15 Recipes for Leftover Veggies (2024)

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15 Recipes for Leftover Veggies (1)

Raise your hand if you have some random vegetables going south in your kitchen. I’m raising my hand high over here. Here’s a collection of flexible recipes to reference when you have leftover veggies or greens in your fridge. Let’s save the vegetables!

This roundup was requested by my mom, and I hope it’s a handy resource for you, too. (Be sure to bookmark it.) You can always use the search bar at the top of the page to find recipes for a specific type of produce. I also have an ingredient index, which you can bookmark or access through the menu bar—hover over “all recipes” then “ingredient” then “view all”.

When I write recipes, I always try to include tips on how to “change it up”, which you can find in my recipe notes. In my cookbook, those tips turned into cute banners that you’ll see over the recipe photos. You can also skim the comments to learn how C+K readers have successfully changed the recipe. Please get creative with your vegetables and leave a comment on the recipe to share how it turned out!

Bean Salads

Chickpea Salad with Carrots and Dill

“I’ve been eyeing this recipe for weeks. Just made it (finally) and it’s just fabulous! I made with cilantro and cucumbers because I didn’t have celery or dill on hand. But it’s a super versatile recipe which I LOVE!” – Kelly

“I made this at college last semester for a Thanskgiving potluck among volunteer farmers on the student farm. Everyone loved it, me among the everyone, so thank you for this recipe! I have just made it again–I added peas and broccoli, and used arugula and walnuts instead of pepitas and spinach. (I think I added broccoli and peas the first time too–I always add more vegetables)” – Ciara

Buddha Bowls

Build-Your-Own Buddha Bowl

This is a new recipe and I haven’t received feedback on it yet. Please try it and leave a comment on the post to let me know how you like it!

Fried Rice

Extra Vegetable Fried Rice

“So delicious! I added bell pepper, purple cabbage and edamame beans! Will definitely be making this again.” – Kate

Frittatas

“I love this recipe! I didn’t have spinach so I used kale and it turned out well! I just added the kale to the pan a little earlier so it had more time to soften. I also use Monterey Jack, as I prefer the taste with eggs.” – Lindsay

Kale Salad

Anything-Goes Kale Salad with Green Tahini Dressing

“Thank you so much for this lovely salad, beautiful and delicious! The dressing is such a nice combination. Just the thing after a weekend of not-so-healthful eating.” – Wendy

Greek Kale Salad with Creamy Tahini Dressing

“At the risk of being dramatic, this is the salad to end all salads! I finally made this after having the recipe saved for weeks, and I am sold. Not only is it delicious fresh, it keeps so beautifully with dressing on! This was my first kale salad ever – the only thing I did differently was omit the peppers and substitute pumpkin seeds for sunflower seeds. It would probably be good with a mild feta too. Thank you!!!” – Sarah

“A great way to eat kale. Loved this salad. My whole family loved this one.” – Lorrie

Pasta

Vegan Mac and Cheese

“The starch release from the grated potato made the thickness of the sauce perfect, the broccoli was an excellent addition, next batch I plan on adding cauliflower too. My whole family loved it.” – Michelle

Pizza

Broccolini Almond Pizza

“Made this tonight, and it was fantastic! I added sliced black olives, shiitake mushrooms and artichoke hearts and it was so good. We hardly have any leftovers!” – Joe

Quesadillas

10-Minute Quesadillas

“Great quesadillas, and with more vegetables than my usual version, which I consider an improvement. I was suspicious of using raw onion and red peppers, but it worked fine.” – MacFadden

Risotto

Easy Brown Rice Risotto with Mushrooms and Fresh Oregano

“This is literally the tastiest thing I’ve ever made. I never comment online, but I just made this tonight for my boyfriend, and it is so addictive, I just had to let you know! I omitted the parm because I’m a vegan, and it was still so amazing! Thanks, Kate and Cookie!” – Courtney

Tacos

Roasted Butternut Squash Tacos

“Kate, this recipe was delicious. I did not have cabbage, but without it I still enjoyed. I was leary of butternut squash, however, when you roast it with sweet potatoes and in the chili powder, it turned out amazingly delicious. I added jalapenos to it and oh boy can’t say how much I enjoyed eating it with corn tortillas. Thanks for another recipe I won’t lose. :)” – Anna

Soup

Quinoa Vegetable Soup with Kale

“I made this recipe tonight. I modified it by using the vegetables I had at home: carrots, butternut squash, zucchini, onion, kale and spinach. Used quinoa and added turmeric. Topped it with Parmesan cheese. Delicious.” – Karen

Stir-Fries

Spring Veggie Stir-Fry

“Love this stir-fry! I have made it several times now, all with different vegetables, and it has turned out great every time. So delicious and full of flavor. Thanks!” – Kiara

More resources you might appreciate: 13 healthy make-ahead breakfast recipes, 16 recipes that pack well for lunch and 20 simple weeknight dinners. You might also like my monthly seasonal produce guides and healthy kitchen essentials. View all roundups and resource posts here.

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15 Recipes for Leftover Veggies (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with too many fresh vegetables? ›

Freezing is my preferred way of preserving extra vegetables. It's super easy and frozen vegetables are almost as good as fresh veggies! You can use them later in cooked dishes such as soups, casseroles, pasta dishes, or even steamed with a little olive oil or butter.

What can I do with a fridge full of vegetables? ›

Bean Salads
  1. Chickpea Salad with Carrots and Dill.
  2. Herbed Quinoa & Chickpea Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing.
  3. Build-Your-Own Buddha Bowl.
  4. Extra Vegetable Fried Rice.
  5. Broccoli, Cheddar & Spinach Frittata.
  6. Anything-Goes Kale Salad with Green Tahini Dressing.
  7. Greek Kale Salad with Creamy Tahini Dressing.

What will happen to my weight if I eat more vegetables? ›

It's true that fruits and vegetables are lower in calories than many other foods, but they do contain some calories. If you start eating fruits and vegetables in addition to what you usually eat, you are adding calories and may gain weight. The key is substitution.

What vegetables can you eat unlimited amounts of? ›

Non-starchy vegetables include cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, salad greens, and zucchini, basically anything that's not a bean, potato, or corn. (While starchy vegetables like potatoes and corn are healthy, they're much more calorie-dense, so they definitely don't fall under the “unlimited” category).

What is the best use for vegetable scraps? ›

Before tossing those wilted greens or broccoli stalks out, try these creative ways to repurpose vegetable scraps and stretch your family dollar while doing it.
  • Turn Scraps Into Broth.
  • Blend Wilted Greens Into Pesto.
  • Grow Scraps Into Fresh Vegetables.
  • Repurpose the Stems.
  • Make Natural Food Dye.
  • There's Always Soup.
Jan 31, 2023

How long are vegetable leftovers good for? ›

Cooked vegetables can last three to seven days when stored in an airtight container and refrigerated properly. Vegetables are considered high-risk foods and can spoil fast if improperly refrigerated.

What are three ways of using leftovers? ›

15 thrifty ways to use your leftovers
  • Use up leftover cooked pasta in this tuna and cherry tomato pasta salad (pictured). ...
  • Stale bread will also work well in this spiced apple bread and butter pudding.
  • Leftover boiled potatoes can be used to make a potato curry.

What two vegetables should not be stored together? ›

Storing onions and potatoes together will hasten the ripening process on the potatoes, leading them to grow eyes and sometimes roots." This goes for garlic, as well, despite the fact that potatoes, onions, and garlic should all be housed in a cool dark place.

What happens if you freeze fresh vegetables? ›

Except for onions and peppers, which you can freeze raw, you should blanch or fully cook vegetables before freezing. Blanching vegetables, or dunking them into boiling water, stops the enzymes that cause discoloration and turn frozen produce mushy. Raw fruit, on the other hand, freezes just fine.

Can I freeze leftover vegetables? ›

To keep your favourite ingredients at their best for longer and cut out potential food waste, why not consider freezing vegetables? You can freeze almost any type of vegetable, but smaller veg like sweetcorn, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and runner beans tend to freeze best as they have low water content.

What vegetables last longest out of fridge? ›

Winter squash, like spaghetti squash, acorn squash, butternut squash, and acorn squash (among others) are much harder than summer varieties, like zucchini and yellow squash. Because of their hard exterior, they last much longer at room temperature. Store your squash unrefrigerated, in a cool, dry place.

Can you cook wilted vegetables? ›

Saute limp spinach or braising greens with garlic as a side dish, or add them to scrambled eggs. Ditto for bell peppers or zucchini that are a tad wrinkly. Roast. Broccoli or kale that's losing its vivid color in spots, even going a bit yellow, is safe to eat.

Why do my vegetables go bad so fast in the fridge? ›

Excess moisture causes leafy greens to rot faster in the fridge. Because of this, most experts recommend keeping these vegetables unwashed until you're ready to use them.

Is it OK to eat unlimited vegetables? ›

“Vegetables are considered a free food, meaning you can eat unlimited amounts and still lose weight.”

What is the maximum amount of vegetables per day? ›

Summary Eating around 8 ounces (231 grams) of vegetables or up to a combined 18 ounces (500 grams) of fruits and vegetables per day may help reduce the risk of heart disease and increase your lifespan.

How can I eat more vegetables without eating vegetables? ›

Video: How to eat more veg without even noticing
  1. Sneaky mashed potato. Potatoes don't count towards your 5-a-day – so try adding some other vegetables to get a wider range of nutrients. ...
  2. Pasta sauce. ...
  3. Curry sauce. ...
  4. Homemade burgers. ...
  5. Cauliflower rice. ...
  6. Carrot cake. ...
  7. Vegetable hummus. ...
  8. Chips with a twist.

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