10 New Ways with Rotisserie Chicken

October 08, 2015
Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
Chopped, shredded, or pulled—our fresh ideas for using this dinner staple are anything but boring.
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A Quicker Chicken Dinner

Credit: Photo: John Autry

It's no secret that rotisserie chicken provides endless possibilities for speedy weeknight meals. At Cooking Light, we encourage any cook in a hurry to use this store-bought shortcut whenever a recipe calls for cooked chicken. So go on; pick up a roasted chicken on the way home and put dinner on the table in an hour or less. Our promise: these recipes will please everyone—even the pickiest of eaters.

Prefer to make your own roasted chicken ahead of time? Try our Foolproof Roast Chicken.

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1. Sandwich

Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry

Tuck breast meat slices into sandwiches for an easy, lower-sodium alternative to cold cuts. Here, we prove that good barbecue chicken sandwiches don't have to result from hours over the grill. This sandwich, made with shredded rotisserie chicken and a super easy homemade barbecue sauce, is the perfect solution for those busy weeknights.

View Video: How to Make Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches

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2. Hash

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey

Mix chopped chicken into a potato hash in place of corned beef or pork. Quintessentially American, this dish builds on our Master Hash by combining roasted potatoes, rotisserie chicken, bell peppers, onion, and Parmesan cheese for a delicious dinner. 

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3. Fried Rice

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Oxmoor House

Whip up a batch of homemade fried rice by adding shredded breast and thigh meat. This recipe calls for rotisserie chicken, day-old rice and leftover veggies. What's not to love? It is beautiful, tasty, and nutritious.

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4. Tacos

Credit: Photo: Marcus Nilsson

Toss chicken chunks with jarred salsa verde and preshredded Mexican blend cheese for a quick and easy filling for enchiladas, quesadillas, and tacos. Or make this recipe, for a quick dinner that transforms a classic American salad into a fun, portable meal.

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5. Salad

Credit: Photo: Romulo Yanes

Turn a variety of salads—whole grain, green, potato—into main dishes by using chicken as the protein. At only 260 calories per serving, this salad serves as an easy entrée or easy appetizer.

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6. Chicken Salad

Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry

If you've longed for the perfect low-fat chicken salad recipe, look no further. Mix canola mayonnaise, prechopped celery and onion, chopped walnuts, and halved red grapes for a simple chicken salad. This recipe calls for poaching the chicken, but when you need to speed it up, 2 pounds of shredded rotisserie chicken will do the trick just fine.

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7. Casserole

Credit: Photo: Christopher Testani

Add shredded chicken to any number of casseroles, from green bean to stratas. Be sure to use the dark meat, as it can stand up to the extra cooking time without drying out. 

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8. Pizza

Credit: Photo: Jason Wallis

What's quicker than combining store-bought pizza dough with rotisserie chicken? Absolutely nothing! Top this speedy pizza with shredded chicken and bake directly on the oven rack for a crisp crust in no time. 

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9. Soup

Credit: Photo: John Autry

Stir chopped or shredded breast meat into soups, chilis, and stews. Rotisserie chicken breast completes this dish in a jiffy, so you can enjoy all the comfort of the traditional dish in a lot less time.

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10. Baked Potato

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor

Combine shredded chicken with a mix of bottled barbecue sauce and light ranch dressing, and top a baked potato. Serve with our superfast beef dishes, ready in 20 minutes or less

See More: 100-Calorie Toppings for Taters, How to Make Hasselback Potatoes

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