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Dinner Today, Lunch Tomorrow

Get creative with leftovers and you'll be set for the rest of the week.
By Jennifer Treuting
<p>Whether they're baked or mashed, you can turn your spuds into a brand-new meal with ease. In fact, they're just as versatile the second time around as they are the first: Baked potatoes can find new life in a vegetarian soup, thick and creamy with Colby cheese, while mashed potatoes form the savory crust in a traditional shepherd's pie.</p><br />

<p><strong>Recipes:</strong><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/baked-potato-soup-winter-recipes" target="_new">Baked Potato Soup</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/crushed-red-potatoes-buttermilk-recipe-4754" target="_new">Crushed Red Potatoes with Buttermilk</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/shepherds-pie-1832" target="_new">Shepherd's Pie</a><br />
Corbis
No top hat or rabbit required: Work some makeover magic on tonight's dinner leftovers, and you won't recognize the new meal ready for lunch tomorrow. With plenty of recipe ideas for the most common leftovers like potatoes and chicken, you'll create dishes so good they'll pull a disappearing act of their own.
1

A Savory Mash-up

<p>Whether they're baked or mashed, you can turn your spuds into a brand-new meal with ease. In fact, they're just as versatile the second time around as they are the first: Baked potatoes can find new life in a vegetarian soup, thick and creamy with Colby cheese, while mashed potatoes form the savory crust in a traditional shepherd's pie.</p><br />

<p><strong>Recipes:</strong><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/baked-potato-soup-winter-recipes" target="_new">Baked Potato Soup</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/crushed-red-potatoes-buttermilk-recipe-4754" target="_new">Crushed Red Potatoes with Buttermilk</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/shepherds-pie-1832" target="_new">Shepherd's Pie</a><br />
Corbis

Whether they're baked or mashed, you can turn your spuds into a brand-new meal with ease. In fact, they're just as versatile the second time around as they are the first: Baked potatoes can find new life in a vegetarian soup, thick and creamy with Colby cheese, while mashed potatoes form the savory crust in a traditional shepherd's pie.


Recipes:
Baked Potato Soup
Crushed Red Potatoes with Buttermilk
Shepherd's Pie

2

The Rice Stuff

<p>One of the greatest grains, rice is a natural pick for leftover makeover magic. The sky's the limit with salads, fried rice, and even desserts like rice pudding. Whether it's actual leftovers you're recycling or you cooked extra on purpose, these recipes are great time-savers for the next day.</p><br />

<p><strong>Recipes:</strong><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/curried-pork-salad" target="_new">Curried Pork Salad</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/mushroom-fried-rice-recipe-7669" target="_new">Mushroom Fried Rice</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/cozy-cocoa-rice-pudding-recipes" target="_new">Cozy Cocoa Rice Pudding</a><br />
Getty Images

One of the greatest grains, rice is a natural pick for leftover makeover magic. The sky's the limit with salads, fried rice, and even desserts like rice pudding. Whether it's actual leftovers you're recycling or you cooked extra on purpose, these recipes are great time-savers for the next day.


Recipes:
Curried Pork Salad
Mushroom Fried Rice
Cozy Cocoa Rice Pudding

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3

No Has-Beans Here

<p>If you've got a cup or two of beans left from another meal, don't despair. Whether they're navy beans, black beans, or cannellini beans, we've got ideas for all of them. Our savory solutions include a traditional casserole, a healthy appetizer, and a light lunch, so no matter when you're hungry, you're covered.</p><br />

<p><strong>Recipes:</strong><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/tuscan-salad-crostini-120" target="_new">Tuscan Salad Crostini</a><br />
<a href=/recipefinder/baked-rice-beans-white-veal-sausage-recipe-7803" target="_new">Baked Rice and Beans with White Veal Sausage</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/smoky-corn-black-bean-pizza-recipe-5531" target="_new">Smoky Corn and Black Bean Pizza</a><br />
iStockphoto

If you've got a cup or two of beans left from another meal, don't despair. Whether they're navy beans, black beans, or cannellini beans, we've got ideas for all of them. Our savory solutions include a traditional casserole, a healthy appetizer, and a light lunch, so no matter when you're hungry, you're covered.


Recipes:
Tuscan Salad Crostini
Baked Rice and Beans with White Veal Sausage
Smoky Corn and Black Bean Pizza

4

Veggie Might

<p>Have leftover veggies in your fridge? A half cup of peas here, a small bowl of carrots over there? Put those veggies to work for you with a delicious makeover. Soups and vegetable pies are incredibly flexible and accommodating, allowing you to customize based on what you have on hand — clearing your fridge of those leftovers, or freeing the freezer from frozen veggies that have only a serving or so left. It's the tastiest way to make room!</p><br />

<p><strong>Recipes:</strong><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/sweet-potato-chive-biscuits-4356" target="_new">Sweet Potato Chive Biscuits</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/turkey-mashed-potato-pie-ghk1107" target="_new">Turkey and Mashed Potato "Pie"</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/vegetable-noodle-soup-recipe-7908" target="_new">Vegetable Noodle Soup</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/chicken-avgolemono-recipe-8209" target="_new">Chicken Avgolemono Soup</a>
iStockphoto

Have leftover veggies in your fridge? A half cup of peas here, a small bowl of carrots over there? Put those veggies to work for you with a delicious makeover. Soups and vegetable pies are incredibly flexible and accommodating, allowing you to customize based on what you have on hand — clearing your fridge of those leftovers, or freeing the freezer from frozen veggies that have only a serving or so left. It's the tastiest way to make room!


Recipes:
Sweet Potato Chive Biscuits
Turkey and Mashed Potato "Pie"
Vegetable Noodle Soup
Chicken Avgolemono Soup

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5

Penne-Pinchers, Rejoice!

<p>Sure, adding some sauce from a jar and reheating a bowl of spaghetti is one way to deal with leftover pasta, but it can get boring pretty quickly. Faced with this dilemma, isn't it better to make something new? Savory pies, fritters, and frittatas are all wonderful ways to reinvent your cooked pasta, and they're great time-savers too.</p><br /> 

<p><strong>Recipes:</strong><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/pasta-fritters-487" target="_new">Pasta Fritters</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/capellini-frittata-1308" target="_new">Capellini Frittata</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/spaghetti-pie-easy-recipes" target="_new">Spaghetti Pie</a><br />
iStockphoto

Sure, adding some sauce from a jar and reheating a bowl of spaghetti is one way to deal with leftover pasta, but it can get boring pretty quickly. Faced with this dilemma, isn't it better to make something new? Savory pies, fritters, and frittatas are all wonderful ways to reinvent your cooked pasta, and they're great time-savers too.


Recipes:
Pasta Fritters
Capellini Frittata
Spaghetti Pie

6

Poultry in Motion

<p>Don't sentence yourself to rerun fatigue by microwaving your leftover chicken or turkey. Add some pizzazz the second time around and transform your classic roasted or baked poultry into comforting pot pies and soups or spicy chili and tacos.</p><br />

<p><strong>Recipes:</strong><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/rotisserie-chicken-salad" target="_new">Rotisserie Chicken Salad</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/chicken-pot-pies-153" target="_new">Chicken Pot Pies</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/bbq-chicken-tacos" target="_new">BBQ Chicken Tacos</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/spicy-chicken-chili-recipe-7932" target="_new">Spicy Chicken Chili</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/turkey-vegetable-soup-recipe" target="_new">Turkey Vegetable Soup</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/turkey-veggie-lasagna-ghk1107" target="_new">Turkey and Veggie Lasagna</a><br />
iStockphoto

Don't sentence yourself to rerun fatigue by microwaving your leftover chicken or turkey. Add some pizzazz the second time around and transform your classic roasted or baked poultry into comforting pot pies and soups or spicy chili and tacos.


Recipes:
Rotisserie Chicken Salad
Chicken Pot Pies
BBQ Chicken Tacos
Spicy Chicken Chili
Turkey Vegetable Soup
Turkey and Veggie Lasagna

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7

What's Your Beef?

<p>Beef can take more forms than rare, medium, and well-done: We're talking roasts, steaks, corned beef, and ground beef. It's obvious that a one-size-fits-all approach won't work with leftovers of this marvelous meat, so we've got ideas for beef in its myriad of forms: patty melts and pasta dishes for ground beef, hash for corned beef, salads for sliced roasts, and more. No matter how you slice it, these are leftovers you can really sink your teeth into.</p><br />

<p><strong>Recipes:</strong></p>
<a href="/recipefinder/bistro-beef-salad-recipe-4790" target="_new">Bistro Beef Salad</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/portobello-beef-patty-melt-recipe-9064" target="_new">Portobello and Beef Patty Melt</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/rigatoni-beef-eggplant-ragu-recipe-5477" target="_new">Rigatoni with Beef and Eggplant Ragu</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/corned-beef-hash" target="_new">Corned Beef Hash</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/bratwurst-beer-soup-recipes" target="_new">Bratwurst and Beer Soup</a><br />
Getty Images

Beef can take more forms than rare, medium, and well-done: We're talking roasts, steaks, corned beef, and ground beef. It's obvious that a one-size-fits-all approach won't work with leftovers of this marvelous meat, so we've got ideas for beef in its myriad of forms: patty melts and pasta dishes for ground beef, hash for corned beef, salads for sliced roasts, and more. No matter how you slice it, these are leftovers you can really sink your teeth into.


Recipes:

Bistro Beef Salad
Portobello and Beef Patty Melt
Rigatoni with Beef and Eggplant Ragu
Corned Beef Hash
Bratwurst and Beer Soup
8

Ham It Up!

<p>Dorothy Parker, the famous American novelist and screenwriter, once said, "Eternity is a ham and two people." Given that the average grocery store ham weighs more than ten pounds, there is definitely some truth there. However, eternity with your leftover ham doesn't have to be horrible. Make it heaven with fresh salads and savory casserole-style dishes that will leave you happy for days.</p><br />

<p><strong>Recipes:</strong></p>
<a href="/recipefinder/deviled-ham-salad-on-marbled-rye-bread-recipe-8809" target="_new">Deviled Ham Salad on Marbled Rye Bread</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/ham-chile-cheddar-calzones-recipe-8183" target="_new">Ham and Chile-Cheddar Calzones</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/ham-swiss-rosti-recipe-5881" target="_new">Ham and Swiss Rösti</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/ham-gruyere-spinach-bread-pudding-recipe-5472" target="_new">Ham, Gruyère, and Spinach Bread Pudding</a><br />
Getty Images

Dorothy Parker, the famous American novelist and screenwriter, once said, "Eternity is a ham and two people." Given that the average grocery store ham weighs more than ten pounds, there is definitely some truth there. However, eternity with your leftover ham doesn't have to be horrible. Make it heaven with fresh salads and savory casserole-style dishes that will leave you happy for days.


Recipes:

Deviled Ham Salad on Marbled Rye Bread
Ham and Chile-Cheddar Calzones
Ham and Swiss Rösti
Ham, Gruyère, and Spinach Bread Pudding
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9

The Upper Crust

<p>Don't let your bread "loaf" about. Our fresh ideas will prevent stale menus <em>and</em> stale loaves all day long, from sweetly stuffed French toast at breakfast to dinner with our gooey mac and cheese. Whether you've got a couple of slices or a half baguette, you can put it to good use, no matter what the meal.</p><br />

<p><strong>Recipes:</strong></p>
<a href="/recipefinder/basic-fried-croutons-bread-recipe" target="_new">Basic Fried Croutons</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/macaroni-cheese-buttery-crumbs-recipe-7966" target="_new">Macaroni and Cheese with Buttery Crumbs</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/panzanella-salad-2778" target="_new">Panzanella Salad</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/stuffed-french-toast-4038" target="_new">Stuffed French Toast</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/chocolate-chip-bread-pudding-3227" target="_new">Chocolate-Chip Bread Pudding with Orange Sauce</a><br />
Getty Images

Don't let your bread "loaf" about. Our fresh ideas will prevent stale menus and stale loaves all day long, from sweetly stuffed French toast at breakfast to dinner with our gooey mac and cheese. Whether you've got a couple of slices or a half baguette, you can put it to good use, no matter what the meal.


Recipes:

Basic Fried Croutons
Macaroni and Cheese with Buttery Crumbs
Panzanella Salad
Stuffed French Toast
Chocolate-Chip Bread Pudding with Orange Sauce
10

An Apple a Day

<p>Maybe on your last trip to the orchard or farmers' market, you went overboard. No worries — if you still have an apple or two lying around after your pie-baking frenzy, try apple stuffing, salads, and muffins.</p><br />

<p><strong>Recipes:</strong></p>
<a href="/recipefinder/curried-chicken-apple-over-vermicelli-recipe-7786" target="_new">Curried Chicken with Apple Over Vermicelli</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/roasted-beet-apple-celery-salad-239" target="_new">Roasted Beet, Apple, and Celery Salad</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/apple-cranberry-stuffed-pork-chops-rbk" target="_new">Apple-Cranberry Stuffed Pork Chops</a><br />
<a href="/recipefinder/apple-oat-muffins-ghk1007" target="_new">Apple-Oat Muffins</a><br />
Getty Images

Maybe on your last trip to the orchard or farmers' market, you went overboard. No worries — if you still have an apple or two lying around after your pie-baking frenzy, try apple stuffing, salads, and muffins.


Recipes:

Curried Chicken with Apple Over Vermicelli
Roasted Beet, Apple, and Celery Salad
Apple-Cranberry Stuffed Pork Chops
Apple-Oat Muffins
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