Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas (Leftovers)

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Dinner ideas leftovers are the best way to whip up easy dinner ideas in minutes. Leftover food can be transformed easily and you’ll be a dinner dynamo enjoying a wonderful meal.

Making dinner ideas leftovers magic is a wonderful basic cooking skill to master!

Leftover food

If you have a little leftover meat, any kind will work, you can whip up a quick quesadilla meal in no time. And for more easy frugal family dinner ideas, check this out. And even more simple dinner ideas are here.

Quick dinner ideas

Nachos are a great way to use up leftovers. Just chop up the meat and other cooked vegetables you have in the fridge. Lay some tortilla chips on a sheet pan and heat oven to 350. Sprinkle chopped meat and vegetables over the top.

Sprinkle on a few handfuls of shredded cheese and bake until the cheese is melted and chips are crispy.

Add some fresh pico, sour cream, salsa or whatever else you have on hand. Super easy and super quick dinner for the family.

Pork roast is super versatile. It’s inexpensive meat but makes a ton. I love to serve it the first night like roast or in pulled pork sandwiches and then make a ton of other meals from it on the following nights.

Buying a whole chicken can save you a ton of money. You can throw it in the instant pot or crockpot (even frozen) and make several meals out of it. This Leftover Chicken Fried Rice is a quick and delicious dinner you can make.

And who doesn’t love a tender delicious beef roast? You can whip one up in your crock pot with very little effort, all you need is time.

This instant pot turkey breast makes a wonderful tender juicy flavorful meal in no time with lots of meat for leftovers. Or use your leftover holiday turkey to make some great dishes like this healthy leftover turkey pot pie!

Leftover spaghetti makes a wonderful spaghetti pie. It’s rich, savory, and even kids love it. Who doesn’t want to eat pie for dinner? Check out the recipe here.

Tons of quick and easy dinner ideas can be made with the leftovers in the fridge. Pull everything out, see what goes together and whip up one of these awesome soups. You can make pasta meals quickly with leftovers too! There are even great meatless meals that can be made with leftovers.

Dinner ideas for tonight

Pretty much anything can go into a taco. All you need are some heated tortillas and the leftovers from your fridge chopped up and ready to sprinkle in. Add shredded cheese, tomatoes and lettuce plus a dollop of sour cream for a super easy tasty meal. And don’t forget about rolling tender juicy leftover pork into some amazing enchiladas!

A quiche or egg casserole is a great way to use up what’s leftover in the fridge. Check out this egg casserole that even my kids can make. Whatever you have on hand can go right in this recipe as well.

Shepherds pie is a great way to use up leftovers. Or a great breakfast hash as well!

Chicken pot pie is a wonderfully comforting meal for the family. You can use whatever leftover meat you have. Chop it up and make the most delicious thing you’ve ever tasted.

Pop it in the oven and work on homework, baths or whatever you need to get done while it bakes. You’ll have a tasty meal your family will love a few minutes later. I love set it and forget it meals that I don’t have to stand over. They are a real lifesaver.

Any kind of meat can be used in a pot pie. I love making them with my leftover turkey after the holidays. I think turkey pot pie is my favorite, but you can make any kind of beef, pork, poultry or whatever you have on hand into a wonderful meat pie.

The first thing you need to do to make chicken pot pie, turkey pot pie or whatever pot pie is make a crust. Check here for the best one ever.

Leftover Meat Pot Pie

Use whatever meat you have leftover from dinner the night before to make a comforting savory pot pie your family will love.

Ingredients

• 1/2 chopped onion
• 1/4 c butter
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp dried sage
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 2 c chicken broth
• 3/4 c milk
• 2 c chopped cooked leftover meat
• 2 c leftover chopped vegetables or bag of frozen veggies
• 1 crust and biscuits or double crust for top layer

Instructions

1. You can top the pot pie with a layer of crust or a few biscuits
2. Place butter and onion in skillet and cook on low heat until translucent and soft.
3. Add salt, sage, pepper and flour.
4. Cook and stir until flour starts to slightly brown
5. Add chicken broth and milk all at once and stir until thickened and bubbly.  A few extra minutes of cooking will take this sauce from good to delightful, so don’t stop too soon.
6. Add veggies and meat and stir.
7. Dump into pie shell.
8. Top with desired topping.
9. Bake at 350 until thick and bubbly and crust is nicely browned. 45-60 minutes.

Try these:

• leftover brisket recipes
• leftover chicken recipes
• leftover pulled pork

Transforming leftover food into masterpieces that your family won’t recognize takes a little practice, but you’ll be doing it before you know it. Eating at home is healthier than eating out and leftovers can save the day and help you give your family healthier meals. If you want to know more about feeding your family healthy, check this out.

And if you’re just looking for a quick dinner idea for kids, check this out. Here are some Cheap Breakfast Ideas for Daycare too.