What happens when you realize you have tons of leftover chicken in your freezer with no clue as to how to get creative with it? The answer lies on the numerous healthy leftover chicken recipes you can look into when faced with this question. Lucky for you, today we are all about highlighting ten of these easy recipes for leftover chicken. Read on if you are interested in transforming your cooking for the better.
10. Chicken curry leftover
Image Credit: Allrecipes
Ingredients
- Vegetable oil
- One finely chopped onion
- Three finely chopped garlic cloves
- One teaspoon of finely chopped ginger
- Two chopped large tomatoes
- Chicken stock (300ml)
- Leftover roasted chicken
- Salt and pepper
- Two tablespoons of plain yogurt
- Fresh coriander
Method
- Heat approximately 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a pan
- Add the onions and salt then fry for about 15 minutes
- Next,add ginger and garlic and keep stirring for a further 2-3 minutes.
- Add in the tomatoes. Stir gently until mixed well with the onion.
- Pour in the chicken stock, bring the mixture to a boil and let it simmer for about ten to fifteen minutes.
- Add in the leftover chicken and stir so it warms evenly.
- Drop two tablespoons of yogurt and let it warm through.
- Serve with some steamed rice and sprinkle some coriander for a better finish.
9. Chicken skin snacks
Image Credit: Outlawcook
If you are a lover of chicken skin, you may want to try one of the chicken leftover recipes that makes use of the skin to create an instant snack for you and your loved ones.
Ingredients
- Chicken skin (preferably trimmed of too much fat)
- Shichimi togarashi (can be substituted for salt and pepper or popcorn blend)
Method
- Heat the oven to Gas Mark 5 (1900C).
- Place a baking tray complete with baking parchment.
- Place the chicken skin on the tray, layer by layer with the skin side up.
- Bake for forty minutes or as the skin turns crispy and golden brown in color.
- Remove the chicken skin from the baking tray and drain it using a paper towel.
- Sprinkle some of the shichimi togarashi (or your preferred seasoning) over the dish and treat yourself to one of the amazing and easy recipes for leftover chicken.
8. Chicken Carbonara : Leftover Chicken Recipes
Image Credit: Foodnetwork
- Two tablespoons of olive oil
- 2.5 cups of whipping cream
- One cup of freshly grated Parmesan
- Salt
- One pound spaghetti
- 8 egg yolks
- A quarter cup of chopped basil leaves
- A quarter cup of fresh parsley
- Four cups of coarsely shredded roasted chicken
- Ground black pepper (fresh)
- Half a cup of chopped toasted walnuts
- One teaspoon of finely grated lemon peel
Method
- Heat the oil in a large pan.
- Add the garlic and pancetta and sauté to the point it is crisp and brown. Let it cool a little afterward.
- Use a large bowl, whisk the cream, yolks, cheese, parsley, and basil and let it blend completely.
- In a separate large bowl, boil some salted water over high or medium heat. Throw in the spaghetti and let it cook until tender (about ten minutes).
- Add chicken to the pancetta pan stirring well to ensure good mixing.
- Add in the spaghetti and cream to the mixture over medium heat until there’s even heating of the chicken and the spaghetti is well coated with chicken (about four minutes).
- Finally add some seasoning to the pasta to taste after which you can serve your dish and let your loved ones know making chicken leftover recipes is a satisfactory idea.
7. Firecracker Chicken Noodle Salad : Leftover Chicken Recipes
Image Credit: Jamieoliver
Invented by the food master himself, Jamie Oliver, this is an example of leftover chicken recipes with the ability to have you biting your finger.
Ingredients
- 100g cooked chicken (free-range)
- 50g of rice noodles
- One carrot
- One baby gem lettuce
- One small handful sugar snaps
- Fresh mint
- A pinch of mixed seeds
- One tablespoon coriander oil
- Dressing ingredients
- One tablespoon of sweet chili sauce
- Half a tablespoon of soy sauce
- Half a tablespoon of honey
- One lime
Method
- Cook the noodles, shred the chicken, chop the cucumber and shave the carrot to end up with ribbons (use a speed peeler).
- Shred the baby gem, chop the sugar snaps, toast the mixed seeds and chop the mint leaves.
- Combine the chicken, noodles, and coriander oil in a medium-sized bowl. Add all the other salad ingredients, toss the mixture, place it in a lunch box and toss it in the fridge.
- Pour the sweet chili sauce, honey, and soy in a jam jar then squeeze in some lime juice. Close it tightly and put it away.
- Whenever you are ready to taste this dish in the category of easy recipes for leftover chicken, remove the jam jar, shake the contents well then proceed to dress your salad. Close the lunchbox once more and shake it well to ensure perfect coating of your food.
6. Three-pepper chicken chili
Image Credit: Foodnetwork
Ingredients
- Four teaspoons of vegetable oil
- Two pounds of diced chicken breast meat
- Four teaspoons of flour
- One cup of diced onion
- Half cup diced celery
- One cup of diced carrot
- One cup of diced turnip
- One finely diced red bell pepper (remove the seeds)
- One diced jalapeno pepper (remove the seeds)
- Three minced garlic cloves
- Two teaspoons of ground cumin
- One tablespoon of ground coriander
- One cup of white wine
- Three tablespoons of pomegranate
- Half cup apple cider
- 128 oz of tin diced tomatoes
- 119 oz of rinsed tin white kidney beans
- Half cup chicken stock
- Two bay leaves
- Two tablespoons of white vinegar
- Salt
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground white pepper
Method
- Heat a large pot over medium heat and then add in the vegetable oil. Toss the chicken in flour then add into the pot searing gently until the color turns to golden brown.
- Transfer the chicken to a plate then reduce the heat while adding in more oil, onion, carrot, celery, and turnip, sautéing to the point the onions are translucent.
- Add in red pepper, garlic, and jalapeno and sauté for a further one minute. Pour the molasses and white wine and let it simmer.
- Add the chicken then cider, tomatoes, chicken stock, bay leaves, and beans, stirring all through. Cover the pot and allow it to simmer for approximately forty five minutes. Add salt, a pinch of cinnamon, and white pepper to your desired flavor.
5. Lime Chicken Soft Tacos
Image Credit: Allrecipes
Number five on our list of chicken leftover recipes is securely help by a tantalizing dish that has its origins in South America. Have a look at it.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb boneless, skinless cubed chicken breast
- One cup red wine vinegar
- Half juiced lime
- One teaspoon sugar
- Half teaspoon salt
- Half teaspoon of ground pepper
- Two chopped green onions
- Two minced garlic cloves
- One teaspoon of dried oregano
- 10 flour tortillas (six inch)
- One sliced tomato
- Quarter cup of shredded lettuce
- Quarter cup shredded cheese (Monterey Jack)
- Salsa a quarter cup
Method
- Sauté the chicken in a saucepan over medium heat for 20 minutes. Add in vinegar, sugar, lime juice, green onion, pepper oregano, and garlic. Let it simmer for a further ten minutes.
- Over medium heat, heat an iron skillet then place a tortilla in the pan. Warm it for some time then flip it upside down so the other side is warmed too. Repeat this process with the other tortillas.
- To enjoy this dish and boast of having dined one among the many leftover chicken recipes, serve the lime chicken in warm tortillas and finish it off with lettuce, tomato salsa, and cheese toppings.
4. Chicken Enchiladas II
Image Credit: Allrecipes
Ingredients
- One tablespoon of butter
- Half cup green onions (chopped)
- Half teaspoon garlic powder
- One can of diced green chiles (4 ounce)
- One can of condensed mushroom soup cream (10.75 ounce)
- Half cup of sour cream
- 1.5 cups of cooked chicken breast (cubed)
- One cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- Six flour tortillas (12 inch)
- Quarter cup milk
Method
- Heat the oven to 3500F
- Grease a fairly large baking dish.
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Add the onions and sauté until tender. Add in the garlic powder, mix in the chilies, mushroom soup cream, and sour cream. After mixing it well, separate about one-quarter of this mixture and toss the rest aside for use later.
- To the quarter of the sauce, throw in the chicken together with half a cup shredded Cheddar cheese and stir gently to achieve a good mix. ‘
- Fill every flour tortilla with the mixture of chicken and then roll it up. Place each of the tortillas in the baking dish with the seam side facing down.
- In a mixing bowl, mix the three-quarter of the reserved sauce with milk. Pour some of this mixture over the rolled tortillas while topping the meal with the remaining half cup of shredded cheese.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until cheese is bubbly.
3. Chicken Pizza (Buffalo style)
Image Credit: Allrecipes
Lovers of pizza are also taken care of in this list of easy leftover chicken recipes. Here is one example.
Ingredients
- Three pieces of boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (cooked and cubed)
- Two tablespoons of melted butter
- 1 bottle of hot sauce (two ounce)
- One bottle (8 ounce) of salad dressing (blue cheese)
- One prepared pizza crust (16 inch)
- One package of shredded mozzarella cheese (8 ounce)
Method
- Preheat the oven to 4250F. (2200C)
- Combine the cubes of chicken with hot sauce and melted butter using a medium-sized bowl. Stir it well.
- Spread all the salad dressing on the crust, top it up with the chicken mixture and then sprinkle the shredded cheese.
- Bake in the oven until golden brown or until the cheese is bubbly (5-10 minutes).
2. Salsa Chicken Rice Casserole
Image Credit: Budgetbytes
Ingredients
- 11/3 cups of white rice (uncooked)
- 22/3 cups of water
- Four boneless, skinless chicken breast meat halves
- Two cups of shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- Two cups of shredded Cheddar cheese
- One can of condensed chicken soup cream (10.75 ounce)
- One can of condensed mushroom soup cream (10.75 ounce)
- One chopped onion
- 11/2 cups of mild salsa
Method
- Begin preparing this example of leftover chicken recipes by cooking the rice over low heat in a saucepan for about twenty minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, place the chicken breast halves and add water to the brim. Bring it to a boil then let it cook for 20 more minutes. Remove the chicken from the water, cool it, and then cut it into bite-size pieces.
- Heat the oven to 3500C (1750C). Grease a medium-sized (9 x 13 inch) baking dish.
- Combine the cheeses in a medium bowl.
- In another bowl, mix the creams, salsa, and onion.
- Layer half of the rice, half chicken, half the salsa/soup mixture, and half the cheese mixture in the prepared dish. Repeat the process always ending with cheese.
- Bake in the oven for 40 minutes or until the dish is bubbly.
1. Creamy chicken with sunflower risotto
Image Credit: Foodandwine
This is one of our best leftover chicken recipes so simple to prepare while tasting simply delicious.
Ingredients
- 1.75 cups of chicken broth
- 125g cream cheese (light herb and garlic)
- Two cups of cooked and shredded chicken
- Two cups of cauliflower florets
- One pound of rice (UNCLE BEN’S BISTRO EXPRESS)
- One cup of peas
- Half cup of roasted and chopped pepper
- Salt and pepper
- Grated parmesan cheese
Method
- Over medium heat, place the chicken broth in a large skillet.
- Mix in the cream cheese until smooth after which you can bring it to a simmer.
- Add the chicken and cauliflower and stir well. Let the mixture cook for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook the rice.
- Mix in the peas, rice, and red pepper into the skillet, cook for about five minutes or until well heated through. Season the mixture with salt and pepper. Sprinkle some parmesan and serve.
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