You’re Wasting Perfect Produce Without These 27 Recipes

If you’ve ever tossed out wilted greens or overripe fruit, you’re not alone—but produce recipes like these are exactly what you need to stop wasting food that’s still totally usable. You’re working with great ingredients—you just need the right ways to use them up while they’re still in their prime. This post is here to help you get smart about it, without making things complicated or boring. Don’t let perfect produce go to waste when it could easily turn into something great.

An overhead image of Mexican corn salad with the ingredients fully mixed together.

Mexican Corn Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Green Bean Casserole with Cream Cheese

This cream cheese green bean casserole works with fresh or canned beans and comes together fast. It’s a straightforward way to turn extra beans into something better.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole with Cream Cheese

Cauliflower Nuggets

Cauliflower nuggets are easy to bake, air-fry, or pan-fry and work as a snack or quick meal. It’s a simple go-to for cauliflower that’s sitting around unused.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Nuggets

Carrot Casserole

Carrots baked with cheese and crispy breadcrumbs make a solid side that’s easy to pull together. It’s a smart way to use up carrots before they get forgotten in the drawer.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Casserole

Zucchini Soup

Zucchini soup is fast, light, and made with just a few ingredients. It’s a smart way to use zucchini that’s about to lose its texture.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Soup

Pasta e Piselli

Pasta e piselli mixes peas, cheese, and pasta for a fast weeknight meal. It shows how much you can do with just a few ingredients when produce is fresh.
Get the Recipe: Pasta e Piselli

Zucchini & Asparagus Frittata

A close-up of a vegetable frittata slice on a plate. — Zucchini & Asparagus Frittata. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This vegetable frittata takes 30 minutes and works any time of day. It’s a practical way to throw in whatever summer produce you’ve got left.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini & Asparagus Frittata

Mango Avocado Salad

An overhead image of avocado salad in a serving bowl. — Mango Avocado Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Mango and avocado pair with lemon vinaigrette in this no-cook salad. It’s an easy fix when you want to use soft fruit before it’s past its best.
Get the Recipe: Mango Avocado Salad

Broccoli Pesto Pasta

This pasta with broccoli pesto and roasted tomatoes is done in 30 minutes and good for busy nights. It shows how everyday vegetables can still shine when you need to use them up.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Pesto Pasta

Pineapple Fried Rice

Pineapple fried rice cooks all in one pan with tofu and crispy rice. It makes the most of produce like pineapple before it turns too ripe.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Fried Rice

Squash and Zucchini Casserole

Close up of zucchini and summer squash casserole in glass dish. — Squash and Zucchini Casserole. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This cheesy squash and zucchini bake is easy to make and works for dinner or gatherings. It’s a go-to when you’ve got a pile of summer squash to get through.
Get the Recipe: Squash and Zucchini Casserole

Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole

This slow cooker green bean casserole takes 10 minutes to prep and cooks on its own. It’s a low-effort fix for green beans that need to be used soon.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole

Raw Carrot Salad

Raw carrot salad takes 10 minutes and adds color and crunch to any meal. It’s a fast fix for extra carrots that might otherwise go to waste.
Get the Recipe: Raw Carrot Salad

Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower

Air fryer vegan buffalo cauliflower bites in a bowl with dip nearby, placed under a wooden board. — Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Buffalo cauliflower wings bake or air-fry crisp with just the right heat. They’re a fun choice when you want to use up cauliflower without much effort.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower

Gochujang Cauliflower Tacos

Cauliflower gets tossed in bold spices and packed into tacos for a weeknight meal. It’s a great way to let vegetables take the lead while they’re still in season.
Get the Recipe: Gochujang Cauliflower Tacos

Eggplant Casserole

Eggplant, cheese, and herbs get layered and baked into a rich casserole. It’s a solid option for using eggplant while it’s still fresh and firm.
Get the Recipe: Eggplant Casserole

Green Beans and Potatoes

An image of green beans in a serving bowl with a spoon resting on it. — Green Beans and Potatoes. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Green beans and potatoes cook in under 30 minutes with basic seasoning. It’s a no-fuss way to make vegetables part of the actual meal.
Get the Recipe: Green Beans and Potatoes

Corn Casserole with Cream Cheese

Corn casserole with cream cheese is rich and no-fuss, using whatever corn you’ve got on hand. It’s a smart way to make the most of vegetables in peak season.
Get the Recipe: Corn Casserole with Cream Cheese

Easy One Pot Cabbage Soup

An overhead image of two cabbage soups in a white serving bowl. — Easy One Pot Cabbage Soup. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This one-pot vegan cabbage soup is packed with veggies and ready for batch cooking. It’s a great use of cabbage when you bring home more than expected.
Get the Recipe: Easy One Pot Cabbage Soup

Microwave Broccoli

Microwave broccoli keeps its bright color and is ready in under five minutes. It’s a no-hassle way to cook up broccoli before it goes soft.
Get the Recipe: Microwave Broccoli

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.

This broccoli cheese casserole takes three ingredients and about 30 minutes to bake. It’s proof that simple meals still work when you’ve got extra broccoli to cook.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Stir Fry Green Beans with Coconut

A top-down view of stir-fried green beans with coconut on a white plate, accompanied by a white napkin and fork. — Stir Fry Green Beans with Coconut. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Stir-fried green beans with coconut and spices cook in 30 minutes. It’s a fresh take that keeps green beans from going untouched.
Get the Recipe: Stir Fry Green Beans with Coconut

Mexican Corn Salad

This quick Mexican corn salad pairs easily with mains and brings bold flavor. It’s the kind of side dish that makes fresh corn worth using right away.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Corn Salad

Grilled Asparagus

Grilled asparagus takes under 30 minutes and uses just five ingredients. It’s a fast way to keep asparagus from sitting too long in the fridge.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Asparagus

Corn in a Cup

Sweet corn gets mixed with mayo, cheese, and spices in this 15-minute side. It’s a quick dish that turns fresh corn into something worth making right away.
Get the Recipe: Corn in a Cup

Spinach Avocado Salad

Spinach and avocado salad with tomatoes and radishes comes together fast and keeps its crunch. It’s great when you need to use what’s left in the fridge without overthinking it.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Avocado Salad

Mexican Street Corn Salad

Charred corn, creamy dressing, and spices turn into a fast side dish. It’s proof that even basic corn can be worth using up in a fresh way.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Street Corn Salad

Easy Microwave Corn on the Cob

An image of a halved corn on a plate topped with chili flakes. — Easy Microwave Corn on the Cob. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Microwave corn on the cob is done fast with no boiling or mess. It’s a quick answer for using fresh corn before it’s too late.
Get the Recipe: Easy Microwave Corn on the Cob