The Absolute Best Ways To Cook Leftover Meatloaf

Craving meatloaf? The hearty dish is a delicious fan favorite for many households, but contrary to popular belief, meatloaf wasn't only an invention that was created by homemakers during the Great Depression. According to Cooks Illustrated, the concept of incorporating meat with a filler dates back to the fourth or fifth century A.D. It wasn't until the mid 19th century that the first American meatloaf recipe was recorded, according to food historian Andrew Smith via Bon Appétit.

According to Eat This Not That, meatloaf recipes vary, with each U.S. state having its favorite version. Alabama residents top their meatloaf with mushroom sauce; Alaskans eat it on sandwiches, while others in Maryland pile their meatloaf high with cheese sauce or gravy, bacon, and cheese.

If you want to transform your meatloaf leftovers into new meal creations, we have the absolute best ways to cook leftover meatloaf. These methods are sure to leave your mouth watering.

When you have leftover meatloaf, it is necessary to get creative in order to dish up purposeful meals with the meat. Generally speaking, meatloaf can be used in any recipe that calls for ground meat, according to Insanely Good Recipes, and this recipe for meatloaf spaghetti is no exception. Crumble the meatloaf into small bite-sized chunks and add them to tomato sauce. Cook briefly until warm, and add atop the cooked pasta of your choice. It's that easy!

The Pioneer Woman has a few delicious suggestions for sprucing up your spaghetti. She says you can elevate your dish by topping it with parmesan, cheddar, or mozzarella cheese. The cream is a less obvious topping she suggests, saying, "I like to pour a little cream on top of my spaghetti sauce to add a bit of richness." She also mentions that she likes to add butter to the pasta noodles before topping them with sauce. Yum!

Follow Monday's meatloaf dinner with a reimagined taco Tuesday using your leftover meatloaf. The Spruce Eats states that half the work is already done when you have pre-cooked meatloaf to add to the taco shells. Adding any meat, the site says, including beef, turkey, pork, or chicken, works well in their taco recipe. So, regardless of which type of meat you used for your meatloaf, it should blend well into their taco recipe.

The Spruce Eats meatloaf taco recipe starts by heating olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, then adding chopped onion. Sauté and stir for five to six minutes, then stir in one can of refried beans and cook for three minutes. Add crumbled meatloaf, chili powder, and tomato sauce and allow to simmer for 10 minutes. Heat the taco shells according to the package directions, then fill the shells with the meat mixture. Top with lettuce, cheese, salsa, sour cream, or whichever toppings you love. Enjoy!

The Food Network recommends adding leftover meatloaf to stuffed peppers for a weeknight dinner. Their recipe involves coring bell peppers, dicing the leftover meatloaf, and cooking orzo or rice for the stuffing. The rest is simple. You'll soften the peppers in the microwave and fill them with the meatloaf pieces, shredded cheese, tomato sauce, and cooked orzo or rice. Top the stuffed peppers with cheese, then bake uncovered until they are warm throughout and the cheese has melted.

Taste of Home also has a recipe for leftover meatloaf-stuffed peppers that is relatively easy. For their recipe, begin by removing the tops and seeds from the bell peppers. Place the peppers in boiling water for three minutes to soften, then drain. In this case, you'll add the leftover meatloaf to a pan alongside other ingredients. Once the filling has cooked, you'll stuff each pepper with the mixture and place them into the baking dish over 1 cup of spaghetti sauce. Bake the peppers uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit until warm. Sprinkle with cheese and allow to stand until cheese melts. Viola! You've turned leftover meatloaf into something magnificent.