18 Clever Ways to Turn Leftover Chicken Into a New Meal

Cheddar Chicken Bake

Chicken cheddar quinoa casserole in a pyrex dish. — Cheddar Chicken Bake. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This cozy casserole tucks protein-rich quinoa and tender bites of rotisserie chicken under a blanket of sharp cheddar. Everything bakes together into a bubbly, golden dish that tastes indulgent but feels wholesome. It’s the kind of dinner you can slide into the oven in minutes on a hectic night. Plate it up and watch even picky eaters head back for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Cheddar Chicken Bake

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

Crispy bacon, juicy chicken, and a silky homemade ranch sauce combine for a flavor trio that never quits. The creamy sauce clings to every noodle while smoky bacon crumbles add satisfying crunch on top. One bite delivers garlic, herbs, and melty cheese all at once. Don’t be surprised when the pan is scraped clean in record time.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

Buffalo Chicken Soup

All the spicy, tangy thrill of buffalo wings shows up in this ultra-creamy soup. Shredded chicken swims in a velvety hot-sauce-kissed broth that warms you from the inside out. Melty cheese tones down the heat, making each spoonful rich but balanced. Ready in under 30 minutes, it turns an ordinary weeknight into game-day bliss.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Soup

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Classic mac and cheese gets a fiery upgrade with tender buffalo chicken folded into a creamy cheddar sauce. Spirals of pasta trap every bit of that spicy, velvety goodness. A crumble of blue cheese on top delivers the perfect cool-tangy finish. It’s comfort food with a kick that disappears faster than you can say “touchdown.”
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Easy Chicken Tortilla Casserole

Layers of corn tortillas, seasoned chicken, salsa, and gooey cheese bake into a towering, sliceable Tex-Mex feast. The edges go delightfully crispy while the center stays melty and saucy. It’s a fiesta in a pan that swaps taco-night mess for easy casserole bliss. Add a dollop of sour cream and dig in.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chicken Tortilla Casserole

Chicken Spaghetti

This isn’t your cafeteria’s chicken spaghetti. Al dente noodles get coated in a luxuriously creamy, cheddar-packed sauce dotted with juicy chicken chunks. It bakes until bubbly and golden, perfuming the kitchen with pure comfort. One spoonful and everyone’s asking for seconds—and the recipe.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Spaghetti

Mexican Street Corn Chicken Salad

Juicy grilled chicken and sweet roasted corn bring the spirit of elote to salad form. Cotija cheese, cilantro, and a lime-chili dressing keep the flavors bright and bold. It’s ready in ten minutes yet delivers restaurant-worthy punch. Serve it solo, wrap it in tortillas, or pile it on lettuce cups for instant summer vibes.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Street Corn Chicken Salad

Crack Chicken Casserole

Baked crack chicken with golden gooey melted cheese on top in a large oval baking dish. — Crack Chicken Casserole. Photo credit: The Forked Spoon.

Bacon, cheddar, ranch, and tender chicken come together in a casserole that lives up to its addictive nickname. The creamy sauce hugs every piece of pasta while a cheesy crust bubbles on top. It’s weeknight comfort food you can whisk together in minutes. Expect zero leftovers and lots of recipe requests.
Get the Recipe: Crack Chicken Casserole

Pesto Chicken Tortellini

A cast iron skillet with creamy, cheesy tortellini pasta and chicken tenderloin in a pesto sauce. — Pesto Chicken Tortellini. Photo credit: The Peasant's Daughter.

Tender chicken and cheese-filled tortellini simmer in a creamy basil pesto sauce that clings to every pocket of pasta. The garlicky aroma alone could stop traffic. Because it’s all done in one skillet, cleanup is as breezy as the 30-minute cook time. Weeknight luxury, achieved.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Chicken Tortellini

Chicken Tortellini Alfredo Soup

A white bowl filled with creamy tortellini soup, containing spinach, red peppers, and chicken, on a gray textured placemat with a spoon nearby. — Chicken Tortellini Alfredo Soup. Photo credit: Mama's on a Budget.

Imagine silky Alfredo sauce thinned into a spoonable broth and brimming with pillowy tortellini. Add tender chicken and a handful of colorful veggies and you’ve got pure comfort in a bowl. It’s hearty enough for dinner yet comes together with minimal effort. Serve with crusty bread for dunking bliss.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortellini Alfredo Soup

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Sweet, smoky barbecue sauce replaces the usual tomato base in this cheese-laden pie. Juicy chicken, red onion, and a sprinkle of cilantro finish each slice with a fresh kick. The foolproof crust bakes up crispy outside and tender within, so every bite is perfect. Pizza night just discovered its new star.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Chicken Pizza

Lemon Chicken Orzo Pasta

A plate of lattice-topped strawberry pastries on a woven mat with fresh strawberries and a wooden spoon nearby. A glass of milk is in the background. — Lemon Chicken Orzo Pasta. Photo credit: Mama's on a Budget.

Bright lemon juice and zest wake up tender orzo and juicy chicken in this breezy skillet meal. A touch of cream smooths the tang while fresh herbs tie everything together. The whole dish cooks in a single pan, meaning dinner and cleanup are both a snap. It’s weeknight sunshine on a fork.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Chicken Orzo Pasta

Creamy Tuscan Marry Me Chicken Pasta

Sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and Parmesan swirl through a cream sauce so good it’s rumored to inspire marriage proposals. Golden chicken pieces and tender pasta absorb every luxurious drop. It looks restaurant-fancy yet comes together in the time it takes to set the table. Romance on a weeknight, sorted.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Tuscan Marry Me Chicken Pasta

Chicken and Stuffing Casserole

This homestyle casserole turns leftover chicken and a box of stuffing into pure cozy goodness. As it bakes, the stuffing soaks up savory gravy while the top crisps to buttery perfection. Fifteen minutes of prep yields a dinner that tastes like mini Thanksgiving any night of the week. Comfort food doesn’t get easier.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Stuffing Casserole

Chicken Quesadillas

A cheesy quesadilla on a white plate, partially opened to show melted cheese and chicken. — Chicken Quesadillas. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

Tender salsa-simmered chicken and rivers of melted cheese get sandwiched between tortillas crisped to golden perfection. One quick flip in the skillet yields those coveted cheesy pulls at every cut. Finish with sour cream or guac and dinner is done in minutes. Keep this recipe on speed dial for busy nights.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Quesadillas

Chicken Alfredo Lasagna with Spinach

Swap red sauce for silky homemade Alfredo in this white-lasagna twist. Layers of noodles, grilled chicken, and fresh spinach bake into a bubbling, garlicky masterpiece. The top turns lightly golden, sealing in all that creamy goodness. Slice thick and watch smiles appear around the table.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Alfredo Lasagna with Spinach

Chicken Cobbler

Think pot pie meets cheesy biscuit cobbler and you’ll land on this viral sensation. Creamy chicken and veggies bake beneath a cheddar-bay biscuit batter that rises into a buttery, golden crust. Prep takes minutes thanks to pantry shortcuts, yet the finished dish tastes like you fussed all afternoon. One scoop and you’ll understand the hype.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Cobbler

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

All the elegance of classic cordon bleu, none of the fussy rolling. Layers of chicken, ham, and Swiss bake beneath a buttery breadcrumb topper until melty and golden. A drizzle of honey-mustard adds the perfect sweet-tangy kick. Fancy enough for company, easy enough for Tuesday night.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole