So your favorite lasagna recipe left you with half a box of unused noodles? Don’t let it gather dust in the back of the pantry. Here are seven unexpected ways to put those noodles to work — and none involve layering them in a casserole dish.

Fry cooked noodles (break them up into pieces and dry them first), then layer on a sheet pan with Alfredo sauce, crumbled cooked Italian sausage (or shredded cooked chicken) and shredded mozzarella. Broil until melted and bubbling, then finish with red pepper flakes.

For a lunchbox meal you can make the day before, spread cooked lasagna noodles with ricotta, sliced pepperoni and basil leaves. Roll up and pack with marinara sauce for dipping.

Slice cooked noodles lengthwise and add them to a saucy chicken, pork or beef stir-fry just at the end of cooking.

Make this low-stress egg pie by mixing broken, cooked noodles with whisked eggs, shredded Parmesan and fontina (add sun-dried tomatoes if you like). Cook in a nonstick skillet until set, then finish under the broiler until golden brown. It's an Italian classic that's great cold or at room temperature.

Use cookie cutters or scissors to cut cooked noodles into kid-friendly shapes — think letters, animals, stars and hearts — and add to chicken soup. Or break up the dried noodles and add them to your favorite minestrone or pasta e fagioli soup in place of ditalini.

For a variation on the Italian classic silk handkerchief pasta (made with large sheets of dough), break up lasagna noodles into squares before boiling. Toss with creamy pesto sauce, and include extra Parmesan and fresh basil leaves for serving.