Hey friends! I’m excited to share some ideas with you today for one of my favorite ingredients: rotisserie chicken.
Rotisserie chicken is almost always in my grocery cart – it’s one of the most versatile things you can buy at the grocery store, and it’s the beginning of so many quick and easy meals.
But once you’ve eaten your fill of chicken with black beans and rice (so good), the question becomes: what to do with leftover rotisserie chicken?
Have no fear, my friends.
Here are 11 things to do with rotisserie chicken. (And here’s how to carve a rotisserie chicken, step-by-step!)
Enjoy – and please feel free to share your favorite ways to use rotisserie chicken in the comments!
(Looking for a super easy way to make shredded chicken yourself? Here’s how to cook frozen chicken breasts in your Instant Pot.)
What to do with Leftover Rotisserie Chicken
1. Make Grain Salad Bowls
Grain salad bowls are my ultimate easy lunch or dinner.
They’ve got everything you need for a satisfying meal: whole grains, veggies, protein, and infinite flavor combinations.
Using shredded rotisserie chicken in grain salad bowls makes them especially easy to assemble and packs in plenty of filling protein.
Check out my Mix & Match Grain Salad Bowls post for some inspiration on ingredient combinations – just add chicken in addition to the beans, or swap out the beans for chicken for a super quick meal that can easily be made ahead!
2. Make Sandwiches and Wraps
Pre-cooked proteins are essential for quick and easy sandwiches and wraps. Who has time to cook a chicken breast on-the-spot when they want a chicken sandwich, right?!
Keep shredded rotisserie chicken on hand so you can pull together last-minute chicken salad wraps, banh-mi style sandwiches, pita sandwiches and more.
My Mix & Match Healthy Sandwiches post is packed with ideas for sandwich combinations that work great with rotisserie chicken.
And for a delicious and easy appetizer or quick weeknight meal, try these BBQ chicken sliders!
3. Add Shredded Chicken to Casseroles
Casseroles can either be a quick and easy one-dish dinner or a major pain if you have to cook all the components individually.
Starting out with shredded rotisserie chicken ensures a quick and easy casserole and gives you so many options for flavorful dinners.
Some of my favorite casseroles that start with pre-cooked chicken are Mexican Lasagna (so quick, and one of the most popular recipes on my blog!) and Healthy Chicken Enchiladas.
4. Make Soups and Chili
Shredded rotisserie chicken makes quick work for flavorful soups, so you can have a 15-minute dinner that’s packed with savory flavor.
Try my super fast Thai Chicken Coconut Soup, Chicken White Bean Chili Soup, or Veggietastic Minestrone Soup (just throw in shredded chicken with the rest of the ingredients!).
Or, give this easy recipe for Chicken Pho (pictured above) a shot:
For two servings, heat a drizzle of sesame oil in a large pot with a tablespoon each of grated ginger and garlic.
Add 3 star anise pods, a cinnamon stick, and 4 cups of chicken broth, and bring to a boil.
Add about 4 oz dried rice noodles and a cup of shredded chicken.
Cook until noodles are tender (follow directions on package, cooking time will vary based on type of noodle).
Fish out the anise and cinnamon stick, then serve soup with plenty of fresh basil, mint, cilantro, bean sprouts, lime, and chili paste.
5. Use Shredded Chicken in Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed pepper filling is a great place to get creative.
You can fill a pepper with just about anything, bake it off, and end up with a delicious dinner.
Shredded rotisserie chicken is a great starting point for so many flavorful fillings – try all the combinations in my Mix & Match Stuffed Peppers post, including the Greek-inspired ones pictured above!
6. Make Stir Fry
Stir fries are already a quick weeknight meal, but starting with shredded rotisserie chicken speeds things up even more.
All you need to do is cook veggies and toss everything together!
Get all the flavor inspiration you need from my Mix & Match Stir Fries post; just start at step 2 when using rotisserie chicken since your protein is already ready to go.
7. Add Shredded Chicken to Pasta Dishes
Rotisserie chicken is a great way to boost the protein content in pasta dishes, making for quick and filling meals.
Toss together cooked pasta, shredded chicken, and marinara or pesto as an easy place to start, or stir chicken into other dishes like my Creamy Garlic & Herb Pasta.
Lemony pasta with chicken and kale (pictured above) has become a quick favorite in our house as well – here’s how to throw it together:
For 4 servings (with leftovers!), cook one box of whole wheat or regular penne.
While the pasta is cooking, heat a large pan with a drizzle of olive oil.
Add two cloves of grated garlic and one bunch of chopped kale to the pan and cook until kale is wilted.
Add the zest and juice of one lemon, two cups of shredded chicken, the cooked pasta, and about half a cup of pasta water.
Stir to combine, then serve with grated parmesan cheese.
8. Fill Omelets with Shredded Chicken
I know, I know – chicken in an omelet?!
You may not always think of breakfast when working with rotisserie chicken, but adding chicken to omelets is a great way to bump up the filling protein in your meal (which is especially great for a post-workout meal, or when having breakfast for dinner).
I like to fold shredded chicken, tomatoes, arugula, and goat cheese into my omelets for a satisfying and flavorful meal.
Rotisserie chicken is also an amazing addition (either in place of or in addition to the eggs) in my Make-Ahead Breakfast Burritos – I had a bunch with chicken that I enjoyed for fast lunches and dinners!
9. Make Tacos
We usually make our tacos with ground meat, but for an even easier option that’s just as delicious, try tacos made with rotisserie chicken!
Simply heat up the shredded rotisserie chicken in a pan (or the microwave) with a couple dashes of cumin and chili powder, and you’re ready to build flavorful tacos with tortillas or hard shells, salsa, avocado, shredded lettuce, peppers, onions, cheese, hot sauce, and whatever toppings you have on hand!
10. Make Lettuce Wraps
Lettuce wraps are one of my favorite super fast dinners during warmer weather months in particular, but we’ve been known to crush them in winter, too.
We love lettuce wraps because they’re light and refreshing, as easy as can be, and totally flexible.
My Lettuce Wraps 3 Ways post gives you the low-down on how to make amazing and simple lettuce wraps using rotisserie chicken, like the ones pictured above with delicious peanut sauce!
11. Top a Potato with Rotisserie Chicken and Call it a Day
Nothing beats a dinner that can be made with just one plate and a microwave!
The yummy combination of a microwaved potato (sweet or regular), shredded rotisserie chicken, and tons of toppings has always been a favorite easy throw together meal of mine.
Just poke the potato all over with a fork, wrap in a paper towel, and microwave until tender, 7-8 minutes.
Once cooked, split the potato in half and place on a plate with a handful of shredded chicken and any other toppings you want heated up (beans, leftover cooked veggies, cheese, etc.).
Microwave for another minute to heat everything through, then top with fresh greens and additional toppings and enjoy!
Pictured above is one of my favorite combinations: sweet potato + black beans + shredded chicken + salsa + tomatoes + arugula.
Cheese would also have been a solid add on – or avocado!
So there you have it, friends – some ideas for what to do with leftover rotisserie chicken!
What are your favorite uses for leftover rotisserie chicken?
I’d love some more ideas!
