How To Repurpose Leftover Salad Into A Tasty Meal

Salad can stand on its own as a meal or make the ultimate side dish. If you're making a quick salad at home, you can load it with any toppings you love, like protein, fruit, and a little cheese. But if you have leftover salad and aren't in the mood to eat the same thing two days in a row, you can repurpose it into another delicious meal.

Salad pizza is a dish that doesn't get enough credit for how delicious it is. If you've ever seen a pizza topped with fresh arugula or spinach, then it's pretty similar to what you can do with a salad. There's no need to even make it from scratch — just buy any frozen pizza (though you should make sure the toppings, if any, pair well with the leftover salad flavors), then cook it according to package instructions. Once it's done, top it with the leftover salad before slicing it, then dig in. You could even transform the frozen pizza crust with some seasoning to give your leftover salad-topped pie a bit more flair. The same idea works for fresh or frozen flatbreads as well. Or, you can repurpose salad into other meals too, such as sandwiches and wraps.

If the dressing is mixed into your salad, it can get soggy quickly. When prepping the salad at home or ordering takeout, it's always a good idea to ask for the dressing on the side in case you don't eat it all in one sitting. When going the pizza route, consider what's already in the salad — if it's basic mixed greens with dressing, you can buy a frozen pizza with anything from peppers to pepperoni. But if there are more complex flavors in the salad that wouldn't pair well with other toppings, just add the leftovers atop a Margherita or any regular cheese pizza. 

If you're not craving pizza or have even more leftover salad than you expected, you can also repurpose it into a tasty wrap. Add the salad plus dressing, top it with grilled chicken, and roll it into a tortilla; it's a meal that's ready in minutes. Leftover salad can also be used as a sandwich or burger topping, so there's no need to waste any part of this meal.