5 Easy Recipes Using Rotisserie Chicken

Easy Rotisserie Chicken Recipes for Busy Weeknights

Looking for easy recipes using rotisserie chicken? A store-bought rotisserie chicken is one of the easiest shortcuts to a homemade meal, turning a simple grocery-store pickup into everything from hearty soup to comforting casseroles, fresh salads, and quick weeknight dinners.

We've gathered five easy rotisserie chicken recipes to help you make the most of leftover or freshly picked rotisserie chicken. These ideas are simple, family-friendly, and perfect when you need dinner on the table without starting from scratch.

And if you're wondering what to do with a rotisserie chicken when you only have 30 minutes, start with our South of the Border Tortilla Soup. Just shred the chicken, add it to our soup mix with broth and salsa, and dinner is ready.

What to Do With a Rotisserie Chicken

Don't let leftover rotisserie chicken languish in the refrigerator. Once you've pulled the meat from the bones, shredded rotisserie chicken can become the starting point for all kinds of easy meals. Add it to soup, toss it into a salad, fold it into a casserole, or use it anywhere a recipe calls for cooked chicken.

A rotisserie chicken is especially useful for busy weeknights because the most time-consuming part of cooking chicken is already done. Keep the shredded meat refrigerated and use it within the recommended food-safety window for cooked poultry.

• Soup: Add shredded chicken to tortilla soup, chicken noodle soup, or creamy soup.
• Salads: Toss with greens, vegetables, grains, or a flavorful dressing.
• Casseroles: Stir cooked chicken into pasta, rice, or vegetable casseroles.
• Tacos & wraps: Combine with salsa, avocado, cheese, or your favorite toppings.
• Quick sandwiches: Mix with mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, herbs, or vegetables.

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Need to make dinner in a hurry? Skip the drive thru and make one of these easy recipes using rotisserie chicken instead!

I say this every fall: this season is insanely busy.

Between getting Elle to all of her regular activities, making sure we aren’t forgetting any special fall school events (I see you, Trunk or Treat), keeping up with the influx of pumpkin recipes I have planned to share with you, and simply trying to spend time together as a family…

…you guys, I’m exhausted.

I barely have time to keep my house clean, much less make a time-intensive dinner.

Thankfully, rotisserie chickens exist and let me tell you, they are the best easy dinner shortcut around. They’re inexpensive, easy to pick up at almost any grocery store, and make a great base for so many quick recipes.

EASY CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

One of my favorite ways to use rotisserie chicken is to add it to soup recipes.

But I’ll be honest, even that can sometimes take a little longer than I’d like. When I’m really crunched for time, I’ll instead add the shredded chicken to Frontier Soups™ Homemade in Minutes® South of the Border Tortilla Soup Mix.

These soup mixes are all-natural, without any added salt or artificial stuff that I wouldn’t feel comfortable feeding my kid. They’re quick and easy to make; in less than 30 minutes, I’ve got a homemade dinner that makes my whole family happy.

OUR FAVORITE TORTILLA SOUP TOPPINGS

Of course, proclaiming that our dinner is healthy is not necessarily the biggest selling point when you have a 5-year-old. But you know what is a big selling point to her?

A toppings bar.

Honestly, this trick works for my husband, too. Setting out a variety of toppings and letting everyone add what they want to their soup is always a huge hit.

For a hearty tortilla soup such as this one, I like to put out sour cream, shredded cheese, diced avocado, fresh cilantro, hot sauce, pickled jalapeños, lime wedges and of course – crushed tortilla chips!

HOW TO BOOST THE NUTRITION OF YOUR TORTILLA SOUP

So we know how to fool our families into slurping down this healthy soup. Let’s find some ways to sneak in even more nutrients, shall we?

I like to add peeled and small-diced sweet potatoes in with the mix. I think sweet potatoes are delicious with black beans and chicken, so they’re perfect in this tortilla soup.

You could even add a can of fire-roasted tomatoes, diced bell peppers or diced jalapeños if your family likes a bit of heat. This tortilla soup is easy to customize to make your own.

More Easy Recipes Using Rotisserie Chicken

Looking for even more easy meal ideas using rotisserie chicken? Here are 4 more of my favorite recipes to make when I’m short on time, low on energy, and desperately needing a delicious meal.

Crispy Chicken Apple Cabbage Salad

For something fresh and crunchy: This chicken apple cabbage salad is a great way to turn leftover rotisserie chicken into a lighter meal, pairing shredded chicken with crisp vegetables and sweet-tart apple.

Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

For a simple shortcut: Make your own rotisserie-style chicken in the air fryer with crispy skin and juicy meat. It's an easy way to cook once and have enough chicken ready for several meals throughout the week.

Easy Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe

For a cozy casserole: Turn leftover rotisserie chicken into creamy chicken tetrazzini with tender noodles, mushrooms, a rich sauce, and a golden Parmesan breadcrumb topping. It's the kind of hearty dinner that's even better the next day.

Chicken Pot Pie with Buttermilk Biscuit Crust

For ultimate comfort food: Use leftover rotisserie chicken in a creamy pot pie topped with tender buttermilk biscuits. It's a cozy, family-friendly dinner that's especially welcome on chilly nights.

How Much Meat Is on a Rotisserie Chicken?

The amount of usable meat varies depending on the size of the chicken and how thoroughly you remove the meat from the bones. For recipes, a typical rotisserie chicken can provide several cups of shredded cooked chicken, making it useful for multiple meals.

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SOUTH OF THE BORDER TORTILLA SOUP

This hearty tortilla soup is easy to make and packed with shredded rotisserie chicken. It's a simple weeknight meal or satisfying lunch.

yield: 9 servings

prep time: 5 minutes

cook time: 25 minutes

total time: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• Frontier Soups™ Homemade in Minutes® South of the Border Tortilla Soup Mix
• 6 cups Chicken Broth
• 1 cup Water
• 2-3 cups Shredded cooked chicken breast
• 12-16 oz Salsa

FOR TOPPING:

• Crushed tortilla chips
• Shredded cheese
• Sour cream
• Diced avocado

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a 4-qt pot bring broth and water to a boil.
2. Reduce heat and stir in soup mix, chicken and salsa.
3. Return to a simmer, cover and cook for 25 minutes.
4. Serve as is, or with your choice of toppings!

NOTES

For an added boost of nutrition, you can add additional vegetables such as peeled and diced sweet potatoes, fire-roasted tomatoes, diced peppers, etc.

More Chicken Soup Mixes to Try

Love the idea of turning rotisserie chicken into an easy homemade meal? Our soup mixes make another great shortcut. Just add cooked chicken and a few pantry staples to create a hearty, homemade-style dinner in about 30–45 minutes.

Blog post by: My Baking Addiction