Psst. come over here! Yeah, you! We want to let you in on a little secret: rotisserie chickens. Using one at dinnertime is basically like pressing a magic button to skip ahead to the good part. You probably already know and love them (the one at Costco is famous for a reason), but do you know all the quick meals you can make with one? These store-bought rotisserie chicken recipes cut the prep work in half. Finally, having soft, juicy rotisserie chicken on hand lets you make soups, casseroles, and pasta dishes that taste like they’ve been cooking all day but only take a short time to make. Thanks to these 59 genius-level rotisserie chicken recipes, getting dinner on the table ASAP can absolutely be a weeknight reality.
Forgot to pick up a rotisserie chicken or feel like being a bit of an overachiever? Making a whole roasted chicken may sound intimidating, but it couldnt be any easier. Do you have an air fryer? If so, try our air-fryer rotisserie chicken recipe. It’s the simplest and most reliable way to make chicken that’s both crispy and juicy.
Ready for more chicken dinner winners? Check our our favorite baked chicken recipes, our top chicken pasta recipes, and our best chicken soups. With all that extra time you saved from making dinner, you can spend even more time whipping up one of these amazing desserts.
We just can’t get enough Tuscan chicken, especially when it’s in wrap form. It’s got chopped rotisserie chicken, creamy mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and plenty of fresh spinach, but the real secret to what makes this wrap so delicious is in the sauce.
A rotisserie chicken from the grocery store can be a busy cook’s secret weapon. These juicy, flavorful chickens are ready to eat as-is, but they can also be used in a variety of dishes, saving you time and effort.
A rotisserie chicken from the store can help you make dinner quickly when you don’t have much time. You can make a lot of different tasty meals with leftover rotisserie chicken and some simple items from your pantry and fridge.
Here are 33 ideas for how to use up a rotisserie chicken
Salads and Wraps
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Chicken Caesar Salad – Romaine lettuce, rotisserie chicken, Parmesan, croutons, and Caesar dressing
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Chicken Cobb Salad – Greens chicken bacon, hard-boiled egg, avocado, tomato, blue cheese.
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Chicken Salad Wraps – Shredded chicken mixed with mayo, celery, onions, stuffed into tortillas.
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Chicken Fajita Salad – Chicken, peppers, onions, beans, corn, cheddar, salsa, greens.
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Thai Chicken Salad – Shredded chicken, cabbage, carrots, cilantro, peanuts, ginger dressing.
Soups and Stews
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Chicken Noodle Soup – Chicken, carrots, celery, onion, noodles, chicken broth.
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Chicken Tortilla Soup – Chicken, tomatoes, corn, black beans, tortilla strips, cilantro.
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Chicken and Dumplings – Shredded chicken in thick broth with homemade dumplings.
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Chicken Chili – Shredded chicken, beans, tomatoes, onions, chili powder. Top with cheese, sour cream.
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Chicken Pot Pie Soup – Chicken, carrots, peas, potatoes in creamy broth, topped with biscuits.
Pasta and Grains
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Chicken Alfredo – Fettuccine, shredded chicken, Alfredo sauce, broccoli.
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Chicken Carbonara – Penne, chicken, bacon, peas, Parmesan, egg, olive oil.
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Chicken and Rice Casserole – Chicken, rice, cream of mushroom soup, cheese.
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Chicken Fajita Bowls – Spanish rice, black beans, chicken, peppers, onion, cheese, salsa.
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Chicken Fried Rice – Shredded chicken, rice, peas, carrots, eggs, soy sauce.
Sandwiches
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Chicken Salad Sandwiches – Shredded chicken mixed with mayo, celery, onion, on bread or croissants.
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Chicken Philly Cheesesteaks – Sliced chicken, peppers, onions, cheese sauce, hoagie rolls.
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Chicken Club Sandwiches – Chicken, bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayo on bread.
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Chicken Avocado Melts – Chicken, melted cheese, avocado, on panini bread.
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Chicken Banh Mi – Chicken, pickled veggies, cilantro, mayo, on a baguette.
Tacos and Quesadillas
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Chicken Tacos – Shredded chicken, lettuce, tomato, cheese in tortillas.
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Chicken Tinga Tacos – Chipotle chicken tinga, cilantro, onion, lime, corn tortillas.
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Buffalo Chicken Tacos – Buffalo chicken, lettuce, tomato, blue cheese dressing, tortillas.
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Chicken Fajita Quesadillas – Grilled chicken, peppers, onions, cheese between tortillas.
Skillets and Casseroles
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Chicken Enchilada Skillet – Chicken, black beans, corn, enchilada sauce, cheese, tortillas.
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Chicken Divan – Chicken, broccoli, Swiss cheese sauce, rice pilaf.
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Chicken Pot Pie Skillet – Chicken, carrots, peas, biscuit topping.
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Chicken Parmesan Casserole – Chicken, tomato sauce, mozzarella, rigatoni.
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Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese – Chicken, hot sauce, cheddar, pasta.
Soups and Stews
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Chicken Noodle Soup – Chicken, carrots, celery, onion, noodles, chicken broth.
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Chicken Tortilla Soup – Chicken, tomatoes, corn, black beans, tortilla strips, cilantro.
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Chicken and Dumplings – Shredded chicken in thick broth with homemade dumplings.
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Chicken Chili – Shredded chicken, beans, tomatoes, onions, chili powder. Top with cheese, sour cream.
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Chicken Pot Pie Soup – Chicken, carrots, peas, potatoes in creamy broth, topped with biscuits.
Pizzas
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BBQ Chicken Pizza – BBQ sauce, chicken, red onion, cheddar, pizza crust.
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Buffalo Chicken Pizza – Buffalo chicken, blue cheese crumbles, mozzarella, pizza dough.
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Chicken Alfredo Pizza – Alfredo sauce, chicken, spinach, tomatoes, pizza crust.
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Mexican Chicken Pizza – Salsa, chicken, black beans, corn, cilantro, tortilla chips on pizza.
Baked Dishes and Casseroles
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Chicken Parmesan – Chicken breasts breaded and baked with tomato sauce, mozzarella.
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Chicken Pot Pie – Chicken, veggies, creamy sauce, puff pastry crust.
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Chicken Enchiladas – Shredded chicken, cheese, salsa, tortillas, enchilada sauce.
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Chicken Tetrazzini – Chicken, spaghetti, mushrooms, Parmesan, white sauce.
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King Ranch Chicken Casserole – Chicken, tortillas, cheese, cream of mushroom soup.
Burgers and Sliders
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Chicken Salad Sliders – Chicken salad, mini buns.
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BBQ Chicken Sliders – Pulled chicken, BBQ sauce, brioche buns.
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Chicken Ranch Sliders – Chicken, bacon, ranch, cheese, slider buns.
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Chicken Parmesan Sliders – Chicken patty, tomato sauce, mozzarella, mini buns.
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Chicken Caprese Sliders – Chicken, tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, ciabatta rolls.
As you can see, the possibilities are endless when it comes to using up a store-bought rotisserie chicken! With just a few simple ingredients, you can give leftover chicken new life in casseroles, sandwiches, salads, pizzas, pastas, and more. A rotisserie chicken takes the effort out of cooking protein, giving you a quick head start on tasty family meals.
So next time you need a shortcut for getting dinner on the table, pick up a ready-to-eat rotisserie chicken. With the recipes and ideas above, you’ll never again have to ask “What can I make with a rotisserie chicken?”
Crunchy Mandarin Orange-Chicken Salad
The Chinese Chicken Salad at The Cheesecake Factory gives me some ideas for this recipe. They use wonton strips and crispy rice noodles in theirs. Instead, we sub in a block of dried ramen—broken up, the crunchy, wavy noodles act as croutons just as well.
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Classic chicken salad is a tasty go-to for lunch and picnics. It has well-seasoned chicken, a rich mayo dressing, lots of fresh celery, and a little acidity. While we think this balance of add-ins is the best, feel free to change things up and make it your own.
Get the Best Chicken Salad recipe.
If you didn’t grow up with this comfort food, allow us to introduce you to your new favorite easy weeknight dinner. Chicken, spaghetti, and veggies combine with a creamy, cheesy sauce for a baked and bubbling casserole that’s just as perfect for busy weeknights as it is for parties.
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A lot of tamale pies come with the cornbread layer on top, but we strongly feel that it should be on the bottom, where it can get crispy. To make it extra easy, we upgraded a box of muffin mix with some sour cream and canned corn, and we highly recommend it.
Get the Chicken Tamale Pie recipe.
Are Mexican tostadas the perfect light and easy dinner? We think they just might be. They have all the delicious crunch of a tortilla chip but act as a vehicle for whatever toppings you like. Here, that means creamy refried beans and a chile-spiked shredded chicken topping.
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Shredded chicken tacos are the perfect way to spice up your taco Tuesday. This recipe is inspired by chicken tinga, a Mexican guisado (or stew) made of tender shredded chicken thats added to a tomato sauce spiked with chiles, onion, garlic, and spices. Top the tacos with cilantro, creamy avocado, and good squeeze of lime!
Get the Shredded Chicken Tacos recipe.
Peanut Chicken Wonton Cups
These peanut chicken wonton cups are super simple to put together and packed with flavor. Tender shredded rotisserie chicken gets tossed in a spicy-sweet peanut butter sauce, stuffed in a crispy baked wonton shell, and topped with bright, colorful, and crunchy veggies to make this easy light meal.
Get the Peanut Chicken Wonton Cups recipe.
If you have a rotisserie chicken make this for dinner
FAQ
What can you make out of rotisserie chicken?
Put your trust in this staple, and you can have spring salads, sandwiches, soups and suppers that are easy, delicious and even healthy. Rotisserie Chicken Salad With Greens and Herbs. Chicken Tortilla Soup. Rotisserie Chicken and Greens Pasta. Crispy Wonton Chicken Salad. White Chicken Chili.
How to use an entire rotisserie chicken?
6 Ways to Get the Most Out of a Rotisserie ChickenEat It Hot. While excellent as leftovers, rotisserie chicken is best when it’s still hot and its skin is taut. Make a Light Chicken Salad. Top a Bowl of Soup. Bulk Up a Green Salad. Stack a Chicken BLT. Make Chicken Stock.
What can be made from leftover roast chicken?
Leftover chicken recipesChicken soup. A star rating of 4. 5 out of 5. One pot chicken and mushroom risotto. A star rating of 4. 8 out of 5. Easy coronation chicken. Chicken & bacon pasta. Chicken, leek & mushroom pies. Chicken fried rice. Honey-mustard chicken pasta. Creamy spinach, basil & chicken pasta.
How many meals can you make with a rotisserie chicken?
You can use a rotisserie chicken to make any kind of meal your family likes, like burritos, soups, salads, tacos, or quesadillas. For many families that whole chicken can provide 2 or maybe even 3 meals!.
What is rotisserie chicken?
Rotisserie chicken is a versatile base from which to make so many delicious, quick, and nourishing meals. Here are 12 recipes you can try for dinner tonight.
What is rotisserie chicken good for?
Certain ingredients are easy to turn to for quick and easy dinners. One of the most popular is a store-bought rotisserie chicken. It’s delicious of course, but it’s also extremely versatile and can be used in all manner of recipes, plus, the bones can be used to make a lovely homemade stock.
What can you make with rotisserie chicken?
Shrivered rotisserie chicken is quickly given more flavor with chili powder and cayenne pepper. This makes it a zesty filler for soft tortillas. Put out bowls of toppers like pico de gallo, shredded cheese, lettuce, and sour cream so everyone can customize their own.
What can you make with store-bought rotisserie chicken?
Luckily, this list has that recipe and more, like quick chicken salad, nachos that everyone loves, and a ton of easy casserole ideas that all use store-bought rotisserie chicken! There are, of course, many 30-minute meals and even some that are faster than that.
What to do with Leftover rotisserie chicken?
Best of all, you can get so creative when using leftover rotisserie chicken. Try flavor-packed dishes like spicy chicken quesadillas and buffalo chicken mac and cheese or stick to the classics like chicken pot pie. It takes what used to be a time-consuming Sunday supper and turns it into a quick weeknight savior! Looking for more family-favorites?
Can you use a rotisserie chicken for Soup?
If you have a busy week ahead and need inspiration on using a rotisserie chicken to the fullest, here are 12 of Simply Recipes’ favorite ways. This soup features the cozy flavors of chicken pot pie with none of the hassle and just 10 minutes of prep time. A small upgrade to your classic chicken cobbler makes all the difference.