Bone-in thighs are seasoned, baked, and then put under the broiler for crispy skin and juicy meat. This recipe couldn’t be easier to make.
Cooked chicken thighs are incredibly versatile. They can be used in a variety of dishes, from hearty casseroles to fresh salads. With a bit of creativity, you can transform leftover cooked chicken thighs into delicious new meals for your family. Here are 15 creative ways to use up leftover cooked chicken thighs:
Make Chicken Salad
A classic way to use up extra chicken is to make chicken salad. Dice or shred the cooked chicken thighs and mix them with mayonnaise, lemon juice, celery, onions, herbs, and other favorite foods. As a sandwich, put the chicken salad between two pieces of bread or inside a pita. For a lighter meal, you can also put chicken salad on lettuce.
Stir-Fry with Vegetables
Slice or shred the cooked chicken thighs and stir-fry with fresh vegetables like broccoli, carrots bell peppers and snap peas. Toss everything with a flavorful stir-fry sauce made with ingredients like soy sauce, sesame oil garlic and ginger. Serve over rice for a quick and healthy dinner.
Add to Soups
Cooked chicken is a great addition to many soups. Put the chicken thighs in soups like chicken noodle, minestrone, tortilla, or creamy tomato. Cut them up or shred them. The chicken adds extra protein and flavor.
Make Enchiladas
For an easy weeknight meal, fill corn tortillas with shredded chicken thighs, cheese and enchilada sauce. Roll up and bake until hot and melty. Top with extra cheese, cilantro, avocado and serve with Spanish rice.
Chicken Tetrazzini
Transform spaghetti and cooked chicken thighs into a casserole by combining with a creamy sauce, mushrooms, peas and Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle breadcrumbs or crushed crackers on top and bake until bubbling and crispy.
Chicken Pot Pie
Make individual pot pies by filling ramekins with diced cooked chicken, vegetables like peas, carrots and celery, and a creamy sauce. Top with pie crust and bake until golden. Quick, cute and delicious!
Chicken Quesadillas
Add shredded chicken, cheese (like cheddar or Monterey Jack), and onions and peppers that have been sautéed to the tortillas. Grill the quesadillas in a skillet until the cheese melts. Serve with salsa, guacamole and sour cream.
Chicken Tacos
Shredded chicken thighs make fantastic tacos. You can use corn or flour tortillas to hold the chicken. Then add salsa, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and avocado.
Chicken Pizza
Use cooked chicken as a pizza topping instead of sausage or pepperoni. Shred or dice the chicken and scatter over prepared pizza dough with other toppings like cheese, mushrooms, peppers and onions.
Chicken Salad Wraps
Make chicken salad with the cooked chicken thighs and wrap up in flour tortillas or lettuce leaves for a quick, on-the-go handheld meal.
Chicken Noodle Casserole
This comforting casserole combines egg noodles, chicken thighs, cream of chicken soup, cheese and vegetables like peas and carrots. Top with crushed crackers or fried onions and bake until bubbly.
Chicken Fried Rice
Stir small pieces of cooked chicken into fried rice with vegetables and eggs scrambled in. The chicken adds extra flavor and protein.
Chicken Caesar Salad
Chopped cooked chicken turns a green salad into a chicken Caesar salad. Toss romaine lettuce, chicken thighs, Parmesan cheese, croutons and Caesar dressing for a hearty main dish salad.
Chicken Banh Mi Sandwiches
Fill a crusty baguette with sliced cooked chicken, cucumber, cilantro, pickled carrots and daikon radish for a Vietnamese-style sandwich. Spread with spicy mayo or Sriracha for extra flavor.
Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Another tasty sandwich idea is to mix chopped chicken thighs with mayo, cranberries, celery, pecans, mustard and other favorite ingredients. Spoon onto whole grain bread or croissants.
So instead of eating leftover cooked chicken thighs plain, try one of these creative recipes. Your family will love these tasty chicken dishes!
How to Bake Chicken Thighs
This chicken recipe is easy to make and will disappear in minutes!
- Pat chicken thighs dry with a clean paper towel.
- Drizzle with oil and season generously.
- Bake the thighs until they reach 165°F.
- Broil to crisp the skin if desired.
Serve with roast potatoes and green beans for a perfect meal.
- More heat makes the skin crispier, so I cook my chicken at 425°F.
- This recipe is for 6 oz. of bone-in thighs. If you use bigger thighs, they will need more time to cook.
- If you can, put the chicken thighs on a rack so the fat can drip off. They can be cooked right on the baking sheet if you don’t have a rack.
- A meat thermometer should read 165°F for chicken thighs when they are done baking.
The Essentials for Baked Chicken Thighs
Chicken: This recipe uses bone-in chicken thighs. Since chicken thighs are dark meat, they’re extra flavorful and tender. You can also use thighs, legs, or drumsticks that are boneless and skinless; just change the baking time (use this recipe for chicken breasts). Thaw frozen thighs before using.
Seasonings: The savory flavor in this recipe comes from poultry or Italian seasoning. Taste test your seasoning before adding additional salt as this can differ by brand!.
4 Cheap and Easy Chicken Thigh Recipes | Allrecipes
FAQ
Can you cook chicken thighs at home?
If you prefer to cook your own chicken at home for this recipe, you’ll need to start with about 2 lbs. of raw boneless, skinless chicken thighs or boneless skinless chicken breasts. Boil the chicken in the broth until cooked through, about 15 minutes. Then remove the meat to a cutting board to chop or shred with two forks.
How long do you cook chicken thighs in the oven?
You can also grill the chicken in the oven. Just put the chicken on skewers and grill it for 20 minutes at 170 degrees in an oven that has already been heated up, or until the chicken is done. In between like after 10 minutes bast with butter, flip and keep again in oven for 10 more minutes or till the chicken is completely done.
What temperature do you bake chicken thighs?
Juicy Baked Chicken Thighs are easy to make and the most delicious oven-baked chicken thighs ever! They’re coated in pantry-staple spices and baked until crispy on the outside and unbelievably juicy inside. With a few simple tips, this baked chicken thighs recipe turns out perfect every single time. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
What can you make with leftover cooked chicken?
Leftover chicken dinnersWaste-nothing chicken & dumpling stew. Easy leftover chicken curry. Leftover roast chicken pad Thai. Chicken & mushroom hot-pot. Chicken & leek filo pie. Spanish-style chicken pie. Roast chicken & pea risotto. Easy chicken & bean enchiladas.
What can I make from chicken thighs?
Chicken thigh recipesCreamy chicken stew. A star rating of 4. 5 out of 5. Chicken arrabbiata stew & parmesan dumplings. One-pot garlicky chicken thighs & giant cous cous. Easy chicken curry. Sticky Chinese five-spice chicken traybake. Home-style chicken curry. Ginger chicken udon noodles. Amatriciana chicken traybake.
What to do with leftover fried chicken thighs?
15 Best Leftover Fried Chicken Recipes You Have to TryChicken & Dumpling Casserole. Chicken Waldorf Salad Bites. Fried Chicken Salad. Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes. Chicken Gnocchi Soup. Peanut Noodles With Chicken. Popeyes Chicken Sandwich. Fried Chicken Over Rice.
How long are leftover chicken thighs good for?
USDA recommends using cooked chicken within three to four days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within three to four days.