24 Unfussy Shredded Chicken Recipes for Busy Weeknights
There's a lot you can do with some leftover rotisserie.
Few ingredients are more versatile than shredded chicken. Tender, mild, and protein-packed, chicken is famous for being able to go with (or in) almost anything, from pizza to soups, from nachos to salads. And shredded chicken is, if anything, even easier to use! It's the perfect starting point for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.
Whether you're cooking and shredding it yourself, buying the pre-cooked and shredded stuff, or simply using up leftovers from last night's rotisserie or homemade roast chicken feast, you can count on shredded chicken as the one leftover you won't ever be tossing out.
Ready for some inspiration? Here are two dozen of our favorite ways with shredded chicken. They're good enough you may wish you had extra leftovers on hand!
Beer-Braised Chicken
Simple and delicious, you can use this slow-cooked pulled chicken in tacos, enchiladas, or in any of the following recipes.
Chicken and Black Bean Nachos
This weeknight nachos dinner has it all: It's tasty, easy, healthy, and it even cleans up easily!
Creamy Chicken Soup with Potatoes and Bacon
An update on corn chowder, but with some added protein, this tasty soup is long on flavor, short on work.
Get the recipe for Creamy Chicken Soup with Potatoes and Bacon.
Slow-Cooker Chicken-Tortilla Soup
Add a little kick to weeknight dinner. You can slow-cook chicken thighs, or make it a little faster by just using rotisserie chicken.
Easy Weeknight Chicken and Dumplings
We took this all-day Southern classic and turned it into a weeknight friendly meal!
Stovetop Chicken Pot Pie
Don't want to bake? We don't blame you. Here's a 20-minute one-pan pot pie for you.
Chicken and Arugula Cacio e Pepe
A little heartier (an healthier) than a traditional pepper-pasta, this recipe is great with a glass of wine.
Chicken Quesadilla
Most quesadillas either end up tasting dry, or the ingredients fall out when you try to eat them. We did a little thinking and found a smart solution: a quick sauce that you cook everything in, first.
Summer Vegetable, Chicken, and Gnocchi Soup
You don't need it to be summer to enjoy this simple, 20 minute weeknight soup!
Get the recipe for Summer Vegetable, Chicken, and Gnocchi Soup.
Weeknight Tex-Mex Chicken Enchiladas
Skipped the bottled sauce and make your own—just keep a can of chipotles in adobo in your pantry, and you should be able to make this any time you've got some leftover rotisserie chicken to use up!
Updated Classic Chicken Salad
Though it's a little lighter and crunchier, this classic is every bit as tasty and easy to make!
Thai-Style Chicken Salad
Peanuts, apple, and honey make this anything-but-basic chicken salad perfect for switching things up. You can cook and shred your own chicken, but rotisserie makes it easier.
Pesto Chicken Salad
If you're a fan of pesto on pasta, you won't believe how good (or simple) this salad can be!
Mediterranean Chicken Salad
Pile this flavorful chicken salad in a fresh baguette and you've got lunch ready to go!
Easiest-Ever Chicken Alfredo
Last night's leftover chicken easy becomes tonight's elegant dinner.
Salsa Verde Enchilada Pie
Make this simple Tex-Mex casserole once and the kids'll be asking when you're going to make it again.
BBQ Chicken Grits Pizza
Who knew baked grits could work as a pizza dough? This pizza is great when you need to cut out gluten.
Classic Chicken Pot Pie
You can shred your own chicken, or save a little time and use some leftover roast chicken in this classic bake.
Chicken Pozole Verde
With shredded chicken and white-corn hominy floating in a stock flavored with poblano and jalapeño peppers, and plenty of cilantro, it's a delicious, hearty stew.
Chicken and Rice with Mint Pesto
Peas, scallions, and a lemony mint pesto give basic white rice and shredded chicken an infusion of fresh flavor.
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