While there's nothing quite like the glory of a golden roast chicken or tender poached chicken, if you're lucky enough to have leftovers, there's a heap of creative ways to transform these into entirely new dishes and use up every last piece.
Wondering what to do with leftover roast chicken? This collection of ideas for a chicken supper (and lunch or brunch) use up leftovers drawing inspiration from around the globe, with everything from classic chicken pies and Caesar salad to zesty tacos and fragrant ramen noodle soups in the mix.
Whether you have a container full of leftover baked chicken or a handful of shredded meat, these clever leftover chicken recipes will save you time, money and effort – while bring the flavour.
A shortcut take on a beloved curry: this butter chicken uses leftover roast chicken for depth and toastiness, delivering comfort in every spoonful.
Credit: Sippakorn Wongthanapa
Flaky pastry, creamy filling and chunks of roast chicken make these little pies a comforting way to put leftovers to work, plus they're easy to bake, freezer-friendly and guaranteed to please at lunch or dinner.
Chicken pies Credit: Donna Hay: Fast, Fresh, Simple
Along with tacos, sopes are a staple in Mexico – little round bases of masa corn flour fried and piled high with beans, chicken and salsa make them perfect for sharing.
Credit: Jiwon Kim
Inspired by Japanese summer salads, this salad keeps things cool with soba noodles, ginger dressing and shredded chicken – a refreshing dish that’s as good for lunch boxes as it is for dinner.
Credit: Plum Books / Jeremy Simons
A dish born of thrift and humour: braised vegetables smashed with shredded chicken, scooped up with papadums for crunch.
Credit: Jiwon Kim
This Danish chicken salad is designed for smørrebrød, the country’s beloved open sandwiches, where generous toppings turn simple bread into a satisfying meal.
Credit: Jacqui Small / Lisa Linder
This isn’t your average chicken soup – a Mexican soup from the lush Yucatán region, this tortilla chip-laced broth is bright with lime and chilli, making it both refreshing and restorative.
A hearty classic made easier with leftovers – roast chicken and tender leeks come together in a creamy filling, tucked beneath buttery pastry for a pie that feels like home.
Chicken and leek pie Credit: Adam Liaw
Leftover roast chicken, crusty baguette and punchy pickles combine for a Vietnamese sandwich with big, satisfying flavour.
Credit: Jiwon Kim
Traditional ramen broths take hours; this one takes 20 minutes, using roast chicken bones and Japanese sesame paste for depth.
Credit: Sippakorn Wongthanapa
Created for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, this curried chicken sandwich is a British classic with a royal backstory. Mango chutney and curry powder give roast chicken a regal twist in a sandwich designed for big flavour with little effort.
Credit: Smith Street Books / Chris Middleton
Chef Dan Hong fuses two classics – Hainanese chicken rice and nasi goreng – for a fried rice that’s thrifty and inventive.
Source: SBS / SBS food
A Dominican party staple, these pastelitos fold a sofrito made with shredded roast chicken into crisp and golden pastry pockets.
Credit: Rock Point / Vanessa Moto
A takeaway favourite, simplified: corn, stock and shredded leftover roast chicken are swirled with egg ribbons for a five-minute bowl of comfort.
Cheat’s chicken and sweet corn egg drop soup Credit: Jiwon Kim
Inspired by fattoush, this salad pairs leftover chicken with sourdough bread, herbs and sumac dressing for a fresh and Levantine take.
Credit: Donal's Meals in Minutes
A Greek-inspired pie where filo, herbs and sharp cheese wrap around chicken for a dish fit for brunch or dinner.
Chicken filo pie with two cheeses and herbs. Credit: My Greek Table
Ray Martin’s Taco Tuesday trick: shredded chicken, beans and spice in tortillas, ready to build at the table. A family-friendly leftover fix – turn chicken into taco filling and let everyone add their own toppings.
Credit: Jiwon Kim
This salad shows how scraps become centrepiece: smoky cos, warm chicken and classic Caesar dressing.
Credit: Jiwon Kim
Matthew Evans’ tip: stretch one roast into three meals. This noodle salad makes the second act light, fresh and fragrant. With star anise and chilli oil in the dressing, this noodle salad proves leftovers can pack serious punch.
Credit: Alan Benson
This soup is both thrifty and bright, turning scraps into a long-simmered broth with a dollop of herb pesto.
Credit: Danielle Abou Karam
On Filipino breakfast tables, fried rice (sinangag) is a daily ritual. This version makes the most of chicken rice leftovers, topped with a fried egg and chilli oil.
Filipino chicken rice Credit: Kitti Gould
Crunch, creaminess and citrus – this salad is quick to assemble yet layered with Japanese flavour.
Shredded chicken and cabbage salad with sesame dressing Credit: Justine's Flavours of Fuji
A playful fusion: leftover roast veg and chicken bound with cheese and egg, then dressed in okonomiyaki style. Call it bubble and squeak, call it okonomiyaki – either way it’s a thrifty pancake topped with sauce and mayo.
Bubble and squeak okonomiyaki Credit: Adam Liaw
Rice paper rolls with a twist – caramelised onions, avocado and chicken join noodles and herbs for a fresh update.
Credit: Jiwon Kim
A 'fridge-clean-out' soup where sausage, chicken and veg scraps simmer into something far greater than the sum of parts.
Leftover chicken and sausage soup. Credit: Mary Makes It Easy / Geoff George
