Ingredients Chicken 18 Easy Leftover Chicken Recipes By Food & Wine Editors Updated on February 3, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: © Abby Hocking Leftover chicken recipes are a great way to stretch your weeknight dinner lineup. If you're looking to simplify your cooking and avoid wasting food, this collection of recipes is perfect for you. Pre-cooked chicken can be turned into chicken soup, chicken hash, chicken salad, and more. Repurpose all of your leftover chicken into easy chicken dishes with these simple and flavorful recipes. 01 of 18 Mexican Skillet Corn with Chicken and Cilantro © John Kernick This easy, fresh, and spicy summer dish makes fantastic use of leftover chicken and crisp, sweet corn. Get the Recipe 02 of 18 Chicken 'Levivot' with Harissa Sauce © Christine Han "Levivot" means "latke" in Hebrew. When chef Ron Arazi was growing up, his mother created these fritters as a way to use leftover chicken. It's become a staple at the Arazis' Hanukkah table. They now simmer a whole chicken with aromatic spices, then finely shred the meat, add lots of parsley and cilantro, and bind it together with mashed potatoes and eggs. The harissa sauce that accompanies the patties makes the dish even more festive. Get the Recipe 03 of 18 Leftover Chicken Soup Abby Hocking This Leftover Chicken Soup from chef Marcus Samuelsson uses the whole bird — from bones to livers — to make a nearly no-waste dinner. First, Samuelsson makes the stock from charred aromatics and chicken bones. Then, he sears the livers and shreds the chicken for the soup. Feel free to substitute store-bought stock and upgrade it by simmering with charred vegetables. Get the Recipe 04 of 18 Peppery Greens Salad with Avocado, Chicken, and Tortilla Croutons Greg DuPree Crispy, pimentón-dusted tortillas stand in for the flatbread traditionally found in the Lebanese bread salad fattoush. Make this recipe with easy homemade Tex-Mex Tortillas or use your favorite store-bought version. Get the Recipe 05 of 18 Chicken and Wild Rice Soup © Molly Yeh Bakery owner Amanda Johnson uses leftover chicken or turkey and wild rice harvested nearby to make this lovely soup. Thyme and garlic add aromatic depth to the soup, along with the classic base of onions, carrots, and celery. After simmering the soup, finish it with a drizzle of cream to add a touch of richness. Get the Recipe 06 of 18 Enchiladas Suizas (Creamy Enchiladas with Chicken, Tomatoes, and Green Chile) © Lucy Schaeffer This recipe uses two cups of coarsely shredded cooked chicken, preferably grilled, roasted, or rotisserie. The sauce can be made a day or two ahead, but for the best texture, make sure to serve the enchiladas straight out of the oven. Get the Recipe 07 of 18 Lemon Chicken and Kale Soup © Todd Porter & Diane Cu Simple chicken soup becomes extra special with vibrantly green kale and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Get the Recipe 08 of 18 Turmeric Chicken and Rice © Fredrika Stjärne "This is a simple one-pot chicken and rice dish, but the turmeric adds color, spice, and flavor," chef Edward Lee says. "That makes it a winner in my house." He recommends using a whole organic chicken so you know exactly where the bird came from and serving the dish family-style. Get the Recipe 09 of 18 Chicken Hash with Eggs © Con Poulos Using leftover chicken in a hash with green pepper, onion, and jalapeños makes a nice, hearty breakfast. A dash of hot sauce is delicious here. Get the Recipe 10 of 18 Spicy Lemongrass Chicken © Dana Gallagher For this dish, chef Charles Phan stir-fries the chicken by itself until it's deeply golden and juicy before he transfers it to a plate; after he finishes cooking the other ingredients, he returns the chicken to the wok so all the flavors meld. Get the Recipe 11 of 18 Leftover Blue Cheese Chicken Salad Sandwich © Con Poulos Make use of multiple leftovers with chef Jonathan Waxman’s tasty chicken salad dressed in a mix of yogurt and Gorgonzola cheese. Get the Recipe 12 of 18 Spinach and Egg Drop Pasta Soup © James Baigrie "In our house, stracciatella was a catch-all," chef Tom Valenti says about this simple, rustic soup. "We started with good homemade stock and added whatever was around: beans, leftover sausage, shredded chicken." With a few truffle shavings, this soup can even be dressed up for a holiday dinner party. Get the Recipe 13 of 18 Smothered Mole Chicken Nachos © Abby Hocking This ultimate nacho recipe from chef Brad Farmerie can also be served with avocados, thinly sliced radishes, and lime wedges. Using store-bought mole and shredded leftover chicken makes these a snap to prepare. Get the Recipe 14 of 18 Rustic Chicken and Chorizo Pasta © Kristen Stevens This simple but flavor-packed pasta recipe combines spicy chorizo sausage and caramelized onions with a single shredded chicken breast and spinach to make an easy dinner for two. Be sure to serve it with extra Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Get the Recipe 15 of 18 Roasted Chicken and Leek Pizza © Dana Gallagher Juicy store-bought rotisserie chicken — or better yet, last night's leftover chicken — makes a great topping for a fast pizza. Get the Recipe 16 of 18 Chicken and Broccoli Soup © Todd Porter & Diane Cu Loved by the whole family, this chicken and broccoli soup recipe is sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. Get the Recipe 17 of 18 Chicken Tetrazzini © Abby Hocking Instead of poaching chicken breasts for this slightly dressed-up chicken tetrazzini, you can use three to four cups of torn leftover or rotisserie chicken. Get the Recipe 18 of 18 Moroccan Chicken and Couscous Soup © Karen Mordechai A mainstay in Morocco, steamed couscous topped with a very liquid stew is undeniably delectable but not exactly quick. We've found, though, that combining all the ingredients in a soup yields similarly sumptuous results in a much shorter time. The dish is decidedly spicy; if you prefer less heat, just reduce the amount of cayenne. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit