Save money with these 25 tasty tricks for leftovers

Make meals go further

Make meals go further, Leftover roast beef, Leftover mash, Leftover bolognese, Try it: stuffed peppers, Leftover roasted squash, Leftover broccoli, Leftover corn on the cob, Leftover spinach, Try it: spinach and ricotta gnudi, Leftover roast chicken, Leftover steak, Leftover roasted veg

Leftovers aren't just for Christmas. With a little planning, a lot of inspiration and clever use of store-cupboard and fresh ingredients, you can stretch every meal without getting bored – saving money and wasting less food in the process. Here’s how to turn your leftovers into something new and delicious.

Leftover roast beef

Make meals go further, Leftover roast beef, Leftover mash, Leftover bolognese, Try it: stuffed peppers, Leftover roasted squash, Leftover broccoli, Leftover corn on the cob, Leftover spinach, Try it: spinach and ricotta gnudi, Leftover roast chicken, Leftover steak, Leftover roasted veg

A slow-cooked joint of juicy beef is the ultimate treat meal. It's also a cost-effective way to add meat to a number of different dishes, from salads and sandwiches to stews and noodle soup.

Leftover mash

Make meals go further, Leftover roast beef, Leftover mash, Leftover bolognese, Try it: stuffed peppers, Leftover roasted squash, Leftover broccoli, Leftover corn on the cob, Leftover spinach, Try it: spinach and ricotta gnudi, Leftover roast chicken, Leftover steak, Leftover roasted veg

Comforting mashed potato goes with pretty much any meat, fish or veg, but what do you do when it starts to feel boring? Luckily, it can be rustled into a new dish in minutes. Have a go at smoked salmon fish cakes or potato gnocchi.

Leftover bolognese

Make meals go further, Leftover roast beef, Leftover mash, Leftover bolognese, Try it: stuffed peppers, Leftover roasted squash, Leftover broccoli, Leftover corn on the cob, Leftover spinach, Try it: spinach and ricotta gnudi, Leftover roast chicken, Leftover steak, Leftover roasted veg

You can make bolognese from any mince but beef is the most popular. It's usually served on top of pasta, but there are plenty of other ways to use it – it's incredibly versatile, so make extra and you have the basis for several completely different meals.

Try it: stuffed peppers

Make meals go further, Leftover roast beef, Leftover mash, Leftover bolognese, Try it: stuffed peppers, Leftover roasted squash, Leftover broccoli, Leftover corn on the cob, Leftover spinach, Try it: spinach and ricotta gnudi, Leftover roast chicken, Leftover steak, Leftover roasted veg

Leftover bolognese can be reheated and spooned into halved and deseeded peppers. Top with grated cheese and place under a hot grill for 10 minutes for a healthy and light dinner.

Leftover roasted squash

Make meals go further, Leftover roast beef, Leftover mash, Leftover bolognese, Try it: stuffed peppers, Leftover roasted squash, Leftover broccoli, Leftover corn on the cob, Leftover spinach, Try it: spinach and ricotta gnudi, Leftover roast chicken, Leftover steak, Leftover roasted veg

You’ll be amazed at how many things you can do with roasted squash. The soft, sweet veg is just as at home as an addition to a meal as it is centre stage. It can even be incorporated into baked treats too.

Leftover broccoli

Make meals go further, Leftover roast beef, Leftover mash, Leftover bolognese, Try it: stuffed peppers, Leftover roasted squash, Leftover broccoli, Leftover corn on the cob, Leftover spinach, Try it: spinach and ricotta gnudi, Leftover roast chicken, Leftover steak, Leftover roasted veg

If you've got some broccoli leftover from yesterday's dinner, you can easily repurpose it for more meals. In particular, it goes really well with cheesy and carby dishes, adding much needed green, but it can also be thrown into stir-fries.

Leftover corn on the cob

Make meals go further, Leftover roast beef, Leftover mash, Leftover bolognese, Try it: stuffed peppers, Leftover roasted squash, Leftover broccoli, Leftover corn on the cob, Leftover spinach, Try it: spinach and ricotta gnudi, Leftover roast chicken, Leftover steak, Leftover roasted veg

Corn on the cob smothered in butter, herbs and salt makes a great side or snack. Whether you boiled it or grilled it, there are plenty of things you can do with what's left. The same applies to opened tins of sweetcorn.

Leftover spinach

Make meals go further, Leftover roast beef, Leftover mash, Leftover bolognese, Try it: stuffed peppers, Leftover roasted squash, Leftover broccoli, Leftover corn on the cob, Leftover spinach, Try it: spinach and ricotta gnudi, Leftover roast chicken, Leftover steak, Leftover roasted veg

If you find a bag of green leaves in the fridge that needs eating or have some cooked spinach leftover, do not fear: there are plenty of recipes begging to be made.

Try it: spinach and ricotta gnudi

Make meals go further, Leftover roast beef, Leftover mash, Leftover bolognese, Try it: stuffed peppers, Leftover roasted squash, Leftover broccoli, Leftover corn on the cob, Leftover spinach, Try it: spinach and ricotta gnudi, Leftover roast chicken, Leftover steak, Leftover roasted veg

These tender dumplings made from ricotta and flour require a little effort but once you've got the technique down you'll be richly rewarded. They're best served unadorned with a little melted butter.

Leftover roast chicken

Make meals go further, Leftover roast beef, Leftover mash, Leftover bolognese, Try it: stuffed peppers, Leftover roasted squash, Leftover broccoli, Leftover corn on the cob, Leftover spinach, Try it: spinach and ricotta gnudi, Leftover roast chicken, Leftover steak, Leftover roasted veg

Does anyone ever finish a whole roast chicken in one meal? Luckily there are tonnes of great ways to repurpose it including sandwiches and stir-fries, so you don’t have to eat the same dinner twice.

Leftover steak

Make meals go further, Leftover roast beef, Leftover mash, Leftover bolognese, Try it: stuffed peppers, Leftover roasted squash, Leftover broccoli, Leftover corn on the cob, Leftover spinach, Try it: spinach and ricotta gnudi, Leftover roast chicken, Leftover steak, Leftover roasted veg

At some point we've all pan-fried a succulent steak that was so big and filling we couldn’t finish it. However, steak is far too good to put in the bin. Try reinventing what’s left in a Sichuan-style stir-fry or Italian salad.

Leftover roasted veg

Make meals go further, Leftover roast beef, Leftover mash, Leftover bolognese, Try it: stuffed peppers, Leftover roasted squash, Leftover broccoli, Leftover corn on the cob, Leftover spinach, Try it: spinach and ricotta gnudi, Leftover roast chicken, Leftover steak, Leftover roasted veg

Roasted veg is a batch-cooking essential, delicious on its own or as an accompaniment to meat, for example pan-fried fish or grilled chicken breasts. Here's how you can incorporate what's left into new dishes.

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