What to do with a leftover sauce? That’s one of my favorite questions – because the answers always lead to another great meal! We all know that there are lots of great ways to re-purpose certain kinds of foods: leftover chicken, steak or rice, for instance. But so many times I make a sauce or a sautéed topping for one meal, and have some leftover – and THAT is a whole other kind of pleasure in repurposing.

How to Repurpose Leftover Sauces and Toppings: Smart ideas for using up those leftover sauces in new and exciting ways!

Tweet This

---

14 Ways to Use Leftover Sauces and Toppings

How to Use Leftover Warm Tomato Vinaigrette: This warm tomato vinaigrette would be great over grilled chicken thighs, beef tenderloin roast, or pork chops, in addition to the salmon option. Also great spooned over straight polenta, soft and mushy, or a grilled up version.

---

How to Use Leftover Sauteed Peppers and Onions from Steak Fajitas: Yes, in fajitas for sure, but also on sandwiches, from traditional sausage hoagies to sliced pork loin or grilled ribeye steak or roast turkey. Leftovers would also be great stuffed into a fluffy baked potato. Or served at room temperature as a crostini topping.

---

How to Use Leftover Tomato Basil Relish: On top of anything grilled in the middle of the summer. And, of course, atop grilled bread brushed with olive oil for a classic bruschetta. Stirred into room temperature couscous – yum.

How to Use Leftover Herb Sauce: This will turn any burger or sandwich into something noteworthy. Also nice drizzled over grilled vegetables.

---

How to Use Leftover Mushrooms with Marsala: As a topping for bruscetta or crostini or steak or a burger. Alongside a roasted or grilled pork loin, or pork chops. Spooned over grilled polenta.

---

How to Use Leftover Chimichurri Sauce: Amazing drizzled over everything – and I mean everything: beef, pork, fish and seafood, chicken, vegetables, this slightly spicy herby green sauce makes everything better (and it’s super easy).

---

How to Use Leftover Lemon Basil Tartar Sauce: Homemade tartar sauce is so easy to make, and it’s a perfect match for fish and seafood, whether roasted or grilled or fried.

---

How to Use Leftover Whipped Fresh Ricotta: If you add one thing to your fridge pantry arsenal, make it this. This is great on top of any piece of meat or fish, dolloped over any pasta dish, spread on crostini. Or stuff it under the skin of some chicken thighs and roast them, spread it in  sandwiches such as a BLT or as part of a grilled cheese or layer it in between twice slices of bread with some leftover roast beef or pork. You could also pair it with some grilled peaches and a drizzle of honey.

---

How to Use Leftover Madeira and Leek Cream Sauce: Great with any kind of meat chops, especially if they are paired with mashed potatoes which partner perfectly with this very flavorful sauce.

---

How to Use Leftover Creamy Green Chili Pan Sauce: I paired this with chicken and grits, but how about baked salmon and mashed potatoes, or pork and rice, or grilled NY strip steak and quinoa? How about it?

---

How to Use Leftover Roasted Tomato and Garlic Sauce: This is a terrific way to make use of extra tomatoes, and a jar of this keeps for days in the fridge. Roast or sear or grill up any piece of protein from steak to salmon, then spoon some of this over, and you have an almost-fancy meal.

---

How to Use Leftover Sauteed Spinach and Red Onions: Serve this with or atop any protein from lamb to steak to chicken breasts. Also serve it mixed into a bowl of grains for a pretty and robust vegetarian meal.

---

Sweet Sauces To Make Dessert More Special

How to Use Leftover Berry Sauce: This berry sauce would be amazing over ice cream, or stirred into yogurt!

---

How to Use Leftover Cornflake Crunch: The best thing to happen to a bowl of ice cream since fudge sauce. Also sprinkle them over yogurt, or pudding for a great crunchy counterpoint.

---

And in the same spirit, check out 10 Things To Make With Leftover Pesto.