3 Great Ways to Use Leftover Pot Roast

In our household, pot roast is a favorite dinner option. First, it is incredibly simple. I love the fact I can throw raw meat in the slow cooker and it becomes a meal in a few hours. Second, it satisfies the "meat and potatoes" need of my Oklahoma-born-and-raised husband. Battle of the sexes solved, all with one simple dinner idea!

However, it always seems that we end up with a ton of leftover pot roast in the fridge. Meat is expensive and wasting the cooked meat seems like wasting money. By the fourth day, roast beef sandwiches just aren't cutting it. That is where these three great ways to use leftover pot roast come in.

Cheesy Beefy Nachos

This is another favorite in our household, usually served the night after pot roast night. Chop up the meat and place in a small sauce pan. Add one can of Rotel with diced green chili peppers and heat until warm. Meanwhile, cube up one brick of Velveeta cheese. Add the cheese to the meat mixture, stirring consistently until melted. Serve with tortilla or corn chips.

Beefy Vegetable Stew

Growing up, it always seemed that we had some sort of soup towards the end of the week. That is because Wednesday night's leftover corn and Thursday night's pot roast and potatoes would all combine into a nice stew. One of the greatest things to remember about stew is, anything goes! Add leftover baby carrots from the crisper, canned peas, or whatever you like. Cube up the leftover pot roast. Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker, add a bit of water, and cook on low until the vegetables are tender. Serve with dinner rolls, croissant rolls, or cornbread.

Homemade Pot Pies

The greatest part about using leftover pot roast to make homemade pot pies is that they are easily freezable. Chop the beef and add it to any leftover gravy. (If there is no leftover gravy, a package or jar of gravy can easily be substituted.) Add carrots, peas, and any other veggies you wish to the mix. Place filo dough squares in a muffin tin. Top with the beef and gravy mixture. Bake at 350 degrees until filo dough is browned. Serve immediately or freeze for a later meal.

The most important thing to remember when using leftover pot roast is, anything you would normally put beef in goes. This includes recipes that usually call for ground beef: tacos, burritos, casseroles, spaghetti, etc. Get creative!