15 Leftover Chicken Ideas For Dinner – The best easy recipes for what to do with leftover roast, curry, breast or chicken tenders for simple delicious meals.
Leftover Chicken Ideas For Dinner
There are loads of easy leftover chicken ideas for dinner to turn leftovers, whether they are from a roast, curry or other dish into plenty of tasty new meals that the whole family will enjoy.
When it comes to roasting a chicken, I’ll regularly roast a second chicken purely to turn into new meals over the next few days.
That’s especially the case over summer, when I’ll roast a couple of chickens on cooler days to then have leftover cooked chicken as no cook meals when it’s warmer.
Leftover Chicken Ideas For Dinner
Here are all of the easy ideas for you to choose from, that are perfect the next time you have leftover rotisserie chicken, a Sunday roast or leftovers from a whole chicken roast.
Make sure that any leftover meat is cooled to room temperature before being placed in the fridge in an airtight container, to enjoy within a couple of days, then ensure that any re-heated chicken is cooked all the way through before serving.
1. Creamy Leftover Chicken Pasta
My first choice of what to do with leftovers is turn them into creamy chicken pasta dishes. You can use your pasta of choice or zucchini noodles if you’d like to keep it low carb.
Cook pasta or zucchini noodles according to package directions and then soften onion and garlic in a frying pan, add in mushrooms or your vegetables of choice.
Cook the vegetables until softened and almost done, then add in leftover shredded chicken and toss to combine and heat through.
Pour over cream, cream cheese, mascarpone or ricotta cheese to cover and allow to bubble for a few minutes.
Serve the pasta or zucchini noodles with the creamy sauce, adding in parmesan cheese or any other cheese too, if you like, as a great way to enjoy the leftover chicken with just a few extra simple ingredients.
2. Leftover Chicken Soup
Extra chicken and even bones can be mixed into any soup you like for a hearty chicken filled bowl full, whether that’s a simple broth or nourishing chicken noodle soup. (Plus, here’s how to make chicken soup with drumsticks.)
3. Chicken Stroganoff
To make chicken stroganoff with leftover roast chicken, heat oil or butter in a frying pan and cook onion and garlic until starting to become fragrant.
Then, add chopped mushrooms. I like to include a few different mushroom varieties.
Cook until almost done, sprinkle over plenty of paprika, add the leftover chicken and then pour over your choice from:
- Cream
- Sour Cream
- Stock
- White Wine
Allow to bubble for a few minutes and then serve as is or with rice or pasta.
4. Chicken Omelette
Enjoy breakfast for dinner with a chicken filled omelette that’s the easiest way to enjoy any type of chicken.
Simply fry up vegetables and then move to a plate when done. Then, whisk 2 to 3 eggs per person and pour into the frying pan.
I like to move the inside of the omelette to the outside and the outside in, to evenly cook the omelette. When set, fill with chicken, vegetables and cheese then carefully fold over.
Flip and cook through on both sides and make sure that the chicken is hot and cooked through, then serve.
5. Chicken Risotto
Risotto is actually really quick and easy to make when you’re using leftover chicken.
Start by bringing the kettle up to boil or bring stock up to boil in a saucepan and heat a frying pan to start softening onion and garlic in oil or butter. Once starting to soften, add in mushrooms or your vegetables of choice.
Cook for a few minutes and then sprinkle over rice to cover. Pour over boiled water or stock to just cover the rice and vegetables, allow to bubble and once the liquid has been absorbed, add more.
Keep adding liquid, a little at a time until the rice is cooked to your liking. Once almost done, add in the leftover chicken to heat through. Serve as is or with parmesan cheese or your cheese of choice as a topping.
To make it low carb, simply swap the rice for cauliflower rice and make an even quicker meal.
6. Chicken Stock/Broth
A budget friendly way to make use of a roast chicken, and reduce food waste, is to turn leftover bones and any bits of chicken into chicken stock or bone broth that can be used in a multitude of delicious recipes.
Simply save the carcass, any bones and bits of chicken you can Then, pop it all into a saucepan, cover with water and add in chopped or diced onion, garlic, carrots and plenty of salt. (And pepper or any other seasoning you like, too.)
Bring the saucepan up to the boil and then simmer for 1 hour or up to a few hours, to allow for the bones to fall apart and stock to become rich and flavorful.
Strain out the bones and vegetables and then use the stock as you would regularly in soups, stews and casseroles.
7. Chicken Pizza
The entire family will happily welcome this excellent way to make the most of roast chicken leftovers.
You can make a pizza base yourself, use a store bought pizza base or even a pita or flour tortillas to make a homemade pizza. Or use a low carb friendly pizza base of your choice.
Simply top the pizza base with pizza sauce, tomato sauce, leftover chicken, cheese and your toppings of choice then bake in the oven until done to your liking.
8. Classic Chicken Salad
This leftover chicken salad includes spinach or leafy greens, chopped vegetables and an easy homemade orange dressing which combines together the following simple ingredients that’s perfect with any fresh salads:
- Juice of 1/2 to 1 Orange
- Zest of 1/2 to 1 Orange
- 1/2 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
- Salt
9. Chicken Mayo
Mix leftover chicken with mayonnaise, sour cream or even plain/natural/Greek yogurt for a quick and easy chicken mayo that you can enjoy for a light dinner the next day with just a handful of basic ingredients.
10. Chicken Pita
Spread a pita or corn tortillas with either avocado, mayo or a little bit of creamy dressing or hot sauce, add leftover chicken, beans such as black beans or white beans, and vegetables such as lettuce, cucumber or tomato.
Wrap up the pita and then you can slice it in half if you’d like for a no cook meal with leftovers. Or you can pop the pita into a sandwich press and enjoy a warmed chicken pita.
11. Chicken Frittata
Another breakfast for dinner option, make a hearty chicken frittata as an easy meal that’s a family favorite.
Simply heat a frying pan and cook onion, garlic, mushrooms, broccoli or any other vegetables you like, until golden.
Move to a baking dish or tin and mix through leftover roast chicken. Whisk 2-3 eggs per person and pour over the chicken and vegetables.
Top with cheese or crumble over feta and place into the oven, which has been preheated to 180C/350F for 20 to 30 minutes.
12. Chicken Lasagna
You can follow your favorite regular or low carb lasagna recipe, just omit the beef mince and substitute with leftover roast chicken into the tomato based sauce instead.
13. Chicken Pie
Leftover chicken can be transformed into an indulgent pie or skillet chicken pot pie, this is especially the case with leftover curry or stew that’s already wonderfully creamy and full of flavor.
Start by frying onion, garlic and leek, along with mushrooms in a frying pan. Cook until all of the vegetables have softened and cooked.
Then, add in the leftover chicken and pour over your chosen liquids from stock, cream or sour cream.
Allow to bubble for a few minutes, then move to a baking dish. Cover with puff pastry, crimp the edges with a fork and poke a few holes in the top to allow steam to escape.
Place into an oven which has been preheated to 180C/350F for 30 to 35 minutes.
14. Chicken Fried Rice
Make basic egg fried rice by cooking onion and garlic in oil in a frying pan or wok until browned.
Add in a portion of cooked white rice, leftover chicken and salt, along with more oil and toss to combine. Cook for a couple of minutes to heat through.
You could also add in any fresh of frozen vegetables you like, like carrots, peas or scallions/spring onions to help the dish go further and add in flavor and nutrition.
Whisk a couple of eggs and pour over the chicken. Allow the egg to set briefly and then toss around the pan until the egg is cooked to your liking.
Serve as is or you could mix through soy sauce or your sauce or seasoning of choice.
15. Cheesy Chicken Casserole
This comforting casserole makes a delicious meal that’s a wonderful way to enjoy any pre-cooked chicken.
Combine leftover roast chicken in a baking dish, together with vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms or your vegetable of choice.
Pour over 1/3 to 1/2 cup each of cream, sour cream and cheddar cheese, then toss to combine.
Top with more grated cheese and place into a 180C/350F oven for 20 to 30 minutes or until golden and cooked through.
