Chicken is one of the most versatile ingredients to build a meal around. Having cooked chicken on hand, whether it’s homemade or from a store-bought rotisserie chicken, is a great shortcut to getting dinner on the table in a flash. Here are 17 recipes using cooked chicken that are perfect for quick weeknight dinners, lunches, or meal prepping.
Easy Leftover Chicken Recipes
January 19, 2026
You could use store-bought or homemade cooked chicken for any of these recipes. Store-bought rotisserie chickens are available at most major grocery stores at a budget-friendly price—sometimes cheaper than a raw whole chicken!
Cooking a whole chicken at home is also an affordable way to keep cooked chicken on hand. Read our guide, How to Cook a Chicken, for more tips on cooking a whole chicken at home, and check out our recipe for Best Roasted Chicken.
Don’t throw out the bones! You can save your scraps from a rotisserie chicken and make your own chicken broth.
Not interested in roasting a whole chicken? Try this recipe for simple Roasted Chicken Breasts instead. Make several ahead of time to keep on hand for quick lunches or dinners.
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