Stop Eating Leftover Pot Roast As-Is And Toss It Into An Easy Casserole

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Pot roast is an excellent recipe when you simply want to set your oven and forget it to yield a delicious, slow-cooked meal. With a batch of fork-tender beef infused with the flavors of potatoes, carrots, onions, and more, there's quite a bit you can do to repurpose your leftover pot roast. One of the most clever and budget-friendly options is to reuse it as the filling for a rich and hearty casserole.

Given the resurgence in popularity of vintage recipes, old-school casseroles are the dish you should be making more of. Whether entertaining a large party or simply looking for a meal that can stretch over a few servings, they're also one of the best ways to make the most of your roast. It's as easy as can be to take your cooked beef and toss it in a casserole pan along with Betty Crocker boxed au gratin potatoes, cheese, vegetables, or any other ingredients that strike your fancy.

The definition of a casserole is relatively loose, opening up a wide variety of possibilities for transforming your leftovers into a satisfying and savory dish. Consider your favorite pot roast recipe and all the flavors that go into it to inform your choice of complementary casserole ingredients. From there, the only limit is your own imagination.

Much like using store-bought rotisserie chicken to bulk up a number of recipes, you should think of your leftover pot roast like any other portion of seasoned and cooked meat. This will make it easy to include it as a substitute in a variety of casserole recipes. For example, the flavors of a classic pot roast would make it an ideal alternative filling inside of a shepherd's pie. Similarly, you can try a spin on the flavors in Alexander Robert's beef and drop biscuit casserole recipe.

Though traditionally thought of as a meat, potatoes, and cheese-based dish, there is a lot of room for culinary creativity when you're using a batch of leftover pot roast to make casserole. Try a stacked beef enchilada casserole with hearty tortillas, beans, red sauce, and chiles; or use your pot roast as a robust filling for an Italian pasta casserole such as a baked ziti or cannelloni. It would also make a unique addition to a Greek moussaka. 

Don't be afraid to try new-to-you casserole recipes with your pot roast leftovers — you might just stumble upon a new favorite. Using the beef alongside other store-bought ingredients will keep your meal low-effort and accessibly priced, while creating a large and fulfilling offering for friends, family, party guests, and more.