You’ll Actually Use Up Your Fridge Stuff With These 22 Meals

You can actually use up your fridge stuff with these meals—no more sad veggies or half-used sauces staring you down. These recipes are built for real life: stuff you bought with good intentions, things you forgot were in the drawer, and random leftovers that need a purpose. They’re simple, flexible, and don’t ask for a million fresh ingredients you don’t have. If you’re tired of wasting food or just want to make dinner without another grocery run, this is the list you’ve been looking for.

A close up image of frozen vegetable stir fry served over rice.

Frozen Vegetable Stir Fry. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Quick Fried Rice with Leftover Rice

Horizontal image of fried rice in a white bowl with brown chopsticks on the side. — Quick Fried Rice with Leftover Rice. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Fried rice is perfect for clearing out leftover rice, random veggies, and scraps of protein. It’s fast, flexible, and comes together in just 15 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Quick Fried Rice with Leftover Rice

Panzanella Salad

Panzanella is a smart way to use stale bread and any veggies hanging out in your fridge. It’s ready in 10 minutes and works as a main or a side.
Get the Recipe: Panzanella Salad

Authentic Bucatini Cacio e Pepe

Close up of cacio e pepe in white bowl with fork and spoon. — Authentic Bucatini Cacio e Pepe. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This bucatini cacio e pepe uses only pasta, cheese, and pepper—stuff you probably already have. It’s quick and comforting with barely any prep.
Get the Recipe: Authentic Bucatini Cacio e Pepe

Ethiopian Cabbage

Atakilt Wat is a one-pot stew made with simple pantry vegetables and bold spices. It’s done in 30 minutes and helps use up those lingering basics.
Get the Recipe: Ethiopian Cabbage

Vegan Turkey Roast

This chickpea and seitan roast is easy to throw together with ingredients from your pantry. It’s a solid choice when you want something hearty without shopping.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Turkey Roast

Easy Microwave Mac and Cheese

An overhead image of microwave mac and cheese in a bowl with a spoon. — Easy Microwave Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Microwave mac and cheese comes together in minutes with stuff you likely already have. It’s a quick fix for busy days or low-energy nights.
Get the Recipe: Easy Microwave Mac and Cheese

Frozen Vegetable Stir Fry

This tofu and frozen veggie stir fry is built for nights when your fridge needs a reset. It’s fast, crisp, and loaded with pantry staples.
Get the Recipe: Frozen Vegetable Stir Fry

Easy, Creamy White Bean Chili

An overview of a bowl of vegan white bean chili. — Vegan White Bean Chili. Photo Credit: Urban Farmie

White bean chili is ready in half an hour with stuff you’ve probably stocked up on. It’s filling, cozy, and doesn’t require a store run.
Get the Recipe: Easy, Creamy White Bean Chili

Grilled Asparagus

Grilled asparagus uses five ingredients and comes together in under 25 minutes. It’s a great way to use up produce before it turns.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Asparagus

Mexican Corn Salad

Mexican corn salad is quick to make and works with whatever pantry or fridge extras you’ve got. It’s an easy side for any meal.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Corn Salad

Jamaican Rasta Pasta

A bowl of vegan rasta pasta. — Vegan Rasta Pasta. Photo Credit: Urban Farmie

Vegan rasta pasta is made with basic ingredients and comes together in 30 minutes. It’s a great way to use up produce that’s about to go.
Get the Recipe: Jamaican Rasta Pasta

Pasta e Piselli

Pasta e piselli is made with peas and cheese—simple, shelf-stable things you likely have. It’s ready fast and doesn’t require anything fancy.
Get the Recipe: Pasta e Piselli

Pasta Fresca

Pasta fresca comes together in under 30 minutes using fresh fridge staples. It’s a quick, no-fuss way to get dinner on the table.
Get the Recipe: Pasta Fresca

3 Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Casserole

An image of broccoli cheese casserole served on a table with a spoon on the right side. — 3 Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Casserole. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Broccoli cheese casserole uses three ingredients and is ready in half an hour. It’s a practical choice for using up fridge veggies.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Easy Homemade Margherita Pizza

Close-up image of sliced homemade Margherita pizza. — Easy Homemade Margherita Pizza. Photo credit: Parallel Plates.

Margherita pizza comes together in 20 minutes with fresh ingredients you probably already have. It’s an easy dinner fix for any night.
Get the Recipe: Easy Homemade Margherita Pizza

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Broccoli cheddar soup is creamy and full of vegetables, done in 35 minutes. It’s a simple way to use up produce and cheese before they go bad.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Easy Potato Soup

Potato soup needs just four ingredients and comes together quickly. It’s perfect for nights when the pantry is low but you need something warm.
Get the Recipe: Easy Potato Soup

4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken

This slow cooker chicken uses simple ingredients you already have on hand. It cooks low and slow, making busy days easier.
Get the Recipe: 4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken

Pasta Carbonara

Pasta carbonara needs just five basic ingredients and is done in 30 minutes. It’s a fast, no-fuss way to make something great with pantry stuff.
Get the Recipe: Pasta Carbonara

Easy Caprese Salad

Caprese salad is made with fresh fridge staples and comes together fast. It’s light and easy, whether you serve it as a snack or a side.
Get the Recipe: Easy Caprese Salad

Pesto Salmon

Pesto salmon bakes in under 25 minutes with only five ingredients. It’s great for busy nights when you want to make something quick with what’s on hand.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Salmon

Air Fryer Halloumi

Air fryer halloumi takes 10 minutes and uses just five ingredients. It’s a simple way to use up cheese and extras from the fridge.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Halloumi