With the help of over 60 leftover chicken recipes, you will never again run out of dinner ideas. All you need is leftover chicken, a little imagination and you will have a feast for the whole family!
We all lead busy lives and sometimes it seems just plain impossible to get dinner on the table. Grabbing some take-out is the easy route, but you are typically left feeling icky and guilty. One of my favorite quick dinners is a simple roast chicken, either store bought or homemade.
I prefer to roast my own, but many times I simply pick one up at the grocery store or Costco. But the versatility of the roast chicken is what I really want to talk about. Whether you are going to eat it right away or save for later, there are so many different ways you can use a roast chicken.
Chicken is the little black dress you can glam up or keep casual. So with these leftover roast chicken recipes, you won’t be scrambling for dinner ideas to feed your family!
Leftover Chicken Soup Recipes
One of my favorite ways of using up leftover chicken is to make soup with it. My family are big fans of soup. I make a massive pot of this lemony chicken noodle soup for two of kids to take to school to lunch everyday. Thank GOD for the thermos – no cold sandwiches for their lunches!
Below you can find a large variety of chicken soup recipes, from the classic chicken noodle to a Mexican tortilla soup and so many other flavors in between. And every single one of these chicken soup recipes would be perfect for a hot lunch at school or work.
Leftover Chicken Salad Recipes
Another fabulous way to use up leftover chicken is to make chicken salad. Whether it is throwing some chicken on top of a hearty green salad, or the classic mayonnaise based chicken salad, I’ve found some really creative chicken salad recipes to inspire you.
In Iran, we make this delicious potato salad with chicken, hard boiled eggs, peas and pickles (salad olivieh). It’s delicious as a stand alone salad or wrapped in lavash as a sandwich.
Leftover Chicken Sandwiches
One super easy way to use up leftover chicken is to make a sandwich. Maybe a chicken salad sandwich or a chicken club sandwich? Mix chicken with some spices and cheese and bake up some taquitos – that’s a kind of sandwich right?
If taquitos are a sandwich, how about a chicken quesadilla? Yup. It’s on the list below, too.
Leftover Chicken Main Dishes
And of course, nothing beats creating several dinners from one leftover rotisserie chicken. I found enchilada recipes to chicken gumbo. Use leftover chicken to make a family friendly casserole or a picnic friendly pasta salad.
I have linked to some of my family’s favorite leftover chicken recipes as well as recipes from many other terrific bloggers. But remember, whatever you decided to make, take some creative license and try something new. Maybe it’s a new spice or maybe it’s a new technique
Make traditional basil pesto or choose cilantro or arugula. Add some walnuts to your chicken salad or sprouts to your wraps. Use brown rice instead of white, ciabatta instead of toast, gouda instead of cheddar.
Mix it up! Get creative in the kitchen with whatever you have on hand. But most importantly, let your meal take you to new and exotic places!
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Leftover Chicken Recipes
Never again will you run out of dinner ideas. All you need is leftover chicken, a little imagination and you will have a feast for the whole family!
Chicken Noodle Soup with Lemon
Making homemade consommรฉ is easy to do. And with the homemade stock, youโll love the flavor of this Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup with Lemon.
White Chicken Chili: Creamy Low-Carb Goodness | Lowcarb-ology
This ultra-creamy white chicken chili recipe is low carb and family friendly. Itโs the perfect comfort food for chilly evenings or busy weekends. You just toss everything into the slow cooker in the morning and by dinner time itโs ready to go.
Shredded Chicken Cobb Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
This Shredded Chicken Cobb Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette is one hearty meal! You donโt need anything else to go with it. Itโs over-the-top delicious and all youโll want is more of it!
Chicken Pot Sheperd's Pie
This Chicken Pot Sheperd's Pie is a fusion of two classic, family friendly meals: Sheperd's Pie and Chicken Pot Pie.
Whole30 Baked Buffalo Chicken Casserole - Meal Prep on Fleekโข
This Whole30 Baked Buffalo Chicken Casserole has all of the traditional buffalo chicken flavors that you love baked into one healthy dish! Gluten free, low carb and exceptionally easy. A meal prep recipe doesnโt get any better than that!
Coronation Chicken Salad
If you love curry and a sweet-salty combination, you are going to love this coronation chicken salad. So delicious and hard to stop eating!
Lemony Chicken Soup with Rice
Similar to the Greek soupย avgolemono, this Turkish Lemony Chicken Soup with Rice is creamy and easy to whip up, even during those busy weeknights. Plus a review ofย the cookbook, 'The Weeknight Mediterranean Kitchen' by Samantha Ferraro.
Easy Lunch Time Chicken Chopped Salad
One bite of this savory chicken chopped salad and you will be hooked! Grilled chicken, romaine lettuce, beets, tomatoes, pomegranate, feta, and sprouts combine with a pomegranate vinaigrette to make the best lunch salad.
Tostadas de Pollo (Chicken Tostadas)
Tostadas de Pollo (Chicken Tostadas) are a great way to use up leftovers. Mexican food thatโs easy-to-make and delicious to taste.
Chicken and Sausage Idahoยฎ Potato Gumbo
Traditional gumbo is served over a bed of rice. This Chicken and Sausage Idahoยฎ Potato Gumbo, skips the rice and adds potato to make a thick and hearty soup.
Homemade Chicken Taquitos
Super easy Homemade Chicken Taquitos is a perfect for both big and little hands. Easy to make snack or appetizer for any pot luck event.
Salad Olivieh (Persian Potato Salad with Chicken)
Salad Olivieh is a Persian potato Salad studded with peas, dill pickles, eggs and chicken. It makes a wonderful appetizer or lunch.
Chicken and Asparagus Pastries
Chicken and asparagus pastries recipe.Makes 24, uses leftover chicken or even festive turkey. Kid friendly, freezer friendly and so yummy!Super easy recipe!
Leftover Rotisserie Chicken Cheese Pasta
Looking for the recipe for your rotisserie chicken leftovers? Try this rotisserie chicken cheese pasta recipe, so creamy and satisfying!
Grain Free Enchiladas
Just because you are on the Paleo diet, doesn't mean you can't enjoy some homemade chicken enchiladas!
Ina Garten Chicken Caesar Club Sandwich
This Ina Garten Chicken Caesar Club Sandwich packs well for picnics in the park or at the beach. And that dressing makes a great dip for your veggies!
Easy Low Carb Rosemary Pecan Chicken Salad on Zucchini Chips
This easy low carb {gluten-free, low FODMAP} Rosemary Pecan Chicken Salad with sweet and juicy Champagne grapes served on zucchini chips, is a light yet satisfying lunch. Delicious finger food for your next party too!
Chicken Broccoli Quesadillas
Gooey chicken broccoli quesadillas are a quick and simple recipe perfect for lunch or dinner. They are packed full of steamed broccoli, chicken, and wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla.
Not-Quite-Homemade Chicken Mole
Chicken with chocolate sounds weird, no? But what if the chocolate is spicy (not sweet), in a sauce that envelopes shredded chicken? Plus, the dish is served (in an enchilada or on its own) with rice and a salad of oranges and red onions. That preparation, chicken mole, is delicious.
One Pot Creamy Chicken Gnocchi
Comfort food at itโs best โ super quick & super tasty! Usually comfort food for me means long slow cooking, but this bowl of Creamy Chicken Gnocchi comfort only takes 35 minutes!
Chicken Udon Noodle Soup with Lemongrass
If you have never made udon soup, this recipe for Chicken Udon Noodle Soup with Lemongrass is the one to try.
Entomatadas de Pollo (Chicken Entomatadas)
Entomatadas de Pollo (Chicken Entomatadas) is a tasty and easy Mexican recipe. Itโs made with fried tortillas stuffed with chicken and drenched in a savory tomato sauce.
Air Fryer Chicken Fried Rice + Tutorial {Gluten Free}
This recipe for Air Fryer Fried Rice is faster and healthier than ordering takeout. A delicious way to use up all those leftovers, making fried rice in the air fryer is super easy to make and budget friendly. Suitable for gluten free diets.
Apricot Almond Chicken Salad
Apricot almond chicken salad an all white meat chicken salad with sweet apricots, crunchy almonds, and tangy fresh tarragon.
Crunchy Kale Salad with Couscous
This Crunchy Kale Salad with Couscous is perfect for food prep. Throw it together on Sunday and enjoy for a quick, healthy lunch or dinner all week long.
Cold Sesame Noodles Chicken Salad
Cold sesame noodles with chicken and vegetables makes a delicious warm weather entree, and is perfect in a lunch box or for a picnic.
Chicken Banh Mi, Po Boy, Sandwich... Whatever
Sandwiches are a common meal found all over the world. This Chicken Banh Mi is inspired from the Vietnam, stuffed with fresh vegetables and avocados.
Easy Chicken and Dumplings from Scratch
This Chicken and Dumplings recipe is SO EASY to make from scratch if you use rotisserie chicken and store-bought broth! Itโs a fast, easy soul food to make on busy nights. The fresh thyme in the fluffy dumplings sets it over the edge!
Dorito Chicken Casserole Recipe
Dorito chicken casserole is a easy chicken casserole that my family loved. This is a cheesy chicken dish that has the crunch of Doritos and the spice of rotel tomatoes. All our favorite flavors together in one dish.
Leftover Chicken Enchiladas
Five simple ingredients plus some leftover shredded chicken is all you need to make these simple Leftover Chicken Enchiladas.
Low Carb Stuffed Sweet Peppers
Make these low carb stuffed sweet peppers for dinner and indulge in a meal that tastes like you are cheating. These peppers are stuffed with chicken, cream cheese, and green chiles!
Cheesy Chile and Chicken Flatbread Pizza
Green Chile & Cheese Dip spread over gluten-free flatbread pizza crust. Topped with shredded cooked chicken breast, diced chilies, veggies and Mexican cheese blend.
Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup
Using salsa as your secret ingredient, you get all the flavor of this delicious soup in half the time. Store-bought rotisserie chicken also helps reduce your cooking time.
Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti Casserole
Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti is a comforting casserole the whole family looks forward to come dinnertime. Less complaining, more eating โ a motherโs dream come true.
Chicken Avocado Salad with Toasted Pecans
Chicken Avocado Salad with Toasted Pecans โ Spring and summertime mean cool meals like this gluten free Chicken Avocado Salad recipe. Lots of crunch and creamy flavour. Use leftover rotisserie to make this a quick week night dinner.
Chicken Alfredo Spaghetti Squash Boats
These Chicken Alfredo Spaghetti Squash Boats make a perfect light dinner that is deliciously satisfying!
Mediterranean Chicken Spinach Quinoa Salad Recipe
A simple dish to put together with all of the flavors of the Mediterranean!
Chicken Cakes with Cilantro Garlic Mayo
Festive chicken cakes topped with cilantro garlic mayo use leftover chicken to completely transform last night's dinner.
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
A hearty casserole that uses both chicken & ham smothered in a smooth cheese & cream sauce, this one tastes just like the classic cordon bleu dish- but fit to feed a crowd.
Chicken Pasta Salad
This Chicken Pasta salad is full of flavor and easy to make! Make for potlucks, parties, or even to go with lunch and dinner.
Chicken Pot Pie with Puff Pastry
Chicken Pot Pie Pie with Puff Pastry is just as delicious as classic chicken pot pie, but so much simpler. Instead of pie crust, youโll top classic pot pie filling with a slab of all-butter puff pastry and bake until puffed and golden brown.
Daring Cooks: Brunswick Stew
Brunswick Stew is a Southern classic originally made after a hunting expedition with squirrel. Today most Southerner make it with rabbit, chicken, turkey, ham, or pork, even beef on occasion.
Chicken Enchiladas with Homemade Chile Gravy Enchilada Sauce
Chicken Enchiladas with Homemade Chile Gravy Enchilada Sauce is a classic Tex-Mex dish from my childhood. Corn tortillas are stuffed with shredded chicken and smothered in a rich, chile gravy sauce before baked up to perfection with a gooey cheese topping.
30 Minute Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Well, weโve been in preschool for approximately .2 seconds, and the cub has already had two colds. On the plus side, itโs given me the opportunity to make, remake, and absolutely perfect this Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup recipe. This is now our familyโs gold standard chicken noodle soup, and Iโm sure it will be a staple all winter long.
Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole Recipe
The best, Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole featuring melty Colby Jack cheese and a crunchy Cornflake topping. The perfect comfort food casserole!
Skillet Chicken Nachos {VIDEO}
Piled High Skillet Chicken Nachos are a great way to bring the fun to any occasion! These are also known as Restaurant Style Nachos and who doesnโt love recreating restaurant quality food at home?
Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry Casserole
All of the elements you love from Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry but in a casserole that your whole family will love and you will feel good about serving.
BBQ Chicken Stuffed Baked Potatoes
Tender bites of barbecue chicken, stuffed into a fluffy baked potato with a perfectly crispy skin makes BBQ Chicken Stuffed Baked potatoes a perfect meal.
Grilled BBQ Chicken Pizza
Sweet, smoky and savory BBQ chicken pizza made fast and delicious directly on a grill! Topped with tender pieces of chicken, bacon, onion, tomato, peppers, and corn.
BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza Recipe {Made in 15 Minutes}
Forget delivery and make your own flatbread pizza recipe in minutes with this easy peasy straight-up-delicious BBQ Chicken pizza. With about 15 minutes from prep to cook time, youโll be sure to make this one over and over again. Itโs that good!
Asian Style Leftover Chicken Soup
Nothing could be simpler than this Asian Style Leftover Chicken Soup made with leftover roast chicken and a host of Asian flavours and a punch of chili!
Bang Bang Chicken - delicious smoked chicken salad with peanut sauce
Bang Bang Chicken is a delicious and light meal, which includes bits of juicy chicken on top of a salad.
Venezuelan Avocado Chicken Salad: No Mayo, No Dairy
This creamy delicious Venezuelan avocado chicken salad gets is creaminess from mashed avocados and itโs vibrant latin flavors from lime juice, garlic and cilantro. A fantastic chicken salad recipe without mayo and dairy-free.
Chicken Tacos
These easy Chicken Tacos are an excellent to-go meal for the family or to take to a potluck to please a real crowd!
Dump-and-Bake Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
A 10-minute crowd-pleaser, this Dump-and-Bake Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is an easy dinner recipe for your busiest weeknights โ and you donโt even have to boil the pasta!
Spinach Artichoke Chicken Casserole - Keto and Low Carb
A popular dip turned into a delicious Keto-friendly casserole and baking with gooey mozzarella cheese on top!
Quick & Easy Rotisserie Chicken Chimichangas Recipe
A quick and easy recipe using Rotisserie Chicken to make Chimichangas for the whole family for dinner time.
Thai Cucumber Chicken Salad (Grain Free)
Break out of lunchtime boredom with this easy and healthy Thai Cucumber Chicken Salad! This is gluten free, grain free, and free of peanuts and soy.
Shredded Chicken Burrito Bowls with Cabbage Slaw and Chipotle Creama
These chicken burrito bowls with cabbage slaw make a quick and healthy dinner. So versatile as you can swap in and out your favorite burrito ingredients!
Easy Chicken Salad Recipe
Salads make such an amazing lunch or dinner. And the whole family goes crazy over these easy chicken salad sandwiches.
Creamy Chicken Tacos
Creamy Chicken Tacos are my new favorite chicken taco! Tender pieces of cooked chicken get mixed into a creamy sauce full of Mexican seasonings & spices, tomatoes & chilies, fresh herbs, and cheese.
Hot Artichoke Chicken Salad
A super creamy and savory chicken salad that is full of artichokes, green onions, crunchy water chestnuts, and topped with those french fried onions we all love.
Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits
This chicken pot pie with biscuits is simple to make. Itโs filled with tender chicken and vegetables in a creamy sauce with soft, flaky biscuits on top. Make it with rotisserie chicken, leftover chicken or leftover turkey.
Chopped Chicken Salad with Ranch ~ Whole 30/Paleo
This Chopped Chicken Salad with Homemade Ranch is so good you would never know it was made without buttermilk!
Strawberry Chicken Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
An easy strawberry salad made with mixed greens, goat cheese, walnuts, and shredded rotisserie chicken, then topped with an addicting maple balsamic vinaigrette.
Creamy White Chicken Chili - Crumb: A Food Blog
Did you know white chili is actually a thing? Maybe itโs just that I had a deprived childhood, but I didnโt even know chili came in any colour other than red until I was in my early twenties.
Easy Bean Chicken Nachos
Ready for back to school but donโt know what to make now for dinners? Try these Easy Bean Chicken Nachos, not only are they a feast for your family that they will love but also a nice healthy way to get back into the groove of dinners together again around the table.
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Dang, Laura! What a great round up of recipes! And thanks for including my coronation chicken. I love that stuff. And now I have a ton more recipes to love, too!
I am crazy over these leftover chicken ideas!! I bookmarked this so I can find it easily to make a few.
What a super delicious post! Thank you for sharing my grape chicken salad. I want all of these!
Beautiful photos! And I would have to agree that roasted chicken is a very versatile ingredient, just look at this roundup!
This was a great piece. I love chicken and am grateful for all the ideas and fun links. I am not familiar with these bloggers. Very cool! I have a rotisserie at home and this is inspiration to break it out again!
Thanks so much for the link — and this is a fantastic post! ๐
Great list! I love using chicken in leftovers, and you’ve given me some wonderful idea. And when you’re finished with the chicken, its carcass makes excellent stock. Which in turn makes soup. Good stuff – thanks.
Wow – I think I’m going to have to cook some chicken now, just so I’ll have some left over! Great list!
Excellent roundup! My husband made #34 in your list for dinner, using shredded chicken from another purpose. ๐
And I’m making #15 to serve 200 people on Wednesday night.
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What a great list!! Mine definitely ends up in soups, tacos, burritos, pastas, and on sandwiches. Great looking chicken you started with!
Oh Laura: we’ll never need another list again!! We all have left over chicken in the fridge!!!! Just print this out, pin it on the back of the kitchen door and go eeny-meeney-mani-mo ๐ ! Absolutely fantastic, and do hope you are doing great ๐ !
Ha! Ha! Eha, you are always so sweet! I just finished making soup (again) with my leftover chicken last night!
Great tips, Laura!
That’s a great round-up of ideas. But then don’t throw away the carcass! Those roast chickens make fantastic chicken broth. We also like creamed chicken on rice (or toast). Pure comfort food. And King Ranch casserole is my youngest’s favorite thing to do with cooked chicken.
Ellen, great tip! We always save the carcass for chicken broth!
What a fantastic post! I often have leftover chicken in the fridge and now I know where to come for ideas. Thanks so much for including my lasagne rolls.
What a gorgeous chicken in that first photo! And a great round up of chicken ideas.