How to Use Leftover Meatloaf in Recipes

Sally Albright
Meatloaf is one of my family's favorite dishes. Whenever I make meatloaf, my family always seems to have a slice or two left over. Leftover meatloaf can be used in many different recipes to create a delicious second meal that won't make you feel like you are eating leftovers.

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Leftover meatloaf can be used in place of meatballs or ground beef for Spaghetti. You can either crumble the meatloaf and make a meat sauce for spaghetti or cut into chunks in place of meatballs.

Mixing ground Italian sausage into your original meatloaf can make it an even tastier addition to your spaghetti and pasta dishes. Other pasta dishes which can be made with leftover meatloaf would be: lasagna, goulash, or homemade beef ravioli.

Hamburgers or Cheeseburgers

Slices of meatloaf resemble rectangular hamburgers making them a perfect substitute for ground beef patties. Simply slice your leftover meatloaf and heat either in a frying pan or in the microwave. The sliced and heated leftover meatloaf can be topped with your favorite cheese to make tasty cheeseburgers.

Some meatloaf recipes call for the addition of shredded cheddar or other cheeses making them the perfect substitute for cheeseburgers without having to add a topping of cheese.

Tacos or Burritos

Leftover meatloaf can be used to make tacos or burritos for lunch or dinner the next day. Simply crumble and heat in the fry pan adding taco sauce as indicated on the sauce packet. Crumbled meatloaf can be mixed with refried beans and shredded cheddar to make delicious beef and bean burritos.

Taco seasoning can be used in your original meatloaf to add more flavor. Using taco seasoning in your original meatloaf can help avoid the extra step of heating your leftover meatloaf in taco seasoning and water.

Meatloaf Sandwiches

A cold or hot leftover meatloaf sandwich can make a delicious lunchtime treat for the next day. Simply add toppings as you would for a lunchmeat sandwich using leftover sliced meatloaf in its place.

You can also cut your meatloaf into chunks and place in a hoagie roll. Heat some spaghetti sauce and pour over the leftover meatloaf chunks and sprinkle with mozzarella to create a delicious meatloaf sub.

Crumbled Leftover Meatloaf

Leftover meatloaf can be used in many recipes in place of browned ground beef. Here are some ways to use crumbled leftover meatloaf:

Hamburger Helper Meals

(Add crumbled leftover meatloaf in place of ground beef following directions on box.)

Ground Beef and Rice

(Mix ground beef with cooked rice along with cooked frozen peas and/or carrots for a delicious "fried rice".)

Topping for Hamburger or Cheeseburger Pizza

(Plain leftover meatloaf can be used for hamburger pizza and cheesy leftover meatloaf for a cheeseburger pizza.)

Leftover meatloaf can be given new life when used in a different recipe. If your family is picky about eating leftovers try using them in a different recipe to avoid food waste.

Published by Sally Albright

I almost always have a song stuck in my head. I love music, especially from the 80's.I enjoy writing short stories as well as articles full of tips and tricks for everyday life. I love living my life with my...  View profile

5 Comments

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  • chris8/30/2010

    I cut up potatos and carrots add frozen peas and some brown gravy put it in a crock pot and add chucks of left over meatloaf...makes a nice stew

  • Karen R1/7/2010

    Thank you! I actually have leftover vegan "meat"loaf :) but I will use it the same way and your ideas are excellent! Just what I needed today!

  • Charlie K2/7/2008

    Inventive but we never have any left over either.

  • shane durbec2/5/2008

    We love meatloaf as well.

  • Lenora Murdock2/4/2008

    Excellent ideas! I never have meatloaf left over.

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