What to Do with Leftover Cheese Sauce: 36 Creative Ideas

When you’re cooking up a big batch of cheese sauce, there’s always going to be some leftover.

And when that happens, it can be tempting to just throw it away.

But don’t do that!

There are so many more ways to use up your leftover cheese sauce.

See Also: 46 Best Recipes with Wonton Wrappers

What to Do with Leftover Cheese Sauce

When you’re cooking with cheese, you know it’s a good idea to make a little extra.

But what do you do when you end up with leftovers?

Here are some ideas for using up your leftover cheese sauce:

1. Use It as A Dip for Chips or Veggies

If you’re looking for something a little lighter than nachos, try making some chips or veggies into a delicious snack by dunking them in your leftover cheese sauce!

You can even add some extra seasonings like salt and pepper to kick things up a notch!

2. Add It to Quesadillas or Taco Meat

If you’re looking for something more savory than just straight-up cheese sauce, try adding it to some quesadillas or taco meat instead!

Just spread some on tortillas or in a pan before you add your other ingredients and get cooking—they’ll be gone before you can even blink (and they’ll taste amazing)!

3. Make Mac and Cheese

In case you’re still hungry after all that nacho goodness, why not make some more macaroni and cheese?

Just combine your leftover noodles with some shredded cheddar and bake them in the oven until they’re nice and crispy (and then add some bacon on top).

4. Use It as A Base for An Omelette or Frittata

If you want to make an omelette or frittata out of your leftover mac and cheese—or just have a little snack—just add some eggs and whatever else you want inside (fruit, veggies) and cook it up in a frying pan until it’s golden brown.

See Also: What Vegetables Go in An Omelette? 11 Best Vegetables

You can even add some hot sauce if you want!

There is no wrong way to eat this stuff.

5. Make a Cheesy Bread Bowl

If you’re craving something warm and cheesy but don’t want to eat macaroni and cheese again just yet (we feel ya), then this is the recipe for you!

It uses a whole loaf of bread as its container, so there’s no need to dirty any other dishes or pans—just slice open the top crusts of the bread loaf and fill them with all kinds of yummy things like shredded chicken or steak strips with veggies (like bell peppers and onions) on top of everything else!

6. Make Some Amazing Nachos

Everyone loves nachos, right?

And if there’s one thing that makes nachos even better, it’s cheese sauce.

So why not make your own cheese sauce using all that leftover mac and cheese?

Just mix together cream, butter, flour, and milk and heat it up on the stovetop until it thickens—then pour it over your favorite nacho toppings for a delicious snack or meal!

7. Pour It Over Your Favorite Pasta Dish

If you’re craving pasta but don’t have time to cook up an entire dish from scratch, why not just pour some of that leftover cheese sauce over a box of frozen pasta?

It’ll be just as good as making it from scratch—and so much faster!

8. Put Some in A Jar for Later Use

If you have extra cheese sauce left over after making those amazing nachos, put some of it in a jar and stick it in the fridge!

You can use this later when you’re making another batch of macaroni and cheese—just add an extra ½ cup of milk to the saucepan when you add the noodles and stir until smooth before transferring everything to a casserole dish or baking dish.

Then just bake as usual!

9. Fill Meatballs With It And Bake Them For An Easy Dinner

If you’re looking for an easy dinner idea that can be made in just one pan (and doesn’t involve heating up the oven), try making some meatballs with the leftover macaroni and cheese sauce!

Just mix together ground beef (or whatever protein you have on hand) with an egg and your favorite herbs/spices before rolling them into balls.

Then fill each ball with a dollop of macaroni and cheese before baking at 350°F until cooked through (about 30-35 minutes).

10. Use It as a Topping for Your Favorite Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Tired of eating plain grilled cheese sandwiches?

Why not try putting some leftover cheese sauce on top of yours instead?

You can use whatever kind of bread you want (it’s up to you) and spread the sauce evenly over both slices before sandwiching everything together again with another piece of bread on top—just like normal!

11. Add It To A Soup

You can also use up your leftover cheese sauce by adding it to any soup you’re making!

Just add it when you’re cooking the veggies in water or broth—you’ll have delicious soup with a creamy finish in no time at all!

12. Use It in Stuffed Shells

If you’re looking for another way to use up those shells that have been sitting around for too long, try stuffing them with leftover cheese sauce instead of ricotta!

The creamy texture will be perfect with pasta—and who doesn’t love pasta?

13. Mix It With Cream Cheese for an Awesome Dip

This is one of our favorite ways to use leftover cheese sauce at home—just mix some in with cream cheese (or sour cream) and serve with veggies or crackers! It makes a great dip for parties or get-togethers with friends.

14. Use It as a Topping on Your Favorite Foods

If you’re looking for something new to do with your leftovers but aren’t sure where to start, try topping some of your favorite foods with some leftover cheese sauce!

It goes great on chicken wings (and other fried foods), burgers, fries… basically anything you can think of!

15. Make Macaroni And Cheese Tacos

It may sound weird at first glance, but once you try these tacos, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them!

Just take a flour tortilla and spread a layer of refried beans on top; add some cooked ground beef or sausage if you like; then top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced avocado—and finally drizzle on some of that delicious leftover cheese sauce.

You can also add other toppings like shredded cheddar cheese or sour cream if desired!

16. Make An Impressive Cheese Platter

All you need is some bread or crackers and an assortment of cheeses to make an impressive appetizer platter for guests at your next party!

17. Make A Better Breakfast Sandwich

If you want to take advantage of all that leftover cheese sauce but don’t have time to cook an entire meal with it, consider making breakfast sandwiches instead.

Just spread some of your leftover cheese sauce on two slices of bread and put them together with some eggs and bacon inside—then microwave until warm!

18. Make A Delicious Cheesy Pizza

You can’t go wrong with pizza. It’s one of the best comfort foods out there—and what could be more comforting than a gooey slice of cheesy goodness?

To make this dish extra special, use some of that leftover macaroni and cheese as a substitute for tomato sauce on top of your pizza crust.

Then sprinkle on some grated parmesan along with whatever other toppings you want (like pepperoni) for an amazing meal!

19. Use It as a Topping on Your Favorite Casserole

If you’re looking for something more substantial than nachos but still want some cheesy goodness, try adding some of your leftover cheese sauce on top of your next casserole dish!

You can use this idea with any type of casserole—just add in some cream and flour until the consistency is right and heat it up in the oven until its bubbling away.

Then use that deliciousness to top off whatever casserole you made!

20. Pour It Over Your Favorite Breadsticks and Bake Them Into Deliciousness

If you have some breadsticks left over from dinner and don’t want them to go to waste, just pop them in the oven with some leftover cheese sauce on top—it’ll be like having a little party in your mouth!

21. Make a Cheesy Corn Casserole or Cheesy Tortilla Bake with It

You can also use your cheese sauce to make a cheesy casserole or bake—just mix together corn kernels or tortillas with some shredded cheese and add the sauce!

You’ll have an easy-to-make side dish that everyone will love.

22. Use It as a Topping for Tater Tots or Home Fries

If you’re looking for something fast and easy—and really delicious—try using your leftover sauce as a topping for tater tots or home fries.

Just melt the cheese in a pan (or microwave) until it’s nice and hot—then top your tater tots or home fries with it!

You’ll be eating these tasty treats in no time.

23. Mix It With Sausage and Mushrooms to Make a Delicious Meatloaf Filling

If you’re looking for something hearty but healthy this winter, try mixing up some sausage, mushrooms, onions—and of course your cheese sauce—for an easy meatloaf filling that will keep you warm through the cold months ahead.

24. Make Them Into a Delicious Side Dish For Your Family Dinner

You can also use your cheese sauce to make a yummy side dish for dinner!

Just mix together some cooked vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower with some diced onion or bell pepper to give it more flavor—and then pour in your leftover cheese sauce.

Bake them at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes until they’re nice and hot!

25. Use It as A Stuffing for Bell Peppers or Zucchini

Cut off the tops of bell peppers and zucchini, scoop out all of their insides, then fill them with leftover cheese sauce instead!

Place them upside down on a baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit until heated through. Serve topped with parsley or basil if desired!

26. Use It as a Binder for Main Dishes That Need Binding

You can also try using it as a binder for other dishes that need binding!

For example, you could use it as an ingredient in meatballs or meatloaf (just make sure to cook all ingredients thoroughly).

You can also add it to soups or stews if they need more flavor or substance.

27. Add It to Your Favorite Mashed Potatoes Recipe for Extra Flavor (and Creaminess)

You can also add your sauce to mashed potatoes for extra flavor and creaminess!

This works especially well if you’re making mashed potatoes from scratch, but it can work just as well even if you’re using boxed mashed potatoes—just mix in about 2 tablespoons of leftover cheese sauce per serving of mashed potatoes.

You can also add other ingredients like bacon bits or chives if desired!

28. Use Leftover Cheese Sauce in Your Next Lasagna Dish

Next time you’re making lasagna, consider using some of your leftover cheese sauce as part of the filling instead of just simply adding it on top after baking.

This can be done by adding about 1/4 cup of leftover cheese sauce to each layer of noodles before adding the sauce and other ingredients—just make sure not to overdo it!

29. Add It to Your Omelet for a Delicious Breakfast

Don’t just save this stuff for breakfast!

Add leftover cheese sauce to your eggs and veggies and make an omelet out of it!

This is a great way to use up any extra veggies you have lying around too—just chop them up finely and throw them in with everything else before cooking as usual (about 5 minutes on each side).

You can also add ground beef if desired—the possibilities are endless!

30. Use It as a Dip for French Fries or Potato Chips

Why not try using it as a dip for french fries or potato chips?

Just mix together equal parts ketchup and mayonnaise with an equal amount of leftover cheese sauce (you can totally eyeball this) and scooped out cucumbers.

You’ll have yourself one delicious snack in no time!

31. Use It as a Topping for Your Hot Dogs or Burgers

Another way to use up leftover cheese sauce is to put some on top of burgers or hot dogs!

This makes them taste amazing and gives them a creamy texture that everyone will love!

32. Spread It on Your Toast in the Morning

If you’re looking for a way to use up your leftover cheese sauce in a way that doesn’t involve eating it with a spoon (which is totally fine—no judgment here!), try spreading some on toast in the morning!

Simply spread some butter on two slices of bread, then pour some leftover cheese sauce over them before popping them in the toaster oven or regular oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until they’re golden brown.

Top with some fresh herbs if desired!

33. Spread It on Your Baguette and Bake it

Preheat your oven to 350°F, then cut a baguette into slices and spread each one with 1/4 cup leftover cheese sauce (or however much you want!).

Bake for about 10 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown – but watch closely so it doesn’t burn!

34. Microwave Some Vegetables and Add the Sauce Afterward

Cook some vegetables according to your preference—boil, roast, steam—and then pour some leftover cheese sauce onto them when they’re finished cooking.

You can add salt and pepper as desired. Serve immediately with bread if desired!

35. Make A Delicious Quesadilla

If you’re looking for something quick and easy to make, try making a quesadilla!

Just put some shredded cheddar in between two tortillas (or whatever cheese-y goodness you have on hand), cook them on the stovetop until they’re golden brown and crispy—and voila!

You’ve got yourself a warm, gooey treat that will satisfy even the biggest of appetites.

36. Add It to a Veggie Burger

Have you ever thought of adding a sauce like this on a veggie burger?

Simply take an already-made veggie burger patty and top it with some leftover cheese sauce before baking at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until browned on both sides.

Top with your favorite toppings like lettuce, tomato slices, avocado slices, pickles and more!

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