15+ Ideas for What to Make With Leftovers

Have tons of leftover ingredients? Let’s put them to good use! Whether your fridge is full of random vegetables, chicken, beef, or sauces and herbs, there’s always a way to make something new and delicious with them. Here are 15+ Ideas for What to Make With Leftovers!

15+ Ideas for What to Make With Leftovers

One topic that I’m incredibly passionate about is food waste. I absolutely hate wasting food! As a food blogger who cooks all of the time, I’m constantly finding new ideas for how to save leftover ingredients. My family even laughs at me for how extreme I am! Cody says I can’t call it chili if I throw in every random leftover ingredient from my refrigerator. I beg to differ.

Jokes aside, there are definitely ways to use up leftover ingredients and make something new with them! No matter what foods are in your fridge right now, there’s a recipe that can bring it to life again and prevent food waste. Ready to dive in? Here are my favorite 15+ Ideas for What to Make With Leftovers. You’ve got this!

RELATED: 30+ Leftover Chicken Recipes

1. Tacos

Making delicious tacos with leftover ingredients are a great way to use up different items in your fridge or freezer!

Perfect For:

• Leftover Meats (Chicken, Beef, Seafood)
• Leftover Herbs
• Vegetables or Legumes

Recipe Ideas:

• Healthy Sriracha Shredded Chicken Tacos
• Baja Shrimp Tacos Recipe
• Vegan Chipotle Chickpea Tacos
• The BEST Chicken Fajita Tacos
• Spicy Salmon Tacos w/ Avocado Lime Dressing

2. Soups/Stews

What to make with leftovers? Throw the ingredients in a stock pot with broth and other delicious items to make a tasty soup or stew!

Perfect For:

• Almost anything! Meats, vegetables, legumes, herbs
• Leftover broth
• Canned Goods
• Leftover grains, cooked or uncooked

Recipe Ideas:

• 4-Ingredient Potato Soup
• Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup
• The BEST Crockpot Vegetable Soup
• Chicken Tortilla Soup
• The BEST Beef Stew (Quick & Easy)
• Hearty Vegan Lentil Soup Recipe
• Vegan Ramen Soup w/ Zucchini Noodles

3. Overnight Oats

Overnight oats (or any type of oatmeal) is a great idea for leftover fruit, grains, or milk.

Perfect For:

• Leftover Cooked or Uncooked Grains (oats, quinoa, etc)
• Fresh Fruit
• Seeds/Nuts
• Dried Fruit
• Milk/Yogurt
• Protein Powder

Recipe Ideas:

• Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats
• Vanilla Cream Protein Overnight Oats
• Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats
• Strawberries & Cream Overnight Oats
• Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
• Banana Coconut Cream Pie Overnight Oats
• Easy Blueberry Chia Overnight Oats

4. Pizza

Chop up your leftover ingredients and throw them on a pizza crust for a delicious meal!

Perfect For:

• Leftover Flours
• Leftover Naan or Pita Bread
• Cheese
• Hummus
• Sauces
• Vegetables
• Meats

Recipe Ideas:

• Vegetarian Hot Honey Pizza
• Vegan Pizza Dough (No Yeast)
• Easy Mediterranean Pizza Recipe
• Spinach & Mushroom Naan Pizza
• Spinach Pesto Goat Cheese Individual Pizzas
• Vegan Red Pepper Hummus Pizza
• 10-Minute Margherita Pita Bread Pizzas

5. Salads

Wondering what to make with leftover vegetables or grains? Salads are a great option!

Perfect For:

• Leftover Lettuce/Greens
• Herbs
• Vegetables
• Fruit
• Grains
• Meats
• Legumes

Recipe Ideas:

• Roasted Sweet Potato Black Bean Salad
• Roasted Chickpea Fall Salad
• Spicy Southwest Salad Recipe (Chick-Fil-A Copycat)
• Spicy Radish Summer Quinoa Salad
• Moroccan Chickpea Carrot Salad
• Easy Healthy Taco Salad w/ Ground Turkey
• Sun-Dried Tomato & Arugula Lentil Salad
• Poached Egg & Avocado Breakfast Salad
• Easy Quinoa Salad With Feta Cheese

6. Grain Bowls

Wholesome grain bowls are the perfect solution for what to make with leftovers!

Perfect For:

• Grains (Rice, Quinoa, Etc.)
• Vegetables (Raw or Cooked)
• Leftover Meats
• Sauces

Recipe Ideas:

• Harvest Bowls Recipe
• Hot Honey Chicken Bowls
• Chimichurri Chicken Bowls
• Taco Bowl Recipe
• Vegan Buffalo Chickpea Bowls
• Meal Prep Southwest Chicken Burrito Bowls

7. Casseroles

You can’t go wrong with throwing your leftover ingredients into a casserole dish, tossing it with cream, and topping it off with cheese. The perfect dinner idea!

Perfect For:

• Leftover Cheese
• Meats
• Vegetables
• Grains
• Leftover Holiday Food

Recipe Ideas:

• Chicken Broccoli Stuffing Casserole
• Paleo Chicken Mushroom Casserole
• Chicken Fajita Casserole
• Baked Mixed Vegetable Casserole
• Spicy Southwest Butternut Squash Casserole
• Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti Squash Casserole (Freezer Meal)
• Easy Turkey Rice Casserole

8. Breakfast Toast

Breakfast toast is a great way to use up creamy cheeses and avocado!

Perfect For:

• Nut Butters
• Leftover Avocado
• Eggs
• Breads
• Leftover Jams/Jelly
• Spreadable Cheeses
• Fruit

Recipe Ideas:

• The BEST Easy Avocado Toast Recipe
• Healthy Ezekiel Bread French Toast
• Apple Cinnamon Peanut Butter Breakfast Toast
• Healthy French Toast with Peach Chia Seed Compote

9. Sauces

If you’re still wondering what to make with leftovers, sauces are an amazing idea! This is especially helpful for leftover vegetables and nut butters.

Perfect For:

• Leftover Vegetables
• Oils
• Vinegar
• Nut Butters
• Milk/Yogurt
• Herbs

Recipe Ideas:

• Healthy Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce
• Creamy Lemon Tahini Dressing
• Vegan Turmeric Ginger Dressing
• 10-Minute Avocado Pasta Sauce
• Honey Mustard Dressing Recipe
• 10-Minute Healthy Ranch Dressing
• Creamy Avocado Lime Dressing

10. Herb/Seasoning Cubes

Throw your leftover herbs into the blender and blend with the oil, vegetables, and any other tasty ingredients. Place it in an ice cube tray and freeze!

Perfect For:

• Leftover Herbs

Recipe Ideas:

• Frozen Herb Cubes (opens in a new tab)
• Seasoning Cubes (opens in a new tab)

11. Pasta

Pasta is one of the best solutions for what to make with leftover meats and cheeses!

Perfect For:

• Noodles/Pasta
• Leftover Cheeses
• Broth
• Vegetables
• Leftover Sauces
• Herbs
• Leftover Meats

Recipe Ideas:

• The BEST Easy Healthy Lasagna Recipe
• Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake
• Salmon Pasta Recipe
• Creamy Brie Pasta Recipe
• Mushroom & Spinach Pasta Bake
• Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Recipe
• Chicken Pesto Pasta Bake

12. Chili

Despite what my husband says, leftover vegetables in chili is TOTALLY valid! And so, so yummy.

Perfect For:

• Grains
• Legumes
• Leftover Meats
• Vegetables
• Broth
• Cream/Milk

Recipe Ideas:

• Creamy White Chicken Chili
• The BEST Vegan Chili Recipe
• Easy Quinoa Chili
• Veggie-Loaded Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
• Vegetarian Summer Chili

13. Jam/Jelly

Have a ton of leftover fruit? Make jam or jelly!

Perfect For:

• Fresh Fruit
• Sugar
• Syrups

Recipe Ideas:

• Triple Berry Chia Seed Jam
• Peach Chia Seed Compote
• Apple Jam Recipe (opens in a new tab)

14. Pickled Vegetables

Not sure what to do with your leftover vegetables? Pickle them and use them as a topping!

Perfect For:

• Leftover Vegetables
• Vinegar

Recipe Ideas:

• Pickled Radishes (opens in a new tab)
• Pickled Onions
• Pickled Carrots (opens in a new tab)

15. Pies/Breads/Desserts

You can’t go wrong with making breads, pies, or other baked goods (like muffins) to use up leftover fruit, flour, or even grains.

Perfect For:

• Fresh Fruit
• Dried Fruit
• Flour
• Rolled Oats
• Syrups/Sweeteners

Recipe Ideas:

• No-Bake Chocolate Hazelnut Pie
• Vegan Zucchini Bread
• Healthy Banana Bread Recipe
• Sweet Potato Brownies
• Vegan Caramel Sauce
• Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie
• Gluten Free Blueberry Bread
• Healthy Apple Crisp Recipe

16. Smoothies

Making smoothies is the ultimate way to use up leftover fruit and greens!

Perfect For:

• Frozen Fruit
• Fresh Fruit
• Milk
• Yogurt
• Grains
• Greens (Spinach, Kale)
• Protein Powder

Recipe Ideas:

• Cantaloupe Smoothie (Easy + Refreshing!)
• Spinach Banana Smoothie
• Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie
• Peanut Butter Smoothie (No Banana)
• Green Apple Detox Smoothie
• The BEST Tropical Smoothie Recipe
• Peach Yogurt Smoothie Recipe
• Strawberry Banana Chia Seed Smoothie
• Healthy Mango Banana Smoothie

17. If all else fails – FREEZE things!

Still asking yourself what to make with leftovers in your refrigerator, freezer, or pantry? Try freezing food! While everything can’t be frozen, so many things can be stored for later if placed in an airtight container. This is a great way to use up leftovers!