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Home » Recipes » chicken and turkey

The Best Ways to Use Leftover Chicken

Published: Mar 15, 2020 · Last Updated: Aug 22, 2020

627 shares

These recipes featured precooked chicken, making them the perfect recipes to use up that leftover chicken so it doesn't go to waste! Learn the best throw together recipes to use up chicken plus how to store and reuse chicken properly.

Collage image of 6 chicken recipes with text overlay "Leftover Chicken Recipe"

Figuring out how to use leftover chicken is a battle we face often. So I decided I needed a list of leftover chicken recipes.

I've found is that if I repurpose the leftovers into another meal, it's so yummy and I don't hesitate to eat the leftovers right up!

The best part of having chicken often though is that it is so versatile. You can docker it up a million ways and come up with new variations every day.

If you get bored of the same old lunch meals, try these lunches or even dinner meals that make use of leftover cooked chicken!

Below I will list out links to some of my favorite leftover chicken recipes, but in general, there are a few ways that you can use up leftover chicken. Don't be afraid to get creative and experiment with flavors here!

Here are five ways you can repurpose chicken leftovers:

Overhead image of Kale Chicken Caesar Salad by Simply Whisked
Photo credit: Simply Whisked

Table of Contents

  • 1. Add chicken to a salad
  • 2. Toss into pasta
  • 3. Add a sauce and make sliders
  • 4. Add veggies and make it a stir fry
  • Some frequently asked questions about leftover chicken

1. Add chicken to a salad

There are so many delicious salads out there that you can add chicken to and call it your main dish!

Salad Recipes with Chicken

  • Kale Chicken Caesar Salad
  • Summer Quinoa Salad

2. Toss into pasta

A cup of leftover diced rotisserie chicken is the perfect topping for a simple pasta dish! Add fresh veggies or a homemade sauce to make this simple dish a hit with your family.

Pasta recipes with chicken

  • Chicken Pesto Pasta
  • Lemon Orzo Pasta

3. Add a sauce and make sliders

One of my favorite ways to use up shredded chicken is adding a sauce and making some sliders! You can use full buns or small slider buns for a special treat.

Chicken Slider Recipes

  • Applesauce Chicken Sliders
  • Chicken Enchilada Sliders

4. Add veggies and make it a stir fry

Use up fresh or frozen veggies, Instant Pot brown rice and precooked chicken for a quick and easy stir fry recipe!

Shredded chicken with enchilada sauce.

Some frequently asked questions about leftover chicken

How long does leftover chicken last?

Cooked (leftover) chicken lasts up to four days when properly stored and in a cold fridge. It's best used before that four-day mark when it should be tossed before going bad.

How do you store cooked chicken?

Refrigerate in an airtight, glass storage container for up to four days.

Top Recipes That Use Leftover Chicken

These recipes featured precooked chicken, making them the perfect recipes to use up that leftover chicken so it doesn't go to waste!

Chicken Enchilada Sliders

These chicken enchilada sliders use homemade enchilada sauce poured over shredded chicken and served on slider buns.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Use that leftover chicken for a quick and easy appetizer. This buffalo chicken dip recipe calls for a shredded rotisserie chicken, but you can easily use a chicken breast, either shredded or cut into small chunks!

Asian Chicken Wraps with Peanut Sauce

Photo Credit: www.simplywhisked.com

These chicken wraps with peanut sauce are such an easy and healthy lunch.

Chicken Mushroom Enchilada Casserole

A perfect way to use up leftover shredded chicken! You'll need sour cream, cream of mushroom soup, mushrooms, onions and cheese to make this delicious casserole.

Rotisserie Chicken Pho Recipe

Photo Credit: www.simplywhisked.com

This rotisserie chicken pho recipe is a quick take on the traditional Vietnamese noodle soup that you can make any day of the week in just 30 minutes. 

Homemade Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

Add cooked chicken to this homemade broccoli macaroni and cheese for a delicious variation on your childhood favorite!

Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Photo Credit: www.greensnchocolate.com

If you’re a buffalo chicken fan like myself, these Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwiches are a must-make!  They’re easy, cheesy, and will for sure satisfy that buffalo chicken craving!

Veggie Risotto

This homemade risotto base is the only risotto recipe you'll ever need! Add cooked chicken to it for a fully delicious meal.

Loaded Chicken Enchilada Nachos

Photo Credit: www.averiecooks.com

Getting your hands messy, picking up ingredients that fell off the piled high chip. So good.

Slow Cooker Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Photo Credit: thegingeredwhisk.com

Slow Cooker Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes are an easy and fast weeknight meal packed with flavor, color, and texture! 

Kale Caesar Salad Recipe with Chicken (Dairy Free)

Photo Credit: www.simplywhisked.com

This kale caesar salad recipe with chicken is healthy and dairy free. It’s topped with homemade croutons and vegan parmesan cheese and dressed with a simple caesar vinaigrette for a light and filling meal.

Chicken Salad Croissant Sandwiches

Photo Credit: life-in-the-lofthouse.com

Chicken salad is a classic way to use up leftover chicken!

If you have the same dilemma I have with leftovers and lunches, hopefully this list will make it a little easier! Which of these yummy leftover chicken recipes is your favorite?

What are your favorite ways to use up leftover chicken?

More chicken and turkey

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    Creamy Lemon Chicken
  • a gray plate with rice, lemon marinated chicken, and green beans.
    Lemon Chicken Marinade
  • stir fry sauce in a jar next to turkey stir fry in a pot
    Easy Ground Turkey Stir Fry
  • Grilled chicken is a staple of warmer weather! This grilled chili cilantro lime chicken will get dinner on the table in a hurry for your family and it will be packed with flavor! healthy grilled chicken | grilled chicken marinade | homemade marinade | chile lime chicken | cilantro lime chicken | lime grilled chicken
    Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken
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I'm Madison. I'm passionate about helping you find confidence and joy in the kitchen through easy, delicious recipes!

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