Easy Weeknight Dinners That Start With Rotisserie Chicken

By Lindsay Warner

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.

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Mom's Fabulous Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuit Crust

Katie Rushing

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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."

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White Cheese Lasagna

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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.

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Chicken Tetrazzini for a Crowd

LINNBENN

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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.

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King Ranch Chicken Casserole

Chef John

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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."

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Chicken Divan

Sugarplum

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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.

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Ranch Chicken Tacos

Deb C

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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.

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Enchiladas Suizas

naples34102

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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.

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Southwestern Chicken Lasagna

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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).

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Steve's Roasted Chicken Soft Tacos

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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."

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White Bean Chicken Chili

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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."

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Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup

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"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.

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Cheesy Broccoli and Chicken Casserole

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"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.

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Udon Peanut Butter Noodles

Mr. B

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"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

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Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos

Yoly

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"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.

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Simply The Best Chicken Waldorf Salad

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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.

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