Using up leftovers is always a great way to create a meal and it is really close to criminal to waste any chicken leftovers. So today I’ve dug up two great Leftover Chicken Recipes you’ll love.
You can use chicken leftovers of any kind – roast, breasts, thighs, BBQ. Plus, it is important to remember that with any kind of poultry, it should always be used up within a day or two of being cooked. Don’t try and use something that’s been sitting around in the fridge for a while, you could regret it.
If it happens to be a roast chicken, once you’ve used up the meat and there’s nothing but the carcass, don’t forget to save it for a delicious batch of chicken stock. Either make it right away or freeze the carcass and cook it up later.
Leftover Chicken Recipes
Recipe #1 – Chicken Pesto Pasta Bake
Chicken leftovers, diced
Jar of pesto sauce – basil or sundried tomato is great
375g pasta – cooked and drained
1 ½ – 2 cups Mornay or cheese sauce
Method
Stir 3-4 tablespoons of pesto through the pasta. Add more or less according to taste. Pour pasta into baking dish and top with diced chicken. Pour over mornay sauce, sprinkle with cheese and bake in moderate oven (180C/350F) for 20 minutes, or until heated through and golden. Serve.
Recipe #2 – Chicken Noodle Casserole
Chicken leftovers, diced
1 onion, chopped
1 teaspoon curry powder
440g tin diced tomatoes
1 cup frozen peas
85 g packet chicken flavoured 2 minute noodles
Method
Heat some oil in a pan and sauté onion until soft. Add curry powder and stir for 1 minute until fragrant. Add tomatoes with juice, peas and chicken to the pan and cook for 5 minutes, until heated through. Break noodles up slightly and add to pan with flavor sachet. If there is not enough liquid to cover the noodles, add some hot water. Cook for 2 minutes until noodles are done. Serve.
The Klutzy Cook Notes
Of course, you don’t have to wait for chicken leftovers to make these recipes. You can either cook up some chicken to use or use a store-bought one for a really quick meal.
What are your favourite leftover chicken recipes? Leave them below.
