Hi, Seafoodies!
We’ve all been there. You cooked a beautiful piece of salmon or picked up a little extra shrimp, and now there’s cooked seafood sitting in the fridge with no plan on how to enjoy it. Looking it over until it expires or throwing it out feels like a crime (because honestly, it kind of is—food waste adds up fast), but sometimes, eating the exact same meal two nights in a row isn’t exactly exciting either. The good news? Leftover seafood is one of the most versatile things you can have on hand and, with a little creativity, last night’s dinner can quickly become tonight’s completely different—and delicious—meal.
What makes cooking with leftovers so great is that the hard part is already done. Your seafood is already cooked or you only have a small uncooked portion left to prepare, which means you’re skipping straight to the fun stuff and getting dinner on the table in a fraction of the usual time. So before you resign yourself to another identical plate (we are all for leftovers, but sometimes you just want to shake things up!) here are 10 easy ways to give leftover seafood a delicious second act.
1. Wrap it up in a quesadilla or taco. Cooked fish and shrimp are made for handheld dinners, and wrapping them up is one of the fastest ways to reinvent last night’s meal. Fold flaked tuna into Air Fryer Tuna Quesadillas or pile crispy fish into Air Fried Fish Walking Tacos for a fun, portable and low-effort dinner kids love. Set out a few toppings and let everyone build their own plate!
2. Stir it into fried rice. Leftover shrimp and day-old rice are a match made in heaven, and honestly, slightly dried-out rice works even better here than fresh. Toss them together for Shrimp Fried Rice that will give you all those carryout vibes, without the hefty price tag or high sodium content—while still clearing out the fridge at the same time! Add whatever stray vegetables you’ve got hanging around and you’ve got a full, wholesome meal in minutes.
3. Simmer it into soup. A pot of broth is a foolproof way to turn odds and ends into something cozy and craveable. Instant Pot Fish Tortilla Soup and our Simple and Savory Cioppino both welcome leftover cooked seafood stirred in near the end, so it warms through without overcooking. It’s the ultimate low-stress dinner for a chilly fall night, and it also gets bonus points for simultaneously making the whole kitchen smell incredible.
4. Melt it into something cheesy. If you’re a cheese fan, you know that cheese has a way of making everything better, and leftover seafood is no exception! Fold extra crab into Instant Pot Crab Mac ‘n’ Cheese or pile tuna onto a Cheesy Pimento Tuna Melt for a dinner nobody will guess started as leftovers. There’s a reason these cheesy classics are the first thing we reach for when we want pure comfort with almost zero effort.
5. Toss it with pasta. When it comes to perfect pasta, you want to think about two things: your protein and your sauce! Nail both of those and you can almost guarantee a great bowl that your family will ask you to make time and time again. See what we mean by adding cooked shrimp to our tried-and-true Creamy Shrimp Alfredo Pasta or stir flaked fish into noodles with olives, capers and tomatoes to make up a briny Tuna Puttanesca.
6. Build a bowl. Bowls are the ultimate “clean out the fridge” dinner, and they truly never have to taste the same way twice. Layer leftover salmon over greens and grains for a Pasta Salmon Bowl with Balsamic Drizzle—filling, fresh and endlessly customizable based on what you’ve got. Shrimp, tuna, whitefish and even scallops can all be substituted in!
7. Spice it up. Sometimes plain leftovers just need a smattering of bold spices to feel brand new again. Gently simmer cod in your Instant Pot along with our fragrant homemade Tikka Masala sauce until it soaks up all that creamy goodness. Pile the finished dish over rice with warm naan alongside, and yesterday’s fish feels like a total dinner do-over in the best way. Oh and stay tuned, because we also have a fun way to use up that naan in our next blog post!
8. Skewer it. A cooking technique you should always keep in your back pocket? Threading leftover seafood onto skewers is a quick way to make any meal feel fresh, have a little fun and even get little seafoodies involved in dinner prep. Honey Garlic Shrimp Skewers take only 30 minutes to make for a sticky-sweet dish that works on the grill or under the broiler. Feel free to alternate the shrimp with small pieces of veggies for a little extra fiber and nutrition while also extending your protein—so everyone can go back for seconds.
9. Crisp it back up. The air fryer is a leftover’s best friend, especially when you’re trying to revive something that was already perfectly crispy the first time around. Air Fryer Tempura Shrimp crisps up beautifully, creating that just-fried crunch without having to deal with hot oil or any of the sogginess that cooking in a microwave might leave behind. Serve with a lineup of dipping sauces and let everyone pick their favorite.
10. Board it. When you don’t feel like cooking at all, a board is the answer—no stove, no cleanup, no problem. Arrange leftover cooked seafood on a Seacuterie Board with crackers, dips and whatever else you’ve got on hand for a full spread that’s anything but boring, with practically zero kitchen time required.
The next time you’ve got seafood to spare, don’t let it go to waste! Every one of these recipes means less stress, less effort and a fresh dinner every time.
Why not have fun with your food!
Instant Pot Crab Mac ‘n’ Cheese
Mac ‘n’ cheese has held its place as a time-honored favorite for good reason, and folding in leftover crab and whole-grain pasta makes this classic feel a little more grown-up, while still satisfying little Seafoodies.
Pasta Salmon Bowl with Balsamic Drizzle
Got leftover salmon? This is where it wants to go. As a fillet or flaked over pasta and vegetables with a balsamic drizzle tying it all together, because we all know the best bowls really come down to smart assembly.
Instant Pot Fish Tortilla Soup
The Instant Pot elevates leftover whitefish into a cozy, brothy soup with hardly any hands-on time. Top it with crushed tortilla chips, avocado and a squeeze of lime for a fall favorite you’ll come back to.
If we had to pick one recipe that we could make with our eyes closed, that works for lunch or dinner, that only uses pantry staples and leftovers and that genuinely tastes good enough to make again and again—these quesadillas would be it.
Serve this nostalgic take on a school-sports favorite in bowls, jars or big cups—each one filled with crispy fish and choose-your-own toppings. There’s no wrong way to dig in!
Here’s the golden rule of fried rice: day-old rice works best and leftover shrimp is the perfect partner. Everything sizzles together in one pan for a dinner that’s better (and better for you) than takeout and empties the fridge at the same time.
It’s true that fried foods tend to be higher in saturated fat and calories (and messy to cook at home). Not so with this tempura shrimp recipe! Traditional frying requires submerging food in hot oil, which increases calories and fat—but the air fryer browns and crisps foods with minimal oil.
The sandwich’s ooey-gooey cousin, canned tuna and store-bought pimento cheese make this melt super easy to enjoy, upgrading basic leftovers into a dinner that’s an incredible combination of creamy, savory and crisp.
A batch of these skewers makes a wonderful pre-dinner snack, a full meal when paired with a side of grilled veggies or you can even use any leftovers from this leftover meal as a next-day tasty salad topper. Talk about stretching what’s already in your fridge!
Swirls of pouched tuna, sauce and a tangle of linguine are the epitome of Mediterranean vibes when drizzled with a healthy serving of olive oil and enjoyed as a next-day dinner option.
Fettuccine coated in a velvety parmesan sauce and adorned with perfectly sautéed garlic shrimp is so darn delectable—and so ready to rescue any leftover shrimp in your fridge.
Fact: Seafood stew was practically designed for using up odds and ends—clams, mussels, whitefish, shrimp and scallops all welcome. We love embracing the flexibility of not planning ahead exactly what ends up in your pot.
Arrange smoked salmon, tinned fish, crackers and all the accompaniments on one big board for a stunning spread—a little fridge and pantry cleanout has never tasted so good!
Tender cod swimming in rich, aromatic tomato sauce with warming spices—all ready faster than you’d expect. Your pressure cooker does the heavy lifting while you enjoy all the credit.
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