What To Do With Leftover Chicken
Wondering what to do with leftover chicken? Dive into our article full of creative and easy leftover chicken recipe ideas that transform last night's meal into today's delightful dish! From quick tacos to sumptuous soups, we’ll show you how to turn those leftover bits into a variety of delicious, flavor-packed meals that everyone will love.
Delicious Leftover Chicken Recipe Ideas for Lunch and Dinner
We’ve all been there—opening the fridge after a big meal, only to find leftover chicken waiting for a new purpose. Whether you have pieces of leftover roast chicken, baked chicken, or even the remains of a chicken carcass, there are endless opportunities to turn those leftovers into exciting meals. In this article, we’ll explore creative, easy, and delicious ways to use up that extra chicken—transforming it into everything from hearty soups to mouth-watering wraps. Plus, we’ll tackle what to do with specific chicken parts, ensuring nothing goes to waste!
Benefits of Repurposing Leftover Chicken
Using leftovers not only helps minimise food waste, but it also saves time in the kitchen. By having pre-cooked chicken on hand, meal prep becomes faster and stress-free. Let’s dive into exciting ideas for your leftover chicken—from quick lunches to flavour-packed dinners.
Leftover Chicken Meal Ideas for Lunch
Leftover chicken is a fantastic ingredient for quick, satisfying lunches. With a few simple steps, you can enjoy a fresh meal that’s just as delicious as your original roast or baked chicken.
1. Chicken Wraps or Quesadillas
Toss your leftover chicken into a wrap or quesadilla for a speedy lunch that's sure to please. Take your shredded or chopped chicken, add some cheese, avocado, and lettuce, and roll it all up in a soft flour tortilla. You can drizzle some salsa or sour cream for additional flavour. Alternatively, layer it between two tortillas with cheese and toast in a hot pan until the filling is warm and the tortillas are crispy.
Recipe Tip:
Try adding Old El Paso™ Quesadilla Spice Mix to elevate the flavours or explore Mexican Chicken Quesadillas for added inspiration.
2. Leftover Chicken Salad Bowls
Add shredded leftover chicken to a healthy salad bowl for a protein-packed lunch. Mix in some leafy greens, roasted vegetables, cucumber, and a grain like quinoa or brown rice. Top with your favourite dressing to tie all the flavours together. For extra zest, toss in crispy tortilla strips or a scoop of Old El Paso™ Chunky Salsa.
3. Chicken & Rice Power Bowls
Leftover chicken and rice make a complete meal that’s perfect for a filling lunch. Reheat your chicken and rice, then build a bowl with diced avocado, tomatoes, black beans, and cheese. You can top it with sour cream, salsa, or a creamy dressing for added tang.
Get Creative with Flavours:
To give your power bowl a Mexican inspired twist, consider adding Old El Paso™ Taco Spice for an extra kick.
Dinner Ideas for Leftover Chicken
Sometimes, dinner calls for something a bit more substantial. Leftover chicken can be the shining star of these evening meals, helping you whip up flavourful dishes with minimal effort.
1. Chicken Fajitas
One of the easiest ways to use leftover chicken for dinner is by turning it into fajitas. Slice up some onions and capsicums (bell peppers) and sauté them until soft. Add your leftover chicken to the pan and season with Old El Paso™ Fajita Seasoning. Make sure the chicken is thoroughly reheated (to at least 75°C). Serve the mixture in warm tortillas with cheese, salsa, and guacamole for Mexican inspired fiesta at home.
Find a full recipe here.
2. Chicken Enchiladas
Turn leftover chicken into rich, cheesy enchiladas! Simply shred your cooked chicken, mix it with black beans, corn, and cheese, then roll the filling into soft flour tortillas. Pour Old El Paso™ Enchilada Sauce on top and bake until hot and bubbly. This is a perfect midweek dinner that’s sure to become a family favourite.
Explore the full Chicken Enchilada recipe.
3. Mexican Chicken and Rice Bake
Looking for something warm and comforting? Combine your leftover chicken with rice, Old El Paso™ Taco Seasoning, and vegetables like corn and capsicum. Mix cheese throughout and bake the entire dish until hot and golden. This all-in-one dish is hearty and simple enough for a stress-free dinner.
4. Crunchy Chicken Nachos
Leftover chicken is perfect for nachos—an easy family dinner! Spread Old El Paso™ Nachips™ on a baking tray, scatter shredded chicken over the top along with black beans, jalapenos, and cheese. Bake until the cheese has melted, then top it all with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.
Find the full nacho recipe here.
Leftover Chicken Soup Ideas
As the weather cools, nothing hits the spot like a comforting bowl of soup. Leftover chicken is excellent for adding depth and richness to your soup recipes—whether you’re using chicken meat, legs, or a whole leftover carcass.
1. Chicken Tortilla Soup
Wondering what to do with a leftover chicken carcass? Turn it into a delicious homemade broth by simmering the carcass with water, vegetables, and bay leaves. Once your broth is ready, add in your leftover chicken along with tomatoes, corn, and taco seasoning. Serve with crispy tortilla strips and a dollop of sour cream for a warming Mexican-inspired meal.
Check out the full Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe here.
Special Tips for Leftover Chicken Legs & Carcasses
1. Chicken Broth or Stock
Leftover carcasses are the key to making a rich, homemade stock. Pop the carcass into a pot with water, onions, carrots, and celery, and simmer for a few hours. Strain the mixture and you have yourself a golden, flavourful broth that can serve as the base for soups, stews, or risottos.
2. Sizzling Chicken Legs with a Crispy Finish
Got leftover chicken legs? Don’t let them go to waste. Shred the meat and toss it with some Old El Paso™ Taco Seasoning. Sauté it in a pan to give the chicken a crispy texture, then add it to tacos or serve it over rice for a quick, satisfying meal.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
Recipe Name
Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla SoupTotal Time
2 hours and 50 minutesSpice Level
MildServings
6Ingredients
- 600g chicken thigh fillets
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 red capsicum, deseeded and diced
- 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
- 1 x 425g tin Old El Paso™ Black Beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 tablespoon mild chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 750ml chicken stock (made with 1 stock cube)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 185g Chips
- 1 tablespoon freshly chopped coriander, to garnish
Preparation
- Mix the chicken, onion, garlic, capsicum, tomatoes, beans, spices and stock in the base of a slow cooker pot (see Tips).
- Cover and cook on High setting for 2 1/2 hours or until the chicken is very tender and will shred easily.
- Remove the chicken from the pot with a slotted spoon and place on a chopping board. Roughly shred using two forks. Return to the pot with the lime juice and stir well. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Roughly break up a few of the tortilla chips (about 40g). Ladle the soup into bowls, top with the broken tortilla chips and garnish with the coriander. Serve with the rest of the tortilla chips on the side.
Expert Tips
- You will need a large slow cooker with a 5 litre capacity for this recipe. Cooking times may vary so check the appliance manual for guidance.
- Use a sharp knife to trim off any excess fat from the chicken thigh fillets before adding to the slow cooker pot.
Made With...
Conclusion: Creative Ways to Make the Most of Leftover Chicken
From tortillas and quesadillas to soups and salads, the options for what to do with leftover chicken are endless. Whether you're working with shredded meat, chicken legs, or even just a carcass, you can easily transform your leftovers into vibrant, delicious Mexican-inspired meals that will have the whole family excited.
Need more inspiration to make the most of your leftovers? Discover more creative recipes and meal kits at Old El Paso Australia. Let’s make every meal an exciting adventure in flavours!