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Fridge Busters: Recipes to Use Up Leftovers

By Pillsbury Kitchens
Created November 13, 2024
Use up leftovers. Platter of tortilla chips topped with chopped tomatoes, onions and cheese alongside smaller plates.
Leftover ingredients mean more possibilities! Check out some of our favorite ways to get even more goodness out of what you already have on hand.

Extra Inspiration for Extra Ingredients

We’ve all been there: no matter how perfectly you plan, there always seems to be a little extra of some ingredient left over. Guess what? That’s good news! That means you have plenty of opportunities to create something amazing at the dinner table. In fact, strategically stocking up on certain staple ingredients is a fantastic way to get more for your money on those big shopping trips. If you find yourself with some extra chicken, spinach, tomatoes, or even pasta, you can find plenty of delicious ways to use them up right here.

Cheers to Chicken

Leftover chicken is one of the secret weapons of the kitchen. It’s a huge time-saver, and since you prepared it perfectly the first time, it’s a flavorful central ingredient. So why settle for simply reheating yesterday’s chicken in the microwave? Instead, create something bold and flavorful like One-Pot Creamy Chicken and Roasted Red Pepper Penne. Smooth tomato sauce with just the right amount of spice transforms the chicken into something a whole lot more flavorful. Or try something totally different, like Chicken-Bacon Alfredo-Stuffed Crescent Ring. It’s an unexpected way to serve up classic chicken alfredo, every bite bursting with rich, complex flavors. You might want to stock up on more “leftovers” to make some of these recipes again!

Serve up the Spinach

Spinach famously cooks down to a fraction of its size, making it tricky to estimate how much you need. But with these recipes, the right answer is always “more!” For a comforting meal, you can’t go wrong with Slow-Cooker Creamy Tortellini and Sausage Soup. Let the slow cooker do all the hard work, so you can reap the rewards of a rich, hearty pasta soup to share. And if you have a lot of spinach, try making Spinach and Beef Lasagna. It’s the perfect make-ahead meal, and you can freeze as much as you need to stretch the spinach even further. And that’s just the beginning! Explore even more spinach recipes and find one you’re sure to love.

Too Much Tomato? No Such Thing!

The wonderful thing about tomatoes is that while they shine in a sauce, they are equally delicious served fresh. A light, fresh-tasting Chicken Spaghetti dish is clearly an amazing way to make the most of leftover tomatoes. If you’re in the mood for something different, Air Fryer Greek Crescent Nachos are an amazing canvas for sliced grape or cherry tomatoes. Looking for something simpler? Sheet Pan Gnocchi takes just 10 minutes of prep time to assemble, but the incredible presentation will look and taste like it took all day.

Grains That Go Farther

Rice and pasta are pantry staples practically designed to be bought in bulk. They have an impressively long shelf life, and with just some salt, pepper, and a pot, you can effortlessly whip up a delicious meal. Elevate your cooking game with Copycat Olive Garden™ Chicken Alfredo, which rivals any restaurant dish. Plus, leftover rice is perfect for our Easy Vegetable Fried Rice. It’s another amazing way to save money while serving up something amazing.

Extra Exciting

Just like leftover meals, extra ingredients offer an opportunity to create something extraordinary with ingredients you have on hand. Find even more inspiring ways to add more flavor to every day right here on Pillsbury.com.