51 Rotisserie Chicken Recipes That Make Short Work of Dinner

Weeknight dinners can be hard. They take a fair amount of planning and prep—and there just aren’t enough hours in the day to make something spectacular. Every. Single. Night. That’s why we could all use a good shortcut from time to time. When you need an easy chicken dinner (because, let’s be honest: the whole family loves chicken) turn to shredded chicken. You can add it to just about anything you’re cooking up—and it’s available on demand if you start with a rotisserie chicken. Need a few ideas to get you started? We’ve got plenty but highly recommend this hearty grain bowl that perfectly balances crunchiness, creaminess and flavor. You can even make a big batch of quinoa and keep it frozen in resealable bags for up to 1 month so that all you have to do when you’re ready to eat is reheat it.

This casserole is perfect when you’re craving the flavors of chicken Parmesan but want a shortcut version. Simply toss cooked fettucine with shredded rotisserie chicken, mozzarella and your favorite jarred marinara sauce, then top it with buttery Parmesan and garlic breadcrumbs. Pop it in the oven until it’s hot and beautifully browned and crisped on top. Every bite contains the comfort of classic chicken parm with about half the prep.

It’s a one-pot wonder full of layered, rich flavors that is done in half the time as the traditional recipe thanks to the rotisserie chicken.

This Mediterranean-inspired, protein-packed dinner bowl is perfect for your next weeknight meal. We use plenty of pantry ingredients and store-bought items, including rotisserie chicken, roasted red pepper hummus and marinated artichokes, for a meal that comes together in a flash but doesn’t skimp on flavor or protein – each serving provides 59 grams. We top it off with an easy tzatziki sauce for a refreshing tang and crushed pita chips for a bit of crunch.

Marcela's 5-star recipe saves time by utilizing rotisserie chicken, which allows you to make the star ingredient in this flavorful dish from scratch: a simple tomatillo sauce.

Gumbo in under an hour? Yes, it's possible with Valerie's shortcut recipe. But, don't worry this recipe doesn't cut corners when it comes to taste—it starts with the Creole 'holy trinity' (onion, bell pepper and celery) for a flavorful based and finished dish.

Inspired by Costco’s famous chicken bake, we came up with a hand-held version that’s easy to make at home. The cheesy bacon-filled pockets taste great hot from the oven, but can also be made in advance and reheated wrapped in foil in a 400 degrees F-oven for 8 to 10 minutes.

Take your classic grilled cheese sandwich to a whole new level by layering in rotisserie chicken and piquant jalapeño peppers.

With rotisserie chicken, frozen spinach and grated cheese, this is a great recipe to make the most of those odds and ends that are hanging around the kitchen.

In this twist on a classic Southern dish, the noodle-like strands of crisp-tender squash find their way into a creamy chicken and vegetable casserole.

For a quick and impressive meal, layer crunchy corn tortillas with smoky chipotle chicken, coleslaw, sour cream and avocado. Typically made with beans, meat and vegetables, this Mexican favorite is incredibly flexible with the toppings.

For a healthier and quicker take on pulled pork sandwiches, give Ellie's chicken BBQ sandwiches a try.

Bev says, "What you'll do is just layer, layer, layer. Little bit of (store-bought!) marinara down in the bottom of a big cast-iron skillet (I used a 13-incher for this). Then goes a layer of the cooked, broken lasagna sheets. Then some shredded chicken. Then a few dollops with the herbed ricotta. Followed by shredded mozzarella, and then more sauce. Repeat about three more times. It doesn't have to be perfect, because a) life and b) you'll top it all with the remaining sauce and more shredded cheese."

Aaron's cheesy rotisserie chicken balls get a big dose of flavor from hot sauce and fresh scallions. Serve with a tangy blue cheese dipping sauce.

We save some time by piping the chicken, cheese and spinach filling directly into uncooked manicotti shells, then letting them bake to perfection in a creamy, rich Alfredo sauce. Comfort pasta at its best.

This is my super-fast version of the pasta dish that originated in Naples, Italy. In addition to the classic ingredients of tomatoes, olives, garlic and anchovies, I nestle cut-up rotisserie chicken in the sauce as it simmers for a hearty weeknight meal that's ready in a flash.

Personal pot pies make it easy to use up exactly what you have on hand. The secret ingredient for an extra burst of chicken flavor? A bouillon cube.

This dish whips store-bought rotisserie chicken, salsa and beans into a quick enchilada bake that is ready in less than an hour. It's a great use for that leftover half of a chicken, but if you have a whole chicken, you can easily double the recipe to make 8 to 12 servings.

Toss fusilli with plenty of fresh parsley, spinach, shredded rotisserie chicken and mozzarella and bake it until golden brown. A shower of fresh parsley at the end adds a fresh touch.

Healthier than traditional tamales, thanks to a noticeable lack of lard, these tasty tamales use shredded rotisserie chicken, green peas and pimiento olives. However, the filling options are limited only by your imagination.

Low maintenance and packed with flavor, this creamy casserole transforms dorm-friendly ramen noodles into a satisfying casserole for a crowd.

Make this soup when you need something both warming and wholesome. It's full of fresh flavor and hearty whole-grains, like fiber-rich farro.

Classic coq au vin can take up to two days to prepare, including marinating the chicken overnight. We make a red wine sauce with bacon, mushrooms and pearl onions (the frozen variety, so you can skip the tedious peeling), then slip in rotisserie chicken parts to warm through, and voila!

Made with citrus, herbs and mustard, there’s no shortage of flavor with these tender, pan-fried chicken cakes.

Thanks to shredded rotisserie chicken, Ree’s spicy soup is ready in just 16 minutes.

This quick and easy dinner is a complete meal in one simple dish. It’s loaded with chicken, pasta and veggies — all wrapped up in a creamy, cheesy sauce.

Grilled tomatillo salsa elevates the rotisserie chicken in this dish. You can warm flour tortillas directly on the grill, but Bobby prefers blue corn tortillas, which he runs under water before grilling so they don't burn.

Geoffrey's "icebox cleanout" salad is perfect for busy nights when you need to use what's on hand. Mix and match meats, veggies and cheeses depending on what's in the fridge.

Frozen dumplings and pre-cooked rotisserie chicken help bring this warm, comforting soup together in just 30 minutes.

Packed with Moroccan spiced chickpeas, rice tossed in a cilantro vinaigrette, tender eggplant and moist shredded chicken, Melissa's layered meal is the perfect solution when you need a quick dinner.

Why fuss with making a traditional pot pie? You can finish this easy stove-top version in half the time. Topping the finished filling with golden, buttery pieces of puff pastry is a delicious, fast and pretty finish to this bowl of comfort.

Mix it up on pasta night with this 35-minute dish. The fettuccine is tossed with chicken, sautéed bell peppers, onion, garlic and jalapeno. Lime juice and cilantro round out the Tex-Mex inspired flavor.

When you need a speedy meal, salad is always a good option. This Waldorf-inspired salad is extra filling, thanks to the addition of shredded rotisserie chicken.

The secret to this shortcut version of the comfort classic is using rotisserie chicken and prepared biscuit dough: With these two products on hand, a three-hour dish becomes fast enough for a weeknight dinner and easy enough (just one pot!) that you can make it almost anywhere--from a camping trip to a vacation rental.

Shredded rotisserie chicken practically begs to be doused in sweet-and-smoky barbecue sauce. Pile it high in soft rolls and top with a tangy cucumber-and-onion topping for the perfect sandwich.

Claire's 5-ingredient dip packs all the delicious flavor of wings into one cheesy, spicy bowl. This is the perfect pick when you need a fun, laid-back dinner. Add veggies and crackers for dipping or spread onto slices of bread.