Tasty Ideas for the Next Day: Leftover BBQ Recipes

Picture this - you’ve just enjoyed an afternoon outside with your family and a delicious BBQ meal. But, now you have a bunch of leftovers that you don’t want to go to waste. So, if you're searching for leftover BBQ recipes, you’ve found the perfect blog! These three simple recipes will turn your leftovers into new creations packed with the flavors you love. 

Leftover BBQ Recipe #1: Barbecue Chicken Quesadillas

Chicken is such a versatile ingredient, so there are many different options for using up any leftover BBQ chicken - casseroles, tacos, pasta dishes and so on. Quesadillas are another quick and easy recipe idea. Plus, you’ll only need four ingredients. 

Ingredients:

• 6 large flour tortillas
  
• 2 cups leftover chicken
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese

Heat the oil in a skillet. Stir in the cooked chicken to coat it and cook until it is warm. Cover one half of a tortilla with a light layer of cheese. Top the cheese with a layer of chicken and put more cheese on top of the chicken to hold the tortilla together as it cooks. Fold the tortilla over and heat in the skillet until the cheese melts. Serve with salsa, sour cream or guacamole (or all three).

Leftover BBQ Recipe #2: Barbecue Pulled-Pork Pizza

Barbecue pulled-pork pizza is an easy way to stretch your leftovers. It combines sweet, savory and smoky flavors into a delicious pie that both the adults and the kids in your family will devour.

Ingredients:

• 1 premade pizza crust or 1 pound of pizza dough
  
• 1 cup pulled pork
  
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
  
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  
• 1/3 cup red onion, chopped
  
• 2 green onions, chopped
  

Prepare the pizza dough according to the directions and place it on a pizza stone or baking pan. Spoon the barbecue sauce onto the dough in a thin layer. Top with the pulled pork, cheese and chopped onions. Bake at 475 degrees until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

Leftover BBQ Recipe #3: Slow Cooker Barbecue Pork Chili

You don't have to look any further for leftover BBQ pork recipes if you know how to make a basic pot of chili. The liquid in the spicy stew keeps the pork tender and the smoky flavor in the pork really enhances the taste of the dish.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound leftover pork
  
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
  
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
  
• 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes
  
• 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
  
• 1 can chili beans (or white beans)
  
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
  
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
  
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  

Put the oil, onions and garlic into a skillet and cook until the onions are translucent. Add the leftover pork, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper and stir until completely combined. Next, transfer everything to a slow cooker. Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce and drained beans. Cover and cook for 6 to 8 hours on the low setting.

Leftover BBQ Recipe #4: Skillet Frank & Beans

You may have made frank and beans before, but this leftover BBQ recipe is a new spin on this easy meal and a great way to use leftover hot dogs. So, after your backyard cookout with your family, save those extra grilled hot dogs for the following day. 

For this Skillet Frank & Beans recipe, you’ll use a can of your favorite baked beans, hot dogs, diced bell peppers and onions, plus slices of Canadian ham or deli ham, cut into 1 to 2-inch pieces. Now, let’s look at how to make it. 

First, add a tablespoon of olive oil in your skillet and sauté the bell peppers and onions until slightly softened. While the vegetables are cooking, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Then, add the slices of ham, baked beans and hot dogs and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat and place the skillet in the oven to bake for 10 minutes. 

And that’s all there is to it! Dinner is ready to eat in 15 to 20 minutes. 

The next time you find yourself with leftover BBQ, give one of these four recipes a try so you can make sure none of your delicious grilled and barbecued food goes to waste! And should you need any ingredients, visit your local Food Lion to pick up family dinner essentials at low prices.