Shabbat leftovers in my house have a deadline, and it’s usually Sunday night (not because they like it, but because they tolerate it). Because of this, I have gotten very good at predicting how much food I should make for Shabbat, so that we have a robust amount of food for Shabbat and juuuuust enough for a nice leftovers dinner on Sunday night. I have to say—it’s become a very useful skill. I recommend you work on predicting how much of the food you cook will be consumed. It saves a lot of frustration. 

But I also think some frustration can be avoided if we learn to rebrand leftovers. 

What if we made extra food for Shabbat with the intention of utilizing the leftovers throughout the week? It’s not about those odds and ends of a meal, but more about intentional leftovers. Try playing with your leftovers to turn them into something new and exciting. You might get a freebie meal or two out of it! I hope the recipes we’ve chosen here are helpful for you and you enjoy them on Shabbat and beyond.

Garlic Baked Chicken from the Dining In Cookbook

This chicken has a perfect balance of fresh flavors and herbs that will make it a real hit on your Shabbat table.

Brach’s Famous London Broil by Rivky Kleiman

This famous London Broil recipe is truly one of the best! You won’t regret making this for Shabbat.

Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad by Brynie Greisman

The orange vinaigrette makes this salad irresistible. It can be served at room temperature as a salad or warmed as a side. The best part is that there is no added sugar!

Root Hash by Rorie Weisberg

This is a festive yet wholesome favorite. Instead of starchy white potatoes, serve it with butternut squash, turnip, rutabaga, and carrot bake, tossed in a little oil and freshly flavored.

Pretzel Brownies by Sina Mizrahi

The perfect brownie has to be dense, fudgy, and chewy, with the signature crackly top. Most importantly, it has to be easy — really easy. This brownie comes together very easily. Best of all, it is incredibly delicious, with a pronounced dark chocolate flavor and contrast from the salty pretzels.