Loving Those Leftovers, Part I: Versatile Chicken Meals

Photo: J. Avery

Knowing what to do with leftovers can be the bane of every mum’s kitchen existence. It’s always a drag to throw good food away, but without a plan of how to use it, there are times leftover food will sit in the refrigerator for days (or weeks!) before you remember it’s there. If you’re a meat-eating family, one of the easiest and most versatile leftovers to take advantage of is pre-cooked chicken. If you have plain, shredded chicken pieces on hand in your refrigerator, there are a variety of simple, inexpensive meals you can put together that will hopefully satisfy even your family’s pickiest eater.

While there are a great number of ways to cook chicken (baking, grilling, sautéing, etc.), one of the easiest methods is to roast a large rotisserie chicken in a slow cooker. Start with this recipe below and store the leftover chicken in an airtight container to be used for meals later on.

Roasted Rotisserie Chicken

• 1 large whole chicken
• 1 Tbsp salt
• 1 Tbsp pepper
• 1 Tbsp thyme
• 1 small onion, chopped

Chop onion and place in the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the whole chicken and season it with thyme, salt, and pepper (or other seasonings of your choice). Cook on low (6-8 hours) or high (4-6 hours) until tender. Tear the white and dark meat from the bones and pour juices over the chicken to moisten.

Useful Uses for Chicken

If you’re not feeding a large family, you should have quite a bit of chicken left over to use for these dishes below. They should all be quick and easy to throw together since you won’t have to spend any extra time thawing and cooking the meat, and most of them use cheap, basic ingredients that you probably already have on hand.

Chicken Teriyaki with Fried Rice

(serves 4)

• 2 eggs
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon oil (for sautéing)
• 2 cups cooked rice
• soy sauce, to taste
• ½ package frozen mixed vegetables
• cooked chicken pieces
• 2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• lemon juice, a pinch
• salt and pepper, to taste

To put together this quick meal, start by sautéing the eggs and chopped onion in a large skillet until the egg is fully cooked and the onions are clear. Chop the egg up into small bits and set this mixture aside. In a separate pan, prepare rice according to instructions. Once the rice is cooked, place it into your original frying pan with the eggs and onion. Add salt and pepper, soy sauce, and mixed vegetables and pan fry until all flavours have mixed together. In a separate pan, combine chicken, soy sauce, garlic, and lemon juice and toss on medium heat. Add this to the rice mixture, toss, and serve.

Chicken Burritos

(serves 4)

• Tortillas (homemade or pre-packaged)
• 1 large tomato, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 8 oz. grated cheese
• 1 package chicken taco seasoning
• 1-2 tablespoons water
• ½ cup lettuce, shredded
• sour cream

Since you already have pre-cooked chicken on hand, this dinner is almost too easy. Combine chicken with taco seasoning and water over low heat until chicken is fully coated. Then let your family self-serve their own burritos, filling their tortillas up with whatever ingredients they like. If this list isn’t complete enough, feel free to offer salsa, guacamole, seasoned corn, or coriander in additions to the options listed above.

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

(serves 4)

• cooked chicken pieces
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tablespoon thyme
• 1 whole carrot, chopped
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 package soup noodles
• extra water

Pour chicken broth into a large pot and bring to low boil. Add thyme, salt, pepper, chopped carrot, and chicken. Once the carrots have softened, add noodles and simmer until they are fully cooked. If you need more liquid once all ingredients have been added, add a little water. Serve warm with fresh bread or salad.

Chicken and Dumplings

(serves 4)

• 3-4 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tablespoon butter, room temperature
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• salt, to taste
• ¾ cup milk
• cooked chicken pieces

Pour chicken broth into a large pot and bring to a low boil. In the meantime, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut the butter into the mixture or work it in with your hands. Add milk until a soft dough is formed and then roll the dough out onto a well-floured surface. Cut small, round or square dumplings out of the dough and add them to the boiling chicken broth. Finally, add the chicken pieces and simmer until dough is soft and tender.

Chicken Chili

(serves 4)

• cooked chicken pieces
• 1 can dark red kidney beans
• 1 can chilli beans
• 1 can petite diced tomatoes
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 1 can kernel corn
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 small green pepper, chopped
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 package chilli seasoning

In a small skillet, sauté chopped green pepper and onion until juices run clear. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a large pot and simmer on low for several hours. Serve with noodles, if desired.

With a little bit of planning, you can not only save time in the kitchen by already having your meat prepared, but you will also save money because your leftovers will be put to good use. So give these meals (or other chicken favourites) a try and hopefully your wallet – and taste buds – will thank you.

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Category: Frugal Living