out-the-Fridge Risotto

With a basic risotto recipe, you can use practically any leftover that’s sitting in your fridge. Leftover cooked chicken, grilled shrimp, roasted veggies; in short, anything you have on hand. And if you have any risotto left over after dinner, simply make some arancini!

11. Chinese Fondue Stir-Fry

Did you miscalculate the amount of meat needed for your recent fondue night? Use the excess thin slices of meat to whip up a stir-fry that can also include what’s left of the veggies and broth.

12. Kitchen Sink Green Vegetable Soup

To make a respectable soup, simply start with chicken broth, some potatoes, onions and garlic for one that’s smooth and flavourful. Then add the vegetables of your choice, like spinach, kale or even carrots.

13. Kitchen Sink Fried Rice

Fried rice is a kitchen sink meal par excellence, given it can be made using leftover fried rice and any kind of cooked meat. Let your creativity take over.

14. Soup with Leftover Fondue Meat

To make soup fast using leftover fondue meat, warm some broth with diced tomatoes and add cooked spaghetti. Then add the fondue meat and finely sliced bell peppers.

15. Clean-Out-the-Fridge Vegetable Broth

Take your tired-looking veggies and boil them in water to make a broth; it’s a great way to reduce food waste. You’re then left with a delicious liquid that you can use to make a soup, cook vegetables, whip up a risotto, etc.

16. Clean-out-the-Fridge Strata

A strata is made using stale bread, eggs, milk, cream and cheese. So it’s great for using leftover bread, but also any excess meat or cooked veggies. It makes for a great brunch or a quick dinner.

17. Spicy Salmon Rice Bowls

This recipe is great for using up leftover cooked salmon from the night before. Break the fish apart into flakes and let it marinate in a spicy sauce. And given that only the rice requires reheating, you won’t have to worry about the fishy smell bothering your colleagues near the microwave at lunchtime.

For more ideas on how to cook leftovers, be sure to consult our selection of recipes: