One thing about making spaghetti is that sometimes you go a little overboard and make too much, which results in a massive container of leftover spaghetti. Sometimes I look at leftover noodles, sauce, or meatballs and wonder how I will use them.
Throwing food out is usually the last resort for me! I don’t like creating unnecessary waste.
Luckily, there are many unique ways to use leftover spaghetti and all the components that come along with it. Here is a recipe list I made to help you out.
This frittata recipe is one of my favorites! Before baking, cook your bell peppers and veggies until softened. Then, make your egg base out of eggs, half-and-half, and seasonings.
Combine the leftover spaghetti with the other ingredients and cook on the stovetop until it is lightly brown. Transfer to the oven to bake it for about 15 minutes. I served this with fresh basil and parsley as a garnish, delish!
Summer Tomato Frittata
Your leftover spaghetti will taste wonderful in this tomato frittata! Even though the recipe doesn’t call for noodles, your leftover pasta can surely be thrown in.
For the frittata, combine parmesan, milk, eggs, and remaining ingredients. Toss in your cooked noodles, then cook the frittata in a hot skillet, allowing it to set up and get crunchy. You can throw it under the broiler to finish it off. I love serving this with sauteed spinach!
Italian Fried Spaghetti - Maricruz Avalos Kitchen Blog
Who doesn’t love feta cheese? This frittata recipe is a winner just for that sole ingredient! Combine your leftover pasta with eggs, feta, olive oil, seasonings, and basil.
Place the frittata in a skillet and cook it on low, flipping it carefully. I love garnishing this with mozzarella and cherry tomatoes! How incredible does this sound?
Spaghetti Frittata
I love this frittata because it is so thick; it's almost like a spaghetti pie! Mix eggs, milk, cheese, herbs, and seasonings together.
First, put your leftover pasta in the pan, pour the egg mixture over top, and cook the frittata until it is fully set. I usually make this for brunch, but it can be enjoyed any time of day if you’re brave enough!
Cast-Iron Spaghetti Frittata
Your family will love this baked frittata recipe! To begin, combine your leftover pasta with eggs, herbs, and seasonings. Pour it into a cast-iron skillet or any oven-proof pan you would like.
Bake the frittata for about 45 minutes. Once baked, I enjoy topping it with tons of garnishes such as red onion, cherry tomatoes, and more cheese.
Leftover Spaghetti Frittata with Zucchini
This frittata stands out from the rest because of its unique ingredients! It incorporates garlic, onions, and zucchini into the recipe, which is excellent.
Cook your leftover pasta in a pan with the veggies, then add the egg mixture. I served this with fresh veggies and ranch dressing! My kids loved it.
Spicy Vegan Peanut Pasta Salad
One great way to use plain leftover noodles is to turn them into a pasta salad. This recipe combines the dressing ingredients (garlic, ginger, brown sugar, olive oil, peanut butter, and more) to create your sauce.
For the salad ingredients, chop and mix the carrots, cucumber, green onion, and peanut with your leftover pasta.
Toss with the dressing, and you're ready to serve! I also threw in some sliced cherry tomatoes, which was fantastic.
Crispy Skillet Pasta Pizza: Zero-Waste, Vegan
Not every day you see a vegan pizza, especially one that uses leftover spaghetti! However, this recipe is packed with all sorts of ingredients.
It contains egg substitutes, seasonings, leftover pasta, vegan butter, green peas, and vegan mozzarella.
Combine everything before cooking it on a skillet and then transferring it to the oven to crisp it up. My family loved this, especially since I garnished it with extra spaghetti sauce!
Baked Spaghetti
This recipe had me at ‘vegan chicken bites’; how delicious and healthy! To start, cook your vegan chicken in a skillet with garlic, bell pepper, and onion.
Combine the mixture with your leftover spaghetti and vegan cheeses before tossing the sauce ingredients. Bake for approximately 15 minutes, then enjoy! I served this for lunch alongside a mixed green salad, which was perfect.
Spaghetti Salad
Here is another vegan gem! Combine your salad ingredients first (leftover pasta, peppers, cucumber, olives, and more)
For the dressing, mix lemon vinegar with red vinegar, spices, and vegan parmesan. Fold into the pasta mixture, and you're done. My favorite way to serve this is as a side dish alongside soup or sandwiches!
Leftover Spaghetti Bolognese Nests - My Fussy Eater | Easy Kids Recipes
Although this recipe originally calls for parmesan cheese, you can easily swap it for your vegan parmesan! Mix your vegan cheese into leftover noodles, then spoon it into muffin tins.
Bake the spaghetti nests for approximately 10 minutes, depending on how crispy you want the edges. I enjoy serving this as a snack for my kids, although it could be an appetizer or side as well.
Creamy Vegan Mexican Fiesta Pasta Salad (oil free)
Here is another pasta salad recipe, but with a twist! Use your leftover noodles with cilantro, corn, tofu, bell peppers, black beans, and more for the salad.
To make the dressing, blend maple syrup, spices, almond milk, lime juice, and apple cider vinegar. Toss everything together! My favorite way to serve this is alongside grilled vegan chicken; yum!
Chicken Parmesan and Pasta Muffin Cups
This recipe is great because your leftover pasta will turn into a lovely side dish! For the main entrée, make crispy chicken parmesan with a panko breading.
As for the pasta, mix your leftover noodles with mozzarella cheese, parmesan, garlic, and eggs. Spoon into muffin tins, then bake for approximately 15 minutes. I served this with leftover sauce on the side; if you don’t have sauce, you can always garnish with extra parmesan cheese and fresh herbs.
Cinnamon Apple Noodle Kugel Recipes
This recipe is a version of a Jewish side dish that turns noodles into a treat! Add apple sauce, cinnamon, sugar, and eggs to your leftover plain noodles.
Transfer it to a baking dish and bake it for at least 45 minutes or until the edges are browned. I drizzled this with caramel sauce and topped it with cooked apples! How divine.
{Sweet} Noodle Kugel Recipe - Belly Full
Here is another rendition of a Kugel side dish. To make this one, blend your cheese, butter, vanilla, eggs, and remaining custard ingredients.
Put your leftover plain pasta in a baking dish and pour the egg mixture over top of it. You can add chocolate chips, raisins, or any other ingredients you would like mixed in!
Bake it for about one hour. I typically serve this warm with cinnamon sprinkled on top.
Mac n Cheese Muffins Recipe
Creating Mac and cheese is an excellent idea if you have leftover spaghetti noodles. But how about turning it into pizza as well? You first need to make your cheese sauce out of milk, flour, seasonings, and cheese for these muffins.
Fold into your leftover pasta, and scoop into muffin tins. Bake for about 20 minutes until they turn a beautiful golden color on top. I usually drizzle some type of sauce on tops like BBQ or buffalo sauce to make it even better!
Chicken Soup With Spaghetti Noodles
This soup is perfect for when you're feeling under the weather, or just want a cozy meal. This is incredibly easy, just add your carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and chicken stock to your pot and allow it to simmer.
Lastly, add cooked chicken and your leftover noodles, allowing them to heat up. When I served this, I made homemade biscuits to go along with it.
Leftover Lasagna Bread Recipe
If you have leftover lasagna, this is a genius way to reinvent it! You can make homemade bread dough, or buy store-bought dough, whenever you prefer.
Roll out the dough, then slice the edges. Fill the dough with the leftover lasagna, then braid the dough over the top of the lasagna.
Egg-wash the dough, then bake it for approximately 30 minutes. My family loves to eat leftover lasagna like this, and I guarantee yours will too.
Lasagna Bites
Turning your lasagna into crispy bites is the best thing ever. To make this yummy snack, slice your lasagna into bite-sized pieces and dredge them in 3 different mixtures: flour, egg, and breadcrumbs.
Shallow fry the lasagna bites in a skillet, using canola oil, making sure each side gets crispy. I served these with a garlic-butter sauce, and it was heavenly!
Lasagna Soup (Video!)
This recipe incorporates ingredients to replicate what lasagna tastes like, so why not adjust it so you can use up your leftovers? Since you already have cooked lasagna noodles, you can skip out on the noodle portion.
First, cook the sauce, garlic, onions, and broth. Cut your lasagna into squares and add it to the soup.
Once it gets hot, it will warm up, and the components will separate, leaving a nice tomato and veggie soup with your lasagna noodles secluded. Yum! My favorite way to serve this is with warm french bread on the side.
Lasagna Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Here is another recipe that encompasses all the flavors of lasagna. Follow the recipe as is, but first, heat some of your leftover lasagna pieces, so it is ready for the sandwich.
To build the sandwich, layer on mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, and tomatoes. This is where you can throw on your lasagna as well! It will make for a hefty sandwich, but it is so flavorful! I made these for lunch and served them with a nice salad.
Easy Lasagna Soup Recipe
This soup recipe is great, but it's even better when you add leftover lasagna components. Make the soup as is but replace the uncooked noodles with your already cooked lasagna.
Cut the lasagna into smaller pieces before adding it to the soup. I love this recipe because it also has Italian sausage, which is so mouthwatering! I typically garnish it with fresh herbs and shredded mozzarella cheese.
Lasagna Stuffed Garlic Bread
Your family is going to flip out over this recipe, in a good way, of course. Leftover lasagna elevates this dish even more than store-bought lasagna, as the recipe calls for.
Heat your lasagna while you hollow out the bread you will use. Then, cut the lasagna pieces and fit them perfectly into the bread.
Bake for 8 minutes, or until the bread and cheese have reached the level of crispiness that you want. When I made this, I also had leftover meatballs, so I served those on the side!
Spaghetti Dinner Meatball Subs
It's hard to choose which is better: meatball subs or spaghetti and meatballs. Lucky for you, this recipe is the best of both worlds! My family devours this meal.
To prep, reheat your leftover spaghetti and meatballs. Meanwhile, hollow out your bread and brush it with a garlic butter mixture and toast it, then fill it with your spaghetti filling. Top with more sauce and shredded cheese before baking until everything is bubbly!
Spaghetti and Meatball Pie — ButterYum — a tasty little food blog
This is one of my favorite recipes because it's so easy! I usually serve it with a mixed green salad. To get started, toss your pasta, sauce, cheese, and eggs to make the filling.
Press it into a pan, then top with cheese and any additional meatballs. Cover it with foil and bake it for approximately an hour. Garnish with fresh parsley!
This soup includes spaghetti and meatballs, so you can throw your leftovers in rather than needing to make them the day of. It’s a time saver! Put the meatballs in early to simmer them, and the pasta can go in last.
Aside from the spaghetti and meatballs, this soup has fantastic flavors and ingredients such as garlic, celery, onion, parsley, and tons of seasonings. I served this with garlic bread and mixed vegetables on the side.
Leftover Spaghetti & Meatball Panini
When running out of uses for your leftovers, you can always just throw it on a sandwich! Build your sandwich on thick Italian-style bread smothered in garlic butter.
I love letting the bread get nice and crispy on the outside. This sandwich is fantastic to dip in spaghetti sauce if you have any extra.
Italian Meatball Calzones - Simply Scratch
Since you already have meatballs made, you are one step ahead of the game! Roll out your pizza dough into circles, smother on ricotta cheese and add your meatballs, sauce, and shredded cheese.
Fold over the calzone, seal the edges, and then egg wash and bake it for 20 minutes. I love making these for movie night because it reminds the kids of pizza, but it’s a little different! Caesar salad pairs nicely with these.
Meatball Quesadilla
This recipe is a must-try, so you better put it on your to-do list. First, cut your leftover meatballs into smaller pieces, then put them in a tortilla along with mozzarella cheese.
Fry each side in a skillet until it is golden, and the cheese has become gooey. I typically serve this as a snack, but it can be turned into a meal easily!
Zucchini Cakes with Parmesan and Tomato Sauce
Here is a recipe that will bring out the flavors of your extra meat sauce! Make zucchini fritters from parmesan, shredded zucchini, breadcrumbs, eggs, and seasonings.
Cook the fritters in oil using a hot skillet. Meanwhile, heat your leftover meat sauce. When serving, I topped the patties with the meat sauce, but you can also have the sauce on the side for dipping.
How to Turn Spaghetti Sauce Into Sloppy Joes
This recipe is genius! Make your sloppy joe mixture in a skillet by first cooking off onions and bell peppers. Add ground beef, and once that is cooked, you can add your leftover sauce.
Add vinegar, brown sugar, and Worcestershire as well. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 5 minutes before loading it onto a toasted bun. I recommend serving this with potato chips and tater tots!
Cheesy Leftover Spaghetti Boats
This recipe is straightforward and so appetizing! First, reheat your leftover spaghetti and sauce, then pile it on a toasted piece of bread.
Sprinkle cheese on top, then bake it for about 5 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt and get bubbly. My family loves these, and since they’re filling, you only need to serve them with something light, such as a side salad.
Quick Calzones
These saucy calzones are a hit every time that I make them! All you need to do is roll out your pizza dough, then fill the circles with your leftover meat sauce and cheese.
The recipes suggest brushing with milk before baking them, but I prefer egg wash because they become a deeper golden color! Bake for about 20 minutes, and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
How to Turn Leftover Spaghetti Sauce into Chili
Here is a fun way to transform your leftovers into a completely new thing! All you need is chili-seasoned beans, leftover meat sauce, and chili seasoning.
Simply combine all the ingredients and simmer them for 15 minutes to allow the flavors to mend together. I served this with cheesy cornbread, and it was outstanding.
NONNA ROSA’S LEFTOVER MEAT SAUCE SOUP WITH ORZO PASTA
Your family is going to eat this up! So first, simmer the leftover sauce with the chicken broth. Next, add the orzo pasta and cook until the pasta is done.
Garnish with grated parmesan. I love this recipe's simplicity, but sometimes I add additional ingredients to it, such as corn and other vegetables. There are so many ways to adjust it to your needs!
Your leftover spaghetti sauce will undoubtedly come in handy for this recipe. Make your fritter mixture using a food processor, blending the chickpeas, eggs, onion, and cheese.
Use a hot skillet to fry the patties; heat your leftover sauce. Once the garbanzo cakes have cooked thoroughly, serve them with your dressing on the side. I enjoy these fritters topped with parmesan cheese; it is so delectable!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Do I Do if My Leftover Spaghetti Is All Stuck Together?
Have no worries; it is salvageable! When heating it, add some butter or a couple of drizzles of olive oil to loosen up the noodles. When the pasta heats, it will unstick itself.
How Long Is Leftover Spaghetti Good For?
According to the USDA, you can use your leftovers with peace of mind for 3-5 days!
Lucky for you, spaghetti tastes just as amazing the second time because the flavors marry once it has sat for a day or two.
How Do I Properly Reheat Pasta That Doesn’t Have Sauce?
The most efficient way to do this would be to boil water like you are cooking noodles, but only submerge the leftover noodles in the water for about one minute to revive them!
Final Thoughts
As displayed, there are numerous ways to take advantage of your leftover pasta. Whether you just have meatballs and sauce leftover, plain pasta, or everything is mixed together, there are options for you!
My favorite recipes here are probably the spaghetti pie or the meatball calzone. But with the creativity these recipes give, it’s hard to choose just one. I hope that you have found some ideas to help you out so that you can utilize your leftovers efficiently and in a way that you enjoy!
You might want to check out our Leftover Pasta Recipes.

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