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What Can I Do with Leftover Rotisserie Chicken?

Nya Bruce
Nya Bruce

One of the benefits of buying a rotisserie chicken for dinner is the amount of food that's typically leftover. Depending on the number of people being fed, a single chicken can be stretched to make an additional lunch, dinner or even both. Different types of sandwiches, soups, salads, and pasta dishes, are just some of the things that can be made with leftover rotisserie chicken.

One of the most obvious and healthiest things that can be done with leftover rotisserie chicken is to make a salad. Chicken that's been shredded or cut into bite sized pieces can be placed over salad greens, such spinach, romaine or loose leaf lettuce and tossed with a favorite dressing or vinaigrette. Additional ingredients, such as dried cranberries, walnuts or blue cheese, can also be included to tailor a plain chicken salad to suit individual tastes. Another option involves mixing the chicken with a small amount of mayonnaise to make a chicken salad filling to serve over lettuce.

A rotisserie chicken.
A rotisserie chicken.

Leftover rotisserie chicken is also a good ingredient to use in various types of sandwiches. Serve chicken salad filling in a pita or between slices of bread. A quick sandwich option involves placing chicken and cheddar or Swiss cheese on a toasted bun and broiling it in an oven until the cheese melts. Barbecue chicken sandwiches are another fast way to use leftover chicken, and can be made by combining shredded chicken with a favorite barbecue sauce.

A chicken before being rotisseried.
A chicken before being rotisseried.

Although the idea of making soup may sound complicated, even a novice in the kitchen can make a delicious one using leftover rotisserie chicken. With egg noodles, chopped carrots, onions, and celery on hand, a person can easily turn their leftover chicken into a hearty chicken noodle soup. Chicken tortilla soup is an alternative soup that is significantly different from traditional chicken noodle. This requires seasonings like chili powder, cumin and cilantro, as well as diced tomatoes, tomato paste and corn tortillas or corn tortilla chips. Both types of soups can easily be prepared using a slow cooker, which also reduces the amount of hands-on cook time.

Flavorful chicken soup can be made from leftover rotisserie chicken.
Flavorful chicken soup can be made from leftover rotisserie chicken.

Pasta and chicken are two food items that are very suited to one another and can be made into a variety of different dishes. Leftover rotisserie chicken that's been stripped from the carcass and cut into pieces can be mixed with almost any type of pasta noodle. Peas, carrots and other vegetables pair well with this combination. Depending on the dish that's being made, pasta and chicken can be mixed with some form of sauce or cheese. Chicken noodle casseroles and pasta salads are just some of the dishes that can be made using leftover chicken and pasta noodles.

Discussion Comments

ZipLine

When I have leftover rotisserie chicken, I usually make some Ceaser salad and use the chicken as a topping. I make my own dressing and use lots of Parmesan cheese. It's so delicious.

Can leftover rotisserie chicken could be used for something like chicken pot pie?

stoneMason

This may sound a bit unconventional but I've actually used leftover rotisserie chicken in stir fry before, as well as to make biriyani-- rice pilav with chicken. It's not the proper way to make either dish but it saves time and always turns out good.

Stir fry is very easy. I just cook the noodles and then stir fry some vegetables in another pan. I throw in slices of leftover rotisserie chicken last, add some soy sauce and other flavoring and finally add the noodles and mix it all up.

I made this for lunch the other day and my mother loved it. There are so many great ways to use up leftover food. It just requires some imagination and experimentation.

fBoyle

Sandwiches made with leftover rotisserie chicken are my favorite. I keep my sandwiches fairly simple-- just chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and mayonnaise. One could also make chicken salad and use it as filling for sandwiches. Either way, they make a great meal. Just add some potato chips as a side or some carrots. It's great for lunch or dinner and the chicken isn't wasted.

Rotergirl

@Pippinwhite: Yogurt dressing for chicken salad? Sounds good. I hate mayonnaise anyway, so that sounds like a good option to try. I'm guessing you do it by taste preferences. I'll pick up a container of plain yogurt on my next trip to the grocery store.

Pippinwhite

Or use it in chicken casserole. I have a great recipe for a chicken and wild rice casserole, and leftover rotisserie chicken is wonderful for it.

I also use leftover chicken for chicken salad, where I use a plain yogurt dressing instead of a mayonnaise based one. It's much lower in fat and calories when you use yogurt.

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    • A rotisserie chicken.
      By: Viktor
      A rotisserie chicken.
    • A chicken before being rotisseried.
      By: Diana Taliun
      A chicken before being rotisseried.
    • Flavorful chicken soup can be made from leftover rotisserie chicken.
      By: Tiramisu Studio
      Flavorful chicken soup can be made from leftover rotisserie chicken.
    • Leftover rotisserie chicken can be shredded and put into a salad.
      By: Louella Folsom
      Leftover rotisserie chicken can be shredded and put into a salad.
    • Leftover chicken might be added to a casserole.
      By: Froggy
      Leftover chicken might be added to a casserole.