10 Dinner Ideas with Leftovers for Lunch5 (1)
One of our passions in the cooking world is to be able to repurpose amazing recipes into just as delicious recipes the next day. The art of transforming leftovers into fresh, new meals which are just as tasty as the meal the night before is one we are truly passionate about. There’s so much creativity you can express when it comes to leftovers, as there are no rule books. The meal has already been cooked, so there’s no harm in experimenting to see what you can come up with! This article will share some of our favorite Dinner Ideas with Leftovers that can be enjoyed for Lunch the next day. We hope you enjoy!
1. The Dinner: Chipotle Burrito Bowl
We kick off our list of Dinner Ideas with Leftovers with a classic. Our take on the delicious Chipotle Burrito Bowl. You can customize the dish however you like, just like at Chipotle! However, we urge you to follow the Chicken marinade in this recipe as it is a delight to eat. There will be plenty of leftovers too with this generously portioned recipe, so plenty left to enjoy having fun with our leftover dish
Then make Chipotle Chicken Quesadillas with the Leftovers
Use the leftover Chicken from your Chipotle Burrito Bowl and enjoy these amazing Quesadillas. What makes this dish such a great use for leftovers is you don’t need a whole lot of them to make a substantial meal. About ½ cup of chopped up Chicken is plenty to fill a large Quesadilla. Top it with shredded cheese and if you want to get super fancy, some Pickled Onions for a delicious lunch the next day
2. The Dinner: Salmon Teriyaki
Japanese Food can seem intimidating to some, but it really doesn’t need to be. In fact, with a few key ingredients which are readily available you can make this amazing Teriyaki Sauce, which is the key to this wonderful Salmon Teriyaki Dinner. Finish the dish off with some beautiful Sushi Rice and some fresh vegetables and you’ve got a fancy Japanese Dinner to enjoy!
Then make Beef Teriyaki Tataki with the Leftovers
The dinner recipe produces a substantial amount of Teriyaki Sauce, which will be more than enough to serve this beautiful meal for leftovers the next day. All you need is some good quality Beef (we recommend Beef Tenderloin), and you can make this amazing Beef Teriyaki Tataki dish. It’s a fun twist on Beef Tataki (which is Beef cooked rare and sliced thin) with Beef Teriyaki. The flavor is amazing!
3. The Dinner: NY Style Pizza
Who doesn’t love homemade Pizza night? It’s a fun and tasty way to cook at home. One to try and get the kids involved if you like. Our Pizza recipe follows the classic NY Style and borrows from the famous Roberta’s Pizzeria, a Brooklyn institution. It’s a tasty and affordable meal, that we know will be added to your regular rotation once you give it a try
Then make Pepperoni Fried Rice with the Leftovers
If you’re like us, you probably over-order when it comes to Pepperoni. You never know how much to use on a Pizza, so you just buy a whole lot! Well, instead of letting that Pepperoni go to waste you can turn it into this wonderful Pepperoni Fried Rice dish for lunch the next day! The Pepperoni replaces the traditional Chinese Sausage, and it gives a beautiful, salty sweet taste to the Fried Rice
4. The Dinner: Cauliflower and Eggplant Curry
This Vegetarian Curry is packed full of rich, bold flavors. First and foremost, in the flavor profile is the robust flavors of Roasted Cauliflower and Eggplant. These delicious vegetables are caramelized and then added to a rich, Tomato based Curry Sauce which slow cooks for a few hours to develop in flavor
Then make Vegetable Curry Naan Wrap with the Leftovers
Unless you’re feeding 8+ people for dinner, we guarantee the Curry will yield some leftovers. Keeping in the Indian cuisine style, pick up some Naan Bread (or Roti if you like), and make these wonderful Vegetable Curry Naan Wraps with the leftovers. In terms of Dinner Ideas with Leftovers, this is a very approachable method to use; wrap the leftovers in some bread and chow down on a hearty and tasty lunch
5. The Dinner: Braised Mexican Short Ribs
This dish is a true labor of love, but well worth the time and effort. Short Ribs lend themselves to a low braise to tenderize and be cooked through perfectly. The good news is, you fill that braise with wonderfully flavored Mexican ingredients and the result are these ridiculously tasty Braised Mexican Short Ribs. Perfect for so many Mexican dishes such as Burritos, Enchiladas, or Tacos
Then make California Breakfast Burrito with the Leftovers
No-one does the Breakfast Burrito quite like those Californians. All over the state, the Mexican influence is so evident in the cuisine. However, perhaps there is no more iconic Californian Mexican dish than their famous Breakfast Burritos. The Braised Short Ribs make for a perfect filling along with Scrambled Eggs and melty Cheese for a delicious brunch / lunch the next day
6. The Dinner: 10 hour Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder
This is the kind of Epic Cook Up you spend over a lazy weekend. The name says it all, it’s going to take 10 hours to make, so definitely not a dish to whip up after a busy weekday! However, while it does take 10 hours to make there is very little work involved. Simply give the Lamb Shoulder some generous seasoning then whack it in the oven to slow roast. After 10 hours, the meat is so unbelievably tender and flavorsome, you’ll understand why some good things require the wait
Then make Lamb Empanadas with Sweet Sherry Sauce with the Leftovers
A typical Lamb Shoulder is about 4 – 5 lbs., so there will be loads of leftovers. Instead of just nuking the Lamb in the microwave the next day, try these amazing Lamb Empanadas. We wrap morsels of the cooked Lamb in Puff Pastry and then give them a light bake until crispy and golden. The accompanying Sauce gives a sweet, caramel-like flavor to the dish and makes it a little bit unique!
7. The Dinner: Smoked Trout Pie
There is perhaps no meal more comforting than a hearty Smoked Trout Pie. This is a famous English recipe that is very commonly served at local pubs all around the country. Beautifully flavored Smoked Trout is poached in Cream, leaving it velvety smooth. It’s then piled into a big baking pan with Mashed Potatoes and Caramelized Onions. Top it all off with cheese and bake until golden brown and you’ve got a warming, delicious Pie to enjoy on a cold winters night
Then make Fish Croquettes with the Leftovers
The natural combination of Smoked Fish and Potatoes lend themselves to making Croquettes. This is a fantastic way to utilize the leftovers of the Trout Pie and is so easy to make. Simply ball up a generous portion of Potato and Fish and give them a coating in Flour, Egg wash, then Breadcrumbs and fry in hot oil until crispy. We enjoyed these Croquettes for lunch the next day along with some Kewpie Mayonnaise and a refreshing salad on the side
8. The Dinner: Pulled Mexican Chicken
Perhaps a less commonly method of cooking Chicken is by poaching it. This recipe utilizes the poaching method to amazing effect, as Chicken Breasts are slowly cooked in a poaching liquid filled with spices and flavors from South of the Border. The Chicken is then pull-apart tender, making it perfect for fillings for Tacos and Burritos for your next Mexican inspired dinner
Then make Air Fryer Chicken Nachos with the Leftovers
We love our Air Fryer! We cook pretty much anything we can in there. It’s convenient, fast, and keeps all your food beautiful and crispy. The Air Fryer lends itself great to making Nachos, so if you’ve got some leftover Pulled Mexican Chicken, this will make a great lunch the next day. Place some foil down the bottom of y our Air Fryer tray then build up those Nachos as high as you can fit in the Air Fryer. Pop it in then in a few minutes it’ll be ready. Enjoy!
9. The Dinner: Slow Cooked Kansas Style Ribs
We’re not ones to lean into the BBQ wars about ‘which regions BBQ is the best’, however we will tell you those Kansas folk know how to do some darn-fine BBQ! Our Slow Cooked Pork Ribs recipe lends itself heavily to the Kansas style of cooking, which is a beautiful tomato-based BBQ sauce which is lathered onto the Ribs as they slowly cook in the oven over a low temperature. These Ribs will beg you to come back for more, yet they are so filling so there’s a good chance you’ve got leftovers for the next day!
Then make a McRib with the Leftovers
There’s no need to wait until McDonalds announce the McRib is back when you can make your very own at home! Let me tell you, this homemade version is so much better than anything the fast food places can churn out too. Carve off that beautiful slow cooked Pork meat from the Ribs from the night before then stuff them into a bread roll along with Pickles and White Onions for your very own version of this famous sandwich
10. The Dinner: Crispy Roast Pork Shoulder
Rounding out our list of great Dinner Ideas with Leftovers for Lunch is a favorite of ours. Beautiful Crispy Roast Pork Shoulder is a favorite for Sunday Roast, featuring that famous Pork Crackling Skin which is to die for. Getting the skin beautiful and crisp is guaranteed with our road-tested recipe, which we just know you’re going to love
Then make Cuban Sandwich Bites with the Leftovers
Good quality Roast Pork is the cornerstone for a great Cubano Sandwich. For something a little different, try cutting the leftover Roast Pork into bite-sized pieces then get them onto a skewer with some Bread, Ham, Mustard, and a Pickle for a fun take on this famous Sandwich. They look beautiful and taste delicious!
That’s our list of 10 amazing Dinner Ideas with Leftovers for Lunch that you can try today. All of these dinners produce very generous portions so we’re certain you’ll have plenty of leftovers to enjoy these fun meals the next day
Happy Cooking!
