What do you cook to have leftovers?

[java]

On Sundays I usually make something that will result in another meal later in the week.

Our standbys are
Roast Chicken
Turkey Meatballs and sauce


And that's all I've got. We are getting sick of those for Sunday (actually I'm just getting sick of cooking them)

So what are your planned leftover meals? I'm talking about the thing you can cook that will result in a leftover that you can turn into something else later in the week.
I was thinking of doing Pork Shoulder to have BBQ Pulled pork sandwiches as the leftover(or Cuban Sandwiches)

 

[wide awake]

Pork shoulder spiced w/ Mexican seasonings is good because you can use it for tacos or burritos one night, then make nachos, or taco salad, or mix it w/ rice, etc... If you make a chuck roast you can eat it as roast the first night, than mix the leftover meat and broth w/ egg noodles later in the week. The pork or beef can also be made into enchiladas or quesadillas. Ham is easy for leftovers...ham and scalloped potatoes, ham and beans, ground ham sandwiches, ham fried rice, ham and eggs...

 

[mombrontrent]

A few I can think of off the top of my head

Chili- leftovers can be served over hotdogs, rice, in burritos, nachos ect.
Ham- leftovers can be put into soup, omelettes, casseroles with things like potatos, broccoli and cheese
Roast Beef- leftovers can be used for cold or hot sanwiches, stir frys, soup

 

[Marionnette]

I make an eye of round or rump roast. The leftovers can be used for open-face roast beef sandwiches. The same could be done with a pork roast.

Lasagna is even better the second time around. The flavors get a chance to meld together. I serve one and freeze one when I make lasagna. It doesn't take much more time to do. Same goes for baked ziti and baked rigatoni.

I always make a big pot of plain gravy (spaghetti sauce) and freeze portions in those ziploc twist top containers. I just saw a hint in Food Network Magazine that says to freeze it in ice cube trays - they thaw more quickly.

Leftover ham can be cut into chunks and used in a casserole or tossed into an omelet. The bone and pieces can be used to make 15 bean soup. Goya sells a pack of beans with the recipe on the bag.

Grilled chicken can be served over a mixed green salad. I add pears, dried cranberries, bleu cheese, candied pecans and a homemade dressing. YUM!

If I make a meatloaf, I vacuum seal the leftover slices individually and then freeze them. I can pull them out weeks later for a quick last minute meal - just make some garlic mashed potatoes and a green veggie.

Just remember that leftovers can be frozen and served a week or two later. They don't seem like leftovers when you didn't just have them a few days earlier.

 

[Kay1]

I'll just make a huge casserole or chili or etoufee. Fortunately, my husband doesn't mind leftovers.

Hope you get some good ideas.

 

[kacaju]

what do you make the other nights of the week? I pretty much make enough dinner to last us two nights. Even if it is something I wouldn't need the next day, then I can freeze it and save it for a night I have no time to cook.

 

[Jedana]

Pork--
slow cooked shoulder, seasoned with cumin, salt, pepper, onions and garlic.
use it for BBQ sandwiches and tacos

Beef--
Stew, makes 2 meals
Roast-- roast one night, hash w/eggs for the next
Meatloaf--one night, sliced for sandwiches the next

Chicken--
roasted, for one meal; use the carcass to make broth/soups

Spaghetti sauce
one batch is enough for 3 meals here (I make it in the oven in a roaster, lol)
spaghetti, lasanga, stuffed shells, etc.

Ham
baked one night, chopped for omelets the next

French onion soup
soup one night, leftovers make the base for my stew

Chili
chili one night, saved to make chili dogs/fries the next

Mashed potatoes
fry up the 2nd night w/cheese and bacon and chives

 

[Gigi22]

You can top almost any cooked meat with gravy, add frozen peas and carrots, and cover the entire mixture with mashed potatoes. Bake.

 

[mombrontrent]

Pork--
slow cooked shoulder, seasoned with cumin, salt, pepper, onions and garlic.
use it for BBQ sandwiches and tacos

Beef--
Stew, makes 2 meals
Roast-- roast one night, hash w/eggs for the next
Meatloaf--one night, sliced for sandwiches the next

Chicken--
roasted, for one meal; use the carcass to make broth/soups

Spaghetti sauce
one batch is enough for 3 meals here (I make it in the oven in a roaster, lol)
spaghetti, lasanga, stuffed shells, etc.

Ham
baked one night, chopped for omelets the next

French onion soup
soup one night, leftovers make the base for my stew

Chili
chili one night, saved to make chili dogs/fries the next

Mashed potatoes
fry up the 2nd night w/cheese and bacon and chives

I love having leftover mashed potatos for this purpose. Add some grated cheese, green onion or chives, shape into patties with the cold mashed potatos and fry in a little butter, serve with salso or sour cream, so yummy!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

If I make a turkey meatloaf, I will take leftovers for sandwiches or chopped up in a lasagna/meat sauce later on- or even inside tortillas with taco sauce and veggies.

Other ones like roast turkey and grilled chicken have been mentioned.

 

[swilshire]

Almost any kind of potatoes: mashed, stewed, cheesy, baked are good leftover for lunch the next day. I can add a salad or some green beans and be happy. Spaghetti is good. If we have burgers, we make an extra for my lunch.

Sheila

 

[pigletto]

We always make lasagna or spaghetti pie in batches big enough for another dinner and some lunches. I agree with a previous poster.. it always tastes better the second time with those two

 

[semo233]

My family is picky, and tends to eat a lot of beef, so I try to make it go as far as I can. I also try to multi purpose meat as often as I can:

Steak: Even a small leftover piece is frozen and used to top a big salad along with a few pieces either tortellini or ravioli, beans, croutons, tons of veggies, apple or cranberries, etc. I once had a tough steak that didn't go over well with the family and I ran it through the food processor and used to make a beef soup and it was fine (nobody even noticed!)

Brisket: I put a brisket in the crock pot and sprinkle one envelope of powdered onion soup on top, put on low all day (wrap some potatoes with foil and put on top). Take out meat and serve. It cooks out a lot of fat, but I put ALL the leftovers in the fridge overnight and skim off the fat the next day. Use this broth/soup mixture and diced leftover meat as a starter for beef barley soup. Or mix with BBQ sauce for sandwiches.

Roast Chicken: ALWAYS chicken noodle soup, chicken salad, another topping for a big salad

Ham: diced and mixed with eggs for breakfast or breakfast for dinner.

baked potatoes: sliced and used for hash browns

 

[TiffanyK]

Stuffed Shells
50s Prime Time Meatloaf
Grilled chicken - do a bunch and slice and freeze for later
Spaghetti Sauce and extra large batch of meatballs

 

[mrodgers]

Everything.

Spaghetti, there is always enough to 2 days worth of lunches.

Roasts, sometimes these go far and sometimes not. Our beef is raised by my in-laws, sometimes it is extremely good and sometimes it is quite fatty, but still far better tasting than store bought. It just doesn't give as much edible meat when it is real fatty.

Steaks, never leftovers unless I grill an extra. I grill 1 per person, but since I don't cut them, they are a bit small.

Pork roasts, usually crockpot cooked, pulled, and BBQ'ed. I've eaten extra dinner, 3 lunches, and there still is more in the fridge.

Chicken, since it is usually single breasts and 1 per person, and the no hormone or antibiotic which are much smaller, there is some left over for lunch for my wife and daughter who love chicken wraps.

Roasting chicken, never left over. They aren't very big and you only get 2 breasts which I'm the only one who will eat the dark meat. Sometimes there is enough left for my daughter to have a chicken wrap for lunch the next day and sometimes not.

Chili, always enough for lunch or 2 for both wifey and I, but we usually don't make that much for another meal. Chili costs next to nothing since all it is is 1 can of beans. Tomatoes are from last summer in the freezer and beef comes from the in-law's cows. Too easy to make also, though it is better the next day since all the flavors mix together more.

 

[Sandy61]

Right now turkeys are a great price in the stores. I always cook a turkey in Feb March or April before it gets too hot to use the oven for long hours. We love all the leftover turkey meat for sandwiches, enchiladas, tex mex soup, casseroles etc

 

[Fantastic4]

We always have taco salad fix'ns on hand. It's perfect because everyone can put on it what they want. I fry up hamburger or ground turkey, add taco seasoning, a can of black beans and a can of pinto beans. I store it in the fridge in container then keep shredded lettuce/cheese/tomatoes cut up/sour cream etc ready to go. Easy lunch or quick dinner.

 

[Sinderelly]

I make alot of casseroles and it's easy to make two instead on one to freeze for later. I would really go crazy with this if I had more freezer space.
This recipe is a delicious comfort food and freezes well.
Cheesy Ham and Hashbrown Casserole.
1 bag thawed hash brown potatoes
1/2 C butter,melted
1 tsp ground pepper
2 c sharp shredded cheddar
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 to 1lb diced leftover ham
1/4 small onion, diced
1 c sour cream
topping:
1 c crushed corn flakes
1/3 c melted butter
mix all ingredients except potatoes, ham & topping. Add potatoes & ham. Mix corn flakes and melted butter. Sprinkle on top and bake for 45 degrees for 45 minutes.

 

[caribear]

I made Pulled Pork last week for the first time and it was so good!!! I used a 4 lb boston butt and put it in the crock pot with enough Root Beer Soda to cover the meat...put on low for 7 hours. Then I drained the root beer from the pot, shredded the meat (removed all the fat) and added a large bottle of Sweet Baby Ray's Honey & Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce....let cook for another hour....and wow!!! It was the best BBQ!!! I froze the left overs in 2 batches for other meals.

 

[java]

I made Pulled Pork last week for the first time and it was so good!!! I used a 4 lb boston butt and put it in the crock pot with enough Root Beer Soda to cover the meat...put on low for 7 hours. Then I drained the root beer from the pot, shredded the meat (removed all the fat) and added a large bottle of Sweet Baby Ray's Honey & Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce....let cook for another hour....and wow!!! It was the best BBQ!!! I froze the left overs in 2 batches for other meals.

I have been looking for Boston Butt and have been unable to find it at the grocery store(and I'm too embarrassed to ask hey where is the butt?)

Thanks for the ideas all. Got my creative juices going!