Cook once, eat twice: Family-friendly recipes that make leftovers welcome | Canada Voices

“What’s for dinner?” – an age-old question that can haunt home cooks and busy parents alike. And at the end of the day, the last place anyone wants to be is in front of the refrigerator, doors open and hungry, wishing for dinner to make itself. That’s where the “cook once, eat twice” approach comes in.

The key to making this strategy successful is to cook meals with leftovers in mind, then repurposing the extras into new dishes. Think creamy mac and cheese transformed into a fluffy frittata, last night’s skillet chicken converted into melty quesadillas, or sheet-pan sausage on a bun reinvented as savoury fried rice. It’s all about finding new inspiration for the leftovers in your fridge.

A small shift in what you cook today can save time, reduce waste and have dinner planned (and partially prepped) for tomorrow. This mindful technique keeps meals interesting, especially for little ones who are anti-leftovers. Tailor the new dishes to familiar formats your kids already enjoy – pizzas, pastas or tacos, for example.

Cooking a little extra and repurposing leftovers simplifies meal planning, and encourages you to be resourceful with ingredients too. This clever use of leftovers is intentional and ensures that no dish goes to waste, making your meal stretch even further for less effort, and less money. Plus, it leaves more time to spend with loved ones – a parenting win, in our opinion.

Mixing Korean ingredients with cheese has become a movement in the culinary world, proving that spicy flavours pair thoughtfully with melty cheese. Consider this combo akin to Tex-Mex, which relies on combining spices and cheese too. This broccoli mac and cheese with a twist pairs the spicy, tangy flavour of kimchi with cheddar and mozzarella, creating an exciting fusion that feels both familiar and new.

Leftovers? Mix them with fluffy eggs and bake until golden for the ultimate cheesy frittata. The mac and cheese transforms into a light, sliceable dish – crispy on the edges, tender in the middle and packed with that bold kimchi flavor.

This vibrant coconut ginger curry combines juicy chicken thighs with warming spices such as garam masala and coriander, for a rich, comforting dish. The creamy coconut milk balances the heat, while the ginger adds a fragrant kick. If you prefer white meat, chicken breast is a great substitute – just sear on both sides until browned before finishing it in the sauce.

The next day, turn the leftovers into cheesy chicken quesadillas. Shred the leftover chicken thighs and spread them onto tortillas, then top it with cheese. Using grated high-moisture cheese such as mozzarella adds creaminess as it melts, blending seamlessly with the spices. Plus, it creates a dramatic cheese pull that’s sure to impress kids (and adults, too). Serve with yogurt and extra curry sauce for dipping.

This Hawaiian-inspired sausage on a bun is sweet and savoury. Layered with juicy pineapple, savoury sausage and aromatic onion and peppers, it’s then finished with a tangy, garlicky ginger mayonnaise sauce for a bright kick.

The flavours don’t stop there – leftovers are sliced and diced and tossed into cooked rice, where the sausage, pineapple, onions and peppers meld with soy sauce, oyster sauce and sesame oil. Every bite is packed with deep, caramelized flavour – proving that leftovers can be even better the second time around.