Leftover Chicken Recipes (2024)

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Leftover chicken recipes are here to help you get the most out of your meal. No more wasted food, these chicken recipes are perfect for using up what you’ve got.

Leftover Chicken Recipes

Let’s face it. Leftovers happen. If you’re anything like me, they happen on purpose, especially with chicken. Anytime I cook baked chicken for dinner or make some shredded chicken for tacos, I plan on having some leftover so I can pull out my catalog of leftover chicken recipes and have an easy meal ready to go.

Whether you bought a couple of rotisserie chickens at Costco, or just baked a few extra chicken thighs, we’re reinventing those chicken leftovers by adding them to soups, stews, wraps and more.

How to Store Leftover Chicken

Store leftovers within 2 hours of cooking. Let the food cool completely, then place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Use the meat in any of these delicious leftover chicken recipes, or reheat in the microwave, oven, or air fryer.

25 Recipes for Leftover Chicken

Here are 25 delicious and simple recipes to use up your leftover chicken.

Chicken Enchiladas

With tender chicken wrapped in corn tortillas and smothered in red sauce and cheese, you can’t go wrong with these restaurant quality chicken enchiladas!

Chicken Tostadas

Simple and delicious recipe for Chicken Tostadas – easily customizable for a quick and delicious Mexican meal.

Italian Chicken Soup

Italian Chicken Soup is simple, delicious and perfect for a fast dinner. Packed with 2 kinds of squash, tomatoes, beans and chicken in a flavorful broth.

Creamy Chicken Casserole

Serve up some comfort food for dinner with the best Creamy Chicken Casserole! Chicken, pasta and veggies in a creamy sauce, topped with buttery crackers.

Buffalo Ranch Chicken French Bread Pizza

Buffalo Chicken Pizza is an easy french bread pizza recipe topped with spicy buffalo sauce, creamy ranch, tender chicken, celery and cheese.

Baked Chicken Empanadas

Tender, flaky pastry pockets are stuffed with a deliciously spiced and delightfully cheesy filling in these Chicken Empanadas.

Chinese Chicken Pasta Salad

Chinese Chicken Pasta Salad has crunch, a hint of sweetness and is full of flavor. Made with tender chicken, veggies and a tangy Asian-style dressing.

Buffalo Chicken Potato Skins

Buffalo Chicken Potato Skins are tender hollowed out potatoes with a crispy skin, stuffed with creamy, spicy buffalo chicken and cheese. They are an easy appetizer, perfect for game day or any party.

BBQ Chicken Quesadilla

BBQ Chicken Quesadillas are stuffed with cheese, chicken, onions, bbq sauce. They take minutes to prep and cook for a quick and easy dinner.

Chicken Caesar Wraps

Chicken Caesar Wraps are a fast and easy meal that's kid-friendly and delicious. These healthy chicken wraps are perfect for lunch or dinner.

BBQ Chicken Pizza Rolls

BBQ Chicken Pizza Rolls are a bite-sized, easy appetizer that’s pack with shredded chicken, onions, cilantro, cheese and bbq sauce. All rolled up in crescent rolls dough for a simple party snack that everyone will love.

Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

Chicken tortilla soup has a rich and flavorful broth packed with tender chicken, vegetables and spices with crunchy tortilla strips on top.

Crack Chicken Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Crack Chicken Stuffed Baked Potatoes pair creamy cheddar, bacon and ranch chicken and a fluffy baked potato into one delicious meal.

Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta

Chicken Pesto Pasta has pasta and chicken coated in a creamy, cheesy pesto sauce. It's an easy, delicious meal that's ready in 30 minutes!

BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad (CPK Copycat)

This BBQ Chicken Salad is full of fresh veggies, BBQ chicken, cheese, beans and tortilla strips, and tossed with a simple BBQ Ranch dressing.

Barbecue Chicken Pizza Pinwheels

BBQ Chicken Pizza Pinwheels are dippable, bite-sized appetizers packed with chicken, onions, cheese and cilantro wrapped up and baked in pizza dough.

Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Nachos

Crunchy, cheesy nachos are kicked up a notch with Old El Paso™ Green Chile Enchilada sauce. Easy to whip up and perfect for snacking or feeding a crowd on game day!

Chicken Club Lettuce Wraps

Tangy, crunchy, savory and light – these crunchy Chicken Club Lettuce Wraps are a perfect light lunch or even appetizer and they’re good for you too!

Chicken Pot Pie

Creamy, dreamy semi-homemade chicken pot pie uses tender chicken and veggies and a homemade creamy sauce.

Cranberry Chicken Puffs

Cranberry Chicken Puffs with chicken, cranberries and cheese, wrapped in pillowy soft crescent dough are a perfect easy appetizer or dinner.

Chicken Taco Casserole

Chicken Taco Casserole is an easy weeknight dinner with chicken, black beans and a creamy cheese sauce topped with crispy tortilla chips.

FAQs

How long is leftover chicken good for in the fridge? ›

USDA recommends using cooked chicken within three to four days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within three to four days.

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How to eat leftover rotisserie chicken? ›

So next time you go grocery shopping, grab a rotisserie bird and whip up some of these lazy yet delicious meals.

Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps. ...
Chicken Fajita Tacos. ...
Chicken Bacon Ranch Baked Potatoes. ...
Chicken & Biscuits Bake. ...
Easy Barbecue Baguette Chicken Pizza. ...
BBQ Chicken Pasta Bake. ...
Chicken Fried Rice.

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3 days ago

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How do you make leftover chicken taste better? ›

Maybe it's because left over chicken can tend to be dry depending on how you cook it. If you just don't like that taste, then cut it up and throw in crock pot and do a chicken stew, chicken and noodles or even a curried chicken. Any of those, cooked on low for a long time should make it tender and not dry.

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How do you refresh leftover chicken? ›

✨Oven Method✨ Preheat the oven to 350F. Cover the bottom of a baking dish with either water or chicken broth and then add the chicken on top. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and cook for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Make sure the internal temperature is 165F before serving.

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How do you moisten dry chicken when reheating? ›

Spoon a little water or chicken broth over the slices and cover with a microwave-safe food cover. Heat in 1 minute increments until the pieces are warmed through (once again, 165˚F is the magic number).

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Can I eat 7 day old cooked chicken? ›

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that cooked chicken can last three to four days in the refrigerator, if stored at 40°F or less. 1 And that goes for any type of cooked chicken—store-bought, homemade, or restaurant leftovers.

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What happens to chicken after 5 days in fridge? ›

Raw chicken lasts in the fridge for 1–2 days, while cooked chicken lasts 3–4 days. To detect if chicken has gone bad, check the “best if used by” date and look for signs of spoilage like changes in smell, texture, and color. Avoid eating spoiled chicken, as it can cause food poisoning — even if you cook it thoroughly.

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Can you freeze cooked chicken after 3 days? ›

It's not advised to freeze cooked chicken after four days in the fridge due to possible bacteria growth. Why can't you freeze chicken hot? Hot chicken may lead to temperature changes in your freezer, which could lead to the growth of harmful bacteria. Let the chicken cool to room temperature before freezing.

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What to do with week old rotisserie chicken? ›

It goes without saying that there are plenty of 30-minute meals and even some that are quicker than that. Best of all, you can get so creative when using leftover rotisserie chicken. Try flavor-packed dishes like spicy chicken quesadillas and buffalo chicken baked potatoes or stick to the classics like chicken pot pie.

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Is it safe to eat rotisserie chicken left out overnight? ›

Room temperature falls into the danger zone for food safety, which is 40-140 degrees Fahrenheit. Bacteria growth increases rapidly under these temperatures which is why the Meat and Poultry Hotline says to “never leave food out of refrigeration over 2 hours.” This includes cooked chicken such as rotisserie chicken.

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Why does my chicken taste bad when I reheat it? ›

Though it's especially obvious in leftover fish and poultry, discerning connoisseurs can pick out the WOF bouquet in most reheated meats. These flavors are the result of a series of chemical reactions that begins with the deterioration of specific kinds of fats known as polyunsaturated fatty acids, or PUFAs.

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What can I add to chicken to make it taste good? ›

Add a touch of spice to your chicken breast by combining paprika, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, ginger, garlic and olive oil to create a paste. Then cover your chicken breast with the paste and pat down to secure.

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Why is leftover chicken dry? ›

As the chicken heats, these fibers contract, squeezing out the juices like a sponge being wrung out. Imagine this on a cellular level—hundreds of thousands of tiny muscle fibers all contracting and forcing out precious moisture. And just like that, your juicy chicken dries out.

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How do you rehydrate dehydrated chicken? ›

Re-hydrate food fastest with boiling water

Re-hydrating food goes fastest in boiling water. Place your dehydrated vegetables and meats in your cooking pot, add enough water to completely cover the food, then bring the water to a boil. Keep adding water as necessary to keep the food covered.