20 Easy Ways to Turn Leftovers Into Something Delicious

These recipes help turn extra food sitting in your fridge into completely new meals that taste really amazing and fresh. Instead of tossing things out and wasting money, you can make yummy casseroles, sandwiches, and soups using what you already have stored away in containers. They save both money and time while keeping your meals interesting and exciting instead of boring leftovers that nobody wants to eat again. From quick wraps to filling pies, these ideas give yesterday’s dinner a totally fresh twist that makes everyone actually excited to eat them again instead of complaining.

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Turkey & Rice Stuffed Peppers

A roasted red bell pepper stuffed with a mix of rice, herbs, and vegetables, placed on a white plate. The top of the pepper has been cut off and is leaning against the stuffed pepper. Some charred marks are visible on the pepper's surface. — Turkey & Rice Stuffed Peppers. Photo credit: In The Kids Kitchen.

Cooked turkey and fluffy rice get stuffed inside colorful bell peppers that bake until they’re soft and tender throughout. Turkey & Rice Stuffed Peppers get topped with gooey melted cheese for a complete meal in one convenient dish that looks really pretty on the plate.
Get the Recipe: Turkey & Rice Stuffed Peppers

Birria Pizza

Soft meat and stretchy cheese pile onto crunchy tortillas to make this different kind of pizza that tastes amazing. Birria Pizza gets even better when you dunk it in the rich leftover liquid from the original stew you made before, adding extra flavor to every bite.
Get Recipe: Birria Pizza

Leftover Mac and Cheese Waffles

A crispy cheese waffle placed on a white plate with a dark gray rim. The waffle is golden-brown and appears perfectly cooked. It's presented at the center of the image, with some grated cheese visible at the edges of the plate. — Leftover Mac and Cheese Waffles. Photo credit: Ugly Duckling Bakery.

Yesterday’s macaroni and cheese gets pressed in a waffle maker until the outside turns golden and crispy all over. Leftover Mac and Cheese Waffles have a really fun texture that kids go crazy for when you serve them for lunch or afternoon snacks after school.
Get the Recipe: Leftover Mac and Cheese Waffles

Ensalada de Camarón (Mexican Shrimp Salad)

Ensalada de Camaron (Mexican Shrimp Salad) in a large white serving dish. — Ensalada de Camaron. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen.

Cold shrimp tosses with crispy vegetables and smooth dressing to create this light and refreshing salad that’s super easy. Ensalada de Camarón works perfectly as a cool lunch or starter that makes the most of extra cooked shrimp sitting around from dinner.
Get Recipe: Ensalada de Camarón

BBQ Bacon Chicken Pizza

A rectangular pizza on a baking sheet, topped with melted cheese, shredded chicken, sliced red onions, and bacon. One corner piece has been removed, revealing a thin, crispy crust edge with some cheese pulled away. — BBQ Bacon Chicken Pizza. Photo credit: The Frozen Biscuit.

Pulled chicken tosses with tangy barbecue sauce, crunchy bacon pieces, and lots of cheese on top of pizza dough before baking. BBQ Bacon Chicken Pizza comes out golden brown for a dinner that tastes absolutely nothing like boring leftovers you’re trying to finish up from yesterday.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Bacon Chicken Pizza

Gluten Free Orange Chicken

A white plate with pieces of chicken covered in a thick, glossy brown sauce, garnished with chopped green onions. A silver fork and knife are placed on the edge of the plate. — Gluten Free Orange Chicken. Photo credit: 100 Days of Real Food.

Small chicken pieces get covered in sweet orange-flavored sauce to create this simple dish that tastes like takeout food at home. Gluten Free Orange Chicken serves perfectly over fluffy white rice for a meal that feels like you ordered from a restaurant but costs way less.
Get the Recipe: Gluten Free Orange Chicken

Creamy Chipotle Chicken Tostadas

A tostada topped with shredded chicken, cream sauce, and sliced avocado sits on a blue and white patterned plate. A lime half and a dish of rice are in the background on a wooden table. — Creamy Chipotle Chicken Tostadas. Photo credit: Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Shredded chicken gets tossed with smoky sauce and smooth toppings to create these quick and easy tostadas that everyone will love. Creamy Chipotle Chicken Tostadas stack crunchy corn tortillas with spicy chicken, cool avocado slices, and crumbled cheese for something that’s crispy, creamy, and packed with taste in every single bite.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Chipotle Chicken Tostadas

Maryland Style Crab Cakes

A rustic ceramic platter holds seven crab cakes, browned and cooked to perfection, garnished with chopped herbs. Three lemon wedges and sprigs of fresh parsley are arranged at the side for added zest and decoration. The platter sits on a wooden table. — Maryland Style Crab Cakes. Photo credit: Coey Cooks.

Extra crab meat combines with breadcrumbs and seasonings to form these golden fried patties with a crunchy outside layer. Maryland Style Crab Cakes get soft in the center and taste perfect with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or cool tartar sauce for dipping each bite.
Get the Recipe: Maryland Style Crab Cakes

Breakfast Tamales (using leftover tamales)

Breakfast tamales served with two runny eggs, green salsa, and sliced jalapenos. — Breakfast Tamales. Photo By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Turn yesterday’s tamales into a morning meal by adding fried eggs and fresh salsa right on top of the warm masa. Breakfast Tamales become a filling way to start your day while using up extras that might otherwise just sit in the fridge getting stale and boring.
Get Recipe: Breakfast Tamales

Buffalo Chicken Casserole

Pulled chicken mixes with hot buffalo sauce and lots of gooey melted cheese in this super easy baked dish. Buffalo Chicken Casserole gets bubbly in the oven and goes great with crunchy celery sticks or cool ranch dressing drizzled on the side for dipping.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Casserole

Chicken Salad Sandwich

Three toasted hoagie rolls filled with a vibrant mixture of sliced chicken, avocado, cherry tomatoes, red onions, and leafy greens are arranged on a wooden surface lined with parchment paper. One sandwich is partially wrapped in white paper. — Chicken Salad Sandwich. Photo credit: The Frozen Biscuit.

Diced chicken mixes with crunchy celery, smooth mayo, and yummy seasonings to create this classic sandwich filling everyone recognizes and loves. Chicken Salad Sandwich tastes delicious on soft bread, crunchy crackers, or even wrapped up in crispy fresh lettuce leaves for a lighter option.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Salad Sandwich

Easy Leftover Turkey Pot Pie with Puff Pastry Crust

A skillet pot pie with golden-brown puff pastry crust, partially served onto a plate beside it. The plate has a slice of the pie with a fork resting on its edge. A striped yellow and white cloth is partially visible in the background. — Easy Leftover Turkey Pot Pie with Puff Pastry Crust. Photo credit: Coley Cooks.

Chopped turkey and mixed vegetables bake underneath flaky golden pastry in this warm and cozy dish that smells incredible. Easy Leftover Turkey Pot Pie with Puff Pastry Crust makes holiday extras feel like a completely brand new meal instead of just reheated leftovers from days ago.
Get the Recipe: Easy Leftover Turkey Pot Pie with Puff Pastry Crust

Lobster Eggs Benedict with Saffron Cream Sauce

A beautifully presented dish of eggs benedict featuring poached eggs with runny yolks atop English muffins, garnished with microgreens and a creamy hollandaise sauce. Lobster or crab meat adds a gourmet touch, all served on an elegant white plate. — Lobster Eggs Benedict with Saffron Cream Sauce. Photo credit: Cooking with Wine Blog.

Chopped seafood sits on toasted bread rounds with soft poached eggs and smooth sauce drizzled over everything perfectly. Lobster Eggs Benedict with Saffron Cream Sauce turns fancy leftover seafood into a special brunch that feels like something from an expensive restaurant instead of home cooking.
Get the Recipe: Lobster Eggs Benedict with Saffron Cream Sauce

Healthy Sweet Potato & Turkey Chili

A hearty bowl of chili with chunks of sweet potatoes, corn, peas, green onions, and fresh cilantro. The chili is rich in color and texture, served in a blue bowl placed on a green napkin with a wooden bowl of chips and a halved avocado in the background. — Healthy Sweet Potato & Turkey Chili. Photo credit: In The Kids Kitchen.

Chopped turkey and orange potatoes bubble with beans and spices in this hearty thick chili that fills you right up. Healthy Sweet Potato & Turkey Chili actually tastes even better the day after you make it as all the flavors blend together while sitting overnight.
Get the Recipe: Healthy Sweet Potato & Turkey Chili

Ensalada de Pollo (Mexican Chicken Salad)

A plate of shredded chicken in creamy sauce, inspired by Mexican chicken recipes, surrounded by tortilla chips. Garnished with a pickle and a slice of carrot on the side, all served on a rustic wooden surface. — Ensalada de Pollo. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen.

Pulled chicken combines with sweet corn, colorful peppers, and creamy mayo to create this tasty salad mixture everyone enjoys. Ensalada de Pollo stuffs great sandwiches or gets scooped up with crunchy tortilla chips for a quick snack when you’re hungry between meals.
Get Recipe: Ensalada de Pollo

Blue Cheese Chicken Wraps with Bacon

A close-up of a tortilla wrap filled with fresh green lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, and creamy chicken salad. The wrap is placed on a wooden surface, and the ingredients are spilling out slightly, showcasing the vibrant colors and textures. — Blue Cheese Chicken Wraps with Bacon. Photo credit: Dizzy Busy & Hungry.

Diced chicken mixes with sharp blue cheese and crispy bacon pieces all wrapped up in soft tortillas for easy eating. Blue Cheese Chicken Wraps with Bacon make a tasty lunch that comes together in just minutes using yesterday’s leftovers from the fridge you need to use.
Get the Recipe: Blue Cheese Chicken Wraps with Bacon

Turkey Rice Soup

A bowl of chicken and wild rice soup garnished with herbs. The soup contains chunks of chicken, slices of celery, carrots, and a medley of wild rice in a broth. The bowl is white and set on a light-colored surface with a small heap of chopped greens nearby. — Turkey Rice Soup. Photo credit: Mae’s Menu.

Extra turkey and cooked rice bubble with colorful vegetables in tasty broth that warms you right up from the inside out. Turkey Rice Soup makes a comforting bowl that works perfectly for cold days or when you’re feeling sick and need something gentle on your stomach.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Rice Soup

Easy Leftover Roast Lamb Shepherd’s Pie

A white oval casserole dish filled with scalloped potatoes, topped with browned, melted cheese, and garnished with fresh basil leaves. The dish is placed on a checkered blue cloth. — Easy Leftover Roast Lamb Shepherd’s Pie. Photo credit: Rainy Day Mum.

Diced lamb and thick gravy get covered with fluffy mashed potatoes that bake until the top turns golden brown and crispy. Easy Leftover Roast Lamb Shepherd’s Pie turns Sunday dinner extras into a comforting meal perfect for busy weeknights when you don’t have much time to cook.
Get the Recipe: Easy Leftover Roast Lamb Shepherd’s Pie

Maqluba (Makloubeh) Upside-down Rice Dish

A large, round dish of layered rice and meat sits on a white plate. The top layer appears browned and crispy, while the rice beneath looks fluffy and well-cooked. A blurred bowl of sliced vegetables is visible in the background. — Maqluba (Makloubeh) Upside-down Rice Dish. Photo credit: Cooking Gorgeous.

Layers of rice, meat pieces, and vegetables cook together in one pot then flip upside down onto a big serving plate. Maqluba makes an impressive presentation that looks really fancy while using up whatever random leftovers you happen to have sitting around in containers in your fridge.
Get the Recipe: Maqluba (Makloubeh) Upside-down Rice Dish

Leftover Thanksgiving Casserole (Gluten-free)

A white ceramic baking dish filled with a golden, crispy stuffing mixture containing bread cubes, diced vegetables, and bits of sausage. The dish is placed on a dark gray cloth, and the background contains a light, textured surface. — Leftover Thanksgiving Casserole (Gluten-free). Photo credit: Grain Free Table.

Turkey, stuffing, and vegetables stack together with gravy in one convenient dish that goes straight into the oven to bake. Leftover Thanksgiving Casserole bakes until everything gets hot and the top turns crispy for all those holiday flavors in every single forkful you take.
Get the Recipe: Leftover Thanksgiving Casserole (Gluten-free)