If you're having a hard time getting home-cooked meals on the table during the week, we have the solution for you. Enter the store-bought rotisserie chicken: a fully cooked chicken that's ready to bring to the table. These chickens should win some kind of grocery store shortcut award! And I haven't even gotten to the best part - when you know how to use leftover rotisserie chicken recipes as part of your weeknight meal repertoire, you're often paying the same price as raw chicken, without any of the work.
Chicken makes a great weeknight meal because it's packed with healthy proteins, but is full-flavored enough to qualify as savory comfort food. The versatility of chicken is basically unmatched, too. It's delicious enough by itself to serve as a quarter chicken, or you can make the most of your bird with shredded chicken to stretch it longer through the week for multiple dinner recipes using leftover rotisserie chicken.
Here are our favorite 7 ways how to use rotisserie chicken for weeknight dinners.
1. Ranch Chicken Casserole
This comfort food is full of ranch dressing, cream of chicken soup and ranch chicken, and it's as decadent and cheesy as it gets. The topping of bacon and breadcrumbs make it crunchy and flavorful too! Cook it in a crockpot to make the process extra simple, and enjoy with a garnish of green onions.
2. Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Buffalo Chicken Pizza is the magical combination of buffalo wings, blue cheese dressing and pizza. In this case, you're using leftover rotisserie chicken, making the process even easier. Whether it's a pizza night in or a get-together with friends, you can't go wrong with this flavorful, indulgent mixture. The whole recipe takes about half an hour, making this recipe as quick and easy as it is tasty.
3. Homestyle Chicken Pot Pie
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Chicken pot pie is my go-to when looking for how to use leftover rotisserie chicken. It's hard to beat the comforting combo of crust, tender chicken and veggies. To make this Homestyle Chicken Pot Pie, you'll make a roux, stir in the veggies, add your chicken and then put the whole mixture into a casserole dish. Top with puff pastry and cook until golden brown!
4. Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
The best recipes are those that are as quick and easy as they are scrumptious. These Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Sandwiches are hard to beat when it comes to ease, perfect for after a long day at work. The combo of chicken broth, barbecue sauce and spices make the chicken juicy and full of tangy BBQ flavor, delicious on a fluffy sandwich bun. Simply substitute shredded chicken for the cooked chicken in this recipe.
5. Copycat Chili's Chicken Enchilada Soup
Chili's is the place to go for Tex-Mex comfort food, from Cajun Chicken Pasta to Carnitas Fajitas. However, we don't always have the money or energy to go out to eat. If you're craving some of Chili's tasty Tex-Mex, this Copycat Chili's Chicken Enchilada Soup is the perfect solution. Plus, it'll use up your rotisserie chicken perfectly! Flavored with red enchilada sauce, sharp cheddar cheese, cumin, chili powder and more, it's hard to resist this spicy, flavorful soup. Serve with pico de gallo and crushed tortilla chips.
6. Buffalo Chicken Mac n Cheese
Whether it's game day or a neighborhood potluck, no food table is complete without a bowl of mac n cheese. This mac n cheese recipe has a twist, combining two of the most crowd-pleasing dishes- mac n cheese and buffalo wings. For a cheesy, saucy comfort food dish with a kick, you can't beat this! Serve hot and garnish with green onions, sour cream and buffalo sauce.
This article was originally published on March 17, 2018.
