By Nutrition Program Director Danielle Maguire, RDN

With grocery prices on the rise, making the most of every meal has never been more important. Leftovers can save money, reduce waste, and provide quick meals. Let’s look at ways to give last night’s dinner a new life!

Soups and casseroles are some of the most forgiving recipes for using up leftover ingredients. A little chicken, handful of vegetables, pasta, cheese, or a flavorful broth can become a satisfying meal!

Meats – roast chicken, ground beef, etc.

• Add to vegetable soup
• Mix into a taco salad, or combine with mayonnaise, celery and seasonings to make a salad sandwich
• Use in quesadillas, wraps, or pasta dishes
• Use as a protein salad-topper

Cooked Vegetables

• Blend into soups or use for a vegetable stock
• Add to casseroles or stir-fry
• Toss into omelets or scrambled eggs

Rice & Pasta

• Turn pasta into a cold pasta salad with vegetables, beans, cheese, and Italian dressing
• Transform into stir-fry style meal with vegetables
• Add to soups or casseroles

Overripe Fruits

• Blend with smoothies
• Use in bread mixes, cakes, or cookies

Another good practice to use up leftovers is to designate one night each week as “Leftovers Night” instead of cooking a new meal every day. Choose what you’d like from your refrigerated leftovers buffet-style!

Food Safety Tips

• Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours
• Eat refrigerated leftovers within about 4 days
• Reheat foods to 165°F

If something smells off or looks questionable, it’s best to throw it away

If you know you won’t eat leftovers within a few days, you can also freeze them. Be sure to label the containers with contents and date so you can easily identify them later.

Using leftovers creatively not only saves money but also helps ensure that nutritious food doesn’t go to waste. By following safe food-handling practices and thinking beyond reheating the same meal, you can enjoy a variety of tasty dishes while making the most of every grocery dollar.