Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Quick & Easy Meals 52 Simple Leftover Chicken Recipes to Make When You're in a Rush Show us your leftover cooked chicken, and we'll show you a quick and easy dinner you can throw together on a busy weeknight. By Phoebe Fry Updated on March 15, 2024 Close Photo: CAITLIN BENSEL There's a reason why chicken is a weeknight dinner staple: It's easy to cook and is so versatile. Whenever you cook chicken, and however you choose to do it, we recommend making extra to carry you through the next few days. Keeping an arsenal of simple leftover chicken recipes in your back pocket can save many a weeknight dinner. We rounded up dozens of soup, salad, pizza, and pot pie recipes to make winners out of your leftover chicken dinners. Whether you've spatchcocked a whole bird or grilled breasts—or you took a shortcut with a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken—get inspired to transform your cooked chicken into comforting, fuss-free meals. 01 of 52 Chicken Noodle Soup Jennifer Causey If you're feeling under the weather, nothing beats a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup. To tweak this recipe for a busy weeknight, skip Step 1 and use leftover cooked chicken. Add veggies, noodles, and heat through for a homemade soup in a fraction of the time. GET THE RECIPE 02 of 52 Cheesy Chicken Nachos With Avocado and Radish Greg DuPree Nachos scream "party," but who said they couldn't be a Tuesday night dinner? Load up tortilla chips with cheese and leftover chicken, bake for about 10 minutes until melty, and then top them off with fresh ingredients like salsa, radishes, jalapeño, and cilantro. The leftover chicken makes the nachos substantial and satiating enough to call it a full meal. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 52 Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Pasta Caitlin Bensel Creamy mushrooms, shredded chicken, and buttery egg noodles make a comfort-food trifecta. This leftover chicken recipe proves that simple, quick, and easy can be satisfying and delicious. Change it up by swapping noodles for any other pasta or your favorite grain. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 52 Cool and Crunchy Chicken Lettuce Wraps Greg DuPree Doesn't a fresh, delicious, healthy chicken dish sound refreshing for a weekday dinner? If there's leftover chicken, you don't even need to fire up the grill. Just cook the rice vermicelli noodles according to the package, mix the Vietnamese-inspired sauce, chop (or buy) some matchstick veggies, and let everyone wrap their own. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 52 Chicken-Pesto Flatbread Sandwiches Caitlin Bensel Mozzarella, arugula, and pesto-tossed chicken make a sandwich filling fit for dinner. Simplify the recipe even further by buying pre-made pesto and flatbreads, and all that's left to do is assemble your sandwiches and serve. GET THE RECIPE 06 of 52 Chicken Curry in a Hurry John Kernick Lean on leftover chicken to make a quick, flavorful curry faster than it takes to get delivery. Plain yogurt gives this dish a creamy texture and subtle tang, and fresh cilantro brightens everything up. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 52 Slow-Cooker Chicken Taco Soup Jennifer Causey Slow cookers are the secret weapon of the over-scheduled. To use leftover chicken in this recipe, add it right before serving and let the hot broth heat it up. Packed with veggies and seasoned to perfection, this soup will satisfy your craving for Mexican food while taking only minutes of your time. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 52 Rotisserie Chicken Chili Fred Hardy Here's a recipe the whole family can get behind. You'll love the recipe's shortcuts—cooked chicken, canned pinto beans, and green chilies—and everyone else will appreciate a fun dinner that's on the table in just 40 minutes. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 52 Crispy Chicken and Cheddar Sandwich With Pickle Dijon Jennifer Causey Who among us can say no to a crispy chicken cutlet? Next time you fry some up, give your future self a gift and make extra. This recipe tucks your leftover chicken in a hoagie roll with sharp white Cheddar, pickle relish, Dijon, and mayonnaise for a gourmet version of a fast food classic. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 52 Rotisserie Chicken Pot Pie Greg DuPree This leftover chicken recipe has all the comfort credentials of a traditional chicken pot pie but requires just 30 minutes hands-on. The filling has the obligatory veggies—carrots, onions, celery, and peas—but it's the top crust that's a novel (and easier) spin. It calls on a sheet of puff pastry that's cut into squares and laid atop the filling, brushed with an egg mixture, and then baked to golden brown flakiness. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 52 Baby Kale and Chicken Caesar Caitlin Bensel This salad recipe is full of smart hacks, like opting for mayonnaise instead of egg yolks to keep the dressing trouble-free and upping the protein with leftover chicken. The kale absorbs the punchy anchovies, garlic, Dijon, and lemon to make each bite savory and delicious. GET THE RECIPE 12 of 52 Chicken and Chard Dumpling Soup Greg DuPree By using leftover chicken to make this riff on classic chicken soup, you save time by skipping the poaching step. As for the pasta, this recipe works just as well with regular gnocchi as it does with keto-friendly cauliflower gnocchi. Ideal for a chilly evening, this comforting soup warms you right up. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 52 Instant Pot Chicken Pho Antonis Achilleos There's something so healing about a big bowl of pho (pronounced fah), a Vietnamese soup that's hot, aromatic, and bright. Grab your Instant Pot to speed up the process and ignore the chicken-cooking steps, adding leftover chicken at the end. For serving, top the soup with the fresh ingredients of your choice. We love adding bean sprouts, cilantro, and serrano chilies, but the world is your oyster. GET THE RECIPE 14 of 52 Southwestern Chicken Soup Alexandra Rowley This recipe takes leftover chicken on a trip to the Tex-Mex border in just 15 minutes. Accompanied by jarred salsa verde and cannellini beans, you have a hearty, flavorful soup that's satisfying enough as a meal. Get creative with your toppings: Try corn, avocado, black olives, hot sauce, or all of the above. GET THE RECIPE 15 of 52 Miso Chicken Noodle Soup With Kimchi Linda Pugliese Yes, another chicken soup recipe, but this one takes us to East Asia. It fuses Japanese miso with Korean kimchi for a richly flavorful soup that comes together in 20 minutes. Shredded chicken shares the protein load with tofu, which you can skip if you need to double down with leftovers. GET THE RECIPE 16 of 52 Chicken and Vegetable Pot Pie Roland Bello Does pot pie sound like a laborious project to you? It doesn't have to be if you use leftover chicken and store-bought pie crust. In this recipe, skip Step 1 and sub in your leftover chicken. The result is a golden-brown pie full of bubbling, creamy chicken and vegetables in well under an hour, start to finish. GET THE RECIPE 17 of 52 Chicken Spaghetti Casserole Greg DuPree If you have 3 cups of leftover cooked chicken and need to feed a crowd, this recipe's for you. The easy-to-make casserole has a flavor and texture reminiscent of fettuccini alfredo. A handful of fresh herbs—namely basil, parsley, and chives—and a squeeze of lemon juice give this leftover chicken dish a fresher, brighter taste. GET THE RECIPE 18 of 52 Grilled Chicken and Spinach Quesadillas Alex Farnum No, the chicken's not grilled, but the quesadillas are. This recipe calls for leftover cooked chicken, baby spinach leaves, and plenty of Monterey Jack sandwiched in a folded tortilla. These quesadillas cook right on the grates but also taste great from a baking sheet out of the oven. GET THE RECIPE 19 of 52 Summer Tacos With Scallion-Peanut Relish Jen Causey For the perfect summer dish, you want minimal cooking, fresh vegetables, and plenty of flavors—and this recipe qualifies on all counts. These tacos are stuffed with leftover cooked chicken in an Asian-inspired dressing, a quick-pickled carrot-radish slaw, and a topping of peanuts, mint, and scallions. GET THE RECIPE 20 of 52 Eggplant and Chicken Caponata Pizza Jen Causey Whether it's the eggplant or the caponata that's putting you off, stick with us here! Caponata is a relish-like dish from Sicily made of eggplant, olives, onions, and herbs. In this recipe, caponata serves as a pizza topping comprised of leftover cooked chicken, sautéed ribbons of eggplant, red bell pepper slices, and briny capers. Try it, you'll like it! GET THE RECIPE 21 of 52 Quick and Easy Chicken Pot Pie Cara Cormack You usually don't see "quick and easy" associated with chicken pot pie, but this recipe is the exception. Despite no pie crust dough rolling, no chicken cooking, and no veggie chopping, this dish looks and tastes like the creamy, comforting, golden brown dish you know and love. It's ready in just 30 minutes. GET THE RECIPE 22 of 52 Grilled Pizza With Chicken and Peach Andrew Purcell Ever grill a pizza? You don't have to own a pizza oven to cook one outside. This recipe explains how to grill fresh pizza dough and peaches right on the grates. After a pre-bake (pre-grill?), set the crust on a baking sheet, slather it with a ricotta spread, top with leftover chicken, grilled peach slices, onion, and mozzarella, and then grill for another 8 to 10 minutes. GET THE RECIPE 23 of 52 Zesty Corn Soup With Chicken Jennifer Causey This leftover chicken recipe transforms the flavors of Mexican street corn into a hearty, comforting soup. Using rotisserie chicken and frozen corn, it whips up in just 20 minutes with time left over to make fresh guacamole. Just add tortilla chips. GET THE RECIPE 24 of 52 Chicken Stir Fry Sara Remington Leftover chicken, stir-fry, and bagged cabbage or cole slaw mix translate to easy, easy, easy! Add water chestnuts, a teriyaki sauce, and a chopped peanut topping, and you have an Asian-inspired dish with a ton of nutrients, flavor, and texture in just 15 minutes. GET THE RECIPE 25 of 52 Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos Greg DuPree This recipe may just make you institute more than one taco night per week. This "green" version starts with boneless, skinless chicken thighs, which you can replace with leftover cooked chicken, saving you time, effort, and a couple of steps. Add a jar of salsa verde, cotija cheese, and the usual taco accompaniments for a quick, family-friendly meal. GET THE RECIPE 26 of 52 Mole-Spiced Black Bean and Quinoa Bowl Jen Causey The addition of leftover cooked chicken to this vegetarian recipe turns it into a quick, easy, protein-packed meal. Don't let "mole" in the title make you think you'll spend all day in the kitchen: It's from a jar. There's also roasted cauliflower, baby arugula, and cotija cheese to give this bowl a fresh spin. GET THE RECIPE 27 of 52 Classic Chicken Soup A universal cure-all, this chicken soup dish makes it feel like home no matter where you are. Don't let this recipe's hour-plus prep time deter you from using it when you're in a hurry. With leftover cooked chicken and ready-made broth, you can cut down on well over half that time and still sit down to a comforting classic. GET THE RECIPE 28 of 52 Chicken Adobo Victor Protasio This iconic Filipino dish takes chicken and rice to the sweet and sour side. To skip Step 1 and save about 15 minutes, replace the boneless, skinless chicken thighs with whatever chicken you've already cooked. It joins pineapple and orange juice to make this dish fresh, fruity, and a new favorite. GET THE RECIPE 29 of 52 Chicken Tortilla Crunch Salad Victor Protasio This sassy summer salad recipe is loaded with shortcuts, but there's room to add a few more for an extra-zippy prep. Use your leftover cooked chicken instead of grilling chicken thighs, and then use ready-made fajita seasoning and a bag of coleslaw blend instead of cabbage. Dinner's ready! GET THE RECIPE 30 of 52 Sun-Dried Tomato Romesco Chicken Jennifer Causey This recipe delivers big flavor in a short time, thanks to store-bought shortcuts like sun-dried tomatoes and roasted bell peppers. Substitute leftover chicken for fresh cutlets, and you save even more time without sacrificing a bit of deliciousness. GET THE RECIPE 31 of 52 Charred Broccolini With Tahini Caesar And Crispy Chickpeas Greg DuPree Before you check this recipe to find out how much leftover chicken you need, let us save you the trouble: It'll take whatever you have. This meatless dish is already loaded with protein and flavor, but the addition of cooked chicken pairs perfectly with its creamy, savory, tahini-based Caesar dressing. GET THE RECIPE 32 of 52 Chicken Pot Pie Empanadas Antonis Achilleos Don't worry, they just look complicated and time-consuming. These empanadas are filled with leftover cooked chicken, a peas and carrots mix (from frozen), and a sauce reminiscent of that pot pie you know and love. The dough is simply two ready-made 9-inch pie crusts, making this recipe easy as pie. GET THE RECIPE 33 of 52 Chicken Satay Lettuce Wraps www.honestlyyum.com Craving something fresh, light, and easy? This recipe is at your service, and replacing the ingredients list's boneless, skinless chicken thighs with leftover chicken makes it even easier. A peanut butter and coconut milk dressing brings everything together for a low-carb, Thai-inspired treat. GET THE RECIPE 34 of 52 Blistered Tomatillo Salsa and Roasted Chicken Thighs Tacos Charles Masters Got cooked chicken? Replace fresh chicken thighs with leftovers to go with this taco's onion, cheese, and jalapeños. To save more time, use your favorite jarred green salsa to spoon atop warmed corn tortillas for a light alternative to standard beef tacos. GET THE RECIPE 35 of 52 Chicken Paprikash Soup Antonis Achilleos A chicken noodle soup with a Hungarian accent, this easy recipe takes only 30 minutes. Extra-wide egg noodles, cooked chicken, red bell peppers, and onions swim in a tomato-y, paprika-laden chicken broth. Top with sour cream for a tangy, rich finish. GET THE RECIPE 36 of 52 Slow-Cooker Creamy Chicken With Biscuits José Picayo If your chicken's already cooked, leave your slow cooker in the appliance garage for this recipe. Just sauté the carrots, celery, and onions on the stove, add seasonings, white wine, and broth, and then add the chicken with peas and cream to simmer for 10 minutes, just to heat through. Serve with store-bought or homemade biscuits for a meal worthy of a Midwestern grandmother. GET THE RECIPE 37 of 52 Chicken and Dill Souvlaki Anna Williams Cooked chicken, cucumbers, and thinly sliced sweet onion star in this Greek-inspired rendition of a taco. Instead of salsa, dollop some creamy Greek yogurt, and instead of tortillas, this recipe uses flatbreads. The result is a refreshing crispness for a light, easy meal. GET THE RECIPE 38 of 52 Herby Chicken Salad Tartines Victor Protasio We could've called this an open-face chicken salad sandwich, but doesn't "tartine" sound so much fancier? Well, this chicken salad is fancy because it also features almonds, tarragon, chives, and a mayo-based dressing with cider vinegar, honey, and celery seeds. It sits on toasted sourdough slices and is topped with radish slices for a decorative crunch. GET THE RECIPE 39 of 52 Chicken Posole Jose Picayo Wondering what a posole is? Also known as pozole, it's a Mexican soup or stew with cooked hominy—processed field-grade corn kernels—in the broth. Shortcuts of cooked chicken, ready-made chicken broth, canned diced tomatoes, and a can of hominy bring this comforting dish to the table in 30 minutes. GET THE RECIPE 40 of 52 Slow-Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala Roland Bello Despite this recipe's title, if you have leftover cooked chicken, you can skip the slow cooker and sit down to this Indian-style classic in 30 minutes. Just simmer the masala ingredients, including your leftover chicken, on the stove while the white rice is cooking. Just before serving, add heavy cream to the masala, and then spoon it on hot white rice and top with cucumber relish. GET THE RECIPE 41 of 52 Grilled Chicken and Corn Salad With Avocado Con Poulos No grill? No problem. Instead of grilling chicken for this recipe, use your leftover cooked chicken, and instead of grilling corn on the cob, boil it on the stove or cook it from frozen. That's the only cooking you'll need to do, which makes this Southwestern-style salad a delightful summer entrée. GET THE RECIPE 42 of 52 Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup Jennifer Causey Instead of cooking chicken for this hearty Tex-Mex soup in a slow cooker, use your leftover cooked chicken and save some electricity. Simmer the soup ingredients on the stove instead, and it'll be ready to serve—alongside warm tortillas or crusty bread for dipping—in under 30 minutes. GET THE RECIPE 43 of 52 One-Pot Curry Chicken Thighs and Cilantro Rice Caitlin Bensel With a few simple tweaks, you can swap out the boneless, skinless chicken thighs with leftover cooked chicken. Just skip Step 1, cook the cilantro-coconut rice as directed, add chicken, and then drizzle with peanut sauce. GET THE RECIPE 44 of 52 Orange Chicken Stir-Fry With Rice Noodles Victor Protasio In the time it takes to pick up four orders of this Chinese takeout favorite, you can make it at home. With leftover chicken on hand, it comes together even faster. This recipe uses orange marmalade for the dish's characteristic flavor and pairs the classic chicken and veggie dish with rice noodles. GET THE RECIPE 45 of 52 Creamy Veggie Chicken Noodle Soup GREG DUPREE Transform fresh vegetables into comfort via this dreamy chicken soup recipe. Skip the chicken-cooking part in Step 1 and use your cooked leftover chicken instead. You end up with a lemon-fresh, creamy broth chockful of green beans, carrots, and small pasta that screams for a crusty baguette for dipping. GET THE RECIPE 46 of 52 Zesty Chicken Salad Greg DuPree Everyone needs a go-to chicken salad recipe, so here's our contribution to helping you find yours. Whether you cook chicken for it (as the recipe instructs) or use leftover cooked chicken (and skip Step 1), its mayo-based dressing gets its zest from the addition of pickles, shallots, lemon juice, and tarragon. GET THE RECIPE 47 of 52 Ginger Chicken Soup With Vegetables Combine the coziness of chicken soup with the health benefits of ginger, and you have this comforting soup you'll feel good about serving. Joining the shredded rotisserie chicken are no less than six veggies: onions, turnips, parsnips, celery, peas, and carrots. Serve with biscuits as recommended. GET THE RECIPE 48 of 52 Butternut Squash and Chicken Pozole Christopher Testani This Mexican-inspired soup has autumn comfort written all over it. Butternut squash, kale, and a can of hominy—a corn derivative with a chewy texture—mingle with chicken for a rich stew-like dish from south of the border. Serve with Greek yogurt for creaminess and tortilla chips for crunch. GET THE RECIPE 49 of 52 Zesty Chicken Enchiladas Dana Gallagher Shredded rotisserie chicken takes a step back in this recipe to allow its homemade enchilada sauce to shine. Its zingy flavor comes from fresh tomatillos cooked down with onion, poblano pepper, garlic, and cumin. Once you taste it poured over corn tortillas filled with chicken and topped with cheese, you may never settle for jarred enchilada sauce again! GET THE RECIPE 50 of 52 Mango Chicken Curry Caitlin Bensel This 30-minute curry dish takes you on a non-stop trip to the tropics. It's the mango that does it: It's mashed, pureed, and then melded with curry spices and creamy coconut milk for a savory sweet sauce. Skip the cook the chicken step by subbing it with leftover cooked chicken, and this dish is ready even sooner. GET THE RECIPE 51 of 52 Chicken Enchiladas Verdes Hans Gissinger Cut your prep time in half by making this Southwest-inspired recipe with leftover cooked chicken instead of fresh. This version gets its name from a jar of mild salsa verde used as a base for the green enchilada sauce, which also tastes great on that side of white rice. GET THE RECIPE 52 of 52 Creamy Chicken and Corn Pot Pie Tom Schierlitz This chicken pot pie recipe knows you're in a hurry, so it's already incorporated all the shortcuts, starting with leftover cooked chicken. It also calls for a couple of cans of corn chowder, frozen peas, and corn. A sheet of thawed puff pastry tops it all off to give you a dreamy, creamy pot pie in only 40 minutes. GET THE RECIPE How to Cook Perfect Chicken Every Time Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit