20 Creative Leftover Chicken Recipes That Work Some Weeknight Magic

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Leftover chicken can easily feel like the start of another dull meal, but it doesn’t have to be. These creative leftover chicken recipes are the perfect solution for those nights when you want something quick, easy, and full of flavor. You’ll discover how to take simple leftovers and turn them into new, exciting dishes that don’t feel like leftovers at all. No more boring reheats—these recipes will make sure your chicken shines all over again. Perfect for busy weeknights, they save time without sacrificing taste.

Chicken Black Beans Salsa Corn Casserole

Close-up of a cheesy nacho dish topped with melted cheese, black olives, and diced vegetables.
Chicken Black Beans Salsa Corn Casserole. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

Toss in some leftover chicken, dump a few pantry cans, and you’ve got a one-dish wonder that barely needs babysitting. It’s a smart pick when you’re hunting for creative leftover chicken recipes that don’t look like leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Black Beans Salsa Corn Casserole

Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce

Lettuce wraps filled with chopped chicken, cucumber slices, and cilantro, garnished with lime wedges on a white platter.
Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

Wrap that chicken up and dunk it in a peanut sauce that pulls no punches. It’s a light-but-loaded pick when your leftovers need a little makeover.
Get the Recipe: Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce

Tamale Pot Pies Recipe

A serving of corn pudding next to mashed avocado on a clear glass plate, placed on a wooden surface.
Tamale Pot Pies Recipe. Photo credit: Honest And Truly.

This recipe takes leftover chicken and gives it a comfy cornbread blanket. You’ll end up with something that feels like effort without actually requiring it—perfect for anyone into clever and creative leftover chicken recipes.
Get the Recipe: Tamale Pot Pies Recipe

Healthy Coronation Chicken

Chicken salad with raisins on lettuce leaves, placed on a wooden surface.
Healthy Coronation Chicken. Photo credit: Cinnamon and Kale.

Toss that chicken into something a little posh but still lunchbox-friendly. This dish feels fancy-ish without a lot of fuss, which makes it a sneaky MVP for creative leftover chicken recipes.
Get the Recipe: Healthy Coronation Chicken

Easy Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas

A stack of cheesy chicken enchilada slices topped with drizzled sauce and chopped green onions on a wooden surface.
Easy Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas. Photo credit: Grits and Gouda.

Got leftover chicken and five minutes? Good, because that’s all you need to get something crispy, cheesy, and not even pretending to be boring. It’s a solid pick for creative leftover chicken recipes when takeout is tempting.
Get the Recipe: Easy Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas

10 Minute Gluten-Free Chicken Fried Rice

A bowl of rice with vegetables, including peas and carrots, topped with shredded cabbage. Chopsticks are placed resting on the bowl.
10 Minute Gluten-Free Chicken Fried Rice. Photo credit: The Helpful GF.

Your fridge leftovers just got way more exciting—this one brings flavor fast without any rice drama. You can throw it together quicker than your delivery guy can text “I’m here.”
Get the Recipe: 10 Minute Gluten-Free Chicken Fried Rice

Summer Cobb Salad with Corn & Blueberries

A salad with grilled chicken strips, cherry tomatoes, corn, diced cheese, bacon, and lettuce, served with a jar of red sauce in the center.
Summer Cobb Salad with Corn & Blueberries. Photo credit: Ask the Food Geek.

This Cobb salad ditches the usual and grabs blueberries instead, which somehow works. If you’re stuck with leftover chicken and want something fresh but not forgettable, this is your move.
Get the Recipe: Summer Cobb Salad with Corn & Blueberries

Easy BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza

Four square slices of barbecue chicken pizza with melted cheese and red onion on a white background.
Easy BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Flatbread pizza plus whatever leftover chicken you’ve got? Yes, please. It hits all the right notes when you’re over sandwiches and need a fun entry on your creative leftover chicken recipes list.
Get the Recipe: Easy BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza

Chicken and Yellow Rice

A skillet filled with yellow rice and shredded chicken, with a blue spoon resting inside.
Chicken and Yellow Rice. Photo credit: Erren’s Kitchen.

Grab that cold chicken and let it cozy up with golden rice and seasonings that don’t mess around. It’s a fridge-cleaner and a comfort dish all in one.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Yellow Rice

Chicken Broccoli Bake

Close-up of a cheesy broccoli and chicken casserole in a white baking dish, with a golden brown melted cheese topping.
Chicken Broccoli Bake. Photo credit: The Honour System.

Broccoli and chicken were meant to be leftovers together, apparently. Toss in a creamy sauce and a little cheese, and you’ve got yourself an upgrade from yesterday’s dinner.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Broccoli Bake

Parmesan-Artichoke Chicken Salad

Croissant sandwich filled with chicken salad, served on a white plate with blackberries and grapes, placed on a light green napkin on a wooden surface.
Parmesan-Artichoke Chicken Salad. Photo credit: Grits and Gouda.

This one skips boring and heads straight for bold with tangy artichokes and punchy cheese. If your leftover chicken needs a purpose, this salad doesn’t waste time.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan-Artichoke Chicken Salad

Green Chile Chicken with Leftover Shredded Chicken Thighs

A pot of creamy orange pasta sauce with chopped green onions, seasoned with black pepper. A wooden spoon rests in the sauce.
Green Chile Chicken with Leftover Shredded Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This dish brings the heat, the comfort, and the leftovers all in one pan. When you need creative leftover chicken recipes that actually feel new, this one delivers.
Get the Recipe: Green Chile Chicken with Leftover Shredded Chicken Thighs

Easy Chicken Quesadillas

Close-up of cheesy quesadillas with roasted vegetables on parchment paper, garnished with cilantro, accompanied by a lime wedge.
Easy Chicken Quesadillas. Photo credit: The Fresh Cooky.

Quesadillas are basically the duct tape of the kitchen—they fix everything. And when leftover chicken is involved, you know it’s going to be good.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chicken Quesadillas

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

Baked casserole with melted cheese, bacon pieces, and herbs in a rectangular dish, next to a large spoon on a blue cloth.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Chicken, bacon, and ranch walk into a casserole dish… and somehow it just works. This one earns its spot on your list of creative leftover chicken recipes with zero apology.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

Microwave Buffalo Chicken Dip

A bowl of cheese dip garnished with chopped green onions, surrounded by celery sticks, carrot sticks, and crackers.
Microwave Buffalo Chicken Dip. Photo credit: Dinners Done Quick.

You don’t need a party to justify this dip. If your leftover chicken’s boring you, nuke it with some buffalo sauce and call it a snack.
Get the Recipe: Microwave Buffalo Chicken Dip

Chicken Salad with Grapes and Dill

A bowl of chicken salad with sliced almonds, grapes, diced red onions, and celery on a gray surface.
Chicken Salad with Grapes and Dill. Photo credit: Cooking in The Keys.

Sweet grapes, herby dill, and that random chicken in your fridge finally get along. This one earns points for being easy, different, and oddly refreshing.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Salad with Grapes and Dill

Amazing Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl

A bowl of mixed vegetable stir-fry with shredded cabbage and carrots, topped with sesame seeds, and a pair of chopsticks rests on the bowl's rim.
Amazing Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl. Photo credit: Honest And Truly.

Shredded chicken meets takeout vibes in one pan. It’s got crunch, it’s got flavor, and it’s an ace move for creative leftover chicken recipes.
Get the Recipe: Amazing Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl

Cauliflower Chicken Casserole

Close-up of a serving of cheesy chicken and broccoli casserole on a spoon, showing melted cheese and browned edges, with more casserole in the baking dish in the background.
Cauliflower Chicken Casserole. Photo credit: The Honour System.

This one’s got veggies, cheese, and that leftover chicken you forgot about—don’t worry, it pulls it together. Great for feeding everyone with minimal complaints.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Chicken Casserole

Easy Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole

A bowl of shredded cheddar cheese and chopped green onions on a patterned cloth, with parsley and iced tea in the background.
Easy Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Grab that leftover chicken and smother it in cheesy rice and enchilada sauce. Suddenly last night’s dinner doesn’t look like a rerun.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole

Family Favorite Southwest Chicken Salad

A pasta salad with black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, and parsley garnish on a white plate.
Family Favorite Southwest Chicken Salad. Photo credit: Dizzy Busy and Hungry.

This salad doesn’t mess around—it’s loaded, fast, and keeps leftovers from going rogue. Plus, it’s an easy win for anyone who’s sick of reheating the same thing twice.
Get the Recipe: Family Favorite Southwest Chicken Salad

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Writer

Sarita Harbour has been stretching her food dollars to feed her family for over 30 years. As a former banker and current freelance writer, she's written boatloads of articles about budgeting, homesteading, gardening, personal finance and more. Her food-related articles have been widely syndicated through AP and MSN. Look for her food features at NBC, The Seattle Times, Yahoo! Life, Chowhound, Tasting Table and MSN.