When was the last time you looked forward to leftovers? These leftover chicken recipes are so tasty, they redefined the whole category for us—and BHG readers. Refresh extra protein in these leftover chicken recipes, including an easy egg frittata for breakfast and a cozy chicken pot pie for dinner.
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
Cottage cheese is certainly having a moment on social media, and it’s tough to deny the appeal of a buttery Ritz Cracker topping. But if we had to choose the detail we love most about this savory, garlic-forward chicken casserole, it would be just that: how it transforms a whopping 4 cups of extra chicken into one of our best million dollar recipes. “This casserole was delicious and easy to make, especially if you have leftover chicken in the fridge,” one five-star reviewer says, hinting that you might actually want more left over. “My husband and I almost finished the casserole in one sitting, so if you're feeding folks with big appetites, you may want to double the recipe.”
Chickpea and Chicken Curry Stew
When we savored our first spoonful of this cozy curry recipe, we had a hard time believing that the flavors came from a 30-minute meal. But a few savvy shortcuts—cooked chicken, frozen mixed vegetables, pouches of cooked rice, a carton of chicken broth—give the most glorious headstart on this stew recipe. A tablespoon of curry powder lends the just-right amount of warmth to the creamy tomato base.
French Onion Chicken Casserole
French onion-ing recipes is all the rage on TikTok, and we totally understand why. We can’t ever resist anything that celebrates caramelized onions and gooey, melty cheese in the same dish! This might just be our favorite twist of all, though, because it’s French onion-flavored and a leftover chicken recipe all in one, with a crown of crunchy French fried onions on top to really drive home the theme. “This was delicious! It was very close to chicken pot pie, but seriously elevated due to the Gruyere and the caramelized onions. It is the perfect winter meal and I would absolutely add this into my regular dinner rotation along with a green salad and some crusty bread,” one BHG home cook says.
Chicken Frittata with Chimichurri
You need not wait until the next day’s dinner to whip up a leftover chicken recipe. This quick and easy frittata is ideal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. No matter when you enjoy a slice of this Tex-Mex-style one-skillet meal, it will keep you feeling well-fueled for hours thanks to a triple-play of protein: shredded cooked chicken, beans, and eggs. A drizzle of cilantro chimichurri on top makes for a lovely counterpart that cuts through the richness of the savory chicken and egg dish.
Chicken and Vegetable Wild Rice Chowder
Channel some summer energy in the heart of fall or winter with this comforting chicken and rice recipe. Smoky bacon, which sets the tone here, always makes us think of BLT season. And frozen corn, which is put on ice at its peak, tastes remarkably reminiscent of fresh. From there, we layer on the cozy with shredded chicken, wild rice, and a creamy chowder base. (All you need for that is milk, flour, and chicken broth!)
Pulled Roast Chicken Sandwiches
Declared “delicious” and “a keeper!” by BHG fans, these speedy, saucy sandwiches can be made with 3 cups of leftover chicken or the protein from a rotisserie chicken. We swear by this leftover chicken recipe in summer, when we don’t want to invest a lot of time in the kitchen. On night one, we grill a double batch of chicken outside. Then on day two, we transform the extras in this stovetop chicken sandwich filling recipe that’s coated in finger-licking homemade barbecue sauce.
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Most of the leftover chicken recipes we’re showcasing here are main dish makeovers, but we’re also fond of fixing up bonus protein for snacks, too. You need just six ingredients and 15 minutes of prep time to assemble this easy hot dip recipe and have it ready to set and forget to keep warm all afternoon or party long. No need to choose between ranch or blue cheese to pair with this Buffalo wing-inspired dish. The dip calls for a packet of ranch dry salad dressing mix and a handful of crumbled blue cheese.
Bacon-Cheddar Chipotle Chicken Panini
We had a brief period of mourning after Panera removed their chipotle chicken panini sandwich from their menu. (RIP, you smoky, bacon-stacked delight!) Then we got to work recreating a copycat version in our Test Kitchen so no one could take away one of our favorite pressed sandwiches again. It’s easy to DIY: Start with thick slices of whole grain bread, add a schmear of chipotle cream (aka chili powder-spiked ranch), then pile them high with sliced deli or cooked chicken, tomato, bacon, spinach, and cheese. Cook in a panini press or on a grill pan until golden brown, then dive in.
Deep-Dish Chicken Pot Pie
Extra chicken plus an array of produce odds and ends floating around the crisper drawer could sound like a recipe for a food waste mess. No longer. This leftover chicken recipe makes use of exactly that, 2 ½ cups to be exact, as well as an onion, some mushrooms, a couple stalks of celery, and a small sweet pepper. Whisk in some broth and milk or cream to finish the cream sauce, then toss all of the above, plus a cup of frozen peas, to simmer away underneath a flake pastry topping. Bliss.
Smoky Chicken Pizzas
Thanks to leftover chicken and store-bought flatbread or pizza crusts, this well-balanced pizza can be on the table in about as quick as a delivery pie. Just 30 minutes and six ingredients stand between you and your first slice. Just because it's fast and low-fuss doesn’t mean this pizza is boring. Each component is intentional, from the spicy crushed red pepper to the peppery arugula. Whatever you do, “don’t skip the caramelized onions,” one BHG home cook warns. Our sped-up version takes just 10 minutes.
Chicken Noodle Soup
Grandma’s version might call for simmering all day, and it was always worth the wait. That said, we rarely have time for that, so we tapped our Test Kitchen to press fast-forward on the comfort food creation. The result: This leftover chicken recipe that features similar elements (onion, carrot, celery, a bay leaf, dried herbs, egg noodles, chicken broth), just in a format that can be on the table 35 minutes from now.
Mediterranean Chicken and Wheat Berry Salad
If we could design our dream week, it would involve making a big batch of this flavor- and nutrition-packed Mediterranean recipe every Sunday to divvy up in single-servings to forever put an end to sad desk lunches. Not every weekend goes according to plan, but the best ones allow us 20 minutes of wiggle room to prep this part-slow cooker, part leftover hearty salad. A simple cumin-citrus vinaigrette, canned tomatoes, fresh parsley and mint, and crumbled goat cheese perk up the nutty wheat berries and blank-slate chicken.
Dump and Bake Chicken Alfredo
A BHG reader may have defined a recipe category that we didn’t know existed, but sure glad it’s here: “high return for effort.” That’s exactly what this leftover chicken recipe delivers, since the pasta casserole gets its foundation from boxed noodles, jarred Alfedo, a carton or can of chicken broth, and surplus protein. Since the dried pasta cooks right in the dish with the sauce, this also qualifies as a “dump dinner” that another home cook says is “simple and tasty.”
Chicken and Cauliflower Pasta
Multitasking is one of our go-to techniques to create a restaurant-quality pasta recipe in about as much time as it would take for the kids to watch another episode of their current cartoon hyperfixation. For this leftover chicken recipe, roast the cauliflower, onion, and garlic in the oven as you boil the pasta on the stove. Drain the noodles, keeping some of the pasta water handy to help loosen the sauce. Then in the now-empty pasta pot, combine the noodles, chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted veggies, finely shredded Parmesan, and just enough starchy pasta water to bring everything together. Finish with bright arugula and crunchy chickpeas for crunch, and everyone will be sending their compliments to the chef.
