Heard you’re one of the rare ones who still manage to have leftovers even when the main dish is steak.
Well, congrats, you’ve already prepped halfway toward another meal.
All you need to do is find the right recipe to bring out fresh flavors in your day-old steak so you can enjoy it just as much as you did the first time around.
How Long Does Leftover Steak Last?
First, a short but very helpful trivia: when refrigerated, cooked beef, including steak, can only remain safe to be eaten within 3 to 4 days.
When frozen, however, its shelf life stretches to up to six months (though the meat will dry out in the process).
Try to keep these timelines in mind to ensure you won’t risk your health when you recook steak.
1. Philly Cheesesteak
When I know I’ll be having steak leftovers, my mind immediately imagines cooking Philly cheesesteaks the next day.
This recipe is a familiar classic that’s always a welcomed lunch option in our household.
Not only is it very flavorful and filling, but it’s also the easiest steak leftover idea on this list!
Basically, you just need to thinly slice the steaks, sauté some onions followed by the steak slices, and then top off the meat with your preferred cheese(s).
Feel free to add more veggies or toppings as you see fit.
Place the steak filling in the middle of toasted buns, and enjoy a Philly cheesesteak sandwich that’s indistinguishable (or even better) from one ordered from fast food!
Recommended recipe inspiration: click here.
2. Carne Asada Fries
Transform the steak you enjoyed as a fancy meal into a flavor-packed casual snack by preparing some carne asada fries!
If you haven’t tried this dish yet, it’s like a plate of loaded nachos, tacos, and everyone’s favorite fries combined!
This is my go-to steak leftover recipe if I only have a few slices of steak but still want to share its bold flavors with my family or friends.
Paired with a margarita or beer, carne asada fries is easily one of the best game day or tailgate snacks!
Recommended recipe inspiration: click here
3. Steak Salad
Since steak can be quite rich and fatty, it’s best to pair it with light, fresh vegetables to create a more balanced meal.
That’s where steak salad comes in.
A very customizable and healthy dish that just requires you to reheat your steak and toss it with your preferred vegetable mix of choice!
Of course, don’t forget to add your favorite dressing to the mix. I love drizzling balsamic vinaigrette on mine, just to keep it simple.
Recommended recipe inspiration: click here.
4. Steak Tacos
Steak tacos are a mainstay in my family’s weeknight dinners.
But honestly, my least favorite part about cooking this dish is the process of marinating the meat and cooking it for nearly an hour before the assembly fun begins.
Luckily, when you cook tacos using leftover steak instead of raw ones, making tacos becomes so much easier and twice as fast.
Just reheat your steak using the microwave or a skillet. Then, assemble each taco using the reheated meat and other fresh or ready-to-eat ingredients such as tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, and sauce!
Recommended recipe inspiration: click here.
5. Loaded Steak Quesadillas
Yup—Mexican cuisine is a huge lifesaver when you’re thinking of ways to use up steak leftovers.
Apart from tacos, you can also make cheesy, crispy, and irresistible quesadillas!
You can literally prepare this dish in as fast as 10 minutes, making it my go-to meal to prep during very busy days.
To cook steak quesadillas, simply reheat your steak, cut it into thin pieces, cook some onions and bell pepper, and assemble everything in a quesadilla, together with some cheese.
Make sure to cook the assembled quesadillas over medium-low heat to melt the cheese and slightly crisp up the tortillas.
Recommended recipe inspiration: click here.
6. Asian Beef Stir Fry
Love Asian meals with rice or noodles?
Then, turn your cold leftover steak into a comforting Asian-inspired beef stir fry that you can then serve over a bed of white rice or on top of fried noodles.
For this leftover recipe, feel free to use any Asian stir-fry you prefer, whether that may be Korean, Chinese, or whichever variation.
Just remember to cook your noodles or rice at the same time as the beef, so you can have your meal ready in as fast as 15 minutes!
Recommended recipe inspiration: click here.
Zero Steak Wasted, Every Single Time
Steak leftovers may not be the most exciting food to store.
However, the good news is that you can easily cook another delicious meal with very little hassle if you still have steak leftovers in your fridge!
With the recipes you mentioned above, I’m sure you’ll be able to cook a new dish that you’ll enjoy just as much as your original steak meal.
