Memorial Day is a time to get together with Family and Friends. Most of the time, we turn on the grill and put all kinds of stuff on it. From steaks, hamburgers, shrimp… to corn on the cob and everything in between.
We always have a ton of leftovers.
So with that in mind… we want to use all those leftovers to feed the family for the week. What are your favorite leftover recipes?
These simple and fast recipes are delicious and the kids can even help since they are out of school.
Enjoy a taste of Jamaica with this chicken!
Baked Jerk Chicken
A flavorful sweet and spicy jerk rub elevates this chicken to the next level.
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Jamaican Jerk seasoning (Find it in the spice aisle in the grocery store or make your own from this recipe. My favorite is the McCormick brand.)
- 2 lbs bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
Directions
- Rub jerk seasoning on to chicken. Cover and refrigerate. Marinate 2-12 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Coat 9×13″ baking dish with vegetable oil.
- Add chicken, skin-side up. Bake for about 45 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and chicken is no longer pink near the bone.
- Broil for 2-3 minutes to crisp the skin.
Baked Potato Soup
Baked Potato Soup
Baked Potato soup paired with a salad and some crusty French bread makes for a perfect weeknight meal
Ingredients
- 4 large potatoes, baked
- 2/3 cup butter
- 2/3 cup flour
- 6 cups milk
- salt and pepper to taste
- 4 green onions, chopped
- 1 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup cooked and crumbled bacon (can substitute 1/2 cup bacon bits)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Directions
- If potatoes haven’t already been cooked, pierce with fork and bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour, or until tender. Cut potatoes in half and scoop out insides. Chop potatoes and half of the skins (if desired). Set aside, and throw away unused skins.
- Melt butter in stock pot over medium heat. Slowly blend in flour with a whisk until well-blended and bubbly.
- Slowly add milk, whisking constantly to keep milk from scorching.
- When milk is very hot, reduce temperature to low. Add potatoes, peels, salt, and pepper.
- Whisk in green onions, sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt), and bacon.
- Add cheese a little at a time until it is melted.
- Serve with crusty French bread and salad.
A taste of Sweden without going to IKEA!
Easy Swedish Meatballs
An easy weeknight take on this hearty favorite.
Ingredients
- 1 14-16 oz. bag frozen, cooked meatballs
- Cooking spray
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 3 Tablespoons flour
- 3 1/2 cups beef broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
- Parmesan cheese as an optional garnish
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Line large baking dish with aluminum foil. Spray with cooking spray.
- Place meatballs in baking dish and bake for 18-20 minutes.
- Make the gravy while meatballs are heating. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Whisk flour into butter, and cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown (3-5 minutes).
- Slowly whisk in beef broth. Increase heat to medium-high.
- Whisk in cream, and bring to a simmer. Add sugar and Worcestershire sauce.
- Continue simmering, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened (5-7 minutes). Season with salt and pepper.
- Reduce heat to low. When meatballs are heated, add them to the sauce, turning to coat.
- Serve over egg noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes. Garnish with Parmesan cheese.
Steak, Chicken or Pork Lo Mein
Easy Lo Mein
Use your leftovers for a quick, easy, and delicious meal .
Ingredients
- 8 ounces of linguini pasta
- 3/4 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 Tablespoon corn starch
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, diced
- vegetables of your choice – leftover, frozen, or fresh
- leftover chicken, beef, pork, or shrimp, cut into bite-sized pieces
Directions
- Cook pasta and drain.
- Mix chicken broth, soy sauce, and corn starch.
- Cook or heat vegetables in a large skillet over medium heat. Add meat.
- Pour broth mixture into skillet. Toss with pasta.
Pork Chops with Creamy Mustard Sauce
Pork Chops with Creamy Mustard Sauce
Use this creamy sauce to add some punch to pork.
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless pork tenderloin
- Salt and pepper
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk (don’t confuse with sweetened condensed milk)
- 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 3 green onions, sliced (optional garnish)
Directions
- Cut pork into 1-inch thick slices.
- Place pork between two pieces of plastic wrap. Use a meat mallet or rolling pin, flatten to 1/4-inch thickness.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Add olive oil to pan, and saute ginger and garlic on medium-high heat.
- Add 2 pieces of pork to pan and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until cooked.
- Remove from skillet; cover with foil to keep warm.
- Cook remaining pork, remove from skillet, and keep warm.
Chicken Avocado Rice Bowl
Chicken Avocado Rice Bowls
Use leftover chicken to create an easy, yummy, and healthy weeknight meal.
Ingredients
- 2-3 cooked chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 3 cups cooked brown rice (1 cup uncooked rice yields 3 cups cooked rice)
- 2 avocados, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 cups (1 pint) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup cashews or walnuts
- 1/2 cup feta cheese (can substitute shredded colby-jack, cheddar, etc)
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh lime wedges
- salsa for garnish (optional)
- plain Greek yogurt or sour cream for garnish (optional)
- chopped cilantro for garnish (optional)
Directions
- Distribute rice, chicken, avocado, cherry tomatoes, nuts, and cheese between 4 bowls.
- Squeeze lime juice over bowls, and add salt and pepper to taste.
- Garnish with salsa, Greek yogurt (or sour cream), and cilantro. Recipe Notes – If you don’t have Italian seasoning, you can substitute equal parts of dried oregano, dried basil and dried thyme. – Make sure your pan is oven safe to 400 degrees.
If you are looking for more easy and delicious recipes, checkout CreativeContessaDesigns.com’s Recipe Page.
Make sure to share with us your favorite leftover recipes!
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