Cooking Leftover Chicken: Tasty Dishes Everyone Will Love

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After you’ve eaten that chicken dinner, what becomes of the chicken that is left? With the cost of food these days, throwing it away would be a waste of money. Here are a few ways to make the most of leftover chicken that the family will love.

Lunch fare- Chicken breasts can be cut into cubes and used to make lunch the next day. Add a little low-fat or fat free mayonnaise and some chopped celery and onions and you have created chicken salad. Chicken salad can be served on a bed of lettuce with a sprinkling of paprika or between two slices of whole-grain bread for a filling lunch. Be sure to strip away any excess fat from the meat before you cut it into cubes. Cubed chicken breast can also be added to a garden salad along with low-fat cheese crumbles to create a chef salad. Add your favorite dressing for a healthy lunch.

Easy weekend dinner- Leftover chicken should not be kept in the refrigerator longer than a week. If can be stripped from the bone and frozen for later meals. Dinner on the weekends should be less work. Use that leftover chicken to make a healthy lasagna or potpie recipe. Make sure that you cook both of these dishes just until the cheese or crust begins to brown. This will ensure that the pre-cooked chicken is not overcooked. Chicken can also be added to a rice and vegetable casserole as an alternative to cooking another meat.

Fun snacks- Kids love to eat snacks throughout the day on the weekend. Why not make them healthy? Your children could also help in the preparation. Cut leftover chicken breasts into one inch squares. Sprinkle them with water and coat them with Shake N Bake® or breadcrumbs in a bag. Cook in the oven at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes. These chicken poppers will be a hit. Cutting chicken into strips also makes a healthy filling for quesadillas or tacos.

Soups- My grandmother will take the leftover chicken that is still on the bone and boil it until the excess meat falls off. She removed the bones and added spices and vegetables to make a homemade chicken soup. Add a few egg noodles and you have an old-fashioned remedy for common cold symptoms. To make a healthier version of this homemade soup, strain the broth. Remove any skin or fat. Reintroduce the chicken plus vegetables, noodles, and seasonings. Boil until noodles are fully cooked.

Leftover chicken doesn’t have to be boring. There are plenty of uses for chicken that create new and tasty dishes. Give it a try and dazzle the family with your cooking skills.

To learn more, check out the Mom’s Talk eBook’s Freezing It & Loving It!