10+ Leftover Chicken Recipes to Make Your Meals Delicious and Easy

Using leftover chicken saves time and helps cut down on food waste. When you’ve got cooked chicken ready, you can whip up all sorts of tasty meals in no time.

Leftover chicken recipes let you make easy, delicious dishes without starting from scratch.

You don’t need to be a skilled cook to make satisfying meals with leftover chicken. Whether you want a quick lunch or you’re planning dinner, these recipes can fit your schedule and taste.

You’ll find simple ways to enjoy your cooked chicken in new and exciting ways.

1) Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Chicken enchilada casserole is a fantastic way to use leftover chicken. Just layer tortillas with shredded chicken, sauce, and cheese.

You can toss in sour cream or black beans if that’s your thing. Bake it in the oven and you’ll get a warm, cheesy meal that feels like a hug.

This recipe uses green enchilada sauce and salsa verde for a nice punch of flavor. It’s mostly just layering everything and letting the oven do the work.

Ingredients

• 4 cups shredded cooked chicken
• 12 corn tortillas
• 20 oz green enchilada sauce
• 12 oz salsa verde
• 3 cups shredded cheese (Monterey Jack or cheddar)
• 1 cup sour cream (optional)
• 1 can black beans (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix chicken with some enchilada sauce and salsa verde.
3. Spread a layer of sauce on the bottom of a baking dish.
4. Add a layer of tortillas, then chicken mixture, and cheese.
5. Repeat the layers until you use all ingredients.
6. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
7. Let it cool a bit before serving.

For more tips, check this chicken enchilada casserole recipe.

2) Rotisserie Chicken Stroganoff

Turn leftover rotisserie chicken into a creamy stroganoff in no time. Mix shredded chicken with mushrooms, onions, and a rich sauce made from broth and sour cream.

Serve it over egg noodles for that classic comfort food vibe. Want to save even more time? Use pre-cooked chicken and ready-to-cook noodles.

If you have leftovers, keep the sauce and noodles in separate containers. Reheat the sauce slowly with a splash of water so it doesn’t dry out.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
• 1 cup diced onion
• 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
• 12 ounces egg noodles
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 16 ounces beef broth
• ½ cup sour cream

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cook egg noodles as the package says; drain and set aside.
2. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions and mushrooms, cook until soft.
3. Stir in flour and cook for a minute.
4. Slowly whisk in beef broth, let it simmer until the sauce thickens.
5. Add chicken and sour cream; stir gently and heat through.
6. Serve the sauce over the noodles.

3) Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken tortilla soup is one of those go-to recipes for using leftover chicken. It’s warm, filling, and loaded with flavors like tomatoes, beans, corn, and spices.

Make it quickly on the stove with shredded chicken you already have. Toss some tortilla strips or chips on top for crunch.

You can add avocado and cheese if you’re feeling fancy. This soup is great for a simple meal any night.

Ingredients

• 2 cups shredded leftover chicken
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 cup corn kernels
• 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Tortilla strips or chips
• Optional: diced avocado, shredded cheese, chopped cilantro

Cooking Instructions

1. In a pot, combine broth, tomatoes, corn, beans, and spices.
2. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
3. Add chicken and cook for 5 more minutes.
4. Serve hot with tortilla strips and any toppings you like.

For a more detailed recipe, check out this chicken tortilla soup.

4) Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Chicken pot pie is a classic way to use leftover chicken. It’s got tender chicken, veggies, and a creamy sauce under a flaky crust.

You can save time by using cooked chicken and frozen vegetables. This dish fills you up and works well for weeknight dinners.

It’s simple and you can swap in whatever you have on hand. Bake it until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling.

Check out this shortcut Rotisserie Chicken Pot Pie Recipe if you want to cut down on prep.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked chicken, diced
• 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
• 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 refrigerated pie crust

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Mix chicken, vegetables, soup, and broth in a bowl.
3. Pour into a pie dish.
4. Cover with pie crust and seal the edges.
5. Cut a few slits in the crust for steam.
6. Bake 30-35 minutes until golden.

5) Chicken & Tzatziki Wraps

Chicken and tzatziki wraps are a fresh way to use up leftover chicken. You get crisp cucumber, juicy tomato, and cool tzatziki all wrapped up together.

These wraps come together fast, so they’re perfect for lunch or a light dinner. Just warm the chicken and pile it into a soft wrap.

Throw in some crunchy lettuce and maybe a bit of onion for texture. The tangy yogurt sauce ties everything together.

You get a Mediterranean twist with hardly any effort. Here’s a simple method from BBC Good Food.

Ingredients

• Leftover cooked chicken, chopped
• Tortilla wraps or pita bread
• Tzatziki sauce
• Cucumber, sliced
• Tomato, chopped
• Lettuce leaves
• Onion, thinly sliced (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Warm chicken in a pan or microwave.
2. Lay a wrap flat, add lettuce.
3. Pile on the chicken.
4. Layer cucumber, tomato, and onion.
5. Add tzatziki sauce.
6. Roll up and eat right away.

6) Coronation Chicken Salad

Coronation chicken salad is a fun way to give leftover chicken some new life. Mix shredded chicken with a creamy, curry-spiced dressing.

You can add dried apricots or mango chutney for a little sweetness. This salad works well in sandwiches, on potatoes, or just on top of greens.

It’s easy and doesn’t take long to make. Use Greek yogurt or crème fraîche to keep things light.

Toasted almonds or spring onions add a nice crunch. Not a bad lunch, honestly.

Ingredients

• 400g cooked chicken, shredded
• 100ml Greek yogurt or crème fraîche
• 1 tbsp mango chutney
• 2 tsp medium curry powder
• 1 lime, juiced
• A handful of dried apricots, chopped (optional)
• Toasted almonds (optional)
• Spring onions, sliced (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix yogurt, mango chutney, curry powder, and lime juice in a bowl.
2. Add chicken and stir to coat.
3. Fold in apricots, almonds, and spring onions if you want.
4. Chill for 30 minutes so the flavors come together.

For more details, check this coronation chicken salad recipe.

7) Mexican Chicken Burrito Bowls

Leftover chicken works perfectly in a Mexican burrito bowl. Just reheat your chicken, then add seasoned rice and beans.

Fresh veggies like corn and avocado make the bowl pop with color and flavor. Top with avocado crema or salsa ranch for a little extra something.

These bowls are quick to make and easy to customize. Throw on cheese, lettuce, or sour cream if you like. For ideas, check this chipotle chicken burrito bowl recipe.

Ingredients

• Leftover cooked chicken, shredded or chopped
• Cooked rice (Mexican or plain)
• Black beans or pinto beans, drained
• Corn kernels
• Avocado
• Salsa or salsa ranch
• Cheese (optional)
• Lime wedges (optional)
• Fresh cilantro (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Reheat chicken in a pan over medium until warmed through.
2. Heat rice and beans separately.
3. Arrange rice, beans, chicken, and corn in a bowl.
4. Add avocado and drizzle with salsa or crema.
5. Sprinkle cheese and cilantro if you want.
6. Serve with lime wedges.

8) Leftover Chicken Croquettes

Turn leftover chicken into crispy croquettes. They’re easy to make and work as a snack or meal.

Mix chopped chicken, eggs, breadcrumbs, and onions together. Shape into small patties and fry or air fry until golden.

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce—marinara or ranch are always good. Croquettes help you use up chicken in a fun way.

Add parsley or some spices if you want to change up the flavor.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked chicken, finely chopped
• 1 egg, beaten
• ½ cup golden breadcrumbs
• ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
• ½ cup sautéed onions
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp parsley (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Toss chicken, egg, breadcrumbs, onions, salt, pepper, and parsley together in a bowl.

2. Shape the mixture into small patties.

3. Heat oil in a pan, or preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C).

4. Cook the patties for about 3-4 minutes per side, just until they’re golden brown. If using the air fryer, go for 10-12 minutes.

5. Serve them warm with whatever sauce you like best.

For more detail, check this leftover chicken croquettes recipe.

9) Chicken Fritters

Chicken fritters are honestly one of the easiest ways to use up leftover chicken. Mix up cooked chicken with breadcrumbs, eggs, onions, and a bit of cheese for a quick batter.

You can toss in fresh herbs or spices if you’re feeling adventurous. Fry them up in a pan until both sides turn golden brown.

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, or maybe a side salad if you want something lighter. Most of the time, you’ll already have the ingredients on hand.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella or whatever cheese you like
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Garlic powder (optional)
• Cooking oil for frying

Cooking Instructions

1. Dump chicken, bread crumbs, onion, cheese, egg, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and garlic powder into a bowl. Mix until everything comes together.

2. Warm oil in a frying pan over medium heat, around 350°F (175°C) if you’re being precise.

3. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture into the pan and press them down a bit.

4. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, just until you get that nice golden color.

5. Move them to paper towels to drain. Serve while they’re still warm.

10) Chicken Quesadillas

Chicken quesadillas make using up leftover chicken way too easy. You can throw them together fast, and they’re hard to mess up.

Just pile your chicken on a tortilla, sprinkle on cheese, and add whatever toppings you have on hand. Cook it in a skillet until the outside is golden and the cheese gets melty.

Try salsa or canned corn for a little extra flavor. They’re perfect when you want lunch or dinner in a hurry.

Ingredients

• 2 cups leftover cooked chicken, shredded
• 4 large flour or corn tortillas
• 1 ½ cups shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or a mix)
• ½ cup salsa
• Optional: ½ cup canned corn, drained

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat.

2. Toss one tortilla in the skillet.

3. Scatter chicken across the tortilla.

4. Sprinkle cheese and spoon some salsa on top.

5. Lay a second tortilla over everything.

6. Let it cook until the bottom turns golden. This usually takes about 3-4 minutes.

7. Flip the whole thing (carefully!) and let the other side get golden and the cheese melt.

8. Take it out, slice it into wedges, and dig in.

If you’d rather use the oven, set it to 375°F (190°C). Bake for around 10 minutes, flipping it once halfway through.

Want more ideas? Check out this leftover chicken quesadilla guide.