Recipes Ingredients Meat & Poultry Chicken 14 Leftover Chicken Recipes That Taste Just as Delicious as Day One Last night's dinner never looked so good. By Lynn Andriani Lynn Andriani Lynn is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines Published on May 6, 2024 Close Photo: Lennart Weibull Cubed, shredded, torn, or sliced, leftover chicken is a great (and healthy) ingredient to have on hand for so many recipes. These terrific dishes make smart use of the versatile protein, and in fact, they do it so well that only the cook would know that the chicken might have had a previous life! Chicken's easygoing flavor pairs nicely with a wide range of cuisines and dishes, and the recipes here prove that point. Whether soups, casseroles, pasta bakes, sandwiches, or salads, leftover cooked chicken shines in all of them. There's definitely no need to eat plain leftover chicken on its own when there are so many inspiring ways to turn it into a brand-new meal. How Long Common Leftovers Last in the Fridge, From Chicken to Pizza 01 of 14 Easy Chicken Potpies Romulo Yanes Making the classic comfort food is easier than you think with this recipe, which calls for two smart shortcuts: diced cooked chicken and frozen puff pastry. View Recipe 02 of 14 California Cobb Salad Poached or grilled chicken breasts may not be the most exciting element of the beloved cobb salad, but they’re a critical ingredient, offering the perfect base protein for the flashier add-ins (here, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, and Roquefort cheese). View Recipe 03 of 14 Chicken and Spinach Casserole Rachel Marek This comforting casserole makes excellent use of leftovers, incorporating both cooked, shredded chicken as well as day-old bread. Torn pieces of brioche or baguette would work beautifully. View Recipe 04 of 14 Freezer Burritos Bryan Gardner Make a batch of burritos, eat some now, and freeze some for later (your future self will thank you). You can pile in any protein you like, but cooked chicken works especially well as it pairs nicely with so many other ingredients. View Recipe 05 of 14 Chicken Tortilla Soup Standard Here’s a speedy and customizable weeknight supper, combining shredded chicken, cotija cheese, cilantro, and scallion with a tomato broth. Toasted tortilla strips and lime wedges are a perfect crispy garnish. View Recipe 06 of 14 Chicken, Red Cabbage, and Carrot Salad With Soy-Lime Dressing This bright, Asian-inspired salad is delicious on its own, or you could serve it with rice crackers or noodles for a heftier meal. View Recipe 07 of 14 Chicken Reuben Although a Reuben is traditionally made with corned beef, leftover chicken works, too, as this recipe shows. The chicken matches so well with the other ingredients: Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and rye bread. View Recipe 08 of 14 Classic Chicken Salad Con Poulos Nothing revolutionary here, just chicken, mayo, mustard, red onion, celery, parsley, lemon juice, and hot sauce. But wow, are these ingredients worth more than the sum of their parts! View Recipe 09 of 14 Turmeric-Ginger Chicken Soup Pernille Loof Bookmark this immunity-boosting elixir for when you're feeling under the weather. Along with cooked chicken, it includes garlic, turmeric, ginger, and lemon juice View Recipe 10 of 14 Easy Chicken Enchiladas This delicious bake checks so many boxes: uses up leftover chicken, comes together with little effort, can be made ahead, and serves a crowd. View Recipe 11 of 14 Chicken-and-Gnocchi Bake With Broccolini Lennart Weibull Mildly sweet broccolini, tender gnocchi, nutty Gruyère and torn cooked chicken come together in this tasty baked pasta dish. Make it in a large baking dish or ovenproof skillet, or use ramekins so everyone gets their own individual serving. View Recipe 12 of 14 Sweet-and-Sour Chicken Noodle Bowl Lennart Weibull This twist on a pasta chicken salad would be a great summer supper or picnic addition. With lime zest and juice, sweet chili sauce, ginger, and cilantro, it bursts with fresh flavor. View Recipe 13 of 14 Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole This old-school casserole is creamy and satisfying, thanks in no small part to sour cream, mushrooms, and shallots. View Recipe 14 of 14 Chicken Salad Sandwich Transform chopped or shredded cooked chicken into chicken salad with a few basic ingredients, then spoon it onto slices of bread for a simple and satisfying lunch at home or on the go. Potato chips are optional but highly encouraged. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit