25+ Delicious Leftover Chicken Breast Recipes for the Win

Did you know that leftover chicken breasts from a meal can be used in more than just an omelet or stir-fry? Chicken breasts are one of the most versatile and commonly used types of meat in the American diet. They’re also easy to cook up in bulk, then store and use throughout the week in different recipes. But what do you do when you have leftover chicken breasts? Thankfully, there are tons of delicious, nutritious ways to use them up!

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According to the National Chicken Council, Americans consume almost 85 pounds of chicken per year on average?

That’s not even counting the chicken that goes into all those scrumptious dishes from around the world – from chicken and waffles to fried chicken to spicy Peruvian pollo a la brasa!

So it’s no wonder that many of us are left with leftover chicken breasts on occasion, which can be problematic if we don’t know what to do with them.

From salads to sandwiches to soups, these ideas will help you get the most out of your leftover chicken breast recipes and make meal prep easier than ever before! Plus, with so many recipes at your fingertips, your lunchtime creativity will soar—you’ll never get bored again!

Where to Save these Awesome Left Over Chicken Breast Ideas

If you’re a little bit like me you’ve come to this link via Pinterest so please do me a favor and save it there.

If you want to save it someplace convenient where you can always reference it easily from your phone, desktop, or tablet then you’re going to want to check out my Lazy Bitch Meal planner course where I teach you one of the best ways to scale your meal planning game.

The leftover roast chicken won’t stand a chance with you at the helm taking control of your meal planning dreams.

Oh also I’d be remise if I didn’t plug my easy printable editable digital meal planners here for what the fuck to make for dinner this week…Keep track of your chicken leftovers easily and seamlessly with this downloadable file.

Leftover Chicken Ideas: Salad

The easiest way to use up leftover chicken breasts is with a salad. Whether you need lunch for one or two, or want a side for a meal with friends, salads are the perfect solution.

Simply add grilled chicken breast on top of your favorite greens and then top it off with ingredients like chickpeas, sunflower seeds, blue cheese crumbles, raisins and more. Let us have a look on some of the salad recipes you must try.

Chicken Salad With Apricots, Almonds & Tarragon

You’ll be surprised how many different ways you can repurpose leftover chicken breasts. If you’re in a pinch for dinner ideas, try this quick and easy apricot chicken salad recipe!

It’s full of healthy fats from almonds and heart-healthy monounsaturated fat from olive oil. This recipe calls for grilled chicken breast but feel free to use whatever leftover poultry you have on hand.

Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad (Low Calorie)

If you’re one of those people who enjoy using up leftover chicken breasts in a recipe that doesn’t necessarily involve frying or baking, then Greek yogurt chicken salad might be right up your alley.

This dish is low-calorie and delicious, meaning it’s not only effective at getting rid of leftovers but tasty enough to help you stick with your diet. These simple ingredients are sure to satisfy.

Chicken Salad

One of our favorite ways to make a leftover chicken breast tasty again is by turning it into chicken salad.

Simply dice up your leftovers, add some chopped celery and onions (and maybe some sunflower seeds), and it’s the perfect way to throw together a delicious lunch or dinner the whole family will love.

Crunchy Thai Chicken Salad

A Thai-inspired chicken salad takes some time, but only because you have to marinate and cook up those chicken breasts – if you’ve got leftovers from last night then this is a quick and easy way to repurpose them.

Crunchy vegetables in a creamy peanut dressing topped with grilled chicken breast make for a delicious meal any night of the week.

Cranberry Chicken Salad

Combine cooked, shredded leftover rotisserie chicken or chicken breasts with chopped cranberries, diced red onion, and orange sections.

Serve on a bed of mixed greens with your favorite dressing. Keep in mind that dried cranberries have less sugar than their fresh counterparts and go well with poultry-based dishes. You can find them in most grocery stores near other dried fruit and nuts.

Dried cranberries can be substituted for raisins in any of your favorite recipes.

Mediterranean Chicken Salad

This salad is a great way to turn leftover grilled chicken breasts into a fantastic lunch. The recipe calls for olives, red bell pepper, fresh spinach, and feta cheese.

Sautéed red peppers give it a nice flavor, and lemon juice brightens up your taste buds. This salad is easy to make and very nutritious; you’ll love it!

Cucumber Dill Chicken Salad

Cucumber Dill Chicken Salad is a great way to use up leftover grilled chicken breasts. It is tangy, refreshing, and perfect for sandwiches, wraps, or by itself. The cilantro and dill give it just enough freshness without overpowering your taste buds. Or if you’re averse to cilantro you can certainly leave it out!

The cucumber really helps thin out your mayonnaise for a lighter version of chicken salad. Instead of plain lettuce, try mixing it with baby spinach leaves for an extra health boost.

Save in an airtight container and use within 2 days if you still have more leftovers!

Chicken Pasta Salad

All you need is leftover grilled chicken breast (boneless or bone-in) and cherry tomatoes, and you’ve got a tasty pasta salad ready in minutes.

You can also add olives, cucumbers, or bell peppers for extra flavor.

Serve with a side of grilled vegetables. This is seriously one of the easiest things to do with that leftover chicken.

Easy Potato and Chicken Salad

The beauty of a potato salad recipe is that you can use a variety of ingredients, both warm and cold. Potatoes are usually served warm or at room temperature, but it’s easy to prepare them in advance and chill them in your refrigerator until you’re ready to serve.

Add chopped leftover chicken breast for flavor and texture and you have a crowd-pleasing meal that won’t take much time or effort. Fun fact you can also use leftover turkey in this recipe as well.

This recipe is an excellent choice for meal prep for your family dinner as well!

Chicken Cranberry Salad Pinwheel Sandwiches

The perfect chicken breast sandwich for lunch or dinner, these chicken cranberry salad pinwheel sandwiches are delicious and low carb. Perfect for a leftover grilled chicken breast recipe idea!

Panera Copycat Asian Sesame Salad

If you’re as obsessed with this salad from Panera as we are, then this is an excellent way to use up those leftovers. We took inspiration from Panera Bread’s Asian Sesame dressing and made it at home. It’s one of our favorite ways to use leftover grilled chicken breasts in recipes!

Chickpea and Grilled Chicken Salad (Protein Packed)

Chickpeas are a great source of plant-based protein, and when combined with high-quality protein like lean grilled chicken, they make a perfect meal.

Easy Leftover Chicken Recipes: Sandwiches

If you’re avoiding that food waste dilemma and want to make do the old cook once, eat multiple times, the below are some great ideas to put those leftovers to good use.

Chicken Nachos Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe

Slice your leftover grilled chicken breast into thin strips and add it to a fresh spinach, tomato, and provolone sandwich. You won’t believe how much extra flavor it adds!

Leftover Shredded Chicken Nachos

There’s a reason nachos have risen in popularity throughout the world: they are just so damn delicious. They combine savory, filling ingredients with crunchy tortilla chips and spicy salsa. Check out top-rated recipe for grilled cheese nachos—they’re amazing!

Shredded Leftover Chicken Sandwich

This recipe is extremely versatile and can be made sweet, spicy or tangy depending on what you add to it. You could even use it as a stuffing for a chicken breast if you have some extra time, instead of simply sandwiching it all together. Enjoy!

Monterey Chicken Sandwiches

Looking for a quick and easy dinner as your main dish? This delicious meal is sure to become a family favorite.

Shredded Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

Shredded buffalo chicken is a great topping for any sandwich, but when you add it to a hot dog bun, things really get interesting. Serve alongside celery sticks with ranch dressing for dipping!

Easy Meals with Leftover Chicken Breast

Whether you’re looking for a wholesome, nutritious dinner or just a quick meal, pasta is always a good option. Try one of these recipes with leftover chicken breast and see how you can reinvent your next meal.

Spicy Chicken Spaghetti

For a delicious twist on spaghetti, chicken breast and penne pasta make a great base for an Italian meal. It’s super simple, delicious, and one of the best recipes on this entire list.

Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta

With a creamy and tasty lemon sauce, you can never go wrong with using leftover chicken breasts. The perfect recipe for leftover grilled chicken breast. Pasta, lemon, salt and black pepper make up the creamy sauce that mixes in with tender bites of roasted chicken.

This classic dish is sure to please even picky eaters. Serve it with a side salad or a bowl of soup for an easy weeknight dinner. It’s really easy to make and doesn’t take long. Feel free to double up on ingredients if you are cooking for more than two people. Bon appetite!

Lightened Up Buffalo Chicken Alfredo Pasta

One of my favorite ways to use up leftover chicken is with an Alfredo pasta dish. This dish only requires a few ingredients and tastes like a true indulgence. Even better, it’s made in one pan and ready in under 30 minutes. Get our Lightened Up Buffalo Chicken Alfredo Pasta recipe.

Electric Skillet Lasagna

If you’re looking for a low-effort recipe to use up leftover chicken breasts, look no further than an electric skillet lasagna. Make sure your mozzarella is shredded or thinly sliced so it can melt properly without leaving big chunks in your lasagna. Check the recipe in the link below.

Air Fryer Chipotle Chicken Stuffed Pasta

This simple recipe only requires four main ingredients and is ready in 30 minutes. It’s a good example of how you can repurpose leftovers into something completely new and delicious.

Cheesy Chicken Lasagna Stuffed Shells (No Boil)

This recipe is so delicious. Follow step-by-step instructions, and you’ll have a fantastic meal in no time. We particularly love recipes with leftover chicken breast because it helps me utilize every part of a chicken. We can cook meals like these and save them for leftovers later in the week – they’re even better reheated.

Chicken Breast Leftover Recipe ideas: Soup

Soup is a great way to use up leftover chicken breast. A cup of soup and half a grilled chicken breast are almost exactly 400 calories, so it’s easy to create a low-calorie meal from your leftover chicken. Soups also freeze well, so you can make a big batch on Sunday night and eat healthy lunches all week long. Here are some ideas for leftover chicken breast soups.

Lemony Chicken Soup with Orzo

A smooth and creamy homemade chicken soup with orzo is a great way to use up leftover grilled chicken breasts. Cut up your chicken into chunks and simmer them in a pot of broth with carrots, celery, onion, garlic, fresh thyme leaves, and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper. And remember, when it comes to soups, always prepare more than you think you’ll need—they freeze beautifully!

Creamy Chicken & Wild Rice Soup (Panera Copycat Recipe)

Looking for easy chicken breast recipes? This creamy soup with chicken and wild rice is sure to be a family favorite!

Quick Chicken Pozole Soup

Pozole is a traditional Mexican soup or stew that uses hominy, an ingredient made from corn. The hominy can be either white or yellow and has a mild, slightly sweet flavor. In Mexico, pozole is usually served for special occasions like Christmas and other holidays or as a soup in restaurants called Menudo (made with tripe).

Instant Pot Chicken Taco Soup (1 Minute Recipe)

A One-Minute Recipe for an Instant Pot chicken taco soup that’s gluten-free, dairy-free, low carb, and keto! It’s healthy comfort food you can make in less than 20 minutes. Make it on a weeknight or serve it at your next party as a dip for tortilla chips or even flour tortillas or as a topping for baked potatoes. All your favorite taco flavors in one easy recipe!

Buffalo Chicken Soup

Looking for easy ways to use up leftover grilled chicken breasts? Consider making a batch of homemade Buffalo-style chicken soup. The recipe takes roughly 10 minutes to prepare and cook. And, as an added bonus, it can be frozen in individual portions so you can enjoy delicious leftovers later on.

Thai Chicken Soup with Coconut Milk

This quick and easy Thai chicken soup is made with leftover grilled chicken breast and a ton of healthy veggies. It’s completely dairy-free, but still so creamy and delicious! (via Half Baked Harvest.

Simple Chicken Noodle Soup

Soup is perhaps one of most versatile ways to make leftover-chicken dishes—it works equally well as a starter, an entrée, or even a meal on its own. For a quick and easy way to use up leftover chicken breasts, look no further than chicken noodle soup.

Chicken Paprikash Soup

Here’s a delicious recipe from Bon Appetit for a soup made with leftover chicken breasts. Paprikash is traditional Hungarian dish that’s great for warming you up on a chilly night. Here’s how to make it.

Leftover Chicken Taco Soup

While leftover grilled chicken breast recipes are great, sometimes you need something that’s fast, easy and tasty.

While delicious on its own, leftover grilled chicken breast is especially good when used in a soup recipe like our leftover chicken taco soup! This easy soup is made with pantry staples, including frozen corn and green chilies. The leftover chicken breast from your tacos will add protein (and some taste!) and bulk to an otherwise simple meal. Bring it for lunch or serve it up for dinner – we love it!

Leftover Chicken Breast Recipe Ideas: Casseroles

Got leftover chicken breasts you need to use the next day? Whip up a casserole. We’ve rounded up some casseroles that call for leftover grilled chicken breast meat. Find one you like, or—even better—try them all!

Crispy Shell Casseroles

Create a crispy-crusted casserole by coating leftover chicken breasts in panko bread crumbs and baking until browned. Serve as is, or pair with cream sauce for a creamy dish. Try serving alongside pasta or roasted potatoes for an Italian-inspired meal.

Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Tater tot casserole is a classic American dish loved by kids and adults alike. Leftover grilled chicken breast, it’s also a great way to use up leftover grilled chicken breasts. To make tater tot casserole, simply combine leftover grilled chicken breast with tater tots, cheese, onion, and soup in a greased baking dish. Bake for about 20 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted. Garnish with extra cheese if desired.

Easy Cheesy Chicken Casserole Recipe

This easy cheesy chicken casserole recipe is perfect for those nights when you are just too tired and hungry to cook a real meal. It’s quick, simple, inexpensive and very tasty!

Got Leftover Chicken Breasts You Gotta Cook?

Grilled chicken breast recipes are really great, and you can use leftover grilled chicken breasts in so many ways. With a little time, creativity, and basic ingredients you can turn your leftover chicken meat into an awesome different meal. and the best part is that it’s easy to make these into a main dish.

We hope these ideas have inspired you to get creative with your leftover grilled chicken breasts. By cooking in bulk and using up leftover grilled chicken breast from a previous meal, you’ll always have something ready to go when you need it.