A rotisserie chicken is a quick option from the grocery store. For just a few dollars, you get a few cups of cooked and shredded protein that you can use to make dinner. These are the meals I make when I want rotisserie chicken for protein without cooking chicken from scratch.
Soups
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Rotisserie chicken lets you make tortilla soup in about fifteen minutes. Add the shredded chicken for protein, prepare the broth, and top with lime, avocado, and some tortilla chips.
Chicken Noodle Soup
This version of classic chicken noodle soup uses pulled rotisserie chicken. The chicken adds protein, and the broth makes it filling. You can make a large batch for a cold, busy week.
Chicken and Dumplings
Instead of using the time-consuming process of cooking and shredding your own chicken, use rotisserie chicken for your chicken and dumplings and you can have it ready for a weeknight meal. The chicken adds protein and makes the meal more substantial.
Tacos, tostadas and quesadillas
Chicken Quesadillas
Quesadillas use up leftover rotisserie chicken. The chicken adds protein and shredded cheese holds it together. They take about 10 minutes to cook.
Chicken Tacos
For taco night, you can use rotisserie shredded chicken, which is ready to eat, so dinner will take less than five minutes. Warm the chicken with some seasoning, then place it into taco shells. Everyone can add their own toppings.
Chicken Fajitas
Rotisserie chicken makes fajitas quick on a weeknight. Heat the chicken with some sliced peppers and onions. Serve with or without tortillas.
Chicken Tostadas
For a quick dinner, layer shredded rotisserie chicken onto crunchy tostadas. While the chicken provides protein, you have the flexibility to customize the toppings to your liking. They take about 5 minutes to build.
Nachos and dip
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Rotisserie chicken adds protein to the dip. The chicken adds significant weight to the dip so it feels more like a meal and less like a snack. You can serve it with celery and peppers if you want to keep it lighter.
Chicken Nachos
Prepare a tray of nachos using shredded rotisserie chicken and you’ll have a protein-filled dish in minutes. The chicken turns the nachos from a snack into a shareable meal. Put the tray under the broiler until the cheese is melted.
Salads, sandwiches and wraps
Shredded Chicken Salad
This is what I make when I need a quick lunch and there’s a rotisserie chicken in the fridge. It needs only some quick chopping, and the shredded chicken helps keep the protein content high. It can be eaten with bread or piled on top of some greens, and it keeps 3 to 4 days in the fridge.
BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
Mix some shredded rotisserie chicken with BBQ sauce and you have sandwiches ready in a matter of minutes. This adds a good amount of protein with little effort on a busy evening. Put it on a bun with some slaw.
Chicken Caesar Wraps
With rotisserie chicken, Caesar wraps take about two minutes to assemble. The chicken provides protein, while the greens add crunch and volume. Wrap it in a tortilla or some lettuce.
Chicken Salad Sandwiches
One of the simplest high-protein lunches you can make is a shredded rotisserie chicken salad sandwich. To keep the meal healthy, combine the shredded chicken with some Greek yogurt. Prepare a large batch on Sunday, and you’ll have lunch prepped for the next 3 to 4 days.
Chicken Spaghetti Salad
Using rotisserie chicken, this cold chicken spaghetti salad works for meal prep. The protein from the chicken, along with the other ingredients, helps the salad stay fresh and edible in the refrigerator for several days. This dish works for lunch during the workweek or dinner on practice nights.
Pasta, casseroles and pot pie
Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Using shredded rotisserie chicken allows you to make enchilada casserole on a weeknight. It provides layers for the casserole and makes for a filling and protein-rich option for the whole family. You can eat it multiple times since it has a good amount of leftovers.
When reheating the casserole, the FSIS safe temperature chart sets 165°F as the minimum for leftovers and casseroles.
Chicken Pot Pie
Using rotisserie chicken saves you the work of chopping and cooking the chicken for the pot pie. The chicken provides the protein. It is a warm meal that looks like more work than it is.
Creamy Chicken Pasta
Shredded rotisserie chicken adds protein to creamy pasta. Since it stirs right in, you skip the step of cooking chicken from scratch. Mix in some vegetables, and it becomes a complete all in one meal.
Chicken Alfredo
Adding rotisserie chicken to alfredo turns a simple pasta meal into a high-protein dinner. No further cooking is required for the shredded chicken. Throw in some broccoli or peas, and you will have an entire meal in one dish.
Rice plates and bowls
Chicken Fried Rice
With leftover rotisserie chicken, you can make fried rice. The chicken and egg combo make the meal very protein heavy. Dinner can be ready in ten minutes if you use leftover rice, some vegetables and your protein of choice.
Chicken and Wild Rice with Mango Salsa
This dish offers balance and simplicity. With the rotisserie chicken and accompanying mango salsa, you get a lighter dish with some variety. Preparation is quick, because there is no need to cook the chicken.
Chicken Burrito Bowls
For dinner, we can assemble a burrito bowl on a base of shredded rotisserie chicken and either rice or leafy greens. While the chicken will provide us with the protein, the additional toppings will provide bulk and flavor to the dish. It is quick and can be customized.
Chicken and Rice Plate
This meal is a salad, some rice, and rotisserie chicken. The chicken provides a good amount of protein, and the salad and rice help balance things out.
