70+ Easy Ways to Use Leftover Meatballs For Quick Meals
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Last Updated on November 24, 2023
Wondering what to do with your leftover meatballs? Sometimes all you need are a few leftover meatball recipes and a little insipration to help you come up with some creative ways to use leftovers. Discover how to repurpose a bunch of leftover meatballs for an easy meal.
Making Easy Meals Using Meatballs
Meatballs are a great food to make in big batches. You can then use them for meal planning throughout the week by making tasty dishes that are easy to whip up for a quick weeknight dinner.
You can make your own meatballs for use the next day or in various dishes throughout the week, or freeze the leftovers for use later. If you prefer to use frozen meatballs that you get from the grocery store, just be sure to read the lable as some contain a lot of nasty ingredients.
Types of Meatballs
Most of the leftover meatball recipes below can use any type of meatball:
- Beef Meatballs
- Chicken Meatballs
- Turkey Meatballs
- Pork Meatballs
- Lamb Meatballs
- Italian Meatballs
Leftover Meatballs
So, you made meatballs and have a bunch leftover and now need ideas for what to do with them? No problem!
Check out different ways you can use leftover meatballs to make an easy dinner that all your family members will love.
1.) Meatball Sub
Slice the leftover meatballs and place them on a toasted sub roll with spaghetti sauce, melted cheese, and your favorite toppings.
Easy Meatball Subs – These homemade meatball subs are not only delicious but easy to make.
2.) Meatball Stir-Fry
Sauté vegetables of your choice with sliced meatballs in coconut aminos or teriyaki sauce for an Asian-inspired meal.
3.) Meatball Pizza
Crumble the leftover meatballs over a pizza crust and top with tomato sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, and any additional toppings you desire.
Italian Meatball Pizza – Your children will love this combination of meatballs, mushrooms, peppers, and cheese.
4.) BBQ Meatball Sliders
Toss the leftover meatballs in barbecue sauce and serve them on mini slider buns for a delicious appetizer or snack.
5.) Spaghetti and Meatballs
Heat up some spaghetti noodles in marinara sauce and add in the leftover meatballs for a classic Italian dish.
Cheesy Baked Spaghetti Meatballs – This simple recipe is an easy way to get dinner on the table.
6.) Mexican Style Stuffed Peppers
Cut off the tops of bell peppers, remove seeds, stuff them with crumbled meatballs mixed with rice, salsa, corn, black beans, and cheese. Bake until peppers are tender.
7.) Stuffed Shells with Leftover Meatballs
Use leftover meatballs as filling for stuffed shells along with ricotta cheese and marinara sauce, bake it all together in the oven.
Meatball Stuffed Shells – Add this dish to your list of favorite recipes as it will soon become a family favorite.
8.) Thai Red Curry Meatball Soup
Add chopped leftover meatballs to a pot of red curry soup base along with coconut milk or broth, vegetables like bell pepper strips or spinach for a flavorful soup.
9.) Meatball Sub Recipe
Nothing is better than using homemade meatballs or store-bought meatballs to create an easy meal that will feed a large group of people. Be sure to use your favorite homemade meatballs in this Meatball Sub Recipe.
10.) Mediterranean Salad Bowl
Combine diced leftover meatballs with fresh green leafy vegetables (such as romaine lettuce), cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese, greek olives, and drizzle it all together with a vinaigrette dressing for a delicious way to add protein to your salad.
11.) Hummus Chicken Meatball Pizza
Are you looking for a recipe that you can use store-bought meatballs? This simple recipe will be a big hit with your family. I have a great white bean hummus recipe this would work great with!
Hummus Chicken Meatball Pizza – Put your creative skills to good use and try a new recipe that even the kids will enjoy for dinner tonight.
You Might Also Like: 50 Easy Instant Pot Ground Beef Recipes for Cheap Dinners
What To Make With Meatballs
Keep reading for more ways to use leftover meatballs as a main course or whole meal.
12.) Meatball Casserole
Place chopped-up leftovers into a baking dish, mix it well with veggies, grated cheddar cheese, and sprinkle with breadcrumbs. If you are gluten free, try these gluten free breadcrumb substitutes. Bake until golden brown.
You might also like: 75 Easy Gluten Free Casseroles
13.) Italian Meatball Soup
Whip up a meatball soup for your family that is guaranteed to be a big hit. You can use some ground meat to make your meatballs or use any extra meatballs you have in the freezer.
Italian Meatball Soup – This is the perfect dish to serve your family on a cold winter night.
14.) Taco Tuesday Twist
Use crumbled leftovers as filling inside tacos shells. Garnish using avocado slices, cilantro lime juice, and fresh tomatoes.
15.) Easy Meatball Subs
Meatball subs are an easy meal to make that’s an excellent way to use up your leftover meatballs. Check out this recipe for Meatball Subs.
16.) Cheesy Baked Ziti With Leftover Meetballs
Use your leftover meatballs to make baked ziti. Combine marinara sauce, pasta, meatballs, and ricotta cheese into a baking dish. Top with shredded mozarella and parmesan cheese. Bake at 350F until golden brown.
17.) Meatball Subs
Be sure to keep a combination of meatballs in the freezer so you can make meatball subs in a pinch. Subs are essentially a meatball and cheese sandwich that can be used as a main dish.
Meatball Subs – This simple recipe only takes a few minutes of prep to put a yummy meal on the table.
18.) Meatball Panini
Layer sliced meatballs, mozzarella cheese and roasted red peppers between two slices of bread. Grill in a panini press or skillet until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted.
19.) Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Combine leftover meatballs with a sweet and sour sauce made from pineapple juice, vinegar, a natural sweetener, soy sauce (or coconut aminos), ketchup, and thicken using arrowroot. Don’t toss the pineapple rind! Learn all about the benefits of boiling pineapple peel.
Sweet and Sour Meatballs – Pop this tasty recipe into the slow cooker. It’s the perfect dish for a weeknight meal or a potluck.
20.) Meatball Omelette
Chop up leftover meatballs and fold them into an omelette along with your favorite vegetables for a hearty breakfast or brunch option.
21.) Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Sweet and sour meatballs are an easy dish to make. Put any meatballs you have on hand like leftover turkey meatballs into the crock pot. Then let them simmer in a yummy sauce for a few hours before serving.
22.) Meatball Stuffed Mushrooms
Remove stems from large mushrooms caps, fill each cap with crumbled leftover meatballs, and top it off with cheese and breadcrumbs. Bake at 400F until done.
23.) Italian Wedding Soup
Make a Italian Wedding Soup for your family using meatballs, vegetables, and some additional seasonings. It’s the perfect way to warm up after spending the day outside.
24.) Greek Gyro Wrap
Slice leftover meatballs thinly & place on warm pita wrap add tzatziki sauce, fresh tomatoes, sliced onions and lettuce.
25.) Cheesy Meatball Dip
Mix chopped-up meatballs, cream cheese, shredded cheddar, and green onion. Season with granulated garlic or powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to taste. Bake at 375°F till bubbling hot.
Cheesy Italian Meatball Sub Dip – If you’re looking for amazing recipes, you won’t go wrong with this cheesy Italian meatball sub dip. It’s a yummy recipe to serve at a social gathering.
26.) Pasta Bake With Leftover Meatballs
Using your favorite type of pasta, mix together marinara sauce and leftover meatballs, spread into a baking dish, top with grated mozarella cheese, and melt under a broiler. Garnish with fresh basil leaves.
27.) Cheesy Meatball Bake
A cheesy meatball bake is simple to make. First, cook up the meatballs in a skillet and then top them with a sauce smothered with cheese.
More Leftover Meatball Ideas
My family LOVES cheeseburger macaroni. Remember Hamburger Helper’s Cheeseburger Macaroni? Yea, homemade mac and cheese with some meatballs tossed in blows that out of the water!
28.) Cheeseburger Macaroni
Mix diced meatballs into your favorite macaroni and cheese recipe to add some extra protein and flavor. Adding a TBSP of salsa enhances the flavor, as long as you can have nightshade foods.
29.) Tomato Basil Meatballs
This tomato basil meatballs bake is a delightful leftover idea that’s easy to make. It also makes a delicious appetizer for a party.
30.) Meatball Calzones
Turn your leftover meatballs into delicious calzones by stuffing pizza dough with crumbled leftover meatballs, marinara, cheese, and your favorite veggies. Bake until golden brown.
Savory Hand Pies – This recipe also includes a fabulous recipe for a crust that you can use if you don’t want to make pizza dough.
31.) BBQ Bacon-Wrapped Meatballs
Wrap each individual meatball in bacon, secure using a small skewer stick, cook on the grill, searing up the bacon. After the bacon is cooked, brush with BBQ sauce and let carmelize.
32.) Crockpot Tex Meatball Soup
Nothing is easier than tossing ingredients into the slow cooker and letting them simmer for a few hours.
Tex Meatball Soup – This enticing recipe is one that uses simple ingredients you likely have in your kitchen.
33.) Meatball Hash
Create a tasty meatball hash by sautéing diced onions, potatoes, bell peppers, and crumbled leftover meatballs until tender and crispy.
34.) Skillet Meatball Pasta
Grab your favorite dry pasta and put your leftover meatballs to good use. It only takes a little bit of time before you’ll be ready to serve this dish for dinner.
Skillet Meatball Pasta – This recipe is the perfect way to use up some uncooked pasta and meatballs you have in your kitchen.
35.) Zucchini Noodles With Leftover Meatballs
Toss spiralized zucchini noodles, cooked meatballs, sautéed garlic, and olive oil in a skillet to heat the zoodles through. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes.
36.) Cheesy Italian Meatball Sliders
Sliders are small sandwiches that can be served as a main dish or a snack. You can make sliders like you would make subs by putting some meatballs and cheese on bread brushed with garlic butter.
Cheesy Italian Meatball Sliders – Your kids will love eating these cheesy Italian meatball sliders as a snack after school.
37.) Stuffed Manicotti Pasta Shells
A twist on regular manicotti, this stuffed pasta dish is sure to please. Simply stuff the shells with meatballs, ricotta, and spinach, top with red sauce and mozarella cheese. Bake in the oven until bubbly and golden.
38.) Meatball Stuffed Biscuits
Wrap some biscuit dough around meatballs to create some yummy stuffed biscuits for your family. This meatball stuffed biscuits recipe will likely become a family favorite.
39.) Swedish Meatball Pasta Bake
Combine cooked pasta, cream of mushroom soup (or preferrably, homemade), sliced mushrooms, and leftover meatballs in a baking dish topped with breadcrumbs and bake until golden brown.
40.) Grape Jelly Meatballs
These Grape Jelly Meatballs are cooked in a tasty sauce and will make an excellent appetizer for a potluck or social gathering.
41.) Greek-style Pita Wraps
Stuff pita bread with sliced leftover meatballs, tzatziki sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and feta cheese for a quick lunch option.
42.) Chicken Meatball Alfredo
Try serving your chicken meatballs in an alfredo sauce instead of a marinara sauce. Everyone in your family will enjoy the change of pace.
43.) Leftover Meatball Kabobs
Skewer cold-cooked, leftover meatballs with veggies like bell peppers, onions, and cherry tomatoes. Grill or bake to make easy kebabs.
44.) Meatball Curry
Another idea if you have leftover meatballs is to make an enticing meatball curry for dinner. Try this Kofta Curry; your family will enjoy this authentic and fresh recipe for meatball curry for dinner.
45.) Meatball Quesadillas
Place sliced meatballs and shredded cheese between two tortillas and cook until the cheese has melted and the tortilla is crispy.
46.) Cheesy Italian Meatballs
Cheesy Italian Meatballs – simmer your meatballs in a flavorful tomato sauce before smothering them in a cheese and baking them until they’re golden.
47.) Mediterranean Chicken Meatball Bowl
Put some rice at the bottom of a bowl and place some meatballs, vegetables, and hummus on top. It’s an easy and delicious summer meal.
Mediterranean Chicken Meatball Bowl – This Mediterranean chicken meatball bowl can be served for lunch or as a quick dinner on a busy night.
48.) Spicy Buffalo Meatball Subs
Toss leftover meatballs in buffalo sauce, slice them in half, and place inside sub rolls along with blue cheese dressing.
49.) Slow Cooker Meatball Soup
Put the vegetables, meatballs, and broth into a slow cooker and allow it to simmer for several hours. It’s the perfect way to serve a warm dinner to your family on a cold winter’s night.
Slow Cooker Meatball Soup – Be sure to sprinkle parmesan cheese on top of the soup before you serve it.
50.) Spaghetti Squash Boats With Leftover Meatballs
Cut spaghetti squash in half, roast it, and shred into strands. Mix the spaghetti squash noodles with marinara sauce, top it with chopped up meatballs and grated mozzarella cheese. Bake it at 375F until bubbly golden brown.
51.) Kofta Curry (Meatball Curry)
Cook up your meatballs in a delightful spicy sauce. Serve this Kofta Curry with rice or flatbread.
52.) Banh Mi Meatball Snack Dinner
Nothing is better than having a dish that you can serve as either a snack or as dinner. This banh mi meatball snack dinner is easy to put together. Your family will enjoy having a relaxing snack for dinner when you need a simple meal.
53.) Teriyaki Glazed Meatball Skewers
Thread cooked meatballs onto skewers alternating between pineapple chunks to create tasty kebabs that can be grilled or baked. You can make a quick teriyaki glaze using equal parts of orange juice and coconut aminos.
Add some garlic powder or fresh garlic to the mix along with onion powder and a dash of ground ginger. Heat and then thicken to a glaze using arrowroot. Brush the kebabs after cooked and let the glaze carmelize.
54.) Creamy Mustard Dill Sauce for Meatballs
Another tasty sauce you can use for meatballs is a creamy mustard dill sauce. It’s an excellent sauce to serve with egg noodles, rice, or potatoes. These creamy mustard dill sauce meatballs are full of flavor and make a quick meal when you’re short on time.
55.) Meatball Lettuce Wraps
Wrap lettuce leaves around sliced meatballs along with your favorite veggies like carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers. Drizzle with a tangy dressing for a light and refreshing meal option.
56.) Italian Sunday Gravy
Simmer pork and meatballs in a yummy red sauce. It’s an excellent recipe to cook when you’re serving a large group of people.
Italian Sunday Gravy – Put this delicious meatball recipe on the table at your next social gathering.
57.) Meatball Stroganoff
Simmer sliced leftovers in a creamy mushroom sauce served over noodles for a comforting meal.
58.) Calabrian Baked Pasta With Meatballs
If you’re in the mood to create a delicious pasta dish that takes a bit longer to prepare, then try a Calabrian baked pasta with meatballs. It’s a tasty way to use up any meatballs you might have lingering in your freezer.
59.) Leftover Meatball Nachos
Create homemade nachos by layering tortilla chips with crumbled leftover cooked meatballs, black beans, melted cheese, salsa, guacamole, and sour cream. Top with green onions and sliced jalapenos.
60.) 3-Ingredient Slow Cooked Meatballs
Meatballs do not require many ingredients to make a delicious meal. This appetizer only requires you to toss three ingredients into the slow cooker to create an appetizer people will rave over.
3-Ingredient Slow Cooked Meatballs – Make sure to use your favorite combination of meatballs in this simple recipe.
61.) Loaded Baked Potatoes
Use small amounts of crumbled leftover cooked meatballs as a topping for baked potatoes along with sour cream, cheese, and chives.
62.) Crock Pot Buffalo Meatballs
Ever considered making buffalo meatballs? Buffalo sauce is a delicious hot sauce that tastes fabulous on chicken and on meatballs.
63.) Meatball Fried Rice
Pan fry leftover rice with diced vegetables like peas, carrots, onions along with chopped-up leftover meatballs for a quick meal.
64.) Swedish Meatballs with Gravy
Swedish meatballs with gravy is a classic comfort food that’s filled with flavor. You can serve the meatballs over pasta or rice. You can also serve the meatballs alongside baked potatoes.
65.) Soup with Leftover Meatballs
Make a hearty meatball soup by combining leftover meatballs with beef broth or chicken stock, vegetables like carrots and celery, and any desired herbs or spices. Simmer until the flavors meld together for a comforting bowl of goodness.
Instant Pot Meatball Soup – This soup requires almost no preparation to get a delightful dinner on the table.
66.) Shepherd’s Pie
Use mashed potatoes (or mashed white sweet potatoes) as the base layer in a shepherd’s pie-style casserole dish. Top with crumbled leftover meatballs instead of traditional ground beef or lamb for a fun twist on this classic comfort food recipe.
67.) Tomato Ramen Noodles with Meatballs
Try a unique twist on pasta for dinner tonight by making tomato ramen noodles with meatballs. Everyone will love the meatballs and hardboiled eggs served on top of ramen. This yummy dish isn’t the ramen recipe you ate in college.
68.) Meatball Stew
Create a hearty meatball stew by adding the leftover meatballs to a pot of simmering broth along with vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and onions.
69.) BBQ Meatball Wrap
Place some meatballs on a tortilla along with some BBQ sauce and cheese. It’s an easy recipe you can serve your kids for dinner or as a snack.
BBQ Meatball Wrap – This recipe can be enjoyed at room temperature or can be warmed up in the microwave.
70.) Spaghetti & Meatball Fritatta
Grab fresh eggs and some spaghetti to create a unique take on spaghetti and meatballs. Spaghetti and meatball fritatta makes an excellent dish to serve for Sunday brunch.
71.) Couscous Bowl with Meatballs
Serve meatballs and vegetables over couscous tonight. It’s a fun variation that everyone in your family will love. Don’t forget to sprinkle feta cheese over the couscous bowl with meatballs before serving.
72.) Meatball Minestrone
Add meatballs to your favorite minestrone recipe to create a tasty variation that is satisfying after a day outside in the cold. Be sure to offer a crusty bread to eat alongside the soup.
Toss all the ingredients for this meatball minestrone into your slow cooker and cook over high heat for four hours. It’s an easy way to get a delicious meal on the table.
73.) Turkey Meatballs – Buffalo Style
Buffalo Turkey Meatballs – Your family will love this fun and unique recipe for buffalo turkey meatballs.
Storing Leftover Meatballs
Here’s what you need to know about storing leftover meatballs.
Refrigerating Leftover Meatballs
To store leftover meatballs in the refrigerator, follow these steps:
- Allow the meatballs to cool down completely before storing them.
- Place the meatballs in an airtight container or wrap them tightly with plastic wrap.
- Label the container with the date of storage to keep track of freshness.
Leftover meatballs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. However, it is important to note that their quality may start to decline after 2-3 days.
Freezing Leftover Meatballs
If you want to store leftover meatballs for a longer period, freezing is recommended. Here’s how you can freeze your meatballs:
- Once cooled, arrange the meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Place the baking sheet in the freezer and allow the meatballs to freeze individually for about 1 hour.
- Transfer the frozen individualized meatballs into a freezer-safe bag or container.
- Remove any excess air from the bag or container and seal it tightly.
- Label it with both contents and date.
Frozen cooked meatballs can last for around 2-3 months without significant loss of quality if properly stored.
Final Sumary
Using meatballs for easy meals is a great way to save time in the kitchen. The best part is your whole family will enjoy these leftover meatballs recipes. So, the next time you have some leftover, you can make a fun dish other than eating leftover spaghetti with meatballs.