Meaning:

“回” means to “return,” “锅” means “pot,” and “肉” means “meat.” Literally referring to a well-known Chinese dish called “twice-cooked pork” from Sichuan cuisine, this term is now used by netizens to refer to newcomers in the show biz who have appeared in many TV talent show programs or those veterans who return to talent show programs. Some people also use the term on singers/actors who have tried their luck in other markets like the South Korean before debuting in China.

Example:

A: 周末你看世界杯了吗？

Zhōumò nǐ kàn shìjièbēi le ma？

Did you watch the World Cup over the weekend?

B: 看了，我还看了《创造101》。

Kàn le，wǒ hái kàn le 《chuàngzào 101》。

I did. I also watched “Produce 101 China.”

A: 第一名是谁？

Dìyīmíng shì shuí？

Who came first in the TV show?

B: 孟美岐，已经在韩国出道了好几年，曾经被嘲是“回锅肉”。

Mèngměiqí，yǐjīng zài hánguó chūdào le hǎojǐnián，céngjīng bèi cháo shì “huíguōròu ”。

Meng Meiqi. Having tried her luck in show biz for several years in South Korea, she was once mocked as “twice-cooked pork.”