Name: Leftover Meat Pasta and Beans
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cans cannellini beans rinsed; 1 1/2 cups cooked ditalini drained or use any pasta you prefer or have on hand; around 4 to 5 meatballs crushed 4 pieces of sausage cut up into pieces or more (you can use any kind of bite-size leftover meats you have to see the suggestions below); 1/2 cup red wine (cabernet is what we use) optional or water can be used; leftoverTraditional Sunday Italian Sauce with meat or any kind you like or use store-bought meat jarred sauce; grated cheese to sprinkle on top; red pepper flakes; Optional Meat Suggestions:; leftover pork chops; leftover steak,; hamburgers especially leftovers from a cookout; leftover hotdogs; kielbasa; Italian sausage sweet or hot; crushed meatballs; ground chicken or turkey; rotisserie chicken or leftover cutlets; lamb; venison; white, black, red, pinto any beans you like canned or fresh

Leftover Italian Meat Pasta and Beans is the perfect way to use up the leftover sauce!

Sunday was always pasta day and mom made enough to feed an army, so most of the time we had a house full and most of it would be gone.

Whenever we had leftover sauce, meatballs, and sausage she repurposed them many ways whether it was a submarine sandwich or a great new comfort bowl of this pasta and beans we loved it.

Honestly, half the time we have no idea she didn't start from scratch and made a new meal, she always seemed to doctored things up to taste like a whole new meal!

Even though we love our meatball covered sandwiches or sliced meatballs on a pizza, pasta Fagioli in Sunday Sauce is comforting and the perfect Italian meal using up those leftovers.

Not an American goulash by any stretch of the imagination but mom certainly knew how to stretch the budget and save time and money nothing ever went to waste, at least not in the 1960s those days were tough economic times.

When you grow up struggling to feed a large family, you learn quickly and improvise.

This was a family favorite for sure. Here are tips and suggestions below on using leftovers deliciously!

this is a big pot of leftover crushed meatballs and sausage to make beans meat and pasta

Family Values

Mom was the best at utilizing leftovers.

I looked forward to her Turkey covered sandwiches, pork with rice and chicken baked and leftovers for salads.

It really instilled values on how important it was not to waste food.

We grew up being very thankful and I have also passed that on to my children who understand the importance of never throwing away food.

Some Tips:

If you would like to make this dish in the future and not the same week, freeze the sauce and meatballs.
Add peppers to the sauce to create a different flavor
Whole tomatoes chopped
Any kinds of leftover meats can be used see suggestions below
Keep canned beans any kind you like on hand even Chickpeas if you like them.
Make extra meatballs and sausage in the sauce when preparing for this dish.
Fresh basil added gives this a great flavor.
Greens like escarole or spinach make another great addition to this dish.
You can use jarred sauce and frozen meatballs if you don't want to make this from scratch.
Add your favorite red wine for additional flavor.

Beans and Meat to Use

leftover pork chops
leftover steak,
hamburgers especially leftovers from a cookout
leftover hotdogs
kielbasa
Italian sausage sweet or hot
crushed meatballs
ground chicken or turkey
rotisserie chicken or leftover cutlets
lamb
venison
white, black, red, pinto any beans you like canned or fresh

this is the sauce to make pasta beans and leftover meat

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Stretching a Meal

We grew up on a budget and learning how to stretch a meal.

Repurposing leftovers is the best way to go and pasta is inexpensive, beans are full of protein.

If you have a family that gets sick of eating leftovers, these meals will be perfect no matter what you use meat wise it taste different every time and they will never know you used leftovers!