There isn’t a better way to enjoy chicken in the summer than with barbecue sauce. The classic sweet, sour, and (sometimes!) spicy sauce goes well with chicken breasts, thighs (our favorite cut), and wings. There’s a recipe here for everyone, whether you love making your own BBQ or just want to spice up store-bought. Check out our 32 BBQ chicken recipes—they’re great for summer, and beyond.
Chicken is truly one of our favorite versatile proteins, and adding BBQ sauce doesn’t even begin to limit its potential. For starters, you’ve got SO many options for sauce. But we get it, it feels like every state’s got their own style, and it can be tricky to figure out which one’s for you. We’ve ranked our favorite barbecue sauces to get you started—out of the 14, you’re sure to find one that tickles your fancy. You could also make your own! Check out our Dr. BBQ sauce, our Carolina BBQ sauce, or our Kansas City BBQ sauce. Pepper BBQ sauce for ideas. You can always give a store-bought item a little extra kick if you don’t want to make everything from scratch. Even just adding a little garlic, soy sauce, and smoked paprika, like we did in our BBQ chicken marinade recipe, can turn a lackluster bottle into something great.
Want even more chicken in your life? Try our favorite grilled chicken recipes, our top chicken weeknight dinners, and our best baked chicken recipes too.
Half the reason why we love BBQ chicken is because of the sauce right? Luckily, this oven-baked barbecue chicken is just as wonderful as a grilled version, and doesnt dry out with that beautiful layer of sauce on top. Its the perfect dinner, no matter the weather!
Barbecue chicken is a staple at many summer gatherings and backyard cookouts. The tantalizing aroma and flavorful, tender meat are always a hit. But inevitably, you’re left with leftovers after the party winds down. Don’t let that delicious barbecue chicken go to waste! There are endless possibilities for transforming those leftovers into easy, delicious meals.
This article will show you 13 delicious ways to use up leftover barbecue chicken. From salads and sandwiches to casseroles and pizza, these recipes will help you get creative in the kitchen while also reducing food waste. Many of them can be made ahead of time or in just a few minutes. Now get creative, raid your fridge, and get ready to give that leftover barbecue chicken a tasty new life!
Store Leftover Chicken Safely
Before delving into recipes, proper storage of your leftover barbecue chicken is crucial for food safety. Here are some tips:
- Allow chicken to cool completely before storing.
- Store chicken meat separate from bones in shallow airtight containers.
- Refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 4 months.
- When reheating, ensure chicken reaches 165°F internally.
With the chicken safely stored, let’s explore how to put it to delicious use!
1. Barbecue Chicken Pizza
Give boring pizza night a flavor upgrade by topping crust with tangy barbecue chicken. Mix diced chicken with mozzarella, red onion, cilantro, and barbecue sauce. Spread onto crust and bake until cheese melts. The combo of cheesy sweet and smoky is sure to satisfy.
2. Barbecue Chicken Salad
Transform leftover chicken into a hearty main-dish salad. For a healthy and filling meal, mix chopped barbecue chicken with mixed greens, corn, black beans, shredded cheese, and barbecue ranch dressing.
3. Barbecue Chicken Tacos
Liven up taco night by using shredded barbecue chicken as the star ingredient. Load the chicken into warmed tortillas and finish with sliced avocado, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, and a dollop of salsa.
4. Barbecue Chicken Pasta
When you add shredded barbecue chicken to pasta, it gets a protein boost. Put chicken, cooked pasta, barbecue sauce, roasted red peppers, and Parmesan cheese in a bowl. Warm through and serve topped with crispy bacon bits.
5. Barbecue Chicken Quesadillas
Quesadillas are a handy way to use up leftover chicken. Fill tortillas with Monterey jack cheese, barbecue chicken, and sautéed onions. Cook in a skillet until the cheese melts. Serve with sour cream, guacamole, and fresh tomato salsa.
6. Barbecue Chicken Flatbread Sandwiches
Build an easy flatbread sandwich by layering naan or pizza dough with barbecue chicken, bacon, Swiss cheese, lettuce, and ranch dressing. Bake until the flatbread is crispy. Enjoy this hearty handheld meal on-the-go.
7. Barbecue Chicken Casserole
Transform leftover chicken into comfort food by baking it in a casserole. Combine chicken with rice, corn, beans, and barbecue sauce. Top with cheese and breadcrumbs. Bake until bubbly for a hearty one-dish meal.
8. Barbecue Chicken Wraps
Make lunch easy by wrapping up leftover barbecue chicken in a tortilla or flatbread with fixings like lettuce, tomato, avocado, and ranch dressing. It’s a tasty on-the-go meal with less mess than a sandwich.
9. Barbecue Chicken Sliders
Put pickles, barbecue sauce, and leftover chicken on mini-buns to make sliders that people will want to eat all the time. For a party or a quick dinner when you don’t have much time, these are great. Add cheese and bacon for extra indulgence.
10. Barbecue Chicken Chili
Breathe new life into leftover chicken by adding it to a pot of chili along with beans, veggies, and spices. The barbecue flavor infuses the chili with sweet, smoky depth. Top with shredded cheese, onions, and sour cream.
11. Barbecue Chicken Soup
Transform leftover chicken into a hearty and comforting soup. Simmer chicken in broth with veggies like carrots, celery, onion, and potatoes. Season with barbecue sauce or spices. Finish with fresh herbs.
12. Barbecue Chicken Fried Rice
Stir leftover chicken into fried rice with vegetables, eggs, and soy sauce. The barbecue flavor adds a tasty twist to this classic one-skillet meal. Customize with extras like pineapple, peanuts or green onions.
13. Barbecue Chicken Nachos
Pile tortilla chips high with shredded barbecue chicken, cheese, beans, salsa, guacamole, and cool sour cream. Bake until the cheese melts for irresistible nachos. They’re easy to customize based on what’s in your refrigerator.
Endless Possibilities with Leftover Barbecue Chicken
As you can see, the options are almost limitless when it comes to repurposing leftover barbecue chicken! With a little creativity, you can give new life to leftover chicken and whip up quick, easy and delicious meals.
Not only will you reduce food waste, but you’ll also save time and money by making the most of what you have on hand. So don’t let that leftover barbecue chicken go to waste. Try one of these mouthwatering recipes or experiment and come up with your own ways to transform those leftovers into culinary magic!
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Grilled-BBQ-Chicken-LEAD-10-03fd9892eaae4ce1a8a3f4c949657cfd.jpg)
BBQ Chicken Twice-Baked Potatoes
These twice-baked potatoes are loaded with the makings of a full chicken dinner, and are infinitely customizable. Not a fan of spice? Ditch the jalapeños. Prefer mozzarella or pepper jack over Gouda? Swap em in.
Get the BBQ Chicken Twice-Baked Potatoes recipe.
Slow-Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken
The easiest way to make pulled chicken taste better is to add some brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and spices to store-bought barbecue sauce. This recipe calls for using a slow cooker (or the slow cooker function of your Instant Pot), meaning that theres hardly any work for you to do too.
Get the Slow-Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken recipe.Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks #healthy #dinner #bbq
FAQ
What can you do with barbecue chicken?
Top 100 bbq chicken recipes for dinner110-minute French onion chicken rice bake. 2BBQ chicken bacon pizza. 3Chicken, leek and sour cream pie. 4Chicken and cheese chimichangas. 5Chicken and black bean nachos. 6Creamy chicken and spinach potato bake. 7Lime and sriracha BBQ chicken tacos. 8Creamy Mexican chicken and corn salad.
What is barbecue chicken good for?
Protein Source: Chicken is a good source of lean protein, which is essential for muscle repair and growth. Vitamins and Minerals: Chicken provides important nutrients like B vitamins (especially niacin and B6), phosphorus, and selenium. Cooking Method: Grilling or baking chicken is generally healthier than frying.
What to put with barbecue chicken for dinner?
The Best BBQ SidesSpicy Mac And Cheese. Spicy Mac And Cheese with a kick from jalapeño. Luscious, creamy and made with simple ingredients. Baked Beans Recipe. Delicious Healthy Kale Slaw. Charred Broccoli. Air Fryer Zucchini Fries. Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Without Eggs. Overnight Bread. Vegetarian Stuffed Mini Peppers.
What are sides for barbecue chicken?
Barbecue sides recipesBarbecue sesame sweet potatoes. A star rating of 4. 7 out of 5. Charred asparagus & broccoli with blistered chilli dressing. A star rating of 3. 7 out of 5. Classic homemade coleslaw. A star rating of 4. 6 out of 5. Classic potato salad. Air fryer roasted veg. Epic summer salad. Pineapple salsa. Macho peas.