BBQ Leftovers & 10 Uses for Leftover Baked Beans

It’s the first big grilling weekend, the cookout to kick off summer. I love the whole “process” surrounding grilling-the cleaning of the pit, the prepping of ingredients, the readying of equipment (I love grill gadgets, although I always end up using my trusty tongs), the making of the BBQ sauce, the icing down of the beer! Grilling is the best open kitchen and best shared with family and friends. What’s on your grilling menu? I’ll be grilling one of hubby’s favorites my “No Date Tonight” Steakhouse Burgers. Equally important as to what you are grilling is what are your plans for the leftovers? Over forty percent of all prepared food goes to waste in America. Don’t let that happen this weekend. Plan ahead!

Here are some ideas for those BBQ leftovers-just click the image for the recipes!

Leftover Cole Slaw? Use as a topping on sandwiches or to make Cole Slaw Salmon Burgers  

or Roasted Tomatillo Salsa Shrimp Tacos with Leftover Cole Slaw 

Leftover Potato Salad and Grilled Sausage? Roasted Pepper, Apple & Sausage Leftover Potato Salad 

Leftover Lemonade? Make Lemonade Chicken

Leftover Stuffed Jalapeños? Make Stuffed Jalapeño Chicken 

Leftover Watermelon? Use the rinds to make slaw. Remove skin, grate, toss with oil and vinegar, salt and pepper, to make tasty slaw for hot dogs.  Use the juice from the cutting board to flavor water.

Save those watermelon rinds for a sweet treat! Slice rinds into sticks. Let rinds sit overnight uncovered in fridge (to air dry a bit). Make an egg wash of 1 beaten egg & 1 TBSP Orange Juice (or water, but I like the added flavor of OJ) Double dip rinds into egg wash and flour. Fry 2-3 minutes, per side, depending on size of slices. Serve with powdered sugar and/or cinnamon. Good dipped in maple syrup, too! Want more flavor? Add vanilla extract to egg wash & cinnamon to flour.

Make Watermelon Tomato Salad 

Leftover Grilled Vegetables? Use in quesadillas or sandwiches. Make Grilled Vegetable Rice Salad 

Leftover Grilled Corn? Make a Corn Sauce for fried or blackened fish or shrimp, crab cakes, or leftover grilled chicken.

Leftover BBQ Pork? Make quesadillas, stuffed potatoes, Bourbon BBQ Pulled Pork Pasta or our favorite BBQ Pork Cornmeal Tamales  or if you like potato skins and nachos- cut a potato into thin slices. Put into a bowl. Give a heavy drizzle of olive oil and season with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, red pepper, chili powder. Toss well. Place potato slices in single layer on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 450 for 15 minutes. Flip. Bake 15 minutes longer. Top each slice with warmed BBQ pork, beef, or chicken and cheese. Put under broiler until cheese is melted. Top with jalapeños, olives, or sour cream. Need a quick breakfast? Make a pulled pork biscuit. Need a quick lunch? Fill a baked sweet potato with leftover pulled pork and black beans.

Leftover Buns or Rolls? Make a tray of goodies!!

Leftover stuffed potatoes? Make Scones 

10 Uses for Leftover Baked Beans:  Watch for a few of these recipes featured on the WAFB Big Xtra Hour:

1. Mash and use to make bean burgers like black bean burgers black bean burgers

2. Spicy Bean Dip: Add queso cheese and jalapeño slices. Heat until melted.

3. Use as a topping in your favorite meatloaf recipe or as a chili starter.

4. Sloppy-Joes: Brown ground beef (or use crumbled leftover hamburgers). Mix in baked beans until warm. Put mixture on toasted buns.

5. Mix into Macaroni and Cheese.

6. Use as filling for burritos (especially breakfast burritos-baked beans are great with eggs) or tacos: Put beans into skillet. Add taco seasoning and 1/4 cup water (or beer). Bring to boil.  Simmer until thickened.

7. Stir salsa into baked beans for nachos.

8. Add to baked potatoes. Top with bacon and cheese.

9. Bean Salad for Sandwiches: Make like a potato salad. Mix chopped celery and onion, mayo, mustard, pickle relish, and chopped hard-boiled eggs into baked beans. (If your beans are thin, simply mash some before adding in ingredients). Best served cold between 2 slices white bread-yes, this is an old-time leftover trick from my MeMaw! It is also delicious stuffed in a tomato on a bed of lettuce.

10. Tex-Mex Pasta: Sauté 1 chopped onion in a skillet. Add 1 can chopped tomatoes, can of corn, any leftover sausage, 1 cup baked beans, 1 TBSP chili powder. Cook over med heat for 15 minutes. Mix into hot pasta. Top with cheddar cheese.

LAGNIAPPE APPETIZER RECIPE: LEFTOVER BAKED BEAN BALLS-

My favorite and a fun one for the kids to assemble.  Begin with cold leftover beans. If too thin, mash an avocado into the beans. With moistened hands, roll bean mixture into balls, just as you would a meatball. Stuff the inside with cubes of cheese, a slice of leftover grilled hot dog or sausage, or leave plain. Roll ball into crushed tortilla chips or Doritos (a mini food processor works great for this job.) Put into refrigerator for 1/2 hour to set. (or overnight if prepping for a party.) Spray each well of a mini muffin tin with non-stick spray.  Place ball in well. Spray top side of ball. Bake at 375* for 10 minutes. Use a spoon to flip each ball. Bake an additional 10 minutes. If you prefer, the baked bean balls can also be deep-fried. Serve with a side of BBQ sauce.

Put Your TO COOK IS TO CREATE Thinking Cap On: Think about other BBQ leftovers and how you could use them, like using leftover BBQ sauce as pizza sauce or for BBQ Fish How do you enjoy leftover potato salad? I like to add cheese and pimentos to mine and stuff a tomato.

FOOD FUN: Be safe and have fun and after enjoying friends and family on Memorial Day, pause to give thanks for those who sacrificed to make our freedom possible.