10 Best Leftover Chicken Recipes

Chicken Fried Rice Transform your leftover chicken into a delightful and quick meal with this easy chicken fried rice recipe. Ingredients 2 cups cooked rice 1 cup leftover chicken, shredded 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon sesame oil 1 cup mixed vegetables (e.g., peas, carrots, corn) 2 eggs, beaten 2 green onions, sliced Salt and pepper to taste Cooking Method Heat sesame oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add mixed vegetables and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes. Push vegetables to one side and pour beaten eggs on the other side. Scramble until fully cooked. Add rice and leftover chicken to the pan; stir in soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Stir-fry for another 3-4 minutes until everything is heated through. Garnish with sliced green onions before serving. Chicken Quesadillas Make a delicious quick snack with these cheesy chicken quesadillas using your leftover chicken. Ingredients 2 cups leftover chicken, shredded 4 flour tortillas 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend) 1/2 cup salsa 1 tablespoon olive oil Sour cream (optional) Cooking Method Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place one tortilla in the skillet, and sprinkle half of the cheese evenly on top. Distribute the shredded chicken over the cheese and spoon salsa over the chicken. Top with remaining cheese and place another tortilla on top. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown and cheese has melted. Cut into wedges and serve with sour cream if desired. Chicken Caesar Salad Elevate your salad game by adding leftover chicken to this classic Caesar salad. Ingredients 2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped 1 cup leftover chicken, sliced 1/4 cup Caesar dressing 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup croutons Black pepper to taste Cooking Method In a large bowl, combine romaine lettuce and sliced chicken. Add Caesar dressing and toss until evenly coated. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese and croutons on top. Season with black pepper before serving. Chicken Tortilla Soup Warm up your day with a hearty chicken tortilla soup, perfect for using those chicken leftovers. Ingredients 1 cup leftover chicken, shredded 1 can (14 oz) chicken broth 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes 1 cup corn kernels 1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed 1 teaspoon cumin 1/2 teaspoon chili powder Salt and pepper to taste Tortilla chips and lime wedges for serving Cooking Method In a large pot, combine chicken broth, diced tomatoes, corn, black beans, cumin, and chili powder. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 15 minutes. Add shredded chicken and continue cooking until heated through. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot with tortilla chips and a squeeze of lime juice. BBQ Chicken Pizza Enjoy a quick and flavorful dinner with this BBQ chicken pizza, a great way to repurpose cooked chicken. Ingredients 1 pre-made pizza crust 1 cup leftover chicken, shredded 1/2 cup BBQ sauce 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped Cooking Method Preheat oven according to pizza crust package instructions. Spread BBQ sauce evenly over the pizza crust. Distribute shredded chicken and sliced red onion on top. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly over the toppings. Bake in the oven until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly. Garnish with chopped cilantro before serving. Chicken Pot Pie Comfort food at its best, this chicken pot pie is an all-time favorite way to use leftover chicken. Ingredients 1 cup leftover chicken, diced 1 cup mixed vegetables (frozen or fresh) 1 can (10 oz) cream of chicken soup 1/2 cup milk 1 pre-made pie crust Salt and pepper to taste Cooking Method Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). In a bowl, mix chicken, vegetables, cream of chicken soup, and milk. Pour the mixture into a pie dish and cover with pie crust. Seal edges and cut slits in the top for steam to escape. Bake for 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Let it cool slightly before serving. Chicken Enchiladas Satisfy your Mexican food cravings with these easy chicken enchiladas. Ingredients 2 cups leftover chicken, shredded 8 corn tortillas 1 can (10 oz) enchilada sauce 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or Monterey Jack) 1/2 cup sour cream 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro Cooking Method Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Pour a little enchilada sauce at the bottom of a baking dish. Fill each tortilla with chicken and a sprinkle of cheese, then roll up and place seam-side down in the dish. Pour remaining enchilada sauce over the top and sprinkle with cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes; remove foil and bake for another 10 minutes. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and chopped cilantro. Chicken Alfredo Pasta Creamy and satisfying, this chicken Alfredo pasta is perfect for a quick weeknight meal. Ingredients 2 cups cooked pasta 1 cup leftover chicken, sliced 1 cup Alfredo sauce 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon butter 1 clove garlic, minced Salt and pepper to taste Parsley for garnish Cooking Method In a pan, melt butter over medium heat and sauté garlic until fragrant. Add sliced chicken and heat through. Stir in Alfredo sauce and cooked pasta, mixing well. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley before serving. Chicken Curry Stir-Fry Spice up your dinner with this quick chicken curry stir-fry, perfect for leftover chicken. Ingredients 1 cup leftover chicken, sliced 2 cups mixed vegetables (bell peppers, broccoli, carrots) 2 tablespoons curry powder 1/4 cup coconut milk 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon soy sauce Salt and pepper to taste Cooked rice for serving Cooking Method Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add mixed vegetables and stir-fry for 5 minutes. Stir in curry powder, soy sauce, and coconut milk, mixing well. Add sliced chicken and cook until heated through. Season with salt and pepper. Serve over cooked rice. Chicken Tacos Whip up a tasty taco night with these simple chicken tacos using leftovers. Ingredients 2 cups leftover chicken, shredded 8 small corn tortillas 1 cup shredded lettuce 1/2 cup salsa 1/2 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend) Lime wedges for serving Cooking Method Warm the corn tortillas in a dry skillet or microwave. Fill each tortilla with shredded chicken, lettuce, salsa, and cheese. Fold and serve with a squeeze of lime juice.