Yesterday we roasted chicken and today we have leftovers. So what can you do with the leftovers?

It makes sense for us to get smarter about fully using the food that we purchase. And that means getting smarter about leftovers.

Even a small amount of  leftover roast chicken can easily become another meal and there are numerous ways to do this without being boring. With leftover chicken in the refrigerator you can make convenient and versatile weeknight dinners,

Leftover chicken can be stored in the fridge in a sealed container for three to four days, and in the freezer for about four months.  Just remember to plan your leftover meals ahead so that when you’re at the market, you can pick up the ingredients you’ll need.

How much meat from a 6-lb. roasting chicken?

Leftover Amount	Yield
1 whole chicken	7 cups
1/2 chicken	3-1/2 cups
1 breast	1 cup
1 leg (thigh and drumstick)	1 cup

Make A Salad

Roasted Chicken and Romaine Salad

For 4 servings

Dressing

• 1/2 cup reduced fat mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Salad

• Leftover roast chicken (about 6 ounces per serving), sliced thin
• 3 hearts of romaine, trimmed and torn into pieces
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 slices country-style white bread, each about ¾ inch thick
• Additional grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and black pepper for garnish

Directions

Whisk the dressing ingredients until smooth.

Brush the bread slices with olive oil and toast on both sides in the broiler until lightly brown. Cut the bread into small cubes to make croutons.

Cut the chicken into thin slices and cut the bread into croutons. Place the romaine on serving plates and top with chicken and croutons. Serve right away with the dressing on the side.

Mix the romaine, chicken and croutons in a large salad bowl. Add the dressing and gently toss.

Divide the salad onto 4 serving plates and garnish with black pepper and cheese.

 

Make Chicken Soup

To make the broth:

After you cut all the meat off the chicken, use the bones to make broth. Place the bones in a large soup pot and add 4 quarts of water.Bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover the pot, and simmer for 1 hour.

Place a colander or strainer over a large bowl. Pour the contents of the pot into it. Let the mixture cool. Pick through the bones and remove any meat; discard skin and bones. Add the meat to the broth; cover and set aside.

To make the soup:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 medium onions, coarsely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 8 ounces button mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 7 stalks celery, cut into 1/2-inch slices
• 4 medium carrots, cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• Additional cooked chicken and noodles, optional

Directions

Add the oil to the soup pot and heat over low heat. Add the onions. Cook, stirring often, for 8 minutes or until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

Add the mushrooms, celery, and carrots. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.

Add the salt, black pepper, paprika, cayenne pepper and parsley. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes more or until the carrots and celery are almost softened.

Add the broth and chicken mixture to the vegetables in the soup pot. Taste for seasoning and bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add cooked noodles and extra cooked chicken, if desired.

Make A Pasta Dish

Chicken Lasagna Rolls

6 servings

Ingredients

• 6 dried lasagna noodles
• One 8 ounce package reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel), softened
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup grated Romano cheese or Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives
• 1 ½ cups chopped cooked chicken
• 1/2 of a 10 ounce package frozen chopped broccoli, thawed and drained (1 cup)
• 1/2 cup bottled roasted red sweet peppers, drained and chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup marinara pasta sauce

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a  3-quart rectangular baking dish with olive oil cooking spray.

Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain noodles and cut each noodle in half crosswise; set aside.

For the cheese sauce:

In a medium mixing bowl beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Slowly add milk, beating until smooth. Stir in Romano cheese and chives.

For the filling:

In a medium bowl stir together 1/2 cup of the white sauce, the chicken, broccoli, roasted red peppers and black pepper. Place about 1/4 cup of the filling at an end of each cooked noodle and roll. Arrange rolls, seam sides down, in the prepared baking dish.

Spoon the remaining white sauce over the rolls. Top each roll with some marinara sauce. Cover with foil. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until heated through.

Make A Sandwich

This sandwich can also be grilled in a panini press. You can also add a slice of your favorite cheese to each sandwich.

Chicken Focaccia Sandwich

6 servings

Ingredients

• One round 8 inch tomato flavored focaccia bread or sourdough bread
• 1/3 cup reduced fat mayonnaise
• 1 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves
• 2 cups sliced roasted chicken
• ½ cup roasted red sweet peppers, drained and cut into strips

Directions

Using a long serrated knife, cut bread in half horizontally. Spread cut sides of the bread halves with mayonnaise..

Layer basil leaves, chicken and roasted sweet peppers between bread halves. Cut into wedges.

Dinner Entrée

Roasted Chicken Stuffed Zucchini

Yield: 2 halves

Ingredients

• 1 large zucchini
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• ½ cup finely diced onion
• 2 tablespoons red bell pepper, diced
• ¼ cup cherry or grape tomatoes, chopped
• 1 small minced garlic clove
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil or parsley
• ½ cup leftover roast chicken, chopped
• Sea salt and cracked black pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons shredded  mozzarella cheese

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Cut both ends off the zucchini and cut in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out most of the inner flesh, taking care to leave the shells (zucchini skin) intact. Chop the zucchini flesh.

Season the shells with sea salt and cracked black pepper and place on a foil lined baking sheet or in a glass baking dish that has been sprayed with olive oil cooking spray.

Add the oil to a skillet and heat on medium. Add the onion and cook 2-3 minutes. Add the bell pepper to the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes.

Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the chopped zucchini flesh, tomatoes and basil. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until the tomato starts to soften. Mix in the cooked chicken pieces to reheat and season everything to taste with sea salt, cracked black pepper, crushed red pepper and lemon juice.

Scoop the filling equally into each zucchini shell and sprinkle with the shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake uncovered for about 30 minutes or until the zucchini is fork tender.

Posted by Jovina Coughlin in anchovies, Cheese, Chicken, Healthy Italian Cooking, Leftovers, Panini, Pasta, Salad, Salad Dressing, sandwiches, Soup, Vegetables Tags: what to do with leftover chicken