17 Recipes That Are Even Better as Leftovers
You'll be so glad you waited until the next day.
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Unless you're in a big household that consumes every morsel of a family meal or have mastered dinners for two, chances are, you're going to have leftovers. To some, having food to eat the next day is part of the plan and batch cooking is a lifesaver. To others, the thought of reheating leftovers is completely unappealing. Either way, there are plenty of ways to avoid waste and make those next-day meals more appetizing. If fact, there are so many recipes that are even better as leftovers!
Skeptical? Just check out the 17 ideas below. In some cases, the recipes start from scratch and the flavor improves the longer they sit. Many stew recipes and chili recipes fit this bill, as does Ree's famous rum cake that she serves for Christmas dessert. (Oh, did you assume these would be all be savory meals? Think again!) Or you can make a vat of pulled pork or shredded BBQ chicken that can last for days and made into everything from tacos to salads.
In other cases, you'll find ways to repurpose leftover ingredients in ways that are arguably better than the original meal. Turn plain leftover rice into flavorful stir fry recipes, for example. Or think of just how many ways you can turn Thanksgiving leftovers into completely different meals. You can use that mentality all throughout the year, whether it's a holiday or not. So go on, turn what normally feels like an uninspiring chore into something extraordinary to eat. Leftovers for the win!
Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie
This shepherd's pie not only uses leftover turkey (or chicken if you've got), but leftover mashed potatoes, too. That means you can turn multiple leftovers into pure comfort food at the same time. Genius!
Baked French Toast
Stale bread has so many uses, so don't throw it out. You can turn it into a French toast casserole, for example. It will soak in more of the custard mixture for maximum flavor.
Get Ree's Baked French Toast recipe.
Pork Fried Rice
You're just 30 minutes away from a super flavorful meal that not only uses leftover rice but pretty much anything else you've got in the fridge, too.
Get Ree's Pork Fried Rice recipe.
Spicy Dr Pepper Shredded Pork
Do yourself a favor and make pulled pork if you want to batch cook. The recipes to use it are endless, and the flavor will taste even better after it's had time to soak in all saucy goodness.
Get Ree's Spicy Dr Pepper Shredded Pork recipe.
Beef Burgundy
Whether you make this classic French dish or it's American cousin, the pot roast, your meat and the veggies will be even better if you stash it in the fridge until the next day.
Get Ree's Beef Burgundy recipe.
Arroz con Pollo
Not that you need an excuse to make this classic chicken and rice dish, but the flavors do taste better the next day. You'll be glad you made a big batch so you can savor it for a few meals.
Get the Arroz con Pollo recipe.
Ham Salad
If you make a big ol' ham for Easter, Christmas, or just Sunday dinner, ham leftovers are a given. Chop some up with celery, hard-boiled eggs, pickles, and a creamy dressing for a savory snack the next day.
Get the Ham Salad recipe.
Texas Chili
Ree is a huge fan of leftover chili, especially when the weather gets cold. It'll warm you right up! Plus, the flavors get even deeper with an overnight snooze in the fridge.
Get the Texas Chili recipe.
Corned Beef Hash
Hash is probably one of the original leftover improvement strategies from back in the day. Chop whatever meat you've got in the fridge and fry it up with potatoes, onions, and peppers. Top with an egg and serve!
Get the Corned Beef Hash recipe.
Rum Cake
You don't have to wait until Christmas to make this boozy cake. But you should make it a day in advance whenever you plan to serve it. That way, the rum syrup has a chance to infuse into every morsel.
Get Ree's Rum Cake recipe.
Arancini
Congrats, you made risotto yesterday! Want to improve the leftovers? Roll it into balls, stuff them with cheese, and deep fry them. Now that's even better, isn't it?
Get the Arancini recipe.
Leftover Turkey Soup
To some, the best part of Thanksgiving actually comes the next day when turkey soup is served. But why wait? You can make this any time of year and sub with leftover chicken instead.
Get the Leftover Turkey Soup recipe.
Red Beans and Rice
Get a taste of Louisiana, even when it's not Mardi Gras! Much like the meat-filled stews on this list, stewed red beans actually taste better after they've had a chance to sit and have the flavors meld.
Get the Red Beans and Rice recipe.
Quick Peanut Butter–Chocolate Cookies
Yes, it's possible to make leftover Halloween candy even better! All you need are mini peanut butter cups and some store-bought cookie dough to make this sweet treat.
Get Ree's Quick Peanut Butter–Chocolate Cookies recipe.
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
Pile it high on buns, layer it in tacos, or top off a salad: There are countless ways to enjoy this chicken. The slow cooker makes it super tender and the sauce improves the meat over time.
Get the Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe.
Mashed Potato Pancakes
While it might be tough to argue there's anything better than mashed potatoes, turning leftovers into fried pancakes is never a bad idea. They're soft and creamy on the inside, golden and crispy on the outside.
Get the Mashed Potato Pancakes recipe.
Lemon Zucchini Coffee Cake
Lemon is one of those flavors that actually improves over time. And this cake, with olive oil, sour cream, and zucchini in the batter, it will stay very moist. Bake this cake, cover in foil, and wait until tomorrow to dig in.
Get the Lemon Zucchini Coffee Cake recipe.
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