Easy Leftover Ideas

Leftovers are not only versatile, but they’re also a great way to reduce food waste. From beef and chicken to rice and potatoes, these recipes will give your leftovers new life.

Leftover ground beef, steak or roast

Spicy Eggplant & Beef Chili blends ground beef with sautéed eggplant, garlic and jalapeños in one pot. Cheddar cheese and green onions are the perfect garnishes for this flavourful take on a comfort classic.

Citrus & Pomegranate Beef Salad partners leftover beef with spinach and citrus fruits tossed in a ginger, honey and Dijon dressing. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and serve with crusty bread.

More recipes to try:

Spicy Steak Tacos
Quick One-Pot Beef & Potato Stew
Garlic-Ginger Beef Stir-Fry

Chicken

Mason Jar Chicken Club Salads are perfect for leftover chicken. While our recipe uses layers of tomatoes, chicken, onion and slaw, you can customize to your liking by adding dried fruit and chopped nuts, for example, or using romaine lettuce instead of kale.

Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Nachos make use of chicken leftovers, too. The chicken is shredded and tossed in barbecue and hot sauces, then sprinkled over a bed of tortilla chips with tasty toppings that bring the heat.

More recipes to try:

Indonesian Peanut-Fried Rice
Phyllo-Topped Chicken Pot Pie
Chicken & Lentil Primavera Pasta Bake

Ham

Turn last night’s ham into an easy lunch with this Ham & Cheese Melt.

Weekend brunches are a cinch when you add chopped ham to this satisfying Broccoli, Ham & Swiss Cheese Quiche.

For a hearty weekday treat that’s prepped and in the oven in just 10 minutes, use leftover chopped ham in Savoury Ham & Cheese Bread Pudding.

More recipes to try:

Ham & Cheese Egg Crêpes with Sriracha Mayo
Big Batch Split Pea Soup
Corn & Ham Pancakes

Pork

Turn leftovers into an artisanal delight with Pork Roast, Pear & Caramelized Onion Sandwiches. Onions are sautéed until soft and golden brown, then spread on mini loaves filled with rosemary-infused mayonnaise and layers of sliced old-fashioned pork roast and Bosc pear.

More recipes to try:

Pork & Vegetable Pizza Pockets
Spiced Pork & Sweet Potato Fajitas
Fiery Pork & Green Chili Stew

Tortillas

Peanut Butter Apple Roll-Ups are a perfect snack for kids and adults. Spread peanut butter over tortillas and cover with thinly sliced apples, celery and blueberries. Roll up, slice, sprinkle with sesame seeds and enjoy!

For a grown-up lunch, a Spicy Seafood Salad Wrap combines crab-flavoured Pollock with cocktail sauce and Worcestershire sauce.

More recipes to try:

Strawberry-Lime Cheesecake Wraps
Grilled Tilapia Tacos with Cilantro Cream
Thai Chicken Wraps

Rice

Salmon & Rice Stuffed Grilled Tomatoes come together quickly when the rice is already cooked.
Layered Corn, Black Bean & Rice Salad is perfect for potlucks and family dinners, especially if you have leftover cooked rice. It layers vegetables, beans and rice, and packs a punch with mango-chipotle dressing.

More recipes to try:

Thai Shrimp Soup with Rice
Steamed Ginger Cod Packets with Rice & Vegetables
Korean-Style Meatball & Rice Bowl

Potatoes

Have extra mashed potatoes? Blend with fajita-kit spice mix to make Potato & Cheese Quesadillas, which are topped with cheddar and mozzarella and baked in the oven.

Use leftover sweet potatoes to brighten your brunch in a Chorizo & Sweet Potato Frittata. This pan-fried mix of sausage, eggs, cheddar cheese and onion is an Italian-style feast!