Bored by leftovers? How to make everything from chicken to rice more exciting.

While leftovers are usually stashed away in the fridge with good intentions, they often end up forgotten or just plain ignored in favor of a brand-new meal. A once delicious entrée or side dish becomes a sad container of food, destined for the bin (hopefully, before it starts to grow mold). It’s one of the reasons America has a food waste problem. A 2023 study estimates that U.S. households waste enough food to fill up 1 million dump trucks a year, with uneaten leftovers being one of the main culprits. People who frequently throw away leftovers (at least two or three times per week) toss out about 12 cups of food every week.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. With a little creativity, everyday leftovers can be transformed into appetizing meals and snacks. Plus, you’ll cut down on food waste and make your food budget stretch further too. Here are easy ways to take your leftovers from dull to delightful:

Chicken

Arguably the most versatile source of protein, cooked chicken can be turned into tasty sandwiches, thrown on top of salads, stirred into soups, used as a stuffing for enchiladas and tacos, tossed together with pasta and so much more.

Need a little inspiration? Try this barbecue chicken naan pizza recipe. Got leftover chicken and some pasta lying around? Check out these 17 chicken pasta dinner recipes that you can whip up in 30 minutes. If that’s not enough, these 40 leftover chicken recipes — from buffalo chicken sliders to spicy lemon-ginger chicken soup — will give you some more ideas.

Steak

Steak leftovers can be deliciously repurposed in salads, stews and sandwiches. But the wrong reheating method can leave you with tough and chewy steak, which no one wants. Skip the microwave and try throwing it in a stew or serving cold on a salad to avoid a dental dilemma.

Check out these 15 stew recipes for some inspiration. But that’s just scratching the surface. Here are 21 recipes for leftover steak, including a yummy heirloom tomato and steak caprese.

Ground beef

Leftover ground beef shines in flavorful soups (hello, chili!), spaghetti Bolognese, quesadillas, shepherd’s pie, ramen and more. Registered dietitian Heidi McIndoo recommends turning ground beef into super nachos for a scrumptious next-day meal or hearty snack. “Layer the chips, the leftover meat, beans and cheese a couple of times and bake until the cheese melts,” McIndoo tells Yahoo Life.

You can also shake things up with one of these 13 ground beef recipes.

Pasta

Leftover cold pasta doesn’t hold much appeal all by itself; however, adding a sauce or dressing can quickly turn it into an appetizing side or main meal. Try tossing cold pasta with pesto and cherry tomatoes for a quick and easy pasta salad (here’s an easy recipe for it). Prefer your noodles hot? Add them to a skillet with marinara, pesto, or lemon juice and olive oil, and a source of protein like chicken or shrimp, and heat until warmed through.

Since this won’t be the last time you’ll have some extra noodles on hand, it’s worth checking out these 18 creative leftover pasta recipes. Pasta frittata, anyone?

Rice

Leftover rice makes great next-day fried rice — in fact, some say using leftover rice, rather than a freshly made batch, is the best way to make this dish. Stir-fry your favorite veggies and protein, and then add leftover rice, soy sauce and a lightly beaten egg to the pan for a fast and delicious meal.

Or whip up something sweeter: McIndoo recommends adding milk and dried fruit to leftover rice to make rice pudding. “It’s yummy, a great way to use leftovers, and a protein- and calcium-rich snack thanks to the milk,” she says. Try this creamy rice pudding recipe.

Pizza

Can’t stomach the thought of another piece of pizza? Try chopping it into cubes and air frying it to create pizza croutons (check out this easy recipe). Dip the croutons into tomato sauce for a snack or toss over a salad or into a creamy soup for a hearty twist.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even add diced pizza to a frittata or an egg scramble (such as this recipe) for a pizza-inspired breakfast. For more creative ways to transform leftover pizza, check out these recipes.

Mashed potatoes

Revive leftover mashed potatoes by turning them into crispy potato pancakes. Here’s how: “Form the mashed potatoes into a ball shape and place them in a frying pan with a small amount of oil,” registered dietitian Alyssa Smolen tells Yahoo Life. “Once in the pan, use a spatula to flatten them. Cook on each side until they’re golden brown.” (Here’s a recipe.)

Shepherd’s pie is another delicious way to repurpose traditional mash. Want more options? Here are seven ideas for leftover mashed potatoes, including gnocchi.

Veggies

Cooked vegetables are super versatile and can be added to salads, sandwiches, soups, stir-fries, pizza, pasta, omelets and more. For example, roasted bell peppers and carrots are delicious additions to stir-fries, while grilled eggplant can be transformed into baba ghanoush (give this recipe a try).

You can also make a comforting veggie lasagna inspired by one of these 15 high-protein vegetable lasagna recipes. The only limit is your imagination!

An important note on food safety

While leftovers can make a great next-day meal, there are a few food safety considerations to keep in mind to ensure they’re safe for consumption. After cooking, refrigerate leftovers within two hours and store in small, shallow containers to prevent bacterial growth. Leftovers can keep for up to four days in the fridge (or three to four months in the freezer). Anything older than that should go in the bin to avoid foodborne illness.

Similarly, leftovers should be reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F all the way through. This is particularly important if you’re reheating leftovers in the microwave, because it tends to cook food unevenly.

With some creativity and know-how, boring old leftovers can become mouthwatering meals that your family will love.

Edwina Clark is a registered dietitian.