Cook Once, Eat Twice: 7 Recipes That Make Great Leftovers

updated Jun 5, 2019
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(Image credit: Faith Durand)

People often ask me how much I cook, expecting me to say that I’m in the kitchen chopping and baking every day. But the truth is that I only cook two or three times a week. My not-so-secret secret is leftovers with a capital “L”. I say make it once and eat it twice — or more!

I always look for recipes that serve six to eight. With just me and my husband at home, those recipes keep our bellies happy for days at a time. If I make a pasta dish, I keep the sauce and pasta separate so that the leftover pasta doesn’t get soggy. Casseroles are also a big favorite since they re-heat so well. And of course, a roast chicken on Sunday makes its way into meals all week long.

Here are some of my favorite go-to recipes for intentional leftovers:

What are your favorite meals “make once, eat twice” meals?

It’s Reader Request Week at The Kitchn! This post was requested by Mary Frances Ellison.

(Images: see links)