16 Delicious Ways to Use Leftover Chicken Breasts

It’s not always cheap to buy good chicken, but if you cook it right, it can keep adding flavor and substance to meals for days after the Sunday roast.

Even though a juicy, crispy roast chicken on Sunday is the stuff of dreams, that doesn’t mean you should forget about the leftovers by Monday morning. Dont leave your chicken to the bin bag, store it correctly and the humble roast can serve you well for days. Discover our top tips for getting the best out of your bird and for more ingenious methods to save your leftovers, check out our leftover chicken recipes.

Fresh ideas for leftover chicken

We have a whole host of soothing soups, speedy curries, tempting risottos and mouth-watering salads that mean you will never look at your leftovers in the same way again….

Create delicious wraps by layering succulent chicken chunks with crisp cucumber, juicy tomatoes and creamy tzatziki. These simple wraps not only boast a delightful combination of flavours and textures, but also fit seamlessly into your budget, requiring only six ingredients. Plus, you can whip them up in under 30 minutes, making them a quick and satisfying meal option.

Roll up a savoury treat for lunch with more of our wrap recipes.

Top of the list has to be the classic chicken sandwich. We raised ours with a tangy sauce made of watercress, crème fraîche, lime, and cracked black pepper. We also added some crispy bacon to make it taste even better.

Check out our sandwich recipes for more sandwich, wrap and bun fillings.

Weve served this coronation chicken in sandwiches, but its equally as delicious served atop fluffy jacket potatoes or spooned onto salads. Its easy to throw together using storecupboard ingredients, too – youll just need some mayonnaise, mango chutney, curry powder, cinnamon and sultanas to create a flavour-packed chicken dish.

Spruce up chicken with a hint of curry in our coronation chicken recipes.

Fill soft tortillas with a variety of tasty toppings to create this speedy supper – you could even serve it family-style and let everyone create their own. Weve included classic fajita-inspired ingredients including onions, tomatoes and black beans. Add chipotle sauce, guacamole, and cheese to the top, and then eat.

Make a Mexican-inspired supper with our Mexican chicken recipes.

Fans of chicken caesar salads will love this packed pitta, drizzled with a homemade caesar sauce. It’s very simple to make: just blend together yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, mayo, mustard powder, anchovies, Parmesan, and black pepper. Then, put your sandwiches together.

Make our classic pitta bread from scratch or use ready-made for our best starters, light lunches and mains pitta recipes.

Nourishing soup is as much a part of autumn as conkers, crumbles and crunchy fallen leaves. If you are feeling under the weather, not much comes close in terms of comfort either. Using leftover chicken as a base for your soup is a thrifty way of getting your bird to go further, and it means you can get experimental with all sorts of punchy flavours, from fresh rosemary, sage and thyme, to sweet, roasted tomatoes and a spicy kick of chilli.

Fresh rosemary, sage and thyme really shine in this chunky soup, bulked out with butter beans and leftover roast chicken. Our top tip – make sure you have plenty of crusty bread to mop up the delicious herby sauce.

Find more chicken soup recipes, the perfect comfort food.

This South American-style soup is a healthy way to use up leftover roast chicken – its low in fat, freezable, and under 300 calories per portion, too. Ramp up the flavour profile with garlic, coriander, lime, cumin and chilli, and crumble over creamy feta to finish.

Discover more kale recipes for meals full of goodness and then read our helpful guide on the top five health benefits of kale.

A chicken carcass from your roast makes for a tasty bone broth base in this Chinese-inspired soup, served with eggs and cooked chicken. Its healthy, low fat, low in calories and gluten-free, too.

Ditch the takeaways and try making our Chinese chicken recipes.

This Asian-inspired soup is made using risotto rice for a really creamy texture. Weve used red Thai curry paste, coconut milk and chicken stock to pack in the flavour.

Check out more of our rice recipes for meal ideas using this storecupboard staple.

If you have soba or wholewheat noodles to hand, this soup is a real winner. The broth is made using any leftover chicken bones and meat from your Sunday roast, along with beansprouts, pak choi and spring onions for colour and texture.

Try more of our Thai chicken soup recipes for a warming dinner.

This rustic chicken and veg soup pairs perfectly with garlicky yogurt – swirl it through just before serving. Youll want a crusty baguette or a seeded roll to dunk, too.

Why not try and make your bread homemade? Our crusty bread or baguette would be perfect.

Whats not to love about a one-pot? This one takes just over half an hour to make, and its low in calories and fat, too. Use up any leftover roast chicken bones and meat to make the stock, then liven it up with storecupboard ingredients including soy sauce, honey and pickled ginger.

Whether you want a quick meal or a next-level supper, our chicken noodle soup recipes will satisfy your cravings for comfort food.

Fresh herbs, light dressings and interesting ingredients are sure to add life to leftover chicken. Pack it up and save money on a work lunch, or simply enjoy as a light but filling supper.

This colourful salad is practically a whole rainbow on your plate. Weve included instructions for how to roast a fresh chicken, but you can easily use up any leftover meat that you have to hand. Roast sweet potatoes and red onions with fennel seeds until caramelised, and serve with a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds for a final pop of colour.

Make a classic gremolata condiment and use it in a number of our gremolata recipes.

Earthy, sweet tarragon complements chicken, bacon, avocado and peas perfectly in this simple salad. Weve drizzled over an olive oil vinaigrette mixed with Dijon mustard for a touch of warming heat.

Serve a bright plate of goodness with our fuss-free chicken salad recipes.

Bulgur wheat is a brilliant base in this filling, summery salad piled high with chicken and flavoured with herbs. Sweet peaches and salty feta create a lovely balance of flavours.

Try more of our bulgur wheat recipes for ideas on how to make this grain centre-stage.

Topped with jewel-like pomegranate seeds and crumbled feta, this grain bowl is a really satisfying option for lunch or supper. The vibrant red Camargue rice makes it special enough to serve at a picnic or al fresco gathering, too.

Make the most of this deliciously salty cheese with our simple feta salad recipes.

Finely shredded red cabbage, carrots and spring onions form the base of this vibrant salad, drizzled with a punchy hoisin and sesame dressing. Its a healthy and low-calorie way to use up your leftover chicken, and the best part is that it takes only 20 minutes to make.

Salads arent just for summer – this chunky chopped salad is perfect for the winter months. Serve your leftover chicken with chunks of blue cheese, crispy bacon and hard-boiled eggs along with a honey mustard dressing.

Sometimes only a hot and hearty supper will do, so turn your leftovers into a comforting family meal with filling and flavour-packed enchiladas, bakes, hot pots and pies.

Opt for a larger chicken when shopping and maximise your meals by utilising the leftovers. Elevate the taste of your comforting stew by extracting rich flavour from the chicken bones. Simmer them alongside onions, carrots, parsnips, and celery to craft a homemade stock that takes your culinary creation to the next level.

Enjoy more winter chicken recipes that will warm you until spring.

Transform your leftover chicken into a quick, effortless curry featuring vibrant sugar snap peas. The coconut milk base imparts a creamy and mild character to the curry. If you desire a spicier kick, enhance the flavour by finishing with a generous sprinkle of chilli and coriander.

Whip up one of our warming chicken curry recipes, from creamy chicken korma and katsu to spicy tomato-based jalfrezi and madras.

Add some pizzazz to your leftover chicken with this recipe inspired by pad Thai. Its easy to make your own sauce using storecupboard ingredients that are often used in Thai cooking such as fish sauce, tamarind paste and sriracha.

Rustle up one of our pad Thai recipes for a cheaper alternative to a takeaway.

Potato-topped hotpots are the ultimate comfort food, and this recipe is a great way to use up both leftover chicken and any stray mixed vegetables from the freezer. Its a great way to get kids involved in the kitchen, too, and build up their cooking confidence.

Try more of our chicken & mushroom recipes for inspiration with this classic flavour pairing.

Transform your leftovers into a truly deluxe pie with leeks, mushrooms and a creamy, mustardy sauce. Weve topped it off with a crisp filo crust, brushed with olive oil and scattered with nigella seeds.

Make one of our chicken pie recipes for a comforting family dinner.

Onions, tomatoes and peppers add tonnes of flavour to the filling for this pie, which is finished with a layer of paprika-spiked mashed potatoes. Its dairy-free and low in salt, plus its ideal for making ahead – simply pop in the freezer for another evening.

Transport yourself to Spain with our Spanish-inspired recipes, from patatas bravas to paella.

This indulgent risotto is made even more rich with the addition of crème fraîche, plus a generous dusting of parmesan. Its an ideal way to serve leftover chicken breast, but you can use darker meat if thats what you have to hand.

Master this Italian dish with more of our risotto recipes.

Bulk out leftover meat from your chicken legs with kidney beans and sweetcorn, then wrap into tortillas to create these family-friendly enchiladas. Serve alongside salsa and a Mexican-style salad.

Try more enchilada recipes with any choice of filling.

This tasty tomato and onion bake is topped with torn mozzarella and crunchy breadcrumbs for a flavourful upgrade on roast chicken leftovers. Serve alongside your choice of mash, jacket potatoes, rice or pasta.

Try a warming, comforting Autumn chicken recipe.

Comforting and creamy, a perfectly cooked risotto is difficult to beat. Luckily this easy step-by-step recipe walks you through the process to create that rich risotto texture, with plump rice grains and a silky, starchy sauce. Weve paired cooked chicken chunks with bacon lardons for an extra dose of flavour.

If you always order egg-fried rice from your local Chinese takeaway, you have to try this homemade version. Its a perfect way to introduce children to some mild spice, and as an added bonus its all cooked in one pan, saving you time and effort on the washing-up.

Take the two basic ingredients of rice and chicken and create something delicious with our rice & chicken recipes.

Finally, this tortilla-topped bake makes for a satisfying snack or a light lunch for two, complete with a layer of bubbling, gooey cheese to dig those nachos into. Serve alongside an avocado salad to really make a meal of it.

The Best LEFTOVER chicken recipe I’ve ever tried!

FAQ

What to do with leftover chicken breast meat?

Casserole Recipes with Leftover Chicken BreastsChicken Enchilada Casserole – make these enchiladas for a crowd. Chicken Rice Casserole. BBQ Chicken Casserole. Chicken Fajita Casserole. Million Dollar Chicken Casserole. Cheesy Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole. Chicken and Stuffing Casserole.

What can I make with leftover cooked chicken?

Leftover chicken dinnersWaste-nothing chicken & dumpling stew. Easy leftover chicken curry. Leftover roast chicken pad Thai. Chicken & mushroom hot-pot. Chicken & leek filo pie. Spanish-style chicken pie. Roast chicken & pea risotto. Easy chicken & bean enchiladas.

What meals can be made from chicken breast?

Chicken breast recipesChicken pasta bake. A star rating of 4. 6 out of 5. ‘Marry me’ chicken. A star rating of 4. 7 out of 5. Easy chicken fajitas. A star rating of 4. 7 out of 5. Mustard-stuffed chicken. Crunchy garlic chicken. Chicken & chorizo jambalaya. Chicken & bacon pasta. App onlyChicken schnitzel caesar salad.

What can you get from old cooked chicken?

There are bacteria like Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Staphylococcus aureus that can make you sick if you eat cooked chicken that has gone bad. Symptoms of food poisoning can include: Nausea and vomiting Diarrhea Abdominal cramps Fever Headaches.