47 Shortcut Dinners You Can Make with Rotisserie Chicken
Make quick work of supper on busy weeknights by starting with a pre-cooked bird.
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Save Time and Effort
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.
Get the Recipe: Quinoa Bowl with Chicken and Avocado Cream
Chicken Shepherd's Pie
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.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Shepherd's Pie
Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
For a healthier and quicker take on pulled pork sandwiches, give Ellie's chicken BBQ sandwiches a try.
Get the Recipe: Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
Herby Chicken and Spinach Baked Pasta with Fresh Mozzarella
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.
Get the Recipe: Herby Chicken and Spinach Baked Pasta with Fresh Mozzarella
Buffalo Chicken Cheese Balls
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.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Cheese Balls
Individual Chicken Pot Pies
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.
Get the Recipe: Individual Chicken Pot Pies
Italian Chicken Pasta Salad
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.
Get the Recipe: Italian Chicken Pasta Salad
30-Minute Coq au Vin
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!
Get the Recipe: 30-Minute Coq au Vin
Shortcut Chicken Enchiladas
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.
Get the Recipe: Shortcut Chicken Enchiladas
Chicken Tamales
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.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tamales
Greek Lemon Chicken Soup
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.
Get the Recipe: Greek Lemon Chicken Soup
Chicken and Asparagus Crepes
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Asparagus Crepes
Chicken Carbonara
Get the Recipe: Chicken Carbonara
White Chicken Chili Stew
Get the Recipe: White Chicken Chili Stew
Shredded Chicken and Tomatillo Tacos
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.
Get the Recipe: Shredded Chicken and Tomatillo Tacos with Queso Fresco
Skillet Chicken and Dumplings
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.
Get the Recipe: Skillet Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken Flautas with Avocado Cream
Get the Recipe: Chicken Flautas with Avocado Cream
Pozole
Thanks to shredded rotisserie chicken, Ree’s spicy soup is ready in just 16 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Pozole
Chicken Ramen Noodle Dump Dinner
Low maintenance and packed with flavor, this creamy casserole transforms dorm-friendly ramen noodles into a satisfying casserole for a crowd.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Ramen Noodle Dump Dinner
Open-Face Vietnamese Chicken Sandwiches
Get the Recipe: Open-Face Sandwiches with Vietnamese Chicken Salad
Spring Chicken Salad
Get the Recipe: Spring Chicken Salad
Layered Picnic-in-a-Jar
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.
Get the Recipe: Layered Picnic-in-a-Jar
Chocolate Chicken Mole
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chicken Mole
Chicken and Black Bean Tostadas
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Black Bean Tostadas
Middle Eastern-Style Chicken, Veggies and Rice
Get the Recipe: Easy One-Pan Chicken, Veggies and Rice
Almost-Famous Chimichangas
Get the Recipe: Almost-Famous Chimichangas
Chicken Summer Rolls
Get the Recipe: Chicken Summer Rolls
Spiced Couscous and Chicken
Get the Recipe: Spiced Couscous and Chicken
Chicken Noodle Casserole
Get the Recipe: Chicken Noodle Casserole
Cold Peanut Soba Noodles with Chicken
Get the Recipe: Cold Peanut Soba With Chicken
Chicken and Bean Burrito Verde
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Bean Burrito Verde
Quick Rotisserie Chicken Pot Pies
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.
Get the Recipe: Quick Rotisserie Chicken Pot Pies
Buffalo Chicken Dip
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.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Dip
Asian Chicken and Quinoa Salad
Get the Recipe: Chicken, Sesame and Quinoa Salad
Chicken and Bean Burritos
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Bean Burritos
Chicken-and-Cheese Enchiladas
Get the Recipe: Chicken-and-Cheese Enchiladas
Baked Gnocchi with Chicken
Get the Recipe: Baked Gnocchi with Chicken
Chicken and White Corn Chowder
Get the Recipe: Chicken and White Corn Chowder
Sunny's Easy BBQ Chicken Pizza
Get the Recipe: Sunny's Easy BBQ Chicken Pizza
Chicken and Egg Soup with Pastina
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Egg Soup with Pastina
Chicken Soup with Dumplings
Frozen dumplings and pre-cooked rotisserie chicken help bring this warm, comforting soup together in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Soup with Dumplings
Lemon-Dill Chicken Cakes
Made with citrus, herbs and mustard, there’s no shortage of flavor with these tender, pan-fried chicken cakes.
Get the Recipe: Lemon-Dill Chicken Cakes
Cheesy Ditalini with Chicken and Spinach
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.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Ditalini with Chicken and Spinach
Chicken Waldorf Salad
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.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Waldorf Salad
Tequila-Chicken Fettuccine
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.
Get the Recipe: Tequila-Chicken Fettuccine
Barbecue Chicken Sliders
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.
Get the Recipe: Barbecue Chicken Sliders
Chicken Taco Salad
Health-ify your Tuesday night taco routine by serving all your favorite fillings over crisp, refreshing romaine lettuce.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Taco Salad
