Shredded chicken is a versatile ingredient that can be prepared in advance and used in a variety of dishes throughout the week. It’s also a great way to repurpose leftovers from a roasted or rotisserie chicken dinner. In this post, we’ll share some of our favorite ways to use shredded chicken, from appetizers to soups, salads, pasta dishes, and more.
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Appetizers and Snacks Using Shredded Chicken
- Chicken Sheet Pan Nachos. Toss the chicken with a few spoonfuls of your favorite salsa. Layer the chicken mixture onto tortilla chips with cheese, bake until hot and bubbly, and serve with your favorite nacho toppings.
- Chicken Quesadillas. Season the chicken with your favorite taco or fajita seasoning. Layer it with shredded cheese (we like Sargento’s Authentic Mexican Blend) onto half of a large flour tortilla. Fold the other half of the tortilla over the fillings and pan-fry it in a little bit of oil until crispy and the cheese is melted. Cut into wedges and serve with salsa, sour cream, and guacamole as a tasty appetizer or main course.
- Dips. Shredded chicken is a great addition to your favorite dips for game day! We love to use it recipes like Buffalo Chicken Dip and Chicken Bacon Ranch Dip.
Want to make shredded chicken breasts at home? Check out our recipe for Instant Pot Shredded Chicken. It’s juicy, flavorful, and a cinch to make for meal prep.
Soups, Salads, and Sandwiches
- Chicken Soup. Simmer egg noodles with fresh or frozen veggies in chicken broth and add shredded chicken breasts for a quick and comforting Chicken Noodle Soup. (Great for when you’re under the weather!) Or, use it in our Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup.
- Entree Salads. Add shredded chicken to any salad for a satisfying meal. Create a delicious Chicken Caesar Salad by tossing the chicken with crisp romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, croutons, and grated Parmesan cheese. Or, drizzle the chicken with BBQ sauce and add it to a baby spinach salad with sliced red onion, avocado, and roasted sweet potato cubes (pictured). You can also use it to make our Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad and Harvest Cobb Salad.
- Pasta Salad. One of our favorite lunches is cold tortellini salad with chicken, baby arugula, roasted red peppers, olives, and Balsamic Vinaigrette. Or, go for a Southwest-inspired theme by tossing the chicken and pasta with cherry tomatoes, black beans, cooked corn, red onion, bell peppers, and Cilantro-Lime Dressing {affiliate link}.
- Chicken Salad. Use shredded chicken in place of cubed poached or rotisserie chicken in your favorite chicken salad recipes. (Try it in our Cranberry Chicken Salad with Walnuts!)
- Pesto Chicken Panini. Toss the chicken with your favorite homemade or store-bought pesto, and layer it on ciabatta rolls or focaccia with mozzarella and sliced tomato. Weight the sandwich with a grill press on a griddle, cooking until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.
- BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches. Dress the chicken with your favorite BBQ sauce and pile it onto buns with homemade coleslaw for a mouthwatering sandwich.
Easy Dinners with Shredded Chicken
- Chicken Pot Pie. Use shredded chicken in your favorite Chicken Pot Pie recipe that calls for cooked chicken breast.
- Chicken Tacos or Burritos. Toss the chicken with your favorite taco seasoning and warm it in a skillet on the stove until the edges get a little crispy. Add it to tortillas or burrito wraps with your favorite toppings/add-ins, such as shredded cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, refried beans, and rice. Or, make an easy Chicken Burrito Bowl by layering shredded chicken and toppings over rice.
- Hot Pasta Dishes. Add shredded chicken to your favorite pasta dishes for an instant protein boost. It’s great in Creamy Chicken Lasagna for an indulgent weekend dinner, or you can toss it with pesto and penne for a quick and easy weeknight meal. Love Italian-American style Alfredo sauce? Mix the chicken with pasta, steamed broccoli, and your favorite homemade or store-bought Alfredo.
- BBQ Chicken Pizza. Spread BBQ sauce on a prepared pizza crust (we love Brooklyn Bred Pizza Crusts for weeknights), top with shredded chicken, sliced red onions, and mozzarella cheese, and bake until golden.
- Casseroles. Chicken casseroles are cozy and comforting. Some of our family’s favorites are Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice Casserole, and Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole. You can also use shredded chicken in place of turkey breast in our reader-favorite Tetrazzini recipe!
What’s your favorite way to use meal-prepped shredded chicken? Tell us in the comments below!
