Meals that Make Great Leftovers

Leftovers are my love language.

I’ve been writing about leftovers for almost fifteen years now and it is still the case that most people aren’t excited by the idea. I’m failing you!

We have been trying to bring our grocery bill down a bit at House Crunch Time though and leftovers are one easy way to do it.

One problem: It only works if the leftovers are good. Personally, I like leftovers that can be eaten as-is, but also can be used in other recipes as an ingredient.

So, in case you need some inspiration, here are EIGHT great recipes that make great leftovers.

Give them a shot and be sure to leave a comment at the end with your favorite leftover meal!

Grilled Citrus Chicken

Believe it or not, it’s almost grilling season. Some might say we never left. But this Grilled Citrus chicken is a really good way to meal plan. It is easy to make (or double) and leftovers are great chopped on a salad or in a wrap.

Baked Turkey Pesto Meatballs

I like to serve these easy meatballs over pasta (like orzo) on day one, but they reheat really nicely for leftovers. You can serve them in a pita on day two with some fresh veggies or a second meal. They are freeze perfectly if you wanted to double the batch.

Crispy Parmesan Potatoes

Potatoes can be the ultimate good leftover and these crispy parmesan potatoes are a winner. While it can be rare to find a side dish that makes good leftovers, these potatoes are great with an egg for breakfast or you can chop them up and add them to a quick curry sauce for a second day dinner.

Slow Cooker Honey Chicken Thighs

Anything in the slow cooker is usually okay on day two but this honey chicken is especially good. I usually serve it over rice but it makes a secret great chicken taco filling as well with fresh Tex-Mex toppings!

Easy Lemon Cutlets

Another twist on chicken, these lemon cutlets have amazing flavor and great served with crusty bread and a salad or over pasta. On day two, slice them up thinly and serve them in a good roll with avocado, tomato, red onion, and arugula for a twist on chicken cutlet sandwiches.

Teriyaki Beef Skewers

These beef skewers have great flavor and make for delicious leftovers. While I usually serve skewers over rice, if you de-skewer one of these and chop up the ingredients a bit, it makes for a great wrap with some lettuce and a little sauce (maybe sriracha mayo).

Pressure Cooker Pork Ragu

Pressure cooker or slow cooker works well for this pork ragu. It’s fall-apart tender though and is great over any pasta you can think of. Leftovers freeze perfectly, which is good because it makes a lot, and you can also use the ragu as a filling for empanadas or chop it up with some cheese for a good grilled cheese.

Perfect Quinoa

Quinoa is a great healthy side dish to have in the fridge. You can sub it frequently for rice or pasta in recipes or bake it to make crispy quinoa, which is a great topper on salads. Some people struggle with cooking it as it can get really mushy if you overcook it, so check out my tutorial for perfect quinoa every time.

What’s your favorite meal that also makes good leftovers?! Leave me a comment!