Too Hot to Cook? Lazy Leftover Recipes to Keep You Cool

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Feeling the heat this summer and not in the mood to cook? You’re not alone! We have compiled an array of lazy leftover recipes that are just perfect for those sizzling days when the kitchen feels like a sauna. From refreshing chicken salad to easy birria quesadillas, these meals are designed to repurpose your leftovers into something quick, easy, and satisfying.

Curry Chicken Salad with Leftover Rotisserie Chicken

Curry Chicken Salad with Leftover Rotisserie Chicken.
Curry Chicken Salad with Leftover Rotisserie Chicken. Photo credit: Girl Carnivore

Use leftover rotisserie chicken to make an incredibly easy curry chicken salad recipe loaded with apples, dried mango, cashews, and fresh mint!
Get the Recipe: Curry Chicken Salad with Leftover Rotisserie Chicken

Cheeseburger Salad

Indulge in the deliciousness of a low-carb cheeseburger salad with juicy grilled burgers, crisp veggies, and a keto thousand island dressing.
Get the Recipe: Cheeseburger Salad

Smoked Chicken Chilaquiles

Try this delicious recipe that uses leftover chicken for savory & amazing chicken chilaquiles at home. The perfect breakfast meal!
Get the Recipe: Smoked Chicken Chilaquiles

Leftover Smoked Turkey Sandwich

Use up your leftover smoked turkey for this easy shredded bbq turkey sandwich recipe dripping with barbecue sauce and topped with cheese!
Get the Recipe: Leftover Smoked Turkey Sandwich

BBQ Chicken Mac and Cheese

Bowl filled with shredded chicken over pasta.

BBQ Chicken Mac and Cheese recipe for a triple cheese blend of creamy macaroni with shredded chicken all made in the instant pot!
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Mac and Cheese

Smoked Pit Beef Sandwich

A hearty pit beef sandwich recipe you can make at home with thin shaved beef, a creamy horseradish gorgonzola sauce, and thin shaved onions.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Pit Beef Sandwich

BBQ Rib Hash

This hearty potato hash is ready in 35 minutes and made with leftover rib meat! With toast and eggs is a perfect & easy brunch or breakfast recipe.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Rib Hash

Quesabirria Tacos

Instant Pot birria tacos on a teal plate with minced onion.
Birria Tacos. Photo credit: Girl Carnivore.

Quesabirria tacos are literally tacos filled with melted cheese and shredded beef dunked in a spiced beef broth before being fried.
Get the Recipe: Quesabirria Tacos

Cheeseburger Omelette

This fast and easy cheeseburger Omelette is a great way to use up leftover hamburger patties from those summer barbecues! Perfect for brunch!
Get the Recipe: Cheeseburger Omelette

Campfire Grilled Chicken Panini

Forget boring campfire food and canned crap. Make cooking over the open fire fun again – and starting with this Campfire Grilled Chicken Panini Recipe
Get the Recipe: Campfire Grilled Chicken Panini

Smoked Pulled Pork Enchiladas

Pork enchiladas in a plate garnished with bright peppers, onions and herbs.

Smoked Pulled Pork Enchiladas are a fast and easy go to that are a great way to use up leftovers! Mix and match flavors and heat for your family’s tastes.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Pulled Pork Enchiladas

Beef Birria Garnachas

Cheesy piles of leftover beef birria sit atop crispy crunch fried corn tortillas in these delicious snack-size garnacha recipe.
Get the Recipe: Beef Birria Garnachas

Diner-Style Ham and Cheese Omelet

Ham and cheese omelet on a plate.
Ham and Cheese Omelet. Photo credit: Girl Carnivore.

Make this hearty diner-style ham and cheese omelet with 3 eggs chopped leftover ham steak, and cheese for an amazing breakfast recipe!
Get the Recipe: Diner-Style Ham and Cheese Omelet

Pork Chile Verde Omelette

A west coast diner-style recipe you can make at home! Chile verde omelet filled with simmered pork in green sauce and loaded with toppings!
Get the Recipe: Pork Chile Verde Omelette

Birria Quesadilla

Sliced quesadilla with toppings.

This easy Birria Quesadilla recipe brings authentic Mexican flavors to your table. A fusion of tender beef birria and melted cheese! 😋🌮
Get the Recipe: Birria Quesadilla