Because they all start with easy shredded chicken, these Shredded Chicken Recipes are great for meal planning. There are Instant Pot and Crockpot recipes too.
See my collection of Dinner Recipes or my collection of Chicken Recipes if you need more ideas for easy meals.
I loved cooking, but I didn’t like having to eat something I made a lot of for days on end.
But as life gets busier, the more I value having something prepped and ready in the fridge.
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.
If you have leftover shredded chicken, here are 19 tasty recipes you can use to make dishes that everyone will want.
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
Chicken Caesar salad and pasta salad come together in this tasty pasta salad. To make the salad, just mix cooked pasta, shredded chicken, romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, and your own homemade Caesar dressing. It’s a filling and healthy lunch or light dinner option.
Thai Chicken Noodle Salad
Shredded chicken, rice noodles, shredded carrots, bean sprouts, peanuts, and a peanut dressing make a tasty Asian-style salad. The crunchy textures and sweet and salty tastes are sure to please.
Chicken Cobb Salad
Put rows of hard-boiled eggs, avocado, bacon, tomatoes, and blue cheese on top of mixed greens to make a hearty Cobb salad. This salad is a hit with everyone because it has so many different tastes, textures, and ingredients.
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.
Why shredded chicken is the perfect meal prep:
Shredded Chicken is such a great thing to have prepped ahead because of how versatile (and delicious!) it is!.
It really goes with anything, and you can add more or less seasoning or other sauces depending on what you want to do with it.
It’s lean, it’s healthy and high in protein — basically, it checks all of my boxes!
There are two ways to make chicken for these shredded chicken recipes: in the Instant Pot or the Crock Pot. These are my favorite ways to make tender, juicy shredded chicken without babysitting it on the stove.
From there, the options are endless!
How to shred chicken:
I guess this is a little old-fashioned of me, but I like to just use two forks to pull it apart.
There are lots of people who use a hand mixer or stand mixer, and just get in there and it’s shredded in a minute or less, but I find the chicken turns to mush and is super fine.
With forks, I can shred my chicken into chunks that are any size I want, and I can still see that they are chicken because they still have some of their texture.
You do you
And now what to do with all of that delicious chicken! Here’s your dinner inspiration for the week ahead:
The Best LEFTOVER chicken recipe I’ve ever tried!
FAQ
What can I do with Leftover shredded chicken?
Try these quick, easy recipes for using up leftover shredded chicken, and never waste it again. From pizzas and sliders to soups, stews and enchiladas.
What to do with leftover Turkey & shredded chicken?
Easy Chicken Sliders are a great way to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey or shredded chicken. Shredded chicken, cheese, red onion and spices are sandwiched between slider buns and heated. This easy appetizer recipe for cold buffalo chicken dip is great for game day, family get-togethers, or the holidays! Cheesy Chicken Corn Dip (No-Bake!)
What to do with leftover BBQ chicken?
Stir-fry your chicken with day-old rice, soy sauce, scrambled eggs, and your favorite veggies. Add sesame oil for an aromatic finish. This dish also works beautifully with leftover BBQ chicken recipes with rice for a smoky touch. 17. Chicken Enchiladas Roll your shredded chicken into tortillas with a savory filling of beans and cheese.
What to do with leftover chicken breast?
I like leftover chicken breasts for this one. Tomatoes, chickpeas, onions, avocados, bacon…anything you’d like to see in your salad is fair game. Pick up some mushrooms and a rotisserie chicken, and have this pasta for dinner in about 30 minutes.
What to eat with leftover chicken?
Toasted tortilla strips and lime wedges are a perfect crispy garnish. This bright, Asian-inspired salad is delicious on its own, or you could serve it with rice crackers or noodles for a heftier meal. Although a Reuben is traditionally made with corned beef, leftover chicken works, too, as this recipe shows.
What to eat with shredded chicken?
Shredded chicken, chopped chiles, and an aromatic tomato-based broth make this savory dish a winner. Top with sliced avocado and crushed tortilla chips for a perfectly balanced spoonful. Save time with these top-rated shredded chicken recipes, whether it’s leftover chicken, rotisserie chicken, or a chicken you just roasted.
How long is leftover shredded chicken good for?
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.
What can I 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.
Where can I use shredded chicken?
Shredded chicken recipesRoast chicken for weeknight leftovers. A star rating of 0 out of 5. Thai chicken & mushroom broth. Chicken & pesto pasta. Chicken soup. Creamy spinach, basil & chicken pasta. Chicken, green bean & sundried tomato salad with chicken fat croutons. Chow mein. Waste-nothing chicken & dumpling stew.
What to do with leftover taco shredded chicken?
Leftover Chicken Taco Meat RecipesChicken Taco Casserole– A big hit with the kids. Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup– The quick version for busy nights. Chicken Spinach Enchiladas– so much flavor. Mexican Chicken Casserole– the EASIEST casserole and very highly rated!Chicken Enchilada Casserole– Only 5 ingredients!.