leftovers

6 Ways to Use Leftover BBQ Chicken

October 21, 2014 by Tiffany King 4 Comments

No matter if your BBQ chicken was grilled, baked, slow cooked or even a BBQ rotisserie chicken, it is wonderful to have leftovers. It might not be quite as versatile as plain cooked chicken, but there are still a lot of possibilities.

1. Fajitas

We love this version, but you can add any type of veggies you like. You might even try adding pineapple!

2. Quesadillas

Instead of wrapping in a soft tortilla, use the BBQ chicken to make quesadillas. Try adding your choice of cheese, along with bacon and green onions. Toast until crispy on the outside and melty on the inside.

3. Nachos

I made these 15 Minute BBQ Chicken Nachos with rotisserie chicken, but they’d be even better with BBQ Chicken. Keep the ingredients handy for game day, because these are great for a party!

4. Top baked potatoes or baked sweet potatoes

Use leftover, shredded bbq chicken to top baked potatoes or sweet potatoes. This is a great meal if you’re dealing with a few picky eaters. You can bake both white and sweet potatoes and let everyone have their choice. And if they’d rather have the meat on the side, that works too.

5. Slop Bucket/BBQ Sundae

I ran across versions of this treat twice this summer. Basically, it’s a layer of cheesy potatoes, a layer of baked beans, a layer of bbq meat topped with slaw.

Or there’s this version:

This one has baked beans on bottom, then cole slaw and topped with meat.

I’ve never done this at home, but why not? They’re delicious and a little different. And again, if someone wants to keep all the elements separate, they can do that.

6. BBQ Chicken Pizza

Top your choice of pizza crust with bbq chicken, bbq sauce, red onion, pineapple and Monterey Jack cheese. Or change it up with different toppings to go with the chicken. Sounds like a winner to me!

How do you like to use leftover BBQ Chicken?

How to Use Leftover Meatloaf

October 15, 2014 by Tiffany King 3 Comments

I have to admit – leftover meatloaf in our house doesn’t happen often. Teenage boys are very good at making sure of that. But if you do find yourself with a lot of leftover meatloaf here are a few ideas for turning it into a different meal.

Don’t forget that meatloaf slices can be frozen to use another time.

1. Serve it like Salisbury Steak.

Cook onion slices in a pan and pour in a jar of gravy. Serve this over the top of reheated meatloaf slices.

2. Meatloaf Parmesan

Top slices of meatloaf with spaghetti sauce and mozzarella and/or parmesan cheese. Reheat in the oven, with a quick broil at the end to brown the cheese. If you’ve got leftover mashed potatoes, add some garlic and cream cheese when you reheat them.

3. Classic Meatloaf Sandwich

We like it cold with ketchup.

4. Use it like meatballs

Cube leftover meatloaf and add it to spaghetti sauce instead of meatballs.

5. Meatball(loaf) Pizza

I’ve had pizza topped with meatballs or sliced meatballs before. You can do the same thing with leftover meatloaf. Add other toppings that you like and go for it!

6. Italian Style Meatloaf Sandwich

Toast hoagie rolls and top with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese and any veggies you like (onion, mushrooms, green peppers etc).

How do you like to serve leftover meatloaf?

7 Ways to Use Leftover Rice

October 9, 2014 by Tiffany King 4 Comments

Leftover rice is so versatile. It’s one leftover you’ll be glad to have. Here are 7 ideas for using it:

Turn it into Cheesy Rice

One of my favorite lunches growing up was cheesy rice. We would could minute rice and add cheese, but it’s even better if you have long grain white rice or brown rice.

Heat the rice and add any kind of shredded cheese and a generous shake of black pepper.

Make Pizza Rice Casserole

I used instant brown rice in this Pizza Rice Casserole, but you can also use leftover cooked rice. This makes a quick and easy lunch or dinner.

Make Chipotle’s knock-off Cilantro Lime Rice

Reheat the rice, add a splash of lime juice and a handful of chopped cilantro. Serve it with any Mexican dish. Here’s the recipe I wrote on the Savings Lifestyle blog. I used basmati rice, but you can use leftover rice.

Make Freezer Burritos

Vary the filling according to what you have available, but this is a great way to use up leftover rice.

Make Haystacks

Use taco meat or this slow cooker recipe for Sweet Korean Haystacks. Either way is great!

Fry it!

Fried rice is easy and a wonderful way to clear out your fridge. You can use up leftover rice, meats and veggies with this one.

Make a salad

Wild Rice or Brown Rice Salad is fantastic for lunches, picnics or as a side dish.

How do you like to use leftover rice?

Veggie Chowder – Dinner into Lunch (plus a Slow Cooker Giveaway!)

August 28, 2013 by Tiffany King 71 Comments

I’m going to be talking about 3 of my favorite things in this post. Soup. Sweet potatoes. And slow cookers.

Make that 4 of my favorite things – how could I forget easy dinners! When Libby’s asked me to create an easy dinner recipe that cold be repurposed into lunch, I was in. Our lunches almost always consist of leftovers. Why cook twice, when you can do it once and have a second meal out of the deal?

This Veggie Chowder comes together really quick. The other thing I like about it, is that it’s a pantry meal. You can keep all of these things on hand, so you have the fixings for a fast dinner any time.

Here’s what you’ll need: [Read more…] about Veggie Chowder – Dinner into Lunch (plus a Slow Cooker Giveaway!)

21 Ways to Use Leftover Turkey

November 22, 2010 by Tiffany King 10 Comments

Because Thanksgiving is later this week, I decided not to post a new Menu + Grocery List today. Instead, we’re going to talk leftovers. I know the turkeys haven’t even been cooked yet, but it’s good to plan ahead.

All of the recipes listed here call for cooked chicken, but you can use cooked turkey instead. If you have plenty of leftover turkey, portion it out in 2-3 cup quantities and freeze it for later. Having a stock of pre-cooked poultry meat in the freezer is one of my favorite quick-dinner tricks.

On to the recipes. They all have chicken in the name, but call it turkey whatever or fowl food (okay, maybe not that) and you’re good to go. [Read more…] about 21 Ways to Use Leftover Turkey