15 Simple Leftover Chicken Recipes
Transform yesterday’s leftover chicken into something new and exciting! Here are 15 simple leftover chicken recipes, from pasta and pizza to comforting soups, chilis, and more!
Having leftover chicken, whether from Sunday’s roast chicken or a rotisserie chicken you picked up at the store, is like a gift when you’re busy cooking for a family. Transform yesterday’s leftover chicken into something new and exciting! Here are 15 easy leftover chicken recipes, from pasta to pizza, soup, chili, & more!
I love that you can reimagine chicken into so many new dishes; there’s no reason to sulk at leftovers or feel uninspired! These are the recipes I turn to when I have leftover chicken – many of them clearly call for leftover or precooked chicken, while some of them can easily accommodate leftover chicken, making prep and cooking even faster.
Happy re-cooking!
Leftover Chicken Recipes with Pasta
Soba Noodles and Chicken with Spicy Peanut Sauce
This recipe for Soba Noodles and Chicken with Spicy Peanut Sauce is made with ingredients you most likely already have stocked in your pantry! It’s great for those days when you know you need to go food shopping and haven’t had the time, or when you need to clean out the vegetable bin.
Chicken Mushroom & Corn Tetrazzini
Chicken Mushroom & Corn Tetrazzini a delicious way to use up leftover roast chicken, whether it’s from the oven, slow-cooked, or store-bought rotisserie.
Chicken Soups and Stews
Soups and stews are always a go-to when you have leftover chicken — simply throw it into a bubbling broth and dinner becomes something new and comforting!
This quick chili comes together even faster when you have leftover chicken at the ready!
Creamy Rotisserie Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Creamy Rotisserie Chicken and Wild Rice Soup come together in a snap with your leftover rotisserie chicken!
Roasted Tomatillo Chicken Soup
Roasted tomatillos and jalapeños warm you from the inside with this simple recipe! With leftover chicken, you can whip up this reader favorite even faster!
Chicken and Herb Spaetzle Soup
Homemade spaetzle is such a treat and so cozy with this chicken soup! Toss in shredded leftover chicken and save time!
Chicken Mushroom Soba Noodle Soup
A simple soup that makes for easy cooking mid-week, the best part is that half the work is already done for you.
Pho in half an hour? With this faux pho and leftover chicken, you can make it even faster!
Chicken Sandwich Recipes
When you have leftover chicken, there’s nothing better than a chicken salad sandwich! You’ll love these flavorful and healthy takes on chicken salad!
Thai-Style Chicken Salad Rainbow Wraps
Thai-Style Chicken Salad Rainbow Wraps are full of crunch and flavor, all wrapped in healthy rainbow chard!
Green Apple Chicken Salad – Mayo Free
This Green Apple Chicken Salad is not only Mayo Free and healthier, it’s loaded with extra crunch and freshness!
Leftover Chicken Salad Recipes
Of course, you can throw some shredded chicken into a healthy salad! It’s a great way to keep mealtimes light and fresh!
Zucchini Noodles with Chicken and Tangy Peanut Sauce
Zucchini Noodles with Chicken and Tangy Peanut Sauce is a healthy weeknight meal the entire family will love!
Chicken, Black Bean and Charred Poblano Salad with Pumpkin-Red Curry Vinaigrette
Chicken, Black Bean and Charred Poblano Salad with Pumpkin-Red Curry Vinaigrette is bold and flavorful! The dressing is also a great way to use leftover pumpkin.
Chicken Pizza
If you’ve got some shredded roast chicken on hand, why not make it pizza night!? Whip up home made dough or use storebought — either way, it’ll make the whole family happy!
Chicken Pesto Pizza bakes in a snap, thanks to freezer-friendly shortcuts and leftover chicken!
Chicken Pie
What’s more cozy than chicken pot pie? I like to keep puff pastry on hand to make it easy and fast!
This fragrant White Chicken Curry Pot Pie with puff pastry lends an Indian twist to classic comfort food. To make it with leftover chicken, I would toss the chicken into the creamy potato and carrot sauce, a real time saver.
Simple Leftover Chicken Recipe: Spicy Chicken Soba Noodles with Peanut Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1/3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar or lemon juice
- 1/2 cup hot or boiling water
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or sriracha to taste
- 1 teaspoon sugar to taste
- 8 oz soba noodles
- 1 roasted or poached chicken breast shredded
- 4 scallions trimmed and chopped
- 1/2 English cucumber quartered and chopped
- 4 radishes thinly sliced
- 1/2 red bell pepper thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup cilantro chopped
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Combine the peanut butter, sesame oil, soy sauce, vinegar or lemon juice, hot water, garlic, ginger, red pepper/sriracha, and sugar in a small bowl and whisk well to combine. This can also be prepared in a blender or a food processor. If you need to adjust the consistency of the sauce so that it is thinner, add more hot water, 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and salt it. Cook the soba noodles, according to package instructions (about 6 minutes). When the noodles are cooked, drain the noodles. Toss the noodles in the peanut sauce, along with the vegetables and chicken (if using).
- Garnish with cilantro and sesame seeds. Serve warm or cool. If preparing as a cold salad, refrigerate and serve cold.
Notes
Nutrition
I love making this pot pie with leftover Thanksgiving turkey, but there’s no reason you can’t make this with leftover roast chicken! Substitute the pumpkin for whatever squash you have on hand.
Happy cooking!!
Comments
COOKBOOK
What a nice collection of recipes. I am re-inspired! Thank you
Why thank you, Marilyn, I hope you find some new favorites!
I just made your recipe and I think the sauce needs 3x as much water and 2x the amount of noodles. Basically, the sauce was too thick and powerful for 8oz of noodles. I know you said add water to suit but my experience suggests you revise the recipe.
Thanks for your feedback, Nick! The amount of water in the sauce can definitely vary, depending on the brand of peanut butter — I appreciate your experience and will take that into account as I update the recipe!
The Chicken Soba Noodles bowl looks so yum! Thank you for the recipe! Definitely give this a try very soon.
Thanks, Laurel! You’re very welcome, I hope you enjoy it!
thank you for all of these, just bought two chickens and never end up eating them as and when I think, at least some of that will be leftovers, chicken chili looks like the place to start!
Thanks, Sabrina! Chicken chili is one of my faves and definitely a great place to start!!