Leftover Meat Pasta and Beans

Thursday, January 7, 2021
Leftover Italian Meat Pasta and Beans is the perfect way to use up the leftover sauce!


Sunday was always pasta day and mom made enough to feed an army, so most of the time we had a house full and most of it would be gone.


Whenever we had leftover sauce, meatballs, and sausage she repurposed them many ways whether it was a submarine sandwich or a great new comfort bowl of this pasta and beans we loved it.


Honestly, half the time we have no idea she didn't start from scratch and made a new meal, she always seemed to doctored things up to taste like a whole new meal!


Even though we love our meatball covered sandwiches or sliced meatballs on a pizza, pasta Fagioli in Sunday Sauce is comforting and the perfect Italian meal using up those leftovers.


Not an American goulash by any stretch of the imagination but mom certainly knew how to stretch the budget and save time and money nothing ever went to waste, at least not in the 1960s those days were tough economic times.


When you grow up struggling to feed a large family, you learn quickly and improvise.


This was a family favorite for sure. Here are tips and suggestions below on using leftovers deliciously!






this is a big pot of leftover crushed meatballs and sausage to make beans meat and pasta










Family Values



Mom was the best at utilizing leftovers.


I looked forward to her Turkey covered sandwiches, pork with rice and chicken baked and leftovers for salads.


It really instilled values on how important it was not to waste food.


We grew up being very thankful and I have also passed that on to my children who understand the importance of never throwing away food.








this is ditalini pasta beans and meat




Some Tips:


  • If you would like to make this dish in the future and not the same week, freeze the sauce and meatballs.
  • Add peppers to the sauce to create a different flavor
  • Whole tomatoes chopped
  • Any kinds of leftover meats can be used see suggestions below
  • Keep canned beans any kind you like on hand even Chickpeas if you like them.
  • Make extra meatballs and sausage in the sauce when preparing for this dish.
  • Fresh basil added gives this a great flavor.
  • Greens like escarole or spinach make another great addition to this dish.
  • You can use jarred sauce and frozen meatballs if you don't want to make this from scratch.
  • Add your favorite red wine for additional flavor.





this is pasta with meat sauce




Beans and Meat to Use


  • leftover pork chops
  • leftover steak,
  • hamburgers especially leftovers from a cookout
  • leftover hotdogs
  • kielbasa
  • Italian sausage sweet or hot
  • crushed meatballs
  • ground chicken or turkey
  • rotisserie chicken or leftover cutlets
  • lamb
  • venison
  • white, black, red, pinto any beans you like canned or fresh






this is  the sauce to make pasta beans and leftover meat






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this is a pin for later how to make use of leftovers with pasta and beans








Stretching a Meal




We grew up on a budget and learning how to stretch a meal.



Repurposing leftovers is the best way to go and pasta is inexpensive, beans are full of protein.



If you have a family that gets sick of eating leftovers, these meals will be perfect no matter what you use meat wise it taste different every time and they will never know you used leftovers!










Leftover Meat Pasta and Beans
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Leftover Meat Pasta and Beans

Yield: 8
Author: Claudia Lamascolo
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 30 Min
Stretch your budget with a great meal using leftovers. Nothing went to waste in our home in the 1960s. This is a meal mom would throw together using leftover meats and sauce. Just add pasta and you've got a whole new meal for dinner!

Ingredients:

  • 2 cans cannellini beans rinsed
  • 1 1/2 cups cooked ditalini drained or use any pasta you prefer or have on hand
  • around 4 to 5 meatballs crushed 4 pieces of sausage cut up into pieces or more (you can use any kind of bite-size leftover meats you have to see the suggestions below)
  • 1/2 cup red wine (cabernet is what we use) optional or water can be used
  • leftoverTraditional Sunday Italian Sauce with meat or any kind you like or use store-bought meat jarred sauce
  • grated cheese to sprinkle on top
  • red pepper flakes
  • Optional Meat Suggestions:
  • leftover pork chops
  • leftover steak,
  • hamburgers especially leftovers from a cookout
  • leftover hotdogs
  • kielbasa
  • Italian sausage sweet or hot
  • crushed meatballs
  • ground chicken or turkey
  • rotisserie chicken or leftover cutlets
  • lamb
  • venison
  • white, black, red, pinto any beans you like canned or fresh

Instructions:

  1. Boil pasta to package instructions al dente drain and set aside.
  2. Crushed the meat in a bowl and chop the sausage links into small chunks. 
  3. Add the wine, around 3 cups sauce, and meat with rinsed beans to a saucepan.
  4. Heat all together.
  5. Stir in cooked pasta.
  6. Serve with grated cheese on top and red pepper flakes.
  7. Great with garlic bread!
leftover meat recipes, leftover tomato sauce recipes, meat and beans recipes, pasta recipes, economical meals
leftovers, pasta and beans, pasta recipes, bean recipes, one pan meals
American
Created using The Recipes Generator










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Try Some Other Favorite Recipes



Sloppy Joe Italian Style
Italian Style Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Upstate New York Mushroom Stew





3 comments

  1. Dear Claudia, I have been using my left-over sauce all week as well. I think it tastes better each day!! This looks delicious!!
    Have a beautiful weekend. xoxo Catherine

    ReplyDelete
  2. Actually the meat sauce tastes even better on the 2nd day! This looks droolworthy, Claudia.

    ReplyDelete
  3. No leftovers with this delicious dish! I also love that it ready to eat in 30 minutes - perfect!!

    ReplyDelete

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