Zero-waste recipes for every day

In the UK, around a quarter of the food we produce each year is wasted, and 60% of that comes from households, according to WRAP. The most wasted foods were also found to be potatoes, bread, milk, poultry, and vegetables.

Diverting food waste from landfills helps reduce methane emissions and saves you money, time, and effort in the kitchen. If you've cooked too much of a particular ingredient, our leftover recipes will ensure it doesn't end up in the trash.

Next, discover our complete guide to using up leftovers, 5 zero-waste family meal nights, and learn tips and tricks from the Good Food team on how to reduce food waste.

Easy recipes to avoid generating waste

Chef and activist Max La Manna, a zero-waste advocate, is on a mission to help people reduce kitchen waste. This delicious recipe makes the most of cauliflower leaves and florets for a crispy texture. They're coated in a spicy buffalo sauce for a weekend feast.

Melissa Thompson's five-star fried rice recipe makes the most of leftover cooked chicken, along with a variety of colorful vegetables that you can substitute depending on what you have in the fridge. Combine it with leftover rice, eggs, sesame oil, and oyster sauce for an easy weeknight family dinner.

Don't waste anything with our recipes to use up leftover rice.

Wash the potatoes well so you don't have to peel them for this zero-waste recipe. It also adds flavor, texture, and fiber. Use whatever cheese you have in the fridge and top it with crispy chorizo ​​for a delicious Friday night dinner.

Got a jar of pesto left over? We love this recipe because it not only uses up leftover pesto, but also leafy greens that are about to go bad. The result is a creamy pasta ready in a flash, perfect for busy weeknights.

Get inspired with more spinach pasta recipes.

This low-calorie, low-fat dinner transforms the vegetables in your fridge into a creamy, spicy curry with a spoonful of Thai green curry paste. The noodles, cooked directly in the wok, make it ready in 20 minutes.

Dip any vegetables you have on hand, such as mushrooms and spinach, in sweet and spicy gochujang sauce. Fill the bowl with leftover cooked sushi rice and your choice of vegetables, and finish with a fried egg and sesame seeds.

Get the most out of this condiment with our gochujang recipes and discover how to ferment vegetables to make them last longer.

Use up leftover oats with this easy pancake recipe, perfect for using a ripe banana. Serve them with fresh fruit, yogurt, and a drizzle of maple syrup.

Prepare our oat bread with the leftovers and discover other ways to use up any leftover yogurt.

Blend cooked sweet potato with tahini, smoked paprika, and garlic for a low-waste vegan recipe, perfect for a party or a healthy snack. If you have leftover tortillas, you can make homemade tortilla chips for dipping, or get creative and substitute the sweet potato with other roasted vegetables you need to use up.

Roast a large chicken on the weekend to transform the leftovers into this warming and comforting stew. The carcass is used to make a flavorful broth, and it's topped with fluffy thyme meatballs for a delicious weeknight dinner.

This budget-friendly dish combines leftover vegetables with white beans to create a hearty soup. Add crumbled feta cheese, chopped olives, chili flakes, and a drizzle of olive oil for an easy, fiber-rich meal.