23 Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes That Use Rotisserie Chicken

Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
Photo: Yoly

Just in case you think buying a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store is "cheating," we're here to tell you it's not. Because while it may be true that you didn't lovingly stuff and roast that whole chicken yourself in that one- or two-hour window of time that just magically appeared, it is also true that using ready-cooked rotisserie chicken is an easy, smart, and super-quick way to get dinner on the table. And isn't that the most important thing? So, just think of rotisserie chicken as a convenience food, in the best sense of the word.

01 of 24

Mom's Fabulous Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuit Crust

Mom's Fabulous Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuit Crust
Katie Rushing

Many people have fond memories of eating Mom's chicken pot pie while growing up—but if you're the mom (or dad, or whoever!) in the kitchen, you'll appreciate recipe creator Pam's shortcut version, which features leftover chicken, which she says "helps on the ease of preparation of this fabulous comfort-style dinner."

02 of 24

White Cheese Lasagna

White Cheese Chicken Lasagna

Lasagna may be the ultimate treat in the comfort-food category, but if your crew is growing tired of the typical beef/pork-and-red-sauce kind, swap things up by introducing this white-cheese lasagna into the fray. Make it even easier by using a rotisserie chicken.

03 of 24

Chicken Tetrazzini for a Crowd

Chicken Tetrazzini for a Crowd
LINNBENN

You'll probably use up a whole rotisserie chicken for this dish (it's scaled to serve 20) but it's well worth it. And even if you don't have to feed hordes of people tonight, recipe developer Lois Shaw suggests making two casseroles so you can eat one and freeze the other for later.

04 of 24

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

A serving of casserole layered between corn tortillas on a white plate
King Ranch Chicken Casserole. Chef John

If you've spent much time in the South, you might already be familiar with this particular brand of comfort food; as recipe creator Chef John notes, he hears that it might be "impossible to go to any sort of potluck in Texas and not see one of these."

05 of 24

Chicken Divan

Chicken Divan
Sugarplum

A dash of curry powder makes this chicken divan recipe a little something special. You can swap fresh mushrooms in for the canned, or poach your own chicken breasts — but if you're looking to save time and energy, don't hesitate to use a rotisserie chicken.

06 of 24

Ranch Chicken Tacos

Ranch Chicken Tacos
Deb C

Allrecipes recipe developer Joan Dredge offers a new spin on traditional tacos that features ranch dressing and a no-cook recipe using rotisserie chicken for a night when the only "cooking" you want to do is warming your tortillas.

07 of 24

Enchiladas Suizas

Enchiladas Suizas on a white plate with rice and beans
naples34102

While recipe creator Lisa Civitillo Blok notes that this enchiladas dish is "equally delicious with cooked pork or beef," a rotisserie chicken makes things even easier.

08 of 24

Southwestern Chicken Lasagna

Southwestern Chicken Lasagna

Okay, you do have to cook your rotisserie chicken a little bit to bring out the best in this recipe—but we think you'll agree it's worth it, as the simple step of browning cooked shredded chicken in butter adds a nice dash of flavor to this Southwestern-style lasagna dish. And while you might have to dig a little deeper in the refrigerator case to find them, Allrecipes user DREGINEK recommends using the called-for corn tortillas, rather than swapping in flour tortillas (which DREGINEK says seem to turn out a little mushy).

09 of 24

Steve's Roasted Chicken Soft Tacos

two chicken soft tacos with toppings on a plate
Baking Nana

Comfort food tastes even better when you only have one pot to wash when you're done prepping it. As Allrecipes home cook Jillian notes, this is "easy to prepare, very simple, and tastes great—perfect for a quick weeknight meal! Plus it's a great way to use up leftover chicken."

10 of 24

White Bean Chicken Chili

White Bean Chicken Chili

If you feel like doctoring your recipe at all, take a hint from LRK, who says, "Chili was great! Thickening trick: Skip the corn starch and purée an additional can of beans in your mini chop or food processor to add to the pot. This gives it more of a restaurant feel, like it's been cooking all day. Also, I added a sprinkling of shredded sharp cheddar, a dollop of sour cream, and cilantro in each bowl before serving."

11 of 24

Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup

"This is a favorite for cool weather sports nights when we all eat at different times. After adding the chicken and gnocchi, throw it in a slow cooker on the lowest setting so it is ready when you are," recipe submitter Kristin says.

12 of 24

Cheesy Broccoli and Chicken Casserole

a white plate holding a serving of casserole garnished with a parsley sprig
France C

"I really like this because it's easy to throw together on a busy weeknight and it's tasty! It's a great use for leftover chicken, too, and perfect for my ketogenic lifestyle," says France C.

13 of 24

Rotisserie Chicken Tortilla Soup

Rotisserie Chicken Tortilla Soup
Rotisserie Chicken Tortilla Soup. Tammy Lynn

This tasty tortilla soup is ready in 30 minutes. Simply combine chicken broth, chicken, black beans, canned corn, and salsa in a pot. Add tortilla strips and cilantro at the end. A great quick dinner for chilly weather.

14 of 24

Udon Peanut Butter Noodles

Udon Peanut Butter Noodles
Mr. B

"Super easy for a weeknight dinner! I followed the recipe as written except I doubled the recipe used the juice from the rotisserie chicken in place of half the broth and added a little sesame oil. Not too spicy. Heat lovers may want to add crushed red pepper like my guys did, but I ate it as is and it was great." — SunnyByrd

15 of 24

Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos

Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
Yoly

"These taquitos are air fried, which makes them healthier than deep-fried ones. Using shredded rotisserie chicken provides a quick prep but you can always use home-cooked chicken. Serve with sides of sour cream, Mexican tomato sauce, and guacamole, or your choice of sides," Yoly says.

16 of 24

Simply The Best Chicken Waldorf Salad

Simply The Best Chicken Waldorf Salad

This chicken salad averages five stars. Reviewers suggest replacing vanilla yogurt with plain yogurt. Red grapes, chunks of Granny Smith apples, and dried cranberries provide sweetness.

17 of 24

Chicken Club Pasta Salad

Chicken Club Pasta Salad

Looking for a satisfying, one-dish meal that doesn't require you to turn on your oven? Look no further than this chicken club-inspired pasta salad. If you have time, let the ingredients marry for about 30 minutes before serving, as reviewer Molly suggests.

18 of 24

Baked Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

236942_baked buffalo chicken mac and cheese_bumina

Two favorite comfort foods — buffalo chicken dip and mac and cheese — combine to make the ultimate crowd pleasing dinner that's ready in just 45 minutes.

19 of 24

Creamy Hatch Chile Chicken

creamy hatch chile chicken
Yoly

If you can get your hands on the coveted ingredient, use hatch chiles to make this creamy chicken filling. Serve on tortillas, over rice, or on its own.

20 of 24

Marsala Cream Chicken with Asparagus

chicken and asparagus over pasta on plate
Rayme Long

"I use a deli-roasted chicken from our local grocery store to speed up prep time on this dish," says recipe creator Challengergurl. "You can change the vegetables to suit your tastes. Serve with a loaf of crusty french bread and a glass of wine.

21 of 24

Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Stracciatella

Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Stracciatella
Kim's Cooking Now

Soups and stews are where the Instant Pot really shines, and this recipe is no exception. "Traditional stracciatella does not have the chicken or rice in it, but it adds a bit a substance when you want something light, but filling," says recipe creator and Allrecipes Allstar Kim's Cooking Now.

22 of 24

Rotisserie Chicken and Stuffing Casserole

Rotisserie Chicken and Stuffing Casserole
Meredith Food Studios

This simple casserole preps in just 15 minutes when you start with a rotisserie chicken, a package of quick-cooking stuffing mix, sour cream, and a couple cans of cream soups. "It's yummy leftover too!" says CathyP. "Rotisserie chicken and the prepared quick-cook stuffing add wonderful flavor to this casserole."

23 of 24

Verde Chilaquiles with Eggs

Verde Chilaquiles with Eggs
Allrecipes Magazine

Here's a creative way to use up leftovers. Instead of the traditional chiles, cheese, and chorizo, these chilaquiles are topped with leftover chicken, eggs, radishes, and avocado. They make a terrific brunch or dinner casserole.

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