Creative Uses For Leftover Fried Chicken You'll Love

Leftover fried chicken is a versatile ingredient that can be transformed into a variety of mouth-watering dishes. From sandwiches and wraps to tacos and burritos, there are endless ways to repurpose leftover fried chicken and elevate your meal. For those who crave comfort food, creamy chicken casseroles and chicken pot pies are hearty options. If you're short on time, simply adding leftover fried chicken to a garden salad or tossing it with pasta and sauce makes for a quick and easy meal. For a healthier option, grain bowls and chicken fried rice are delicious choices. With a little creativity, leftover fried chicken can be the star of your next culinary masterpiece.

Salads

Fried Chicken Salad with Basil-Buttermilk Dressing

This salad combines leftover fried chicken tenders with lettuce and greens, creating a healthy blend of crunchy chicken and fresh veggies. The homemade buttermilk ranch dressing with fresh basil is the perfect finishing touch and is even better than your favourite dipping sauce.

Oven-Fried Chicken Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Another option for a fried chicken salad is to use romaine, red onion, tomatoes, bacon, croutons, and avocados. You can also add or subtract toppings according to your preferences. This salad is super simple to put together and can be tailored to your tastes.

Thai Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing

This salad combines leftover fried chicken with a tantalising peanut dressing. It's a great way to elevate your taste buds and is easy to make. You can have this salad on your table in just 20 minutes.

Crispy Chicken Cobb Salad

This salad features crunchy leftover fried chicken, boiled eggs, bacon, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese. It's a twist on the traditional Cobb salad and is packed with flavour and texture.

Crunchy Middle Eastern Chicken Salad

With crispy leftover fried chicken, vibrant veggies, and a zesty dressing, this Middle Eastern-inspired salad is a delicious and crunchy option. It can be made in less than 15 minutes, making it a quick and easy choice.

Chicken Caesar Salad

This classic salad gets an upgrade with the addition of leftover fried chicken. Combine chicken, cheese, crisp lettuce, and Caesar dressing for a tasty and satisfying meal. You can also add croutons and Parmesan cheese to take it to the next level.

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

If you're looking for a heartier option, try this Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad. It includes croutons, Parmesan cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and pasta, all smothered in a creamy Caesar dressing. Leftover fried chicken makes this salad a delicious and filling meal.

Asian Chicken Salad

Take your salad game up a notch with this Asian-inspired salad. It features juicy, leftover fried chicken and a mouth-watering peanut dressing. It's a quick, simple, and perfect option for a crowd.

Picnic Fried Chicken Salad

This super easy salad uses fried chicken tenders, either store-bought or homemade, and your choice of fresh veggies. It's a great no-cook, no-prep option for a lunch or dinner, especially if you're looking for some picnic vibes.

Ultimate Southern Fried Chicken Salad Sandwich

This sandwich takes the fried chicken salad to the next level. It features crispy leftover fried chicken, combined with a refreshing salad, all nestled between two slices of bread. It's a flavourful and textured masterpiece that will satisfy your cravings.

Fried Chicken Salad Sliders

These sliders are packed with creamy chicken salad goodness. The chicken salad is made with mayo, fried chicken, celery, scallions, and shredded cabbage, creating a rich and crunchy experience. The soft, buttery bread elevates the flavours and makes it a perfect handheld treat.

Sandwiches and wraps

Classic Fried Chicken Sandwich

For this classic, you'll need a warm bun, a crunchy element like pickles, shredded lettuce, or coleslaw, and your favourite creamy, spicy spread. Simply assemble the sandwich and enjoy!

Spicy Fried Chicken Biscuit Sandwich

This sandwich adds a spicy kick to the classic fried chicken sandwich. Use fluffy biscuits as the bread, and drizzle with honey and top with sweet and spicy pickles or jalapenos for an extra punch.

Smoked Paprika Fried Chicken Club Sandwich

For a smoky twist, season your leftover fried chicken with smoked paprika and stack it with crispy bacon, fresh veggies, and tangy mayo between slices of bread.

Breaded Chicken Caesar Wrap

Combine your leftover fried chicken with simple, classic ingredients like lettuce, Parmesan cheese, and a creamy Caesar dressing for a tasty wrap.

Chicken Ranch Pita

Add your leftover fried chicken to a pita pocket with ranch dressing, fresh veggies, and crispy bacon for a delicious and easy meal.

Cheesy Chicken Wrap

This wrap is a quick and easy option for using up leftover fried chicken. Simply add your chicken to a flour tortilla with cheese, lettuce, and your favourite sauce or spread.

Buffalo Chicken Wrap

In just 5 minutes, you can have a delicious buffalo chicken wrap. Combine your leftover fried chicken with a zesty buffalo sauce, creamy ranch dressing, and your choice of veggies.

Chicken Caesar Salad Wrap

This wrap is a twist on the classic Caesar salad. Add your leftover fried chicken to a tortilla with cheese, crisp lettuce, and a generous amount of Caesar dressing.

Chicken Caprese Pesto Panini

For a more sophisticated option, try a chicken Caprese pesto panini. Combine smoky grilled leftover fried chicken with homemade pesto, mozzarella, fresh basil, and juicy tomatoes between slices of crusty sourdough bread.

Casseroles

For a simple, quick, and tasty chicken casserole, combine your leftover chicken with a creamy or oil-based sauce and your choice of starch, such as pasta or rice, and bake it in a casserole dish. Chicken Parmesan casserole is a great option for leftover fried chicken, as you can skip the step of breading and cooking the chicken. Simply add in your chicken to the sauce and pasta, and bake.

If you're looking for something with a bit more spice, try a Nacho Chicken Casserole. This casserole has all the flavors of nachos, with the crunch of tortilla chips, cheese, and your leftover chicken. Top it with sour cream for added flavor.

For a Mexican-inspired option, try a Fiesta Chicken Casserole. This casserole includes pasta, black beans, corn, and gooey cheese. It's a simple recipe that's sure to be a hit.

If you're looking for a classic, comforting option, Chicken and Shells Casserole is a great choice. This casserole combines tender chicken with pasta shells and a creamy sauce for a flavorful and kid-friendly dish.

Tacos and burritos

Now you're ready to pile the chicken into tortillas and top as desired. You can add sliced avocado, cabbage, jalapeños, and lime for a zesty kick. If you're feeling extra adventurous, use two tortillas to make taco truck-style tacos.

If you're still hungry after your taco feast, you can use any remaining chicken to make chilaquiles for breakfast. This traditional Mexican dish is designed to use whatever leftovers you have on hand, including tortillas, refried beans, and, of course, fried chicken.

Pot pies

If you're looking for a hot, tasty, and quick meal, using your leftover fried chicken to make pot pies is a great solution. It also helps clear out your cupboards. You can use any leftover vegetables you have, such as peas, carrots, or potatoes, and combine them with your leftover chicken to make an easy pot pie recipe.

While there are many ways to make pot pies, here is a simple recipe you can follow:

Ingredients:

• Leftover fried chicken
• Vegetables of your choice (peas, carrots, potatoes, etc.)
• Butter
• Flour
• Chicken broth
• Milk
• Salt and pepper
• Store-bought puff pastry for the crust

Instructions:

• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat.
• Add flour and cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture turns golden.
• Slowly whisk in chicken broth and milk until the mixture thickens.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Stir in your shredded chicken and vegetables.
• Simmer the mixture until it reaches your desired thickness.
• Transfer the mixture to a baking dish or individual ramekins.
• Top with the puff pastry crust, cutting it to size if needed.
• Bake in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
• Let it cool slightly and serve warm.

Feel free to add any other ingredients or seasonings you like to make it your own!

Frequently asked questions