19 Delicious Ways to Use Up Leftover Shredded Chicken

Having leftover shredded chicken in your fridge can feel like striking gold With a bit of leftover chicken, you’re just a few ingredients away from a quick and easy meal But what exactly should you make with shredded chicken leftovers? The possibilities are endless.

Here are 19 delicious ways to transform leftover shredded chicken into crave-worthy dishes for any occasion.

Salads

Tossing shredded chicken into a fresh salad is one of the easiest ways to use up leftovers The chicken provides a hearty protein source while the vegetables and dressing make it a well-rounded meal

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

This tasty pasta salad combines two favorites – chicken caesar salad and pasta salad. Simply toss cooked pasta with shredded chicken, romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, and a homemade caesar dressing. It’s a filling and healthy lunch or light dinner option.

Thai Chicken Noodle Salad

For a flavorful Asian-inspired salad, combine shredded chicken with rice noodles, shredded carrots, bean sprouts, peanuts, and a peanut dressing. The crunchy textures and sweet and savory flavors are sure to satisfy

Chicken Cobb Salad

Make a hearty Cobb salad by topping mixed greens with rows of shredded chicken, hard boiled eggs, avocado, bacon, tomatoes, and blue cheese. The myriad of ingredients, tastes, and textures make this salad a crowd-pleaser.

Soups and Stews

Warm and comforting soups and stews are a terrific way to stretch leftover chicken. Simmer the chicken in flavorful broth along with vegetables, beans, pasta and seasonings for an easy one-pot meal.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

This Southwest-style soup features tender chicken simmered with tomatoes, chiles, corn, and Mexican spices. Top with avocado, shredded cheese, and tortilla strips for a dose of creaminess and crunch.

Chicken Noodle Soup

You can’t go wrong with classic chicken noodle soup, combining chicken, carrots, celery, onion, and egg noodles in chicken broth. For extra richness, use wide egg noodles instead of thin spaghetti-style ones.

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

For a heartier soup, make a Creole chicken and sausage gumbo. Cook the shredded chicken with andouille sausage, okra, bell peppers, and cajun seasoning in a smoky, tomato-based broth. It’s comfort food at its finest.

Sandwiches and Wraps

Piling flavorful chicken into a sandwich or wrap makes for a fast meal that travels well. Pair the chicken with cheese, veggies, sauce and bread to craft hand-held meals with global flair.

Chicken Caesar Wrap

This easy wrap calls for stuffing a flour tortilla with shredded chicken, romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese and creamy Caesar dressing. It’s like a chicken Caesar salad you can eat on-the-go.

Chicken Salad Sandwich

For a classic sandwich, mix shredded chicken with mayo, celery, grapes, and almonds. Stuff the chicken salad between slices of bread or roll it up in a wrap with lettuce and tomato for a fresh flavor.

Thai Chicken Wrap

Add an Asian twist to your wrap with shredded chicken, cucumber, bell pepper, cilantro, and a peanut sauce in a whole wheat tortilla. It’s bursting with sweet and nutty flavors.

Casseroles

Casseroles easily incorporate chicken leftovers into comforting baked dishes. Mix the chicken with pasta, rice, veggies, cheese and sauce to pull together a hearty meal.

Chicken Parmesan Pasta Bake

For an easy chicken parm, toss cooked pasta with shredded chicken, marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle breadcrumbs on top and bake until bubbly and browned.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Layer corn tortillas, shredded chicken, enchilada sauce, beans, and Mexican blend cheese for a fiesta-inspired casserole. Bake until hot and serve with your favorite toppings.

Chicken and Broccoli Rice Casserole

Combine shredded chicken, cooked rice, broccoli florets, cheddar cheese, and cream of chicken soup. Top with seasoned breadcrumbs or crackers and bake for a cheesy, creamy casserole.

Flatbreads and Pizza

Flatbreads, pitas and pizza crusts make excellent vessels for leftover chicken. Load them up with cheese, veggies and flavorful sauces for hand-held meals or shareable appetizers.

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Shredded chicken, barbecue sauce, red onion, cilantro and smoked gouda cheese are piled atop a pre-baked pizza crust to make this crowd-pleasing pizza.

Chicken Pesto Flatbread

Top a naan flatbread with pesto, shredded chicken, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. Bake until the cheese melts for a quick Mediterranean-style meal.

Greek Chicken Pitas

Stuffed pitas are an easy weeknight dinner. Fill pitas with shredded chicken, spinach, feta, red onion, and cucumber. Drizzle with tzatziki sauce for a refreshing Greek flavor.

Tacos, Enchiladas and More

Shredded chicken is right at home in Mexican dishes like tacos, enchiladas, nachos and quesadillas. Spice it up with salsas, beans, cheese and all your favorite toppings.

Chicken Tinga Tacos

Simmer shredded chicken in a rich chipotle tomato sauce to make tinga. Stuff into warm corn tortillas and top with queso fresco, avocado and cilantro for authentic flavor.

Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

Mix shredded chicken with Monterey Jack cheese, chiles, cumin and cilantro. Roll up in tortillas, smother with enchilada sauce and bake until hot and gooey.

Chicken Nachos

Pile tortilla chips with shredded chicken, black beans, salsa, guacamole, sour cream and melted cheese for the ultimate nacho experience.

Cooked shredded chicken is generally safe to eat for 3 to 4 days when stored in the refrigerator. It’s best to refrigerate it within two hours of cooking to minimize bacterial growth.