Have you ever made too much pasta before? I know I sure have! For some reason I make too much pasta or not enough. Now… we make too much on purpose because there are so many ways to use left over pasta.
If you are like me, it’s easy to cook too much pasta for a meal. I never can seem to get the amount needed just right. But before you throw out the extra pasta, check out these great uses for that leftover cooked pasta.
After these ideas, you’ll be making more pasta on purpose!
Can you freeze leftover pasta?
Did you know that you can freeze pasta? This is a an easy way to use left over pasta. Just freeze it! Learn how to freeze pasta and check how easy it is to do with just a little bit of olive oil.
Freezing pasta is a great way to save time and money for future meals. I love freezing pasta once it has cooled to room temperature so that I will always have some on hand for a quick side dish or for my favorite casserole meals.
If you don’t want to freeze the pasta, there are tons of pasta recipes that you can make instead with your leftover pasta to use it now too!
Leftover pasta recipes!
I love turning leftover pasta into another meal or side dish for my family. Check out some of my favorite recipes to use with leftover pasta.
Make an easy side dish.
Leftover pasta is great to use to turn into an an easy side dish to serve with another dinner and these sides can be made in no time at all.
Parmesan pasta is one of my favorite side dish and we make it all the time with leftover pasta. With leftover pasta this easy side dish recipe can be made in under 3 minutes! All you have to do is season with salt and pepper to taste and it’s ready to serve.
Baked Mac and Cheese is easy to make with leftover pasta. This easy Baked mac and cheese recipe is so creamy and cheesy. Plus using leftover pasta makes this recipe come together even quicker because no boiling water is needed!
You can also make an easy pasta frittata recipe that you can serve for breakfast or lunch. This leftover pasta frittata can be made in not time at all and is delicious too!
Turn leftover pasta into a pasta salad.
Leftover pasta is great to use in a delicious pasta salad recipe. Here are a few of our favorite recipes that we love to make when we have leftover pasta in the house.
This Greek Pasta Salad is so easy and frugal to prepare. Tons of veggies and pasta with the best flavor tossed together in a large bowl make this pasta salad recipe a family favorite.
BLT Pasta Salad is always a crowd pleaser. There is something about that creamy ranch dressing combined with the bacon and veggies that make this delicious.
Classic Italian Pasta Salad loaded with olives, tomatoes, cheese and more! Easy Italian pasta salad has the best flavor and will be a hit with the entire family.
Easy Tuna Pasta Salad s a toss and go recipe full of protein, veggies and more. You will love the creamy pasta and delicious tuna for a quick meal.
This easy pasta salad recipe is the most simple pasta salad recipe ever and it feeds a crowd. The best pasta salad recipe is so easy and a family favorite in my house.
If you love ranch, you’ll love this Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad! No need to buy the store bought mixes when it is so easy to make this bacon ranch pasta salad recipe. This is delicious with tons of ranch, bacon and more.
Add it to a casserole!
Casseroles are fun to make but they take longer to make when you have to boil pasta for the dish. Now, plan ahead and make extra pasta and plan for that casserole.
Here are a few of our favorite casserole dishes that we love to make with leftover pasta. With these recipes, all you have to do is bake at 350 degrees F and dinner is done. Waiting to preheat the oven to 350 is the hardest part!
Chicken Noodle Casserole is easy and the best comfort food dish. Creamy chicken and noodles with cheese make this a casserole everyone will go crazy over.
Pizza Pasta Casserole is a family pleaser! An Easy casserole recipe that my family requests all the time. If you love pizza, you will love this easy pizzas pasta casserole. Nothing is better than pizza mixed in with pasta with tomato sauce!
This easy tuna casserole recipe does not disappoint. It is so creamy and the topping with Italian style bread crumbs is crunchy and delicious.
Million dollar spaghetti recipe has so much delicious cheese, ground Italian sausage and tons of flavor for the best meal. This savory meal comes together in minutes but is special enough for company.
Stir leftover pasta into a soup.
Leftover pasta is also great to stir into one of your favorite soups. Here are some of our favorite soup recipes that are great with leftover pasta mixed in!
Crock Pot Minestrone Soup Recipe comes together for a flavor packed meal with very little effort and is perfect for any type of leftover pasta. Make this soup to satisfy your craving for a warm bowl of delicious soup and let the crockpot do all the work.
This Steak Soup Recipe is the perfect soup to leave everyone satisfied. This soup is hearty and delicious and sure to be a hit.
Enjoy this Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe in just 20 minutes any day of the week thanks to this easy recipe. If you are craving soup and need a super fast and delicious recipe.
Pasta fagioli soup recipe is so filling and delicious. This copy cat pasta fagioli soup comes together quickly and makes an easy meal any night of the week. It’s a great way to stretch your meat budget too!
Crock Pot Italian Chicken Soup Recipe is hearty, filling and healthy. This meal is sure to be a hit with the entire family.
Use it in a crock pot meal.
We love crockpot dinners, but when you need to boil pasta to complete the meal, it ruins the “quickness” of having dinner ready when you get home.
We use the leftover pasta from previous dinners and serve them with our crockpot meals. Check out some of our favorite crock pot recipes that you can use with your leftover pasta.
Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta Recipe is easy to make and packed with the traditional flavors of chicken parmesan made in a hot pan. Everything you need for a delicious dinner including tender chicken and flavorful pasta is in the slow cooker!
Crock pot chicken fajita pasta recipe is a one pot meal that has everything you need for a delicious dinner. If you love fajitas, this creamy pasta will be a hit and the slow cooker does all of the work!
Enjoy creamy and delicious Crock pot olive garden chicken alfredo pasta at home and save a ton of money. Let the slow cooker do all the work and serve your family a delicious pasta meal.
Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore sounds fancy but it is so simple to make in the slow cooker. If you are looking for a one pot meal that has the best chicken, mushroom and tomato sauce, this recipe is a must try.
Crock Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe is creamy and delicious with a little bit of heat. The Cajun flavor really jazzes up this chicken dish for an easy meal that your family will love.
Our family loves Chinese take out but now we can make Crock Pot Chicken Chow Mein Recipe at home and save time and money. This recipe tastes amazing and has the perfect blend of flavors with soy sauce. If you love stir fry and fried noodles, you are going to love this easy chow mein recipe!
No matter what you do, it is easy to find ways to use left over pasta without your family knowing that you are eating left overs.
More great Leftover Ideas:
- 10 Ways to Use Left Over Grilled Chicken
- 6 Clever Ways to use Leftover Hamburger Buns
- 10 Ways to use Leftover Baked Potatoes
- Ways to use Leftover Rice
- How to use leftover Corn
