Does your family struggle to eat ‘leftovers’? For years, this was an issue in our home. While I’m sure it was all in our heads, we felt like leftovers just didn’t taste as good. Maybe even tasted a bit old….
Thankfully, we’ve overcome that issue and typically eat all leftovers. But a lot of times, I actually try to repurpose leftovers into something new. A big one that I do this with is Sloppy Joes. Because, while I do love this meal, I’m not a huge fan of eating it as leftovers for days after.
*UPDATED You asked and we listened! Now each idea has an accompanying recipe! Just click on the idea you like or head on over to our 36 Leftover Sloppy Joe Recipes post.
Ways To Repurpose Sloppy Joes Into Something New
- Add some heat and turn the meat into taco meat.
- Use it in stuffed spinach omelets.
- Make Frito pie.
- Stir into mac & cheese to beef it up and make it a more filling meal.
- Turn it into a tator tot casserole base.
- Look up ‘Italian Joes on Texas Toast’ for some inspiration.
- Sprinkle over salad to add protein.
- Add spaghetti sauce and have spaghetti.
- Make a sloppy joe pasta bake.
- Turn it into chili.
- Buy crescent rolls. Fill with sloppy joe mixture and shredded cheese. Bake in oven till crescents are ready. Add sour cream when serving.
- Use it for loaded nachos.
- Throw on top of a baked potato and add cheese.
- Make a tamale pie with cornbread on top.
- Chili con carne.
- Use as a hotdog topping.
- Replace as a burrito filling.
- Add cheese and use as a chip dip.
- Mix into rice.
- Add spices and make a Shepherds Pie.
- In a greased 9×12 pan, place a full can of crescent rolls closing the seams together. Put the meat on top, shredded cheese and then another can of crescent rolls on top. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes or till the rolls are cooked through.
- Layer in a lettuce wrap with cheese on top.
- Add some tomato paste and Italian seasoning. Put on half a hamburger bun with mozzarella cheese and broil. And you have Pizza burgers!
- Serve over zucchini zoodles.
- Layer in a quesadilla with cheese and salsa.
- Add cheese and onions in wrapped in pie dough to make a pocket pie.
- Use in stuffed bell peppers.
- Make hot pockets with crescent rolls.
- Sloppy joe empanadas.
- Put over French Fries add cheese.
- Add cabbage and kraut and rice and peppers for a totally new dish.
- Stuffed shells.
- Sloppy Joe pizza.
- Scoop onto the top of a pile of mashed potatoes.
- Taco bake.
- Turn it into goulash.
And if all else fails, just freeze it and use it next month as leftover sloppy joes. 🙂
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I’m a city girl turned country by my awesome husband and we have three busy boys and two darling daughters. I love spending time with my family, reading Karen Kingsbury novels, and catching up with friends while our kiddos have play dates. I’m blessed beyond measure and can’t wait to see what God has in store.
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This post currently has 17 responses.
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Dana Rodriguez
I love all of these ideas. I like the crescent rolls and the Frito pie suggestions.
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Shirley O
Great ways to use leftovers. I really like the Layer in a quesadilla with cheese and salsa idea.
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Mia E.
So many good suggestions to take a look at. There are many in this list that I could see using the next day. For sure I can see using it as a burrito filling or hot dog topper.
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Alice Faris
Sloppy Joes Hot Dogs is a brilliant idea! Also Sloppy Joe Stuffed Shells is also a good idea too.
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Peggy Nunn
Your ideas are great.that is a whole list of meals to start with. Thank you for so many ideas.
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Sarah L
That’s a lot of good uses for leftover sloppy joes. I think it doesn’t have to be leftovers to be used for these.
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Tonight we put some over French Fries added cheese and they were delicious. Thanks
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Tamra Phelps
I’ve done a lot of these with sloppy Joes, and with leftover spaghetti sauce, too. Using them on fries is a favorite for me.
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Melissa Storms
These are all good options. I agree, I am not a fan of sloppy Joes 2 days in a row. Thank you for sharing.
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We like it when we serve it over zucchini zoodles. I am still learning how to make consistent size zoodles.
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This is going to be a great resource for making meals over the next month. We have to stay out of any groups due to health issues. So, not big family gatherings, no eating out… need variety at home.
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ellen beck
I use leftovers a lot. All of these are great ideas. I tend to freeze and ‘reintroduce’ as something else. Spaghetti is a great one. You can also do dollops on pizza, it is pretty good!
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monique s
I like that it can be a super quick meal using leftovers but still tastes different vs. a repeat.
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gloria patterson
What a great list for left over sloppy joes. I am a senior and when you cook for 1 you have left overs. I not a fan of eating the same thing for 2 or 3 days. I usually bag it up and freeze it. Now have some other things to fix
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OMG I like sloppy joes but always have left overs. So I usally just bag them up and freeze and then later make a sandwich with it. I never thought of doing some of these things printing this out for my next batch
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Helga
I make sloppy joes sometimes so this amazing list is one to bookmark. So many yummy ideas.
This are great ideas. I love the loaded nachoes idea. The kids will love that one.