Zero-waste recipes for every day
Trying to reduce the amount of food you throw away? Try our low-waste recipes, which transform leftovers and get the most out of your ingredients – helping save you money, too.
In the UK, around a quarter of the food we produce each year goes to waste, 60% of which comes from households, according to WRAP. It was also found that the most commonly wasted foods include potatoes, bread, milk, poultry and vegetables.
Diverting your food waste from landfill helps reduce methane emissions, and it will help you save money, time and effort in the kitchen, too. Try our fridge-raid recipes for using up odds and ends in the fridge before they go off, as well as recipes that get the most out of your ingredients – from transforming a chicken carcass into a rich stock, to using the cauliflower leaves as well as the florets. If you've cooked too much of any ingredient, our leftovers recipes will ensure they don't end up in the bin.
Next, discover our full guide to using up leftovers, 5 nights of waste-free family meals and learn tips and tricks from the Good Food team on how to reduce food waste.
Easy zero-waste recipes
1. Spicy baked cauliflower wings
Zero-waste chef and campaigner Max La Manna is on a mission to help people waste less in the kitchen, and this delicious recipe makes the most of the cauliflower leaves as well as the florets for extra crunch. They are dredged in a spicy buffalo hot sauce for the ultimate weekend treat.
Discover more of Max La Manna's vegan low-waste recipe collection.
2. Fridge-raid fried rice
Melissa Thompson's five-star rated fried rice recipe makes the most of leftover cooked chicken, along with a rainbow of veg – which you can substitute depending on what needs using up from your fridge. Combine with leftover rice, eggs, sesame oil and oyster sauce for an easy weeknight family dinner.
Don't let anything go to waste with our leftover rice recipes.
3. Waste-nothing loaded potato wedges
Giving your potatoes a good scrub means there's no need to peel them for this zero-waste recipe. Plus, it adds extra flavour, texture and fibre. Use up any cheese you have in the fridge, then top with crispy chorizo for a delicious Friday night treat.
Find out how to waste fewer potatoes.
4. Fridge-raid one-pan pesto pasta
Got a jar of pesto that needs using up? We love this recipe because not only does it use up the remaining scraps from your pesto, but also any leafy greens that are about to go past their best. The result is a creamy pasta that's ready in a flash – perfect for busy weeknights.
Get inspired with more spinach pasta recipes.
5. Thai curry noodle soup
This low-calorie and low-fat dinner transforms the veg in your fridge into a spicy, creamy curry with a tablespoon of Thai green curry paste. Straight-to-wok noodles means it's on the table in 20 minutes.
Discover our budget-friendly noodle recipes.
6. Bibimbap
Douse any veg you have to hand – like mushrooms and spinach – in sweet and spicy gochujang sauce. Layer up your bowl with leftover cooked sushi rice and your choice of veg, then top with a fried egg and sesame seeds.
Get the most of out this condiment with our gochujang recipes and find out how to ferment vegetables to make them last longer.
7. Leftover porridge pancakes
Save leftover porridge from the bin with this easy pancake recipe, which is great for using up a ripe banana. Top with whatever fresh fruit you need to use up, as well as yogurt and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Make our porridge bread with any leftovers, then discover more ways to use up leftover yogurt.
8. Spicy sweet potato hummus
Blend cooked sweet potato with tahini, smoked paprika and garlic for a vegan low-waste recipe to serve at a party or as a healthy snack. If you've got leftover wraps, you can transform them into homemade tortilla chips for dunking, or get creative by swapping the sweet potatoes for other roasted vegetables you need to use up.
9. Waste-nothing chicken & dumpling stew
Roast a larger chicken at the weekend so you can transform the leftovers into this warm and comforting stew. The carcass is used to make a flavourful stock, and it's topped with fluffy thyme dumplings for a weeknight treat.
Try our roast chicken for weeknight leftovers and even more leftover chicken recipes. Plus, discover more ways to use up Sunday lunch leftovers.
10. Fridge-raid soup
This budget-friendly dish combines leftover veg with cannellini beans to make a hearty soup. Top with crumbled feta, chopped olives, chilli flakes and a drizzle of olive oil for an easy, high-fibre meal.
Discover our most popular budget family meals.
More zero-waste ideas
Ways to use up leftover ingredients
Leftover croissant recipes
What to do with leftover lamb
Ways to use up leftover pumpkin
What to do with leftover bread
Top ways with leftover egg whites and yolks