leftover chicken meatballs in tomato sauce with parmesan and herbs on top

A whole roasted chicken is a wonderful thing: juicy meat, crispy skin, it’s one of our all-time favourite things to cook. But the real joy is in those lovely leftovers! Check out our brilliant ideas for leftover cooked chicken and give your Sunday roast a new lease of life.

Find yourself wondering what to do with leftover roast chicken? Well we’ve got loads of tasty ideas for you – try an epic salad or a cosy pasta bake,a hearty stew or a warming chicken soup. If you fancy taking things up a notch, you can use leftover roast chicken to make meatballs, dim sum or lasagne. Not only are these recipes delicious, they will help you make the most of your whole roast chicken, helping you to reduce your food waste and save money, too. 

Please note: Once cooked, chicken can only be reheated once – portion up any stews, pies and curries that use leftover chicken, so you only reheat the amount you need. Reheat until piping hot throughout before serving. 

Find more of our budget-friendly recipes and cooking tips, here.

Jamie’s simple chicken stew recipe is guaranteed to bring on those warm and cosy feels. This recipe uses up both the carcass and leftover meat from your roast chicken, so nothing goes to waste. Topped with fluffy dumplings and served with seasonal greens, this winter warmer recipe is brilliant to have up your sleeve.

A proper family favourite, this super easy pasta bake is a brilliant way to use up any leftover chicken you have in the fridge. It’s easy, tasty and a fantastic way to get the most from your leftovers, plus it’s one of our brilliant budget-friendly recipes

MORE: 6 perfect pasta bakes

Warming, wholesome and packed with colourful veg, a bowl of homemade chicken soup hits the spot like nothing else. This leftover staple is pretty flexible, so you can mix and match the herbs and veg with whatever’s in season – you could add a handful of orzo or small pasta shapes to make it more of a substantial meal.

Made using a simple dough of coconut milk and flour – these little steamed buns are an exciting way to use up your roast chicken. Packed with punchy flavours of coriander, ginger, barbecue sauce and a squeeze of lime, they’re a total delight.

MORE: What to do with leftover lamb

Served with a rich tomato sauce, these epic chicken meatballs are so good! With punchy flavours of olives, capers and Parmesan, this is so much more than a humble leftovers recipe. Plus, they’re freezer-friendly, so great for getting ahead. Serve with pasta or rice for a delicious  dinner, or with salad and chilli jam.

MORE: Recipes to reduce food waste

How do you make leftover chicken even more delicious? Make a lasagne! Layered between vibrant veggies, béchamel sauce and homemade lasagne sheets (or you can use pre-made), this lovely leftover chicken recipe is packed with flavour and guaranteed to go down a storm. 

Homemade crunchy croutons, crisp smoky bacon and a delicious dressing really makes this epic roast chicken salad. Delicious served hot or cold, this beautiful salad could rival a roast dinner any day!

Using lots of different leftovers at once, this is a brilliant post-roast recipe! It was created with Christmas dinner in mind, but this dish works just as well with your classic Sunday roast chicken leftovers. Simply add a few fragrant spices, crunchy croutons and fresh greens to rustle up this easy leftovers salad.

MORE: Healthy chicken recipes

The chilli, coriander, mint and lime in this salad really pop and will warm your cockles on a chilly day. Easy to throw together, it’s perfect for lunchboxes and super-flexible, so you can switch things up with any crunchy veg you have to hand. 

HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN SOUP

Watch Jamie use up that leftover roast chicken by making the most comforting chicken soup you’ll ever eat. Enjoy!

Hungry for more? Check out our best leftover turkey recipes


Tags:

Chicken, Meat