Dinner For Breakfast: How To Refresh Your Leftovers

If you've ever eaten a cold slice of pizza in the morning, then you've already enjoyed dinner for breakfast. Eating savory foods for breakfast isn't a new concept. Many cultures typically eat filling foods like rice, fish or meat for breakfast. It's really only Americans who enjoy the sugar-laden cereals or doughnuts and coffee for breakfast. We're doing breakfast all wrong!

More surprising is the fact that less than half of us eat breakfast in the morning. The saying "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" is actually true, but unfortunately not everyone pays attention to it. Eating breakfast is important because it sets your energy levels for the day. But those sugary foods (including the instant oatmeal you think is healthy) don't do us any good. So instead, reach for those dinner leftovers sitting in the back of the fridge -- and turn them into breakfast with a few tweaks.

Bits and pieces of leftover meals need not be tossed in the trash when you learn how to incorporate them into new dishes that become your breakfast. There are many ways to enjoy a savory version of your favorite breakfast dish, for example, a scrambled egg breakfast burrito. Here are some ideas to get you started.

6 Dinner Leftovers Turned Into Breakfast:

1. Leftover stew: You've got leftover pot roast or any type of stew. Turn it into: a breakfast hash. Chop up an onion and dice up a potato and saute. Then add your leftovers to reheat. If you like, top it off with a fried egg for a hearty breakfast.

2. Leftover rice: You've got leftover rice from Chinese take-out or just a side dish. Turn it into a breakfast rice bowl. Warm the rice in the microwave and top with a fried egg. Season with salsa or hot sauce.

3. Leftover vegetables: You've got leftover sauteed or roasted vegetables. Turn them into an omelet. Reheat some vegetables in a skillet and add your beaten eggs and cook until set.

4. Leftover roast chicken or grilled steak: You've got some meat left on your roast chicken or an extra steak. Turn it into a breakfast casserole, a.k.a. strata. Toss chunks of leftover meat with cubes of dried or toasted bread cubes. Add beaten eggs and some milk, and then bake at 350 degrees until set. You could also make individual servings in small gratin dishes.

4. Leftovers from Mexican night: You've got tortillas, salsa, some meat filling and shredded lettuce. Turn them into a breakfast burrito. Wrap the leftover fillings in a tortilla along with some scrambled eggs.

6. Leftovers from Italian night: You've got leftover meat sauce or meatballs. Turn them into a mini breakfast pizza. Top a toasted English muffin with meat sauce or sliced meatballs. Top with shredded cheese and bake until bubbly.

What are some ways you enjoy dinner leftovers for breakfast? Leave a comment.

Comments

[Stacie Sowell]

08:15 AM on 03/25/2013

Im actually eating leftovers right now. I am eating a baked potatoe poppy seed chicken and english peas.. I would rather eat dinner food for breakfast any day over real breakfast food... my favorite thing to have for breakfast is my home made chili.

[KT31]

10:51 AM on 02/24/2012

Breakfast tacos - eggs and/or leftover meat/vegetables/beans/rice, etc. in a soft corn tortilla. Top w/salsa, avocado, chopped onions, cilantro, whatever - lower cal and healthier than the breakfast burrito option.

[Dubagee]

10:52 PM on 02/20/2012

Left over veggie omelets are AWESOME!!!

http://gigieatscelebrities.com

[catb50]

05:42 PM on 02/20/2012

the absolute BEST dinner for breakfast??? COLD PIZZA!! the recipe is sooo simple...open fridge, remove pizza box, open box and retrieve slice of cold pizza, EAT! yum

[AbsoluteTruthiness]

05:12 PM on 02/20/2012

These are all good enough ideas, but I'd alter a few things. OMIT THE FRIED EGG from a rice dish. Yuck. The pure, organic brown rice is a treat all by itself and the body first thing in the morning will love you for NOT loading it up with grease and cholesterol.

As for English Muffins, as much as I used to love them, English Muffins are made from white flour, which has ZERO nutrients and ZERO fiber. Your body needs fiber. Go with something that's heavy in fiber. Try a millet toast or millet wrap.

[kmclawson70]

07:11 PM on 03/02/2012

There are some wonderful English muffins out there that are organic and made from flax, spelt, and whole wheat (and its not the refined processed wheat either) Rudy's has a killer multi grain english muffin that is low in fat and calories and is nice and hearty. Udi's makes a gluten free english muffin that doesn't taste like its gluten free and even Thomas and Orowheat are making 100% whole wheat english muffins these days. With that said my favourite leftover dinner for breakfast meal is scrambled egg w/ cheese and leftover veggie chili or leftover veggie Indian food on an english muffin or naan (if you have any left over) That's heaven right there!

[Al Schrader]

02:49 PM on 02/20/2012

Let your pizza dough rise in the fridge over night so it is nice, soft, and poofy in the morning. Throw it into a disc and onto a sheet pan. Toss some dollops of butter on it, sprinkle with mozz, and break some eggs on it. Bake until the eggs are medium-well. Serve with Hellish Relish on the side....Alfie-

[phockitol]

12:01 PM on 02/20/2012

Rice - leftover plain white rice with butter, salt and pepper makes a fine gut-stuffer to hold on until lunch.

[AbsoluteTruthiness]

05:14 PM on 02/20/2012

EXACTLY. Don't polute it with a friggin greasy fried egg!!!! While I always liked white rice, I have learned that it has no real nutrition because it's over-processed and often is laden with pesticides. Instead, try some organic brown basmati. It's nutty, pecan-ish, and unbelieveably delish. Then add a bit of ghee (butter without the milk solids) and maybe the tiniest bit of cinnamon or nutmeg and stevia. Yum!

[randyman12]

07:44 PM on 02/20/2012

A.T. Go out of your health box and eat some bacon....8oz or more per serving..unhealthly and GREAT!

[Edwin Keever Jr]

10:25 AM on 02/20/2012

I have a much easier way. Get up at 5:00 pm

[360Dunk]

10:24 AM on 02/20/2012

This article discriminates against those of us who prefer to drink our breakfast.

[natal plum]

01:15 PM on 02/20/2012

And against those of us who feel breakfast is a waste of calories and should be avoided

[AbsoluteTruthiness]

05:16 PM on 02/20/2012

Well, if you want to drink with grain alcohol, then hey - go for it. Your liver will punish you.

If you want to drink a HEALTHY breakfast, load up with a heavy-fiber smoothie. In a blender add a banana, some fresh pineapple, a pealed, sliced cucumber, maybe some cilantro, some mango if you have it, half of a pealed lemon (or lime or orange).

Just throw in whatcha got and you'll be pleased with the results.

[360Dunk]

07:48 PM on 02/20/2012

Dr. Truthiness, you're absolutely correct. And for that reason, I do a modified version of your drink....keep your cilantro and cukes away from the fruit and add some ground flax seed, blueberries, and horny goat weed to it.

[Canefighter]

10:00 AM on 02/20/2012

Pizza, the breakfast of champions.

[luckywendi]

02:59 PM on 02/20/2012

I thought the breakfast of champions was a Slim Jim and a beer....:-)

[randyman12]

07:45 PM on 02/20/2012

Now you're talkin!

[Eden Godsoe]

07:51 PM on 02/18/2012

I'm a big fan of having dinner for breakfast (or breakfast for lunch and dinner for that matter.) Eggs whites are a perfect canvas for turning leftovers into breakfast as they are healthy themselves and pair well with just about anything. Love this of ideas for eggs whites - I promise you will find more than one idea you will love!

Ideas for Egg Whites
http://www.skinnyscoop.com/list/citychic/ideas-for-egg-whites

[natal plum]

01:18 PM on 02/20/2012

Best two documented uses for eggs:
1. Easter. Color them with the kids. Couple days later when they start to spoil let the kids have a hard boiled egg fight.
2. Halloween - mischief night.

[Sam Hill 01]

04:34 PM on 02/20/2012

You naughty girl...lol

[AbsoluteTruthiness]

05:25 PM on 02/20/2012

Good info. I buy cartons of the organic egg whites. They will subsitute anywhere you'd use an egg.

[mimidec67]

09:46 PM on 02/17/2012

I have never seen the appeal of donuts,pastries or waffles and pancakes drenched with syrup first thing in the morning. UGH. The ideas in this article I have been doing for year,glad it's being brought up.

[stanleygranger]

07:01 AM on 02/17/2012

You made leftover healthy great! I am making this recipe and trying to invent more out of them.

[AbsoluteTruthiness]

05:22 PM on 02/20/2012

I use EVERY dinner leftover for breakfast or for lunch the next day. Leftover steamed green beans? Combine them with a vinegarette, chopped veggies like peppers and onions, and albacore tuna in a high-fiber (10 gr Fiber) lavash or wrap and you have a Nicoise wrap for breakfast or lunch. Mexican the night before? Add all of those veggies to toasted millet bread or wrap, and you have a great Mexi treat.

Think outside the box.

[Sara Daly]

02:52 PM on 02/16/2012

Love it, I hate wasting food. Had the strangest craving for tomato soup the other morning. Made herb focaccia to go with http://www.sarasblogplace.com/crusty-herb-foccacia/.

[Trout Grrl]

10:55 AM on 02/16/2012

I agree that breakfast does't need to be sweet, and can be made with leftovers, but somethings just don't sit right in your belly first thing in the morning. Even if it tastes great, that leftover brunchfast may actually end up ruining you for the rest of the day. I love breakfast tacos, however, they make me unwilling to eat lunch and leave me with indigestion for the rest of the day- I end up prone to eatting an unhealthy dinner-whatever i can get my hands on, as soon as my stomach will let me eat again usually 7-8 hours later, and that isn't healthy. But those breakfast tacos are oh so tasty.

[natal plum]

01:32 PM on 02/20/2012

Best advice is to skip breakfast. Run, jog, exercise or whatever to get blood sugar moving. Eat a good lunch. Breakfast is unnecessary

[Elizabeth Casto]

01:44 PM on 02/20/2012

eat one hard boiled egg and some oatmeal with cinnamon. and a cup of coffee. thats it. not too many calories depending on how you fix your coffee. if you wake up at 5am you need to eat because lunch isnt until noon.
if you wake up at 8am or later, breakfest is a waste.

[AbsoluteTruthiness]

05:23 PM on 02/20/2012

If I don't have time for a full breakfast, I end up with a handful of organic apple slices, and I dip them into organic, crunchy peanut butter. It's all you need ! Fiber, nutrition and your liver and gall bladder will love it.

[randyman12]

07:47 PM on 02/20/2012

again..try some bacon..you'll love it AND spend less time in the bathroom....FIBER...REALLY !!! lol