Leftovers are a saving grace, especially when they can be used to whip up quick and easy meals. If you have leftover chicken in your fridge from last night or a couple days ago, you can use it to make a variety of recipes for any meal of the day. From breakfast hash and burritos, to chicken wraps, soup, pasta and so much more, it’s never been easier to use your leftover chicken. Chicken is one of the best sources of meat protein and is also rich in vitamins and minerals. Include it in your meals for a nutritious addition. Take a look at our favourite leftover chicken recipes you can make for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
How Long Does Leftover Chicken Last in the Fridge?
Leftover chicken won’t stay fresh forever. Be sure to eat it within three to four days of cooking it as it can be unsafe to eat if it’s left for too long. There are pathogens that grow on chicken that don’t have a taste or smell and won’t change the way the chicken looks. If it’s been over three to four days, use your best judgement.
Be wary of any changes in the way it looks, tastes or smells and of course any mouldy chicken should be thrown out right away. It should also be tossed if it has a slimy or slippery feel. After chicken is cooked it should sit at room temperature for no longer than two hours. It should be refrigerated after that time or sooner to slow the growth of bacteria. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also freeze it if you don’t think you’ll use it in three to four days.
25 Simple Ways to Use Leftover Chicken
1. Make a healthy chicken salad with avocado, red onion, cucumber, tomatoes, lemon juice and olive oil
2. Toss chicken with pasta, add veggies and a nice pesto sauce
3. Make a batch of saucy, cheesy chicken enchiladas
4. Stir it into a Thai curry with veggies
5. Shred it and simmer it into a soup
6. Make a chicken sandwich for lunch
7. Add it to a grain bowl with your choice of veggies and sauce
8. Cook it into fried rice
9. Toss it into a stir fry with your favourite sauce
10. Shred the meat and toss it into tacos
11. Use it in a (breakfast) burrito or burrito bowl
12. Layer it onto a tray of nachos and add your favourite fixings from jalapeños to green onions
13. Toss it into a breakfast hash with potatoes, bell peppers and eggs
14. Use it in a chilli and serve it with sliced avocado and a dollop of sour cream
15. Place it into a wrap (tortilla or lettuce wrap) with mozzarella, tomatoes and ranch sauce
16. Layer it into a quesadilla with some cheese, bell peppers and tomatoes
17. Top a pizza or flatbread with it
18. Cook it into a (breakfast) casserole
19. Add it into a risotto with mushrooms
20. Make Asian chicken lettuce wraps
21. Mix it into mac and cheese
22. Bake it into enchiladas with black beans, corn, onions and cheese
23. Add it to a rice bowl with edamame, purple cabbage, shredded carrots, sesame seeds and ginger sauce
24. Mix it into a frittata
25. Cook it into a lasagna
15 Leftover Chicken Recipes for Breakfast
1. Chicken Hash with Eggs | Food and Wine
2. Chicken and Eggs Breakfast Skillet | Chicken.ca
3. Breakfast Quesadilla (With Leftover Chicken) | The Worktop
4. Leftover Chicken Omelet | So Delicious
5. Shredded Chicken Hash | Food Republic
6. Chicken Breakfast Bake | Living Chirpy
7. Leftover Roast Chicken Frittata | Fuss Free Flavours
8. Southwestern Jalapeño Chile Potato Chicken Hash | Highland’s Ranch Foodie
9. Chicken Fajita Breakfast Skillet | Sugar Dish Me
10. Cheesy Chicken, Pepper, Broccoli Frittata | Well Plated
11. California Chicken Breakfast Burrito | Sweet and Savory Meals
12. Chicken Sweet Potato Hash with Poached Eggs | Clean Eating Mag
13. Cheesy Chicken Potato Frittata | Grand Baby-Cakes
14. Cali Chicken Egg Scramble | Hungry Girl
15. Skillet Sweet Potato Chicken Hash with Eggs | Punchfork
15 Leftover Chicken Recipes for Lunch
1. Greek Chicken Wrap | Her Highness Hungry Me
2. Chickpea, Feta and Chicken Salad | Homemade Mastery
3. Chicken Pasta Bake | Beyond the Chicken Coop
4. Anti-Inflammatory Cauliflower Chicken Soup | Beauty Bites
5. Leftover Chicken Tacos | Fuss Free Flavours
6. Cheesy Chicken Quesadilla | Homemade Mastery
7. Healthy Avocado Chicken Salad | Her Highness Hungry Me
8. Thai Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing | Friggin Delicious
9. Rotisserie Chicken Shawarma Pita Wrap | Seasons and Suppers
10. Mason Jar Instant Noodles | The Girl on Bloor
11. Chicken Mushroom Soup | Salt & Lavender
12. Chicken Mac and Cheese | Jo Cooks
13. Leftover Chicken Flatbread Pizza | A Taste of Madness
14. Chicken Noodle Soup | Averie Cooks
15. French Onion Chicken and Rice Bake | Plain Chicken
15 Leftover Chicken Recipes for Dinner
1. 4-Ingredient Chicken Pasta Casserole | Gimme Delicious
2. Spicy Chicken and Feta Quesadilla | Homemade Mastery
3. Creamy Chicken Pasta with Bacon | What’s In The Pan?
4. Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps | Fit Foodie Finds
5. Quick and Easy Rotisserie Chicken Tacos | Savory Simple
6. Spicy Avocado Chicken Wraps | Homemade Mastery
7. Apple BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwich | Sunkissed Kitchen
8. Chicken Enchiladas | Skinny Taste
9. Chicken, Spinach and Artichoke Spaghetti Squash Boats | The Girl on Bloor
10. The Best Chicken Tinga Tacos | Pinch of Yum
11. Thai Chicken Cauliflower Curry | Green Healthy Cooking
12. Southwest Chipotle Avocado Corn Pizza | The Girl on Bloor
13. Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry | Kids Eat by Shanai
14. Leftover Roast Chicken Risotto | My Fussy Eater
15. Leftover Chicken Chilli | Healthy Recipes Blog
If you have leftover chicken in your fridge, use it in these recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
