Got Leftover Pasta? Try These 5 Easy Dinner Ideas

When pasta is on the dinner menu, the first question is usually, “What sauce should we make?” But pasta can be much more than a base for sauce. It can become a casserole, patties, fritters, muffins, or even an unexpected addition to shakshuka.

These five simple ideas were born out of a very practical problem: a huge, nearly full pot of pasta sitting in my refrigerator after the guests I had prepared it for didn’t show up. Rather than let all that pasta go to waste, I started thinking about how it could be transformed into entirely new meals.

That’s one of the great things about pasta. With a little creativity, yesterday’s leftovers can become the starting point for tonight’s dinner. Add some vegetables and a source of protein, and you have a satisfying, complete meal rather than just another plate of pasta.

1. Tuna Pasta Patties With Vegetable Salad

For the patties:

• 2 cups cooked pasta, roughly chopped

• 2 cans tuna, drained

• 2 eggs

• ½ cup breadcrumbs

• ½ cup grated cheese

• 2 tablespoons parsley

• Salt and pepper

Mix all the ingredients, shape into patties, and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spray or brush with a little oil and bake at 375°F for about 20 minutes, until golden.

To round out the meal: A salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and corn with olive oil, lemon, and tahini. 

2. Pasta, Cheese, and Broccoli Casserole With Salad

Ingredients:

• 3 cups cooked pasta

• 3 eggs

• 1 container cottage cheese

• 1 cup grated cheese

• ½ cup Bulgarian-style feta cheese

• 1 cup lightly cooked broccoli florets

• Salt and pepper

Mix everything together, transfer to a greased baking dish, and bake at 350°F for 30–35 minutes.

To round out the meal: Serve alongside a large lettuce salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, and a lemon-olive oil dressing.

3. Pasta and Corn Fritters With Eggs and Avocado Salad

If you have half a container of pasta left from yesterday, this is a great way to turn it into something completely new:

For the fritters:

• 2 cups cooked pasta, chopped

• 1 cup corn

• 2 eggs

• ½ cup grated cheese

• 3 tablespoons flour

• Salt and pepper

Mix, shape into fritters, and fry in a little oil on both sides, or bake until golden.

To round out the meal: Make hard-boiled eggs or a large omelet, and serve with an avocado, cherry tomato, and red onion salad. You can add a soft white cheese or a sour cream and dill dip.

4. Individual Pasta Muffins With Cheese and Vegetables

Ingredients:

• 3 cups cooked pasta

• 3 eggs

• 1 cup mozzarella

• ½ cup cottage cheese

• 1 finely chopped red pepper

• Corn

• Sliced olives

• A little oregano

• Salt and pepper

Mix everything together and divide the the mixture among the cups of a greased muffin pan. Bake at 350°F for about 20–25 minutes, until the muffins are set and golden.

To round out the meal: Serve with fresh cut vegetables, a softwhite cheese or labneh, and olives. You can also add a small bowl of vegetable soup to make the meal even more filling.

5. One-Pan Pasta and Mozzarella Shakshuka

Here, pasta becomes part of shakshuka—a complete meal made in one pan.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked pasta

• 4 eggs

• 14 ounces crushed tomatoes

• 1 small onion

• 1 red pepper

• 2 garlic cloves

• ½ cup grated mozzarella

• Paprika, salt, and pepper

• A little olive oil

Sauté the onion and pepper, add the garlic and tomatoes, and season. Add the pasta and stir so it is coated in the sauce. Make four wells, crack the eggs into them, and sprinkle with mozzarella. Cover and cook until the eggs are done to your liking.

Serve the skillet in the center of the table with a fresh vegetable salad on the side.