Turkey pot pie with a stuffing crust

50 delicious recipes incorporating your leftovers

Written by:
September 22, 2021
from my point of view // Shutterstock

50 delicious recipes incorporating your leftovers

As of 2023, the most recent year with available data, some the majority of their meals at home. If you count yourself among that percentage, you might already be seeing benefits like improved health and financial savings. But have you thought about how you handle your leftovers?

Issues surrounding waste continue to plague the United States. A November 2023 study from MITRE-Gallup found that each American household throws away an average of every week. That translates to billions of pounds of wasted food, which in turn —a major contributor to climate change. 

Fortunately, we can all take our individual food waste. With the 2024 holiday season right around the corner, at-home cooks can focus on portion control, making the right amount of food for everyone instead of more than enough. Or, leftovers may be stored in the freezer to prolong their shelf life.

You can even turn those leftovers into a whole new meal. Whether a handful of greens, a  few potatoes, nubs of cheese, or the dregs of a hummus container, there are plenty of recipes to put those extra bits and pieces to good use. To help you out, Âé¶¹Ô­´´ compiled a list of everyday leftovers recipes from . Keep reading to see if any of those mismatched items doing time in your fridge can find a new home before being relegated to the compost bin.

Incredibly Easy Chicken and Noodles

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

Bubble 'n' Squeak

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Total: 30 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

Brunch Enchiladas

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 1 hr
- Additional: 8 hrs
- Total: 9 hrs 30 mins
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 10 servings
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

Chicken Chimichangas

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 19
-

Turkey Pot Pie

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 20 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 1 10-inch pie
- Number of ingredients: 14
-

Brown Rice Breakfast Porridge

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 30 mins
- Servings: 2
- Yield: 2 servings
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

Delicious Egg Salad for Sandwiches

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Additional: 10 mins
- Total: 35 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 6
-

Loaded Mashed Potato Cakes

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Total: 55 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 14
-

Fried Rice Restaurant Style

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

Garbage Soup

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 15 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 12
-

Quick and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 30 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

Baked Potato Soup I

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

Deluxe Corned Beef Hash

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 40 mins
- Total: 1 hr 10 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

Ham and Beans

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 2 hrs
- Additional: 8 hrs
- Total: 10 hrs 15 mins
- Servings: 7
- Yield: 7 servings
- Number of ingredients: 7
-

Pinto Bean and Chicken Casserole

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 13
-

Creamy White Chicken Chili with Salsa Verde

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 1 hr 15 mins
- Total: 1 hr 45 mins
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 10 servings
- Number of ingredients: 14
-

Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 40 mins
- Total: 1 hr 5 mins
- Servings: 16
- Yield: 16 servings
- Number of ingredients: 13
-

Easy Turkey Tetrazzini

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

Mom's Fabulous Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuit Crust

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Additional: 10 mins
- Total: 1 hr
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 1 pot pie
- Number of ingredients: 15
-

Basic Chicken Salad

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 5 mins
- Total: 10 mins
- Servings: 2
- Yield: 2 servings
- Number of ingredients: 6
-

Leftover Ham -n- Potato Casserole

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 15 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

Easy Quiche

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 50 mins
- Total: 1 hr
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 1 10 inch quiche
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

Broccoli Chicken Divan

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 7
-

Dad's Leftover Turkey Pot Pie

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 50 mins
- Additional: 10 mins
- Total: 1 hr 30 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 2 9-inch pot pies
- Number of ingredients: 15
-

Quick and Easy Pancit

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 Servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

Creamy Shrimp and Crab Bisque

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Total: 20 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

Chicken a la King I

- Servings: 7
- Yield: 6 - 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

Cobb Salad

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 50 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

Roasted Chicken with Risotto and Caramelized Onions

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

Chicken Noodle Casserole I

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 1 hr
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

White Cheese Chicken Lasagna

- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 50 mins
- Total: 1 hr 15 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 12 servings
- Number of ingredients: 18
-

Easy Tuna Casserole

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

White Bean Chicken Chili

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 35 mins
- Servings: 9
- Yield: 8 - 10 servings
- Number of ingredients: 14
-

Monte Cristo Sandwich

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Total: 20 mins
- Servings: 1
- Yield: 1 sandwich
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

Ham Bone and Green Split Pea Soup

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 2 hrs 35 mins
- Total: 2 hrs 50 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 12
-

Beef and Wine Soup with Dumplings

- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Total: 1 hr
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 15
-

Quick Pork Fried Rice

- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 13
-

Chicken Enchiladas II

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

Quick and Easy Chicken Spaghetti

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 7
-

Chicken Enchiladas V

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

Cha Cha's White Chicken Chili

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 30 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 12
-

Turkey Carcass Soup

- Prep: 45 mins
- Cook: 2 hrs
- Total: 2 hrs 45 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 12 servings
- Number of ingredients: 18
-

Baked Maryland Lump Crab Cakes

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 12 crab cakes
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

Chicken Noodle Soup

- Servings: 10
- Yield: 10 servings
- Number of ingredients: 12
-

Leftover Roast Chicken Soup

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 2 hrs
- Total: 2 hrs 15 mins
- Servings: 9
- Yield: 8 to 10 servings
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

Grandma's Chicken Noodle Soup

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 12 servings
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

Buffalo Dip with Rotisserie Chicken

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 12 servings
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

Poor Man's Pie

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

Instant Pot® Navy Bean and Ham Soup

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 1 hr 5 mins
- Additional: 20 mins
- Total: 1 hr 40 mins
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 10 servings
- Number of ingredients: 12
-

Trending Now