Hello and happy flavor day to you! Because what we’re about to do with leftover pork is a flavor all-star situation.
Forget boring repeat meals; we are diving into hearty, seemingly fresh dishes that are weeknight-easy and family-approved. You are about to become a leftover legend.
1. Pork and Potato Hash
Yes. Let’s kick off the morning with this pork and potato hash. You can pull this together with pork loin from a Sunday roast and just a few things from the pantry.
The hash is amazing all on its own, but drizzling it with gravy from your roast pork? That makes it simply irresistible! For a hearty lunch, toss in some mixed veggies, or go for the full breakfast experience and top it with a fried egg.
2. Ham Pot Pie
This is not just any pot pie. Leftover ham and veggies are the stars of this super easy recipe. And if you have your ingredients prepped ahead of time, the whole thing comes together in just 30 minutes.
We’re talking a seriously flavorful bite, thanks to chicken stock, Italian seasoning, and a few other spices. Plus, Yukon potatoes make it an extra filling meal. What a dream.
3. Pork Sloppy Joes
Who isn’t a fan of a good sloppy joe? That’s right, nobody. This dish is a true medley of flavors.
You’ve got tomatoes, ketchup, mustard, and other spices from your pantry coming together with the rich, meaty taste of shredded pork. It’s a classic for a reason!
4. Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
Let’s bring a little southern taste right to your table with these scalloped potatoes and ham. All you have to do is bake potatoes in a creamy, garlicky sauce and then cover the whole thing with cheese. Toss in some ham to put that leftover pork to delicious use.
And the best part? Prep time is only 10 minutes!
5. Broccoli Ham Casserole
This is the perfect choice for those busy weeknight meals, a one-pot wonder that you can even make two days ahead. Everyone is going to love this one! It’s loaded up with creamy, cheesy rice and fresh, crisp broccoli.
And for that extra crunch? Top it with some crushed Ritz crackers! It’s a total showstopper.
6. Leftover Pork Carnitas
While carnitas are a bit lighter than regular tacos, they are still packed with so much flavor. It’s all thanks to a fantastic meat mixture made from leftover pork, cilantro, lime juice, black beans, and Mexican spices.
That amazing mix gets tucked into a soft tortilla and then you can pile on sour cream, cheese, avocados, or any other toppings your heart desires!
7. Pulled Pork Sliders
Picture this: juicy shredded pork and crunchy fresh coleslaw all sandwiched inside a buttery bun. YES. This party snack gets baked until it’s perfectly golden brown and toasted, and trust me, it’s a real crowd-pleaser.
You can add BBQ sauce if you want, and a little bit will definitely give you some extra savory sliders. Not into slaw? Swap it out for your favorite cheese. Want a little heat? A layer of pickled jalapenos will do the trick.
8. Leftover Pork Nachos
Making something from a leftover pork roast doesn’t need to be dull, and this recipe is living proof! In just 20 minutes, you’ll have a pan of baked nachos layered with that pork, melty cheese, and black beans.
And for all you spicy food lovers? Add some Pepper Jack cheese or a few jalapenos for an extra kick of heat.
9. Southwest Pork Stew
This is spicy comfort food at its absolute best. Done up in a Tex-Mex style, this pork stew will warm you right up on the chilliest nights!
And here’s a great tip: you can make this dish with either cooked or uncooked leftover pork, and it works with other kinds of meat too. Just toss all your ingredients into the slow cooker and let it do all the work for you! How great is that?
10. Ham and Cheese Scones
These scones are just the thing for an afternoon pick-me-up or a quick meal on those busy mornings. They keep their amazing flavor any time of day! And they’re so easy to whip up.
Just combine your leftover ham, cheese, and onion with the dough, sprinkle a little extra cheese on top, and bake them until they are moist and perfectly golden brown.
11. Pulled Pork Carnita Quesadillas
These quesadillas deliver a perfectly crispy crust with a flavor-packed carnitas filling. You can jazz them up by adding some caramelized onion, cheese, corn, and bell pepper.
These are also freezer-friendly and can be made ahead. Just cook them on the stove until they’re crisp and brown for some quick comfort food!
12. Leftover Ham and Bean Soup
This soup uses a ham bone to create a broth that is just packed with flavor. Load it up with veggies, beans, and parsnips, and you’ll have a mouthwatering soup ready for dinner.
Don’t have a ham bone? No problem. Just add in some extra spices and herbs to build up that flavor.
13. Pulled Pork Rigatoni
This pasta dish is just bursting with flavors from leftover pulled pork, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, and garlic. It’s going to be an instant favorite in your house.
The secret here is the pulled pork ragu sauce. And of course, the rigatoni noodles are so important, with their little holes getting filled with all that saucy deliciousness!
14. Ham Salad
I know there are a ton of ways to make ham salad, but this is one of the easiest ones out there! Just chop up your leftover ham or give it a whirl in the food processor, then mix it up with the other ingredients.
Just like that, you have a tasty ham salad that’s perfect for rolls, crackers, or lettuce wraps.
15. Leftover Pork Fried Rice
One of the most popular ways to handle leftover pork? Tossing it into a fantastic fried rice.
This recipe is also a hero on your “fridge clean-out day,” since you can use up leftover veggies and rice too. The soy sauce gives it a wonderful savory taste, and the scrambled eggs make the whole dish feel fresh and extra filling.
16. Pork Enchiladas
Ready to level up your pork carnitas? Turn them into enchiladas just by adding some enchilada sauce and cheese on top of your rolled-up tortillas.
Bake the whole thing until you get those crisp edges, beautifully melted cheese, and a golden top. You can whip up your own enchilada sauce or grab a store-bought version if you’re short on time.
17. Pork Pot Pie
This pot pie is overflowing with leftover pork, veggies, and peas, and it has half the carbs of a typical pie. So it’s healthier and still super filling at the same time!
To make it a complete meal, serve this pie with some potatoes and sprouts cooked together (also known as bubble and squeak). That’s a win-win.
18. Pulled Pork Spring Rolls
These Asian-style rolls are loaded with meat, onions, carrots, and cabbage, and then they’re fried to golden perfection. For a healthier take, you can bake them for 30-40 minutes instead.
Serve them up with some BBQ sauce for a meatier flavor, or a hit of hot sauce for a spicy kick!
19. Roast Pork and Garlic Sauce
Big chunks of leftover roast pork get smothered in a truly delicious garlic sauce. This simple but oh-so-tasty dish will satisfy all your Chinese food cravings.
It might seem a little odd to marinate already cooked meat, but trust me, it’s a total game-changer for the final flavor of the dish.
20. Ham and Cheese Sliders
These sliders are perfect for any time of day, whether it’s for appetizers, snacks, or a light lunch. And the part I love the most? They don’t take a lot of time to prepare.
One bite gives you an impressive mix of sweet, savory, and cheesy flavors. Plus, that buttery seasoning on top of the buns is an amazing bonus!
21. Leftover Pork Roast Soup
In just 20 minutes, you can have this soup that’s light but brimming with flavor from pulled pork, white beans, corn, and kale. It’s definitely one of the healthiest leftover pork recipes you’ll find!
Toasting the corn adds an extra layer of flavor to this dish, and a little bit of lime juice gives it a fresh finish.
22. Pork and Noodle Bake
This saucy, meaty, and savory dish is about to elevate your leftover cooking game. Make sure you use pork roast to create the most delicious casserole for your family.
Along with that yummy pork, this dish is packed with cheese, corn, and egg noodles. The flavor-packed sauce comes from cream of chicken soup, pepper, and onions. SO GOOD!
23. Shredded Pork Greek Pitas
Making these pitas is an ideal way to use up your leftover carnitas or shredded pork. They’re so delicious, light, and low in carbs, which lets you enjoy a satisfying lunch completely guilt-free!
Just be sure to fry the pork to get a nice, crispy texture. It gets mixed with cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and some reduced-fat feta cheese for one hearty meal.
24. Pork Taquitos
Taquitos are these great little rolled-up tortillas that are usually fried until they’re crispy. For this recipe, though, you’re going to bake them until they are perfectly crunchy and the cheese is all melted.
Salsa, leftover pulled pork, and cheddar cheese team up to create the most flavorful filling.
25. Ham Potato and Corn Chowder
This creamy chowder is just packed with salty ham, sweet corn, and bacon. I mean, wow, that is a whole lot of flavor! A mix of veggies is in there too, so this soup is basically a healthy comfort food.
And that delectable creamy consistency? You get that from flour, milk, and cream. Perrrrfection.
26. Leftover Pork Stroganoff
Stroganoff might sound fancy, but it’s actually so simple to make, especially when you have leftover roast pork.
You don’t need any special ingredients for this recipe either, just some strips of roast pork, white wine, mushrooms, sour cream, and a few spices.
You can enjoy this stroganoff sauce with pasta, potatoes, or rice. A slice of crusty bread would be a fantastic side too, so you can mop up every last bit of that delicious sauce!