12 Things to Make with Roast Chicken
Soooo…you made a roast chicken. Now what?
Earlier this week I shared my recipe for basic roast chicken, which is great and delicious and all that jazz. I also talked about how one of the best parts of roasting a chicken is that it makes lots of leftovers for plenty of future meals. But what exactly does that mean? What kind of meals can you make with that roast chicken? What kinds of things can you do with it? OMG! You.Guys. So many things! Salads, sandwiches, soups….it’s really an endless list, but in an effort not to overwhelm you, I condensed it down to 12 things. 12 things you can do with roast chicken. This meal really is the gift that keeps on giving….
ADD TO SALADS // My favorites include a kale caesar salad {kale, homemade caesar dressing, some parmesean cheese + croutons}, a Greek salad {lettuce or spinach, olives, tomatoes, cucumber, feta}, a Vietanemese/Asian style {lettuce, cucumber, carrots, peppers, cilantro, mint, basil, sometimes rice or rice noodles, peanut butter dressing}, taco salad {lettuce, tomatoes, olives, avocado, sour cream or Greek yogurt, shredded cheese, hot sauce, salsa, cilantro, corn chips} or fruit salad {lettuce, walnuts or almonds, fruit such as apples, pears or strawberries, goat cheese or feta cheese + balsamic dressing}.
ADD TO SOUPS // I love to either add it to a simple chicken noodle soup, a Greek lemon and rice soup, a potato and corn chowder, chili or a taco soup.
MAKE TACOS // Easy peezy, right?! One of my personal favorite combos is chicken, mango, pickled red onions and guacamole.
MAKE ENCHILADAS // Don’t let the terrible photos {these were taken back in my OG blogging days} fool you. This enchilada recipe is THE best! It’s a recipe that my family has been making for years and, to this day, it’s still pretty much the only enchilada recipe I make {although I do like this one, too}. It’s so simple, it’s quick and easy, it only requires 6 things to make {most of which you probably already have on hand}, it’s easy to swap ingredients for healthier options {like regular tortillas for GF ones}, it’s makes a large pan {aka great to feed a crowd or if you want leftovers} and just a really comforting dish.
MAKE A SANDWICH // I love doing a simple chicken and veggie sandwich with sourdough, in a wrap or in a pita pocket, or a chicken club sandwich. I also love making a chicken salad first then making a sandwich with that, something along the lines of this recipe.
MAKE DUMPLINGS // We recently used this recipe to make our own wrappers, then made a filling with sauteed shredded zuchini + carrots, diced mushrooms, fresh ginger, Bragg’s/soy sauce + chicken. So delish + filling!
TOSS WITH PASTA + VEGGIES // and lots of herbs and cheese and S+ P and EVOO and you have a simple, but hearty, meal!
MAKE EMPANADAS // These bite-sized ones are my go-to.
MAKE A CURRY // Just toss with some coconut milk, curry, fresh ginger, garlic and other spices of your choice, feel free to add veggies and serve over rice.
TOP A PIZZA // Buffalo or bbq sauce + chicken pizza anyone? One of my fave combos is bbq sauce, chicken, green onions, pineapple + bacon. Yum! You could also do a Greek chicken pizza with sundried tomatoes, olives, red onion and feta cheese.
MAKE SPRING ROLLS // Rice paper wraps, chicken, carrots, cucumbers, mint + a peanut butter dipping sauce, yes please!
USE IT IN PLACE OF TURKEY // There are tons of recipes that use leftover turkey where leftover roast chicken will work just as well {if not better}, things like this grilled salad.