What to Do With Leftover Spaghetti Sauce? 21 Ideas

Spaghetti sauce, there can never be too much of it, right? So, nine times out of ten, we make more spaghetti sauce than needed. And that is when it hits you! You put your time, money, and dedication into that sauce so it cannot go to waste! Then the question is, what to do with leftover spaghetti sauce?  

You can use your spaghetti sauce to cook stuffed eggplants, tortellini soup, chicken Parmigiana, tuna and zucchini mini lasagnas, tomato risotto tart, Thai salmon curry, among other interesting and delicious dishes.

Now that I named some ideas of what can be done with that glorious sauce from last night’s spaghetti dinner, let me show you that it only takes a little creativity and some extra ingredients to turn a dish into something different. After reading the ideas below, I’m sure you’ll probably be getting leftover spaghetti sauce on purpose. 

What to do With Leftover Sauce? 21 Ideas

Did you know that leftover spaghetti sauce is even better on the days after it is made? All the herbs and spices in it, together with the tomato, will blend and you’ll get a tastier sauce on that second day. Let me give you some ideas for what to do with that gorgeous leftover sauce.

Stuffed Eggplant

To make this dish, you’ll just need your favorite veggies (or the ones you have in your fridge), your leftover spaghetti sauce, some bechamel sauce, meat, mozzarella, and eggplant. You can keep the dish vegetarian if you prefer, and skip the meat.

Start by cutting your eggplant in half and scooping its insides. Chop the parts you took out and save them for the veggie filling. Sprinkle your eggplant with salt and leave it to rest.

On a pan cook your onions and garlic in olive oil and, once golden, add the veggies. If you are adding meat, start with this and then the vegetables. Season with salt, pepper, and some herbs of your liking. When the vegetables are almost done (don’t forget they’ll still cook in the oven) add your leftover sauce and some bechamel. 

Pat dry the eggplant, stuff it with your veggies mix, sprinkle with mozzarella, and cook for 25 minutes at 390º F. Enjoy warm with a green salad. 

Tortellini Soup 

Easy to make, tortellini soup is the perfect comfort food for a rainy day! And you only need seven ingredients (including your leftover sauce). Start by adding olive oil, minced garlic, finely diced onions, and chili flakes to a pan. Add your spaghetti sauce and broth (can be vegetable or chicken). Let simmer and then add and cook the tortellini according to package instructions. 

Once ready, add some heavy cream and finish with grated parmesan cheese. Twenty minutes is all it takes.

Chicken Parmigiana 

It cannot get easier than this Chicken Parmigiana! Cook your breaded chicken breasts and let them rest. In an oven-proof dish, pour your leftover sauce, arrange the chicken on top, and cover with mozzarella (I use an entire 8 oz. ball) and some parmesan. Toss in the oven for 3-4 minutes to melt the cheese, and it’s done! 

Peas with Poached Eggs

Peas with Poached Eggs are probably something that you’ll look at and say “nah,” but believe me, you won’t forget them once you give them a try. Add onion edges to hot olive oil, and then your leftover sauce and your peas (it doesn’t matter if they are fresh or frozen). Season with salt and pepper and let it simmer for five to seven minutes, adding some water if it becomes dry. 

With a spoon, create some holes to drop your uncooked eggs and allow them to poach for 5 minutes with the lid closed.

Tuna and Zucchini Mini Lasagnas

Start by mixing your tuna and your leftover spaghetti sauce. Spray a muffin pan with vegetable oil and arrange a zucchini slice at the bottom of each hole. Top with a spoonful of your tuna and sauce, sprinkle with mozzarella. Repeat the process. 

Cook in the oven at 390º for 20 minutes and enjoy this healthy snack.

Meatball Casserole 

Pour your leftover spaghetti sauce into a casserole dish and layer your cooked meatballs on top. Cover with a cheese of your choice and bake until the cheese melts. Sprinkle with parsley and enjoy with some spaghetti, focaccia, or even on its own (I won’t judge you). 

Tomato Risotto Tart

Another one of my favorites! Prepare a tomato risotto with your leftover spaghetti sauce as you cook your ragu sauce. Line an oven-proof bowl with parchment paper and pour half of the rice, pour the ragu, and top with mozzarella and provolone cheese. Cover with remaining risotto and bake in the oven until dry (around 15-20 minutes). 

Chicken/Shrimp Curry

Slice the onions, bell peppers, and chili, and mince the garlic and ginger. Fry these with one tablespoon of olive oil until onions and pepper are soft. Add cubed chicken or shrimp and allow to cook. Pour over an equal quantity of your leftover spaghetti sauce and coconut milk. Allow simmering for 10 minutes over low heat. Serve with basmati rice and lime. 

Baked Beans

Slice onions, garlic, and fresh chili and fry with olive oil and paprika. Pour into a food processor and blend with some roasted peppers and your leftover sauce. Pour into the pan again and bring to a boil. Add beans and some cooked pancetta (if you’d like) and let simmer for 5 more minutes. 

Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with fresh rosemary leaves and bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Pair with toasted bread and a glass of white wine.  

Lasagna Skillet 

Easy to make and delicious to enjoy, this lasagna skillet is probably the reason why you’ll never make a proper lasagna again. 

Fry your chopped onions and garlic, add and cook your minced meat to perfection, and season it with salt, pepper, and oregano. Stir in your leftover sauce and some chicken broth, and allow to boil. Add your pasta (it can be broken lasagna sheets or any other kind of pasta that you have at hand) and cook for 10 minutes. Mix some mozzarella and you’re ready to serve.

Thai Salmon Curry

Sear your seasoned salmon on a pan with coconut oil. Set the fish aside. Add your finely chopped garlic, onions and bell peppers to the pan to fry. Pour your leftover sauce and vegetable broth. Add some chopped kale and allow to cook. Pour coconut milk and let simmer for about 10-15 minutes. Get your salmon back on the pan and serve with fresh basil and rice. 

Buffalo Chicken Wings

What to do with leftover spaghetti sauce and chicken? Buffalo chicken!

Coat your chicken wings with a mix of your leftover spaghetti sauce, hot sauce (same proportion), and a tablespoon of honey. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes at 425º F, and there you have it. Easier would be impossible. 

Shrimp Bake

Put sliced yellow pepper, red onion, zucchini, broccoli, chili, garlic, and olive oil in an oven-proof dish. Season with salt and pepper and bake for 30 minutes at 400º F. Remove from the oven, and add your leftover sauce and the uncooked shrimp (peeled and butterflied). Return to the oven for ten minutes. Top with some capers and serve with mashed potatoes.

Roasted Vegetable Casserole 

Start by frying garlic and onions in hot olive oil until golden. Add eggplants, peppers, and mushrooms and allow to cook. Toss your leftover spaghetti sauce, cover with the lid and allow to simmer for 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to an oven-proof dish. Cover with cubed goat cheese and breadcrumbs and bake in a preheated oven at 450º F for 30 minutes, until you get a crispy top. 

Pizza 

Pizza is probably the first thing that comes to your mind but not the most creative. Prepare your pizza dough and roll it to the shape you prefer. Spread your leftover sauce, cover with your toppings and a lot of mozzarella (I normally tear a fresh mozzarella ball apart for extra flavor), and finish with a sprinkle of rosemary. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes and, once done, drizzle with olive oil. 

Butter Chicken

The first step is to cook your chicken. I prefer to grill mine on the barbeque to give a smoky flavor to the dish. On a casserole, melt some butter and add chopped onions, garam masala, chili powder, finely minced ginger, and onion, and one cinnamon stick. Season with salt and pepper. Once cooked, add your leftover spaghetti sauce, water, and heavy cream. Add the cooked chicken and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes. Add the magical ingredient – butter – and serve with jasmine rice. 

Dip for Cheese Sticks

An easy solution for your leftover spaghetti sauce? Add some chili flakes and oregano and serve it as a dip for your Cheese Sticks. 

Creamy Spicy Spaghetti 

You maybe didn’t plan to use your leftover spaghetti sauce to make more spaghetti, but this is a gorgeous dish. 

In a pan, fry your garlic with olive oil and then combine with some chili oil. Add your spaghetti sauce, a little bit of your pasta water, and salt. Let it cook for 3 minutes. On the side, mix egg yolks, parmesan cheese, and black pepper. Add your cooked pasta and the egg mix to your sauce. Use more pasta water if necessary to make it creamier.  

Meatloaf Glaze

Meatloaf in itself is already a gorgeous dish, but it becomes heaven when glazed. To prepare a next-level glaze with your leftover spaghetti sauce, just follow these steps: Add two oranges and an entire clove of garlic, both cut in half, to the dish where you are cooking your meatloaf.

After 25-30 minutes, take the oranges and garlic from the oven. 

Squeeze the juice from the oranges. Be careful because they will be very hot. Smash the garlic and remove the peel. In a saucepan, bring the mixture to a boil and add one tablespoon of hoisin sauce and your leftover spaghetti sauce. Allow simmering.

Glaze your meatloaf with this heavenly mixture and bake for 10 more minutes.

Mashed Potato Pie

Mashed Potato Pie is another one of my favorite comfort foods of all time. You just need mashed potatoes, a filling, breadcrumbs, and one egg. Now you ask but how is this related to the leftover spaghetti sauce? Easy, you’ll use it for the filling! You can prepare a ragu with it, create a salmon and herbs sauce, or, the easiest one, mix it with tuna!

The process is simple: cover the bottom of an oven-proof casserole with half of your mashed potatoes. Cover with the leftover sauce filling you created and the remaining mashed potatoes. Glaze with egg wash (egg yolk with a splint of water), and cover with a coat of breadcrumbs. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes!

 Nachos Toppings

This recipe can either be done with or without meat. I’ll share the one with meat, but you can omit it from your nachos’ toppings. 

First, add minced beef and chopped onions to a pan with olive oil. Once the beef is brown, add seasonings (salt, pepper, and minced garlic) and your leftover spaghetti sauce with a bit of water (for a creamier sauce). Add your butter beans and cook for 2-3 more minutes.

Arrange the nachos on an oven tray, then cover with your beef and beans sauce and a generous amount of mozzarella cheese. Bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese melts. Cover with pico de gallo, cilantro, guacamole, and sour cream, and enjoy with friends.

How Long Does Leftover Spaghetti Sauce Last?

Homemade Leftover Spaghetti Sauce can last for 3-4 days in the fridge and up to 4 months in the freezer. So if you still don’t know what to do with leftover spaghetti sauce, just freeze it!