The easiest leftover meal ideas turn yesterday’s dinner into a different format: wrap it, put it in a bowl, make it into soup or add eggs. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking, use them within 3 to 4 days and reheat them to 165°F, and one cooked dinner can cover a second night.
1. Cook once, plan twice.
On a night with more time, cook a little extra of something that works in several formats, such as chicken, rice, beans or roasted vegetables. Then plan the second night on purpose instead of hoping the leftovers get eaten. Our meal plan for busy families uses this for the rushed nights in a week.
2. Four ways to remake leftovers.
- Wrap it: tortillas or pita with leftover protein, vegetables and a sauce.
- Bowl it: rice or another grain, the leftovers on top and something fresh or crunchy.
- Make soup: broth, leftover vegetables and meat or beans, simmered and brought to a rolling boil.
- Add eggs: a frittata, scrambled eggs with vegetables or fried rice with an egg.
| Leftover | Turn it into |
|---|---|
| Roast or shredded chicken | Tacos, fried rice, chicken soup |
| Cooked rice | Fried rice, rice bowls, soup |
| Roasted vegetables | Frittata, wraps, blended soup |
| Chili or cooked beans | Baked potatoes, burritos, rice bowls |
| Meat sauce | Stuffed potatoes, pasta, sloppy joes |
| Cooked pasta | Pasta bake, soup, a cold pasta salad |
3. How long leftovers keep.
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking, or within 1 hour if it is above 90°F.
- Divide large amounts into shallow containers so they cool quickly.
- Use refrigerated leftovers within 3 to 4 days.
- Freeze leftovers you won’t eat in time. USDA says frozen leftovers are best within 3 to 4 months; they stay safe longer but can lose moisture and flavor.
- Label containers with the date.
4. Reheat safely.
- Reheat leftovers until they reach 165°F, checked with a food thermometer.
- Bring sauces, soups and gravies to a rolling boil.
- Cover food while reheating; in a microwave, stir or rotate it so it heats evenly.
- Thaw frozen leftovers in the refrigerator, in cold water or in the microwave. After thawing in the refrigerator, use them within 3 to 4 days.
5. Put a leftovers night on the plan.
Choose one night a week for leftovers and write it on your weekly meal planner. If you prep ahead, the building blocks from our guide to how to meal prep for the week work the same way.
Questions people ask
What can I do with leftover food?
Change the format: wrap it, put it on rice, turn it into soup or add eggs. Plan which night you’ll eat it, and freeze what you won’t use within 3 to 4 days.
How long are leftovers good for?
USDA guidance is to use refrigerated leftovers within 3 to 4 days, refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking. Frozen leftovers keep best quality for 3 to 4 months.
What is the 2:2:2 rule for leftovers?
It is an informal rule of thumb shared online, and versions differ. For a rule to rely on, use USDA’s: refrigerate within 2 hours, use within 3 to 4 days and reheat to 165°F.
Plan the second night
Write tonight’s dinner and its leftover night side by side on the free printable weekly meal planner.
A leftover is a head start on the next dinner, not a repeat of the last one.
Sources and limits
This guide is about organizing meals at home. It doesn’t give nutrition, diet or allergy advice; for those questions, talk with a doctor or registered dietitian.
We checked following our editorial review process. this guide against the sources below on . These organizations have not reviewed or endorsed it, and it has not been reviewed by a clinician.