What can I cook with leftover chicken?
Safely chilled cooked chicken can become warm cabbage wraps or a vegetable soup. Decide from its storage history first, then pick crunchy vegetables or a warming broth.
Choose a recipe for what you have
Leftover chicken and cabbage wraps
Use cabbage and carrot for crunch, adding the reheated chicken just before eating.
Leftover chicken and vegetable soup
Use a leek, carrot and a handful of pasta for a broth-based lunch.
Tomato and spinach pasta
If the chicken is too old or its storage is uncertain, leave it out and make this meat-free alternative.
Practical things to check
- Use chicken refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking and within 48 hours of that original cooking time. Do not restart the storage clock by putting it in a new dish.
- Reheat only once, until steaming hot throughout. Make the portion you need rather than warming a whole container and chilling it again.
- Shredded chicken warms more evenly than large pieces. A little water protects wraps from dry chicken, while soup gives small amounts of meat more volume.
These are starting points rather than an allergy-safe meal plan. Check the full recipe and ingredient labels before choosing an idea for your household or guests.