18 Rotisserie Chicken Recipes to Make a Hearty Meal Fast

Tarragon Chicken Salad Cranberries
Photo: Jason Donnelly

Slash dinner prep time by picking up a rotisserie chicken from your deli or supermarket. While it's delicious and juicy as is, ready-made whole roasted chicken is the perfect starting point for one of our quick and easy recipes. The average deli chicken is around two pounds and will yield about 3 cups of white and dark meat, which is plenty for each of these recipes. Whether chopped in a pasta dish or shredded for sandwiches, you'll be turning your deli chicken into a brand new meal in no time.

01 of 18

Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
Andy Lyons

Rotisserie chicken makes it easy to get your barbecue fix any time of the year. All you have to do is mix up the sauce, add the meat, and heat. Molasses adds just the right amount of sweetness to the homemade sauce, and fresh serrano chile peppers turn up the heat. Serve with some crunchy bread-and-butter pickles.

02 of 18

Teriyaki Chicken Noodle Soup

Teriyaki Chicken Noodle Soup
Andy Lyons

Store-bought soup cups can't compare to these delicious, customizable jars filled with ginger-spiked broth, veggies, and shredded rotisserie chicken. Lunchtime won't know what hit it.

Buy It: Ball 16-ounce 12pk Glass Wide Mouth Mason Jars, $30, Target

03 of 18

Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Pot Pie

Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Pot Pie
Andy Lyons

If you're craving comfort food like chicken pot pie, this golden-brown beauty preps in just 25 minutes. Easy ingredients like jarred Alfredo sauce, frozen veggies, and shredded cooked chicken make this a dinner you'll be making again and again.

Test Kitchen Tip: No pizza dough on hand? Swap it out for half of a 14.1-ounce package of refrigerated pie crust.

04 of 18

Tortilla Chicken Skillet Casserole

Tortilla-Chicken Skillet Casserole
Kritsada Panichgul

This crunchy chicken casserole, packed with chipotle peppers, tortilla strips, onion, garlic, and spices, is one of the most flavorful uses for shredded deli chicken you'll find. But the best part? It comes together in a single skillet!

Buy It: Signature Skillet, $130, Le Creuset

05 of 18

Tarragon Chicken Salad with Cranberries

Tarragon Chicken Salad Cranberries
Jason Donnelly

Dried cranberries give this classic chicken salad recipe the right amount of tang, while tarragon adds an herbal punch. Stir in your choice of almonds or walnuts for a crunchy and healthy addition. Eat it on bread or on top of greens for a healthy lunch option.

06 of 18

Chicken with Summer Squash

chicken with summer squash
Andy Lyons

Dig in to a succulent chicken dinner that highlights the best of that summer farmers market haul. A quick sauté dresses up summer squash and deli-roasted chicken, while fresh arugula adds a peppery bite.

07 of 18

Jalapeño Popper Chicken Soup

Jalapeno Popper Chicken Soup
Jacob Fox

A 30-minute minute meal that tastes like the classic jalapeño popper appetizer? Yes, please! To make the bar snack into a creamy soup recipe, we've added shredded rotisserie chicken and bacon to the pot. You'll be coming back for second and third helpings of this chicken dinner.

08 of 18

Chicken Sopa Seca

Chicken Sopa Seca
Blaine Moats

While sopa seca may be Spanish for "dry soup," rest assured there's nothing dry about this delectably spicy casserole made with angel hair pasta, diced tomatoes, chipotle peppers, cheese, and convenient pre-cooked chicken.

09 of 18

Coconut-Lime Chicken Soup

Coconut-Lime Chicken Soup
Andy Lyons

Make your own Asian-inspired takeout dinner by whipping up a fast-fix soup. Shredded deli chicken combines coconut milk and Thai seasonings for a flavorful broth. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro and an extra squeeze of lime for a bright finish.

10 of 18

Pesto Penne with Deli-Roasted Chicken

Pesto Penne Deli-Roasted Chicken
Blaine Moats

Fresh broccoli and roasted red sweet peppers dress up deli-roasted chicken and purchased pesto in this incredibly easy pasta dinner recipe made for busy weeknights. Slice a toasted baguette to pair with the pasta.

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Roasted Chicken Banh Mi

Roasted Chicken Banh Mi
Karla Conrad

Vietnamese cuisine is all about fresh ingredients, and trendy banh mi sandwiches are no exception. Ours are stacked high with deli-roasted chicken, crunchy carrots, and spicy jalapeno slices. Slather half of the baguette with sriracha-spiced mayonnaise for an extra kick.

12 of 18

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken Tortilla Soup
Andy Lyons

Throw the ingredients for this easy chicken tortilla soup recipe in the slow cooker for a stress-free dinner tonight. We used convenience foods such as frozen corn and leftover rotisserie chicken to make assembling this soup a snap.

13 of 18

Warm Chicken Salad with Peppers and Pine Nuts

Warm Chicken Salad with Peppers and Pine Nuts
Blaine Moats

The rotisserie chicken in this delicious main-dish salad requires minimal prep. All you have to do is cut up the chicken, then bake with peppers and pine nuts. Peppery arugula wilts just slightly when tossed with the warm chicken, and a handful of homemade croutons adds irresistible crunch.

14 of 18

Garlic-Parmesan Chicken and Noodles

Garlic-Parmesan Chicken and Noodles
Andy Lyons

Elevate home-style chicken and noodles from light soup to filling supper with this bubbly, bread-crumb-topped casserole. Using shortcut ingredients deli chicken and frozen peas, this comforting dinner comes together in 25 minutes flat.

15 of 18

Tortellini Florentine Soup

Tortellini Florentine Soup
Andy Lyons

Brimming with favorite flavors such as three-cheese tortellini and tender rotisserie chicken, this quick and healthy soup will warm you right up. Light Alfredo sauce gives the broth creaminess while keeping calories low. Tangy sun-dried tomatoes add a rustic touch.

Test Kitchen Tip: If you're planning for leftovers, add the spinach on top of each serving instead of to the entire batch. Because spinach is a delicate leafy green, it will become soggy when reheated.

16 of 18

Basil, Chicken, and Tomatoes

Basil, Chicken, and Tomatoes
Andy Lyons

Stack roma tomatoes, avocado slices, and deli-roasted chicken together for a fresh and filling twist on caprese salad. Simple, fresh flavors from basil leaves and olive oil combine beautifully; a squeeze of lime adds the perfect citrusy note.

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Buffalo Chicken Wrap

Buffalo Chicken Wrap
Matthew Clark

If buffalo wings are your favorite appetizer, wait until you try the flavors in these easy wraps for a meal. We've tossed rotisserie chicken with hot sauce and butter before wrapping it up with bacon and fresh veggies.

18 of 18

Creamy Roasted Chicken, Potato, and Noodle Soup

Creamy Roasted Chicken, Potato, and Noodle Soup
Jason Donnelly

With simple ingredients like deli chicken, russet potatoes, and plenty of veggies, this comfort food recipe might make you reconsider opening that can of soup. The better-for-you chicken broth gets its creaminess from fat-free evaporated milk.

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