Busy families have come to rely on rotisserie chicken that they buy at Costco or the grocery store. A rotisserie chicken doesn’t cost much more than cooking a whole chicken from scratch, and it makes for a healthy, easy, and delicious meal. You can also use it to make recipes.
Rotisserie chicken is a delicious and convenient mealtime staple that many households enjoy. One common issue that arises with this savory dish is what to do with the leftovers. Worry not, for there are endless possibilities when it comes to whipping up creative and satisfying recipes using leftover rotisserie chicken.
A myriad of dishes can be created featuring this versatile ingredient, from quick salads and hearty sandwiches to comforting soups and mouthwatering casseroles. These recipes find new, exciting ways to use leftover rotisserie chicken, stretching a single purchase into multiple enjoyable meals and helping to reduce food waste.
Whether you are cooking for meal prep, making a quick lunch, or feeding a family, these rotisserie chicken recipes are all delicious and simple to make!
Chicken quesadillas can be made in a flash. Dressing them up with various fillings can make this a recurring role on your table.
Mexican food is always fun to have, and this can be a great appetizer or light dinner. These cheesy quesadillas normally have requests for seconds, so plan ahead!
The key to a good quesadilla is finding the right tortilla. Use the largest tortillas you can find for more room to put ingredients in, made from quality wheat. Rotis also can be used to make quesadillas.
Tip: Marinating the rotisserie chicken in lime juice before using in the quesadilla will help the texture be juicier when you eat it.
BBQ Rotisserie Chicken Sliders are filling and satisfying. They may be your new favorite sandwich! This handheld is a slam-dunk for weekends or for a sandwich that is a meal in itself.
When cutting the rotisserie chicken, you can use cubes, whole strips, or shredded, depending on your preference. When using a BBQ sauce, go for your favorite or even try whipping up your own.
Topping shredded chicken with fresh coleslaw balances the flavors and adds a great crunch, along with pickle slices.
If someone asks “what are you making,” they will definitely want to dig in. Serve with sweet tea or lemonade!
The Honey Mustard Chicken Salad recipe uses a homemade honey dressing that is a hit with everyone. Letting it stand and marinate in the fridge is a good idea for about 15 minutes after making to let all the flavors mix.
Using rotisserie chicken in a salad adds protein and scrumptious addition to any lunch. Pack ahead for the perfect break time pick-me-up.
Make this chicken salad recipe using a large salad bowl. It has 5 cups of greens, and the nutrient-dense shredded chicken, walnuts and protein will certainly fill you up. This salad is a complete meal.
Use a fresh spring mix and other greens that are available for the salad. Arugula, bok choy and dandelion greens make a particularly good addition.
Walnuts and berries add valuable antioxidants. Sliced bell peppers instead of tomatoes adds a great crunch with the sweet and savory flavors marinated in a three-ingredient lemon juice dressing.
Lasagna night is always a special time. This version with white sauce is super creamy and compliments the spinach well with cooked chicken.
On super busy days, making chicken lasagna with rotisserie chicken pulls together a 5 star meal in just under 30 minutes prep.
Many lasagna noodles can actually be used right out of the box and don’t need to be pre-boiled, so you can try saving ten minutes by using no-boil noodles ad more time with cooked chicken.
Thiscomfort food recipe is definitely familiar with flavor combinations you might not have tried before. It’s light while still being filling. Serve with a salad!
Chicken pot pie is one of those recipes that seems like it would be complicated, but it pulls together wonderfully.
Tip: When making the pot pie, have extra plates or bowls on hand to set aside ingredients while preparing.
Add whichever vegetables or even mushrooms you have on hand for a satisfying and savory meal. The heavy cream and butter make for a rich roux, but these can be easily subbed for lighter or alternatives.
Having a great chicken noodle soup recipe (or three, or four…) under your belt is always something a home chef can be proud of.
The beauty of making chicken noodle soup is its versatility. Rice or other proteins like quinoa can be substituted for pasta. Any vegetables you have on hand might make a delicious addition. It’s really up to you!
This simple chicken noodle soup recipe with shredded rotisserie chicken is the perfect addition to any rainy day. Warm up with some fabulous homemade chicken noodle soup goodness!
Using chicken in a chili recipe makes a “white” version that is scrumptious and lighter than the beef version. Versatile and yummy, it also cooks super fast with precooked chicken and canned beans.
The gluten-free recipe means everyone can enjoy it together. You can alter it according to your taste with more hot peppers, but as it is, it’s flavorful. Best of all, this chicken chili recipe cooks in around 20 minutes.
The key to making chili taste right is using cumin and other spices, but especially cumin carries that chili flavor. Great quality chicken broth also helps. Serve on top of rice or even spaghetti for a fast meal that is a little out of the norm but still super awesome. Top with sour cream.
The best thing about nachos is how customizable they are. You can make so many variations with nacho rotisserie chicken recipes.
Layering chips, cheese, chicken, and repeat means that no chips are dried out. Making it on a sheet pan guarantees there will be some super crispy bits too. The quality of the chips makes for a different dish every time.
There’s just something about individual pizzas that make them a favorite when making leftover rotisserie chicken recipes. These English muffin pizzas are soft, crunchy, sweet, spicy… everything you’ve been craving for!
Make individually in the toaster oven or prepare a whole sheet pan in the oven.
Making your own tortilla chips saves money and they are also wonderfully fresh! This soup’s leftovers tastes even better the next day. Mix rice in for another twist when creating one of the best rotisserie chicken recipes.
A spin on a gourmet pizza restaurant recipe that is a favorite, the Spicy Peanut Chicken Flatbread.
While pizza is nearly a universal fav, flatbreads bring out the unique flavors of the ingredients with a light and slightly spicy peanut-based sauce with leftover chicken.
Storebought flatbreads make preparing this fast and easy. You can also buy dough, or prepare your own if you have picky eaters or you are just feeling like it.
A fresh slaw and quick-to-make peanut sauce make a crave-able handheld.
Try something different with the Quick Chicken Tamale Casserole! This casserole has all of the classic flavors of traditional chicken enchiladas but for the modern, fast-paced world. It’s an easy recipe that will be a hit with your family and have them coming back for more.
There’s just something so satisfying about cheesy Mexican dishes!
Instead of corn husks, premade cornbread crumbs give it a distinctive flavor. Of course, you can use homemade if you have a great recipe. Green chiles add a little kick of spiciness.
Add a full serving of veggies with avocado, cilantro, tomatoes or even bell peppers to compliment the leftover chicken.
This “deconstructed” chicken pot pie is even easier to make and gives all of the veggie-packed, homestyle comfort food goodness of traditional chicken pot pie.
What’s not to love about creamy egg noodles with peas and carrots with a creamy sauce? If you’re wondering “what to make with rotisserie chicken,” this recipe will definitely be one of your go-to’s.
Using canned or frozen veggies makes prep even faster when combined with leftover chicken!
Chicken Coconut Curry is one of those rotisserie chicken recipes that once you make, you will make it over and over again. Curries are adaptable, and while the hearty coconut milk base makes the flavors shine, you can easily sub other ingredients if it’s not at hand.
Chicken enchiladas are one of the easiest recipes using rotisserie chicken. Assemble a few choice ingredients, bake, let cool, and dig in!
You can use green or red sauce for baking. The combination of the cheese and leftover chicken baking also fills the kitchen with a spicy Mexican aroma (another plus). Serve with black bean dip and chips.
This rotisserie chicken salad combines shredded cabbage and chicken in an Asian-inspired dish. Top with fried lo mein noodles or fried shallots for an extra-crispy finish. Serve with chicken fried rice!
For a quick weekend lunch on a busy day, meal prepping with chicken roll-ups will have you and your family fueled up and ready to go!
Using tortillas or sandwich wraps are a low-carb (or no carb!) way to get your sandwich fix on. Roll-ups are one of the most convenient recipes using rotisserie chicken.
When it’s pasta night, leftover rotisserie chicken recipes provide so many delicious choices! Sundried tomatoes, EVOO, spinach and whole-grain pasta also makes it health and nutritious. Top with sliced Kalamata olives instead of parm for a unique flavor.
This leftover chicken recipeis particularly kid-friendly. Cook up your own bacon ahead of time and sprinkle instead of pre-made, or go ahead and use the store-bought. Recommended to double the recipe, it’s that good!
Leftover rotisserie chicken recipes using white sauces are especially great with flatbreads for lunch! The light and flavorful combination does well for meal prepping. Substitute arugla for spinach, add fresh basil for a Caprese-style, or dip in marinara. Grilled chicken also works great.
A chicken and berry salad is a fresh and healthy choice when making recipes using rotisserie chicken. While this recipe uses raspberries, strawberries and blueberries also taste great with the vinaigrette!
Switch up greens, nuts, and dressing and this will easily be part of your weekly rotation.
There’s something about Chicken Stuffed Peppers that makes it one of those leftover rotisserie chicken recipes with a serious “wow” factor. Combined with leftover chicken, it’s like a chicken fajita personal bowl.
While this recipe includes rice, you can leave it out and add more veggies, different proteins, or serve it on the side.
Stuffed potatoes are baked, then spruced up with tons of delicious ingredients, and baked again. Make with leftover chicken for less cooking time, as baking it twice can take time, depending on the size of the potatoes. This melts the cheese and creates a great crispy exterior and super soft and spoonable interior. You’ll love the taste of the creamy finished product!
Oh-so-filling, the Chicken Pot Pie looks like it took all day to make but was only a few minutes. When looking for leftover rotisserie chicken recipes, choices that take the least amount of time mean you have more time to enjoy the result!
With a crispy crust and soft, gooey center, chicken pot pies are something everyone at the table can eat.
Chicken and broccoli is a quintessential combination that is budget-friendly and super healthy. This casserole is made with rice, making it a healthier version if you use whole-grain rice. The result is a great chicken and rice dish with a cheesy sauce and green broccoli bites.
Using tortillas or sandwich wraps are a low-carb (or no carb!) way to get your sandwich fix on. Roll-ups are one of the most convenient recipes using rotisserie chicken.
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
