8 Foods That Taste Better As Leftovers (Slideshow)

Casseroles are a family weeknight dinner favorite — and they are even better as leftovers. Casseroles can easily be reheated and served the next day. As the ingredients rest together, it allows time for the flavors to combine and each ingredient to soak up the flavors of the other ingredients. 

Lasagna is the perfect leftover meal. Lasagnas are normally made with a tomato-based sauce and once the liquid has time to settle overnight, it will be less runny when reheating. Other pasta recipes like baked pastas and even spaghetti are great reheated as well.

After these dishes have had a chance to rest overnight and the flavors have melted together, the result is a more intense and bold flavor. Tomato-based soups like chili and other stews tend to taste the best after being reheated. So, warm up a bowl and enjoy.

Whatever you put on your pizza, it's going to taste great the next day. From simple cheese and sauce to spicy Thai chicken pizza, pizza tastes even better once all the flavors have had time to meld together. For some, cold leftover pizza is even a treat.

Curries are a combination of many spices and as the curry has time to rest overnight, the spices become a bit milder, which is pleasing to many. As you reheat the curry, the aromatic ingredients like onions, garlic, and peppers continue to break down creating a complex and flavorful dish.

Meatloaf is usually a large meal, and having leftovers is actually a good thing. Once the meatloaf has time to cool overnight in the refrigerator, the aromatics like onions and garlic infuse with the other ingredients, which creates a more delicious meal when reheated. 

Fruit pies and cobblers are simply better the next day. When fruits are cooked, they release sweet and delicious juices. As pies and cobblers cool, the juices start to condense, which creates a thicker consistency. 

Mayonnaise-based salads like chicken, tuna, egg, macaroni, and potato salad taste much better after a day of resting in the refrigerator. Once all the ingredients sit together for a few hours, or overnight, the mayonnaise takes on the flavor of all the other ingredients making a cohesive and delicious dish.