What to Do With Leftover Chicken

Cooked chicken, including a store rotisserie chicken, is one of the most useful leftovers to have. It's already cooked, so most of these take 15 minutes or less.

First: store it safely

Refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking (1 hour if it's above 90°F outside or in a hot car). Divide big batches into shallow containers so they cool fast.
Keep the fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below.
Eat within 3 to 4 days in the fridge. A rotisserie chicken counts from the day you bought it.
Freeze for longer; best quality for about 2 to 6 months.
Reheat to 165°F (74°C) until steaming hot.

For more detail, see the FoodSafety.gov cold storage chart.

1. Quesadillas

Shred the chicken, add cheese and salsa, and crisp in a dry pan: Chicken Quesadillas.

2. Caesar wraps

Chicken, lettuce, dressing and parmesan rolled in a tortilla: Chicken Caesar Wraps.

3. Soup

Add chopped chicken to simmering broth with vegetables and small pasta near the end: Chicken Vegetable Soup.

4. Tortilla soup

Beans, tomatoes, corn, broth and chili powder with chicken stirred in: Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup.

5. Rice bowls

Warm sliced chicken in a quick soy, honey and ginger sauce and serve over rice with broccoli: Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls.

6. Fajitas

Sauté peppers and onions with chili powder and cumin, then add cooked chicken just to heat through: Chicken Fajitas.

7. Coconut soup

Coconut milk, broth, mushrooms, ginger and lime, with chicken added at the end: Thai-Style Coconut Soup.

8. Fried rice

Diced chicken makes fried rice a full meal: Leftover Rice Fried Rice.

Crave recipes that use it

Let Crave match the rest

Add your leftovers and whatever else is in your kitchen on the Crave home page. It's free and shows which of its 75 recipes you can make now and what, if anything, you're missing.

Questions

How long does cooked chicken last in the fridge?

3 to 4 days at 40°F or below, according to USDA guidance.

Can you freeze rotisserie chicken?

Yes. Pull the meat off the bones, portion it, and freeze in airtight bags. Best quality for about 2 to 6 months.

Is it safe to eat leftover chicken cold?

Yes, if it was cooked properly and refrigerated within 2 hours. If you reheat it, heat to 165°F.