20 Thrifty Meals That Taste Better As Leftovers
We've all been there: Payday feels far away, your fridge looks a little too empty, and you really don't want to eat cereal for dinner again.
These 20 recipes are here to save the week. They're budget-friendly, easy to make, and far tastier than they have any right to be. Plus, they come with built-in leftovers, so future you is also taken care of.
Southwest Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake
Ready for an ooey-gooey pasta casserole that's loaded with beans, spices, and flavor? Us too. This one serves 8, so get ready for leftovers!Recipe: Southwest Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake
Ultimate Mac 'n' Cheese
Is this really the ultimate mac and cheese? You'll have to be the judge of that. (But, yes, we think so!) This will cost about 50 bucks to put together, but you'll get 12 whopping servings out of it, which makes each serving an economical one. Recipe: Ultimate Mac 'n' Cheese
Crunchy Taco Ring
This recipe is beautiful to look at, fun to devour, and simply delicious to enjoy! And at 8 servings, it's totally perfect for lunch or dinner leftovers.Recipe: Crunchy Taco Ring
Ukrainian Holubtsi Or Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
If you've had stuffed cabbage rolls before, you know two things: They are hearty, and they make awesome leftovers. This labor of love dish will fill hearts and bellies for days in your household.Recipe: Ukrainian Holubtsi Or Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Savory Lasagna
Lasagna might just be the standard for economical bulk meals that make fabulous leftovers for days. Make it even more wallet friendly, and skip the meat. Opt for crumbled tofu, or add some fresh veggies, or just skip it altogether.Recipe: Savory Lasagna
One-Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta
This creamy, garlicky pasta is all about comfort food on a budget. It's ready in about 30 minutes, makes fab leftovers, and plays well with whatever veggies or proteins you've got in the fridge.Recipe: One-Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta
Chicken, Rice & Bean Burritos
These weeknight burritos hit every note: easy, filling, and loaded with flavor. Make a batch, roll 'em up, and thank yourself later when dinner (or lunch!) is already handled.Recipe: Chicken, Rice & Bean Burritos
Grilled Sausage Dinner: The Italian Feast
Weeknight dinner = solved. This grilled sausage situation brings the flavor, color, and good vibes in under 30 minutes. And the leftovers? Even better.Recipe: Grilled Sausage Dinner: The Italian Feast
Weekday Meal-Prep Chicken Teriyaki Stir-Fry
This sweet-salty stir-fry is your new go-to for busy nights. It's fast and colorful, and it packs great for lunch. You just won the meal prep game.Recipe: Weekday Meal-Prep Chicken Teriyaki Stir-Fry
Cheesy Chicken And Broccoli Pasta
If cheesy pasta is your love language, this one's for you. It's creamy and cozy, and it has just enough green to make it feel balanced. Bonus: The leftovers slap.Recipe: Cheesy Chicken And Broccoli Pasta
Cajun Chicken Alfredo
Creamy, spicy, and comforting in all the right ways... This pasta brings the heat (but in a cozy way). You'll definitely want those leftovers tomorrow.Recipe: Cajun Chicken Alfredo
Beef Stroganoff
Big-batch energy. This stroganoff makes 16 servings (!), and the tender beef is a vibe on noodles, rice, or whatever carbs you've got on hand.Recipe: Beef Stroganoff
Chili From Leftover Sauce
Got leftover tomato sauce? Turn it into chili that feels like a hug in a bowl. It's cozy, cheap, and ready to flex for dinner or lunch.Recipe: Chili From Leftover Sauce
Minestrone Soup From Leftover Sauce
This veggie-packed minestrone puts your leftover tomato sauce to work in the best way. Perfect for chilly nights when you want something warm and easy.Recipe: Minestrone Soup From Leftover Sauce
Chicken & Veggie Stir-Fry
Fast, fresh, and totally takeout-inspired — this stir-fry comes together in a flash and keeps great in the fridge. Add rice and boom: meal prep magic.Recipe: Chicken & Veggie Stir-Fry
Everything-In-The-Fridge Pasta
Leftovers, but make it pasta. This dish is a choose-your-own-adventure of whatever's in the fridge, and it somehow always comes out amazing.Recipe: Everything-In-The-Fridge Pasta As Made By Ashley Tyrus-Rawlings
Slow-Cooker Beef Stew
Let your slow cooker do its thing while you go live your life. This stew is rich and hearty, and it makes enough to stretch all week.Recipe: Slow-Cooker Beef Stew
Chicken Meatballs
These baked chicken meatballs are simple, tasty, and super meal-prep friendly. Serve with pasta, salad, rice — you can't mess this up.Recipe: Chicken Meatballs
Hearty Vegetable Stew
This veggie stew is proof that budget-friendly can still taste amazing. Cozy and nourishing, with plenty of leftovers for lazy-night dinners.Recipe: Hearty Vegetable Stew
One-Pan Chicken & Veggie Meal Prep
This one-pan wonder is fast, flavorful, and perfect for Sunday meal prep. It's healthy, it's simple, and, yes — the leftovers are just as good cold.Recipe: One-Pan Chicken & Veggie Meal Prep
For more leftover-friendly meal ideas, download the free Tasty app for iOS and Android to explore our catalog of 7,500+ recipes — no subscription required!
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Buzz Feed
03-06-2025
- Buzz Feed
20 Thrifty Meals That Taste Better As Leftovers
We've all been there: Payday feels far away, your fridge looks a little too empty, and you really don't want to eat cereal for dinner again. These 20 recipes are here to save the week. They're budget-friendly, easy to make, and far tastier than they have any right to be. Plus, they come with built-in leftovers, so future you is also taken care of. Southwest Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake Ready for an ooey-gooey pasta casserole that's loaded with beans, spices, and flavor? Us too. This one serves 8, so get ready for leftovers!Recipe: Southwest Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake Ultimate Mac 'n' Cheese Is this really the ultimate mac and cheese? You'll have to be the judge of that. (But, yes, we think so!) This will cost about 50 bucks to put together, but you'll get 12 whopping servings out of it, which makes each serving an economical one. Recipe: Ultimate Mac 'n' Cheese Crunchy Taco Ring This recipe is beautiful to look at, fun to devour, and simply delicious to enjoy! And at 8 servings, it's totally perfect for lunch or dinner Crunchy Taco Ring Ukrainian Holubtsi Or Stuffed Cabbage Rolls If you've had stuffed cabbage rolls before, you know two things: They are hearty, and they make awesome leftovers. This labor of love dish will fill hearts and bellies for days in your Ukrainian Holubtsi Or Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Savory Lasagna Lasagna might just be the standard for economical bulk meals that make fabulous leftovers for days. Make it even more wallet friendly, and skip the meat. Opt for crumbled tofu, or add some fresh veggies, or just skip it Savory Lasagna One-Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta This creamy, garlicky pasta is all about comfort food on a budget. It's ready in about 30 minutes, makes fab leftovers, and plays well with whatever veggies or proteins you've got in the One-Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta Chicken, Rice & Bean Burritos These weeknight burritos hit every note: easy, filling, and loaded with flavor. Make a batch, roll 'em up, and thank yourself later when dinner (or lunch!) is already Chicken, Rice & Bean Burritos Grilled Sausage Dinner: The Italian Feast Weeknight dinner = solved. This grilled sausage situation brings the flavor, color, and good vibes in under 30 minutes. And the leftovers? Even Grilled Sausage Dinner: The Italian Feast Weekday Meal-Prep Chicken Teriyaki Stir-Fry This sweet-salty stir-fry is your new go-to for busy nights. It's fast and colorful, and it packs great for lunch. You just won the meal prep Weekday Meal-Prep Chicken Teriyaki Stir-Fry Cheesy Chicken And Broccoli Pasta If cheesy pasta is your love language, this one's for you. It's creamy and cozy, and it has just enough green to make it feel balanced. Bonus: The leftovers Cheesy Chicken And Broccoli Pasta Cajun Chicken Alfredo Creamy, spicy, and comforting in all the right ways... This pasta brings the heat (but in a cozy way). You'll definitely want those leftovers Cajun Chicken Alfredo Beef Stroganoff Big-batch energy. This stroganoff makes 16 servings (!), and the tender beef is a vibe on noodles, rice, or whatever carbs you've got on Beef Stroganoff Chili From Leftover Sauce Got leftover tomato sauce? Turn it into chili that feels like a hug in a bowl. It's cozy, cheap, and ready to flex for dinner or Chili From Leftover Sauce Minestrone Soup From Leftover Sauce This veggie-packed minestrone puts your leftover tomato sauce to work in the best way. Perfect for chilly nights when you want something warm and Minestrone Soup From Leftover Sauce Chicken & Veggie Stir-Fry Fast, fresh, and totally takeout-inspired — this stir-fry comes together in a flash and keeps great in the fridge. Add rice and boom: meal prep Chicken & Veggie Stir-Fry Everything-In-The-Fridge Pasta Leftovers, but make it pasta. This dish is a choose-your-own-adventure of whatever's in the fridge, and it somehow always comes out Everything-In-The-Fridge Pasta As Made By Ashley Tyrus-Rawlings Slow-Cooker Beef Stew Let your slow cooker do its thing while you go live your life. This stew is rich and hearty, and it makes enough to stretch all Slow-Cooker Beef Stew Chicken Meatballs These baked chicken meatballs are simple, tasty, and super meal-prep friendly. Serve with pasta, salad, rice — you can't mess this Chicken Meatballs Hearty Vegetable Stew This veggie stew is proof that budget-friendly can still taste amazing. Cozy and nourishing, with plenty of leftovers for lazy-night Hearty Vegetable Stew One-Pan Chicken & Veggie Meal Prep This one-pan wonder is fast, flavorful, and perfect for Sunday meal prep. It's healthy, it's simple, and, yes — the leftovers are just as good One-Pan Chicken & Veggie Meal Prep For more leftover-friendly meal ideas, download the free Tasty app for iOS and Android to explore our catalog of 7,500+ recipes — no subscription required!
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Miami Herald
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Yahoo
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Nestlé recalling Lean Cuisine, Stouffer's frozen meals. See the complete list
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