What to Do With Leftover Chicken: 10 Delicious Ideas

When it comes to getting creative in the kitchen, there’s no better ingredient than leftover chicken. Whether it’s from a roast chicken dinner, a rotisserie chicken, or grilled chicken leftovers from earlier in the week, chicken is a versatile ingredient that can be used for a variety of delicious dishes. Here are 10 ideas for dishes you can create using leftover chicken.

Easy Ways to Transform Leftover Chicken

One of the best ways to use leftover chicken is to make a quick salad or wrap. All you need is your cooked chicken and a few additional ingredients. Lay out wrap or pita rounds, layer your cooked chicken down the center, and top it off with lettuce, tomato, onion, and your favorite dressing. You can also mix cooked chicken with other cooked ingredients to create a tasty one dish meal. Try sautéing some onion and peppers, adding cooked chicken and other prepared ingredients such as cooked beans or corn, and finishing with your favorite seasonings. This makes an easy and delicious one-dish meal ready in just minutes.

Delicious Chicken Recipes to Use Up Leftovers

Take your leftover chicken up a notch by making one of these delicious recipes. If you have cooked rotisserie chicken, you can whip up an impromptu chicken pot pie. Start by sautéing onion and celery in olive oil. Add a can of cream of chicken soup, cooked broccoli, carrots, and cubed chicken. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish, top with a pie crust, and bake until golden brown. For an Italian inspired meal, try using the cooked chicken to make lasagna. Begin by layering cooked lasagna noodles with ricotta cheese and spinach. Top with shredded cooked chicken and mozzarella cheese, then bake until bubbling and golden. Delicious!

Make the Most of Leftover Rotisserie Chicken

Rotisserie chicken is already cooked, making it a great option for throwing together delicious dishes in no time. If you have a rotisserie chicken in your fridge, you can use it to make enchiladas or Chil II dip with little effort. For the enchiladas, mix shredded cooked chicken with sautéed onions, peppers, jalapenos, garlic, and Mexican cheese. Roll up the filling inside tortillas and place them in a baking dish. Cover with red enchilada sauce, top with more cheese, and bake for about 20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. To make Chil II dip, start with canned chili, mixed in cheese and cream cheese. Top with seasoned crumbled cooked chicken and shredded cheese, then bake for about 25 minutes until heated through. Serve up chips for dipping and enjoy.

Create a New Dish with Leftover Chicken

One of the best ways to make use of leftover chicken is to create something entirely new. Take your favorite flavors and spices and mix them together with cooked chicken for an amazing dish you’ll want to make again. For example, why not try combining cooked chicken with curry paste and coconut milk to make a fragrant curry? Or pair cooked chicken with Mediterranean inspired ingredients such as olives, tomatoes, garlic and feta cheese for an amazing Greek-style orzo dish? There are so many possibilities when it comes to creating new dishes with leftover chicken.

Transform Leftover Chicken into a Comforting Soup

If you’re looking for an easy yet comforting meal you can make with leftover cooked chicken, why not try making soup? Chicken soup is one of the most popular dishes around the world and is perfect for using up leftover cooked chicken. Start by sautéing onion, celery and carrots in olive oil. Add canned diced tomatoes, cooked shredded chicken, vegetable or chicken broth, and your favorite seasonings. Simmer for about 20 minutes until the vegetables are tender, then enjoy!

Quick and Easy Ways to Repurpose Leftover Chicken

Don’t let those leftovers go to waste! There are some quick and easy ways to transform them into something delicious. One of the best is to use the cooked chicken as part of a stir-fry. Start by heating up some oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Next, add vegetables such as peppers, broccoli and onions to the pan along with cooked shredded chicken and your favorite sauce or seasonings. Stir-fry everything together for about 5 minutes until everything is hot and cooked through. Serve over rice or noodles for a tasty meal.

Spicy Mexican-Style Enchiladas with Leftover Chicken

These tasty enchiladas are sure to be a hit with the whole family! Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix together shredded cooked chicken with sautéed onions and peppers, canned black beans, jalapenos and Mexican cheese. Spread some red enchilada sauce over the bottom of a baking dish and lay out large tortillas. Place portion of your chicken mixture onto each tortilla, roll up each one and place them seam side down into the baking dish. Top with more enchilada sauce and Mexican cheese, then bake for about 20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Creamy Chicken Alfredo Bake with Leftovers

To make this hearty yet creamy dish, start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large pot over medium heat, sauté onion in butter until tender. Add garlic and cook for another minute. Pour in heavy cream and bring to a boil before reducing heat to low. Add grated Parmesan cheese, cubed chicken, and cooked root vegetables like carrots and potatoes. Pour the mixture into a 9×13 inch baking dish and top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake for about 20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Enjoy!

Curried Coconut Chicken Salad Wraps

These wraps are a delicious way to enjoy leftover cooked chicken that’s full of flavor. Start by mixing together shredded cooked chicken with mayonnaise and curry powder in a bowl. Gently fold in diced carrot, celery, apple and red onion to create a salad mixture. Lay out wrap or pita rounds on a cutting board and evenly distribute the salad among them. Roll them up tightly and serve immediately.

Greek-Style Orzo and Roasted Vegetable Bowls

This Mediterranean-inspired dish is full of flavor! Begin by preheating the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Toss together cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and bell peppers with olive oil, salt and pepper on a large baking sheet. Roast for about 20 minutes until vegetables are tender. Meanwhile, cook some orzo pasta according to package instructions in salted boiling water until al dente. When done, drain the orzo in a colander and rinse with cold water to cool it down. Mix together the cooked orzo with roasted vegetables, crumbled feta cheese, olives, diced cooked chicken, shredded basil leaves, pine nuts, olive oil and lemon juice in a large bowl. Serve warm or cold.

Mediterranean-Style Pita Pockets with Leftover Chicken

Create these delicious pita pockets with your leftover cooked chicken for an easy lunch or dinner idea that’s sure to satisfy! Start by heating up some olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Sauté onions in the oil until softened before adding garlic, oregano and diced cooked chicken. Stir everything together until everything is hot and well combined. Take off heat and let cool before spreading some hummus inside each pita pocket bread round. Stuff each pocket with the cooked chicken mixture along with lettuce leaves and diced tomatoes. Serve immediately.

Savory Fried Rice with Scallion and Ginger

Fried rice makes an excellent meal for using up leftover cooked chicken! Start by heating some sesame oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced ginger and garlic then quickly stir-fry for about 30 seconds before adding diced scallion whites (reserve some scallions greens for later). Push everything to the side of the pan before adding cooked diced chicken to the center of the pan. Stir-fry the chicken until heated through before adding cooked white rice to the pan. Stir-fry everything together until heated through before adding soy sauce or tamari sauce. Toss everything together until well combined then serve immediately topped with reserved chopped scallion greens.

Chinese-Style Stir Fry with Broccoli and Peppers

Another great meal for using up leftover cooked chicken is Chinese-style stir-fry – plus it’s wonderfully customizable! Heat up oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat before adding garlic and ginger along with diced red peppers and broccoli florets. Quickly stir-fry for about 3 minutes before pushing everything to side of pan before adding cooked diced chicken in center of pan. Stir-fry the chicken until heated through before adding any additional ingredients like carrots or snow peas before seasoning everything with soy sauce or tamari sauce. Final step - toss everything together until combined before serving warm over steamed rice.

Delicious Fried Rice Bowls with Corn and Peas

Fried rice bowls are a fun way to repurpose leftover cooked chicken into something exciting! Begin by heating oil in a wok over medium-high heat then adding garlic scallion whites (reserve some scallion greens for later). Quickly stir-fry for about 30 seconds before pushing everything aside then adding diced cooked chicken into center of pan. Stir-fry the diced chicken until heated through then add frozen peas and corn along with cooked jasmine white rice (you can also use brown rice). Add soy sauce or tamari sauce then toss everything together until well combined. Serve warm topped with reserved chopped scallion greens.

Hearty Buffalo Chicken Chowder

This hearty chowder is sure to fill you up on those cold winter days! Begin by heating some oil in a large pot over medium-high heat then add onion along with celery and carrots and sauté until softened before adding garlic. Pour in some low sodium vegetable or chicken broth before adding diced potatoes along with shredded cooked buffalo chicken (or regular cooked chicken if you prefer). Simmer all ingredients together until potatoes are tender then add some cream cheese for added creaminess before seasoning everything with cayenne pepper, salt and pepper (or your favorite seasonings). Simmer everything together for about 5 minutes more then serve hot.

Rich and Creamy Chicken Pot Pie

Chicken pot pie makes for an easy yet satisfying meal that’s sure to please everyone’s appetite! Start by preheating oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit then melt some butter in a large pot over medium-high heat and add onion along carrots and celery (or any other veggies you like). Sauté everything until softened then add garlic along with cooked shredded chicken (or cubed rotisserie chicken if you prefer). Pour in 1 can of cream of chicken soup then lower heat to medium low before adding frozen peas (or any other frozen veggies you like) along with any additional seasonings you desire (salt & pepper works nicely). Take off heat then transfer everything into 9×13 inch baking dish top evenly with pie crust (homemade or store-bought works) then bake uncovered for about 20 minutes until golden brown.

Italian-Style Lasagna with Ricotta and Spinach

Take your leftover cooked chicken up a notch by using it in this Italian-style lasagna! Begin by preheating oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit then layering lasagna noodles (cooked according to package instructions) spread out thinly on baking sheet covered in parchment paper then spread ricotta cheese evenly over top followed by torn fresh spinach leaves (or thawed frozen spinach). Top spinach layer evenly with cubed cooked chicken making sure all ingredients are distributed evenly (or spread out shredded rotisserie chicken if available). Finish off layered lasagna with mozzarella cheese then bake uncovered for about 30 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Let cool 10 minutes before serving warm.