A collection of cooked chicken recipes using rotisserie-style store-bought or home-cooked chickens that can all be made in minutes, perfect for busy nights that will be updated as I find more Quick Easy Recipes to share with you! Now with a full 5-day dinner plan using just 1 chicken!
I absolutely love having bags of precooked, chopped rotisserie chicken in my freezer. It's hands-down one of the best ways to get meals on the table fast. Recipes that use cooked chicken are my "back pocket" recipes - those recipes you can count on for last minute meals that keep you out of the stores or take-out lines.
It's definitely part of an easy menu planning system. And the other great thing you need to go along with those bags of cooked chicken? A list of easy and delicious recipes so you can build your own back pocket recipes list.
Regular readers will not be surprise by the fact that I use precooked chicken I'm sure, since I regularly publish recipes like this 10 minute cranberry feta chicken salad and this quick cooking chicken spinach frittata using my own rotisserie style slow cooker chicken, but I'm also seriously loving the Costco rotisserie chickens! At only $4.99 and seasoned to perfection, our whole family enjoys Costco day when we eat some with a salad and bread for dinner and then I cut the rest to freeze for later (oh, and I put all the bones into the slow cooker and let it cook all night for a nourishing bone broth!).
So, do you cook from scratch or buy a cooked whole chicken?
Both!
I still throw a spiced rotisserie-style chicken in the slow cooker often and between this method and store rotisserie chicken it's easy to have a freezer full of cooked and shredded or diced chicken ready to go for recipes.
And with cooked chicken in the freezer and a list of quick recipes you'll always be able to eat at home even on the busiest nights!
There's something on this list of cooked chicken recipes for everyone - and all seasons, whether it's warm or cold outside. Many of these recipes are from AOC and the rest are a few of my favorites chosen from my Pinterest Chicken Board.
AND I'll keep adding to this list as I publish new recipes, so you will want to pin this from the photo above so you can pull it up for reference any time you've got cooked chicken and you're in the mood for a quick and yummy meal.
UPDATE: Keep reading for a full five-day menu plan using just one whole chicken (really!) + Printable Menu.
The idea is that the chicken becomes a secondary player to vegetables in most of the recipes. This not only saves money (five meals from one chicken!), but also is a lot healthier by stretching one protein into several tasty and nutritious meals!
The menu uses some of the recipes listed below and also includes a couple more basic recipe ideas. There's a full printable, too, so you can print and have a week's worth of meals all ready to go from one $5 chicken - cha-ching!
Easy Rotisserie Cooked Chicken Recipes From AOC:
Chicken-Pesto Greek Style Pizza
Bacon Dijon Chicken Pot Pie with Easy Whole Wheat Pastry Crust
Curried Turkey or Chicken & Rice Soup
Chicken Tomato Shepherd's Pies
Thai Inspired Chicken (or Turkey) Curry
20 Minute Mediterranean Chicken Pesto Pasta
Chicken-Spinach Frittata with Feta & Tomatoes
Cranberry Feta Chicken Salad with Chutney Dressing
Cheesy Chicken Artichoke Skillet Dip (Add a salad & bread for a fun meal!)
Chicken, Feta, & Dried Tomato Dip (Again, add a salad & bread for a fun dinner.)
Cooked Chicken Recipes From Pinterest:
Pesto Parmesan Chicken Salad @ Shaken Together Life
Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole @ Money Saving Mom
White Chicken Chili Soup @ Lil Luna
Creamy Chicken Caesar Lasagna @ Pinch of Yum
Chicken Tortilla Stack @ Taste & Tell
White Chicken Enchiladas @ Joyful Momma's Kitchen
Creamy Chicken & Corn Chowder @ Cooking Classy
5 Day Menu Plan From 1 Whole Chicken (+ Printable Menu!)
One roasted chicken can keep your family satisfied for many meals if you plan strategically. Using a few tips and budget-friendly meal-stretching ingredients, this menu may become your secret meal planning weapon.
5 Dinners from One Chicken Tips:
- Cut as much of the meat from the bones as possible.
- Depending on the plans, shred, slice, or cube the meat and refrigerate it in an airtight container if using within a week. Freeze for longer storage.
- If you plan on serving whole pieces for a meal, separate those parts and set aside before cutting up the rest.
- When you've gotten all the meat off that you can, throw all the bones (and skin) into a slow cooker to make a delicious bone broth. Follow the steps I outline here or simply add water along with vegetable scraps from carrots, onions, and celery and let cook on low overnight. Strain the liquid and store to use for the soup recipe later in the week (or freeze for longer storage).
The Menu
Day 1: Slow Cooker Spiced Rotisserie Chicken (or store bought cooked chicken)
- Serve the thighs, drumsticks, and wings only
- Roasted Green Beans (or favorite vegetable) with Roasted Potatoes (sweet or regular)
- Green Salad
Day 2: Chef's Salads
- Use lots of vegetables with just about 3/4 of a chicken breast (1 - 1 1/2 cups). More protein can come from boiled egg, cheese, and/or bacon pieces.
- Garlic Bread
Day 3: Chicken & Black Bean Tacos OR Taco Bowls
- Use about 3/4 of a chicken breast (1 - 1 1/2 cups), shredded, with a can of black beans or pinto beans. Heat the chicken and beans together with a couple spoonfuls of salsa and serve with:
- Salsa and shredded lettuce
- Chopped tomatoes and onions
- Sour cream, guacamole or avocado slices
- Tortillas (for tacos); Rice or Quinoa (for bowls)
Day 4: Chicken & Spinach Frittata with Tomatoes
- Salad
- Bread
Day 5: Creamy Chicken Rice Soup
- Use broth from the chicken bones and any leftover chicken. Increase the vegetables in the recipe to stretch the chicken, and add more in the form of spinach, kale, or chard.
- Bread
- Optional: cut vegetables & dip
See? It can be done, and deliciously, too! With all these other flavors, few will miss the meat and you'll be on your way to healthier eating.
CLICK HERE (or the image below) to download your free printable menu!
Do you have any favorite cooked chicken recipes to add to this list?
This article has been updated - it was first published in May 2014.
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