Chicken breast is a versatile ingredient that can be used in all kinds of delicious recipes. When you have leftover bbq chicken breast, there are many appetizing ways to repurpose it beyond just reheating the barbecue meat. Getting creative with bbq chicken helps reduce food waste and opens up possibilities for quick, easy meals.
From soups and salads to sandwiches and pizza, bbq chicken breast can star in a wide range of dishes. With the tender, juicy chicken already infused with sweet and tangy barbecue flavor, you have a fantastic head start on cooking up something amazing.
This guide will explore over 25 mouthwatering ideas for what to make with bbq chicken breast. We will cover recipes perfect for lunches, dinners, snacks, and more. Keep reading to transform your leftover chicken into crave-worthy meals your family and friends will love.
Savory Salads
Turning bbq chicken breast into flavorful salad toppings and mix-ins is an easy way to create healthy meals full of protein. The sweet, smoky flavor pairs perfectly with fresh greens and crunchy vegetables.
Here are some delicious salad recipes to try with your leftover bbq chicken:
BBQ Chicken Cobb Salad
This protein-packed salad features the classic Cobb salad ingredients along with juicy chunks of bbq chicken breast. The sweet and tangy meat complements the blue cheese crumbles, bacon, hard-boiled egg, avocado, tomatoes, and greens.
To make it, chop the barbecue chicken and mix it in a bowl with chopped romaine lettuce, diced tomatoes, bacon bits, crumbled blue cheese, sliced avocado, and hard-boiled egg wedges. Drizzle with a tangy vinaigrette and toss everything together. The bbq chicken provides a wonderful smoky flavor to this classic salad.
BBQ Chicken Chef Salad
For an easy weekday lunch, turn leftover bbq chicken breast into a chef salad. Along with the barbecue chicken, this salad typically contains ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, cucumber, tomato, onion, hard-boiled egg, and salad greens.
Chop the bbq chicken into bite-size pieces. Arrange the salad ingredients attractively on a plate or tossed in a bowl. The sweet and tangy chicken pairs deliciously with the savory deli meats, cheese, and fresh vegetables. Drizzle with your favorite dressing.
BBQ Chicken Quinoa Salad
For a lighter, protein-packed salad, combine your leftover chicken with quinoa, fresh corn, black beans, peppers, avocado, cilantro, and a tangy mustard vinaigrette. The smoky bbq flavor infuses this veggie-filled grain salad with warmth and depth of flavor.
With its mix of textures and flavors, this salad makes a tasty and healthy lunch or light dinner. The barbecue chicken breast provides a good serving of lean protein.
BBQ Chicken Greek Salad
Turn your bbq chicken breast into a Greek salad filled with Mediterranean flavor. In addition to the barbecue chicken, this salad typically contains cucumbers, tomatoes, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, red onion, romaine lettuce, and tangy Greek dressing.
The combination of smoky chicken, briny olives, creamy feta, and fresh vegetables with lemon dressing is incredible. Chopped bbq chicken breast is an excellent substitute for traditional gyro meat in this classic Greek salad.
Warm & Hearty Soups
Warm up with a comforting bowl of soup starring your leftover bbq chicken breast. The smoky, tender meat adds hearty flavor to brothy soups and chowders.
BBQ Chicken Noodle Soup
For an easy soup, simmer chopped bbq chicken breast in chicken broth with veggies like celery, carrots, onion, and garlic. Add egg noodles and simmer until tender. The noodles soak up the sweet and tangy barbecue sauce on the chicken.
Finish the soup with fresh parsley. The smoky chicken breast makes this classic chicken noodle soup extra comforting.
Creamy BBQ Chicken & Corn Chowder
Make an indulgent chowder by puréeing corn, potatoes, onion, and celery in cream. Add bbq chicken breast, corn kernels, and cheese. Garnish with scallions, bacon, and avocado.
The barbecue chicken adds incredible depth, and the corn complements the sweetness of the bbq sauce. This chowder makes a heavenly cold weather meal.
BBQ Chicken Tortilla Soup
For a fun Tex-Mex twist, use your leftover chicken to make barbecue chicken tortilla soup. Sauté onion, peppers, garlic, chili powder, and cumin. Add bbq chicken breast, tomatoes, chicken broth, beans, and corn. Simmer and then blend half the soup to make it creamy.
Top with tortilla strips, avocado, cilantro, and lime juice. The barbecue chicken gives this spicy soup a touch of sweetness.
BBQ Chicken & Rice Soup
Transform your bbq chicken breast into a hearty chicken and rice soup. Sauté aromatics like onion, celery, and carrots. Add the chicken, broth, tomatoes, rice, and spices.
Once the rice is cooked through, stir in collard greens and simmer until wilted. Top with cheese and scallions for a comforting meal in a bowl.
BBQ Chicken Sandwiches & Wraps
Pile leftover barbecue chicken breast onto rolls, breads, and wraps for easy handheld meals. The tasty chicken transforms sandwiches into crave-worthy lunches and dinners.
Classic BBQ Chicken Sandwich
For an easy sandwich, layer sliced bbq chicken breast with pickles, coleslaw, and bbq sauce on a toasted bun. You can quickly assemble this sandwich without much cooking. The leftover chicken provides instant juicy, smoky flavor.
To make it even better, melt pepper jack cheese over the chicken. The spicy cheese pairs perfectly with the sweet and tangy meat.
BBQ Chicken Banh Mi
For an Asian twist, make banh mi sandwiches with your leftover barbecue chicken. Banh mi typically contain pickled veggies like carrot, daikon radish, cucumber, and cilantro.
Spread mayo and sriracha on a baguette. Layer with the pickled vegetables and add slices of bbq chicken breast. The sweet, smoky chicken pairs deliciously with the tangy pickles and spicy sriracha mayo.
BBQ Chicken Caesar Wrap
Transform bbq chicken breast into a tasty Caesar salad wrap. Spread a tortilla with Caesar dressing. Add romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, and chopped bbq chicken.
Wrap it up for an easy handheld lunch. The smoky chicken complements the creamy, garlic-flavored Caesar dressing.
BBQ Chicken Quesadilla
For a quick and easy dinner, fill tortillas with shredded bbq chicken breast and cheese. Grill the quesadillas until the cheese melts and the tortillas become crispy.
Serve with guacamole, salsa, and sour cream for a delicious Tex-Mex meal. Melty cheese pairs perfectly with sweet and tangy chicken.
Easy Chicken Pizza & Flatbreads
Pizza and flatbreads make fantastic vehicles for leftover bbq chicken breast. The barbecue flavor takes these easy meals to the next level.
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Top a prepared pizza crust with barbecue sauce or ranch dressing. Add shredded mozzarella and pieces of bbq chicken breast.
Cook until the cheese melts and the chicken warms through. Quick and easy bbq chicken pizza, ready in minutes!
To make it even better, add red onion, cilantro, and dollops of sour cream after baking. The cool toppings contrast with the hot chicken and cheese.
BBQ Chicken Flatbread with Apple Slaw
For an easy appetizer or light meal, top flatbread or naan with shredded bbq chicken breast. In a bowl, toss together thinly sliced apples, shredded cabbage, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Top the chicken flatbread with the fresh apple coleslaw before serving. The sweet and tangy slaw complements the barbecue chicken.
BBQ Chicken Parmesan Flatbread
Here’s another yummy flatbread option – bbq chicken Parmesan! Spread naan or flatbread with tomato sauce. Top with mozzarella, parmesan, and shredded bbq chicken breast.
Bake until the cheese melts. Finish with fresh basil and red pepper flakes for heat. This chicken Parmesan twist is cheesy, sweet, and spicy.
Healthy BBQ Chicken Rice Bowls
Build hearty and balanced rice bowls featuring your leftover barbecue chicken. Rice combines with vegetables, sauce, protein, and garnishes for well-rounded meals.
BBQ Chicken Burrito Bowl
Transform bbq chicken into an easy burrito bowl. Cook cilantro lime rice and heat up your leftover chicken. Serve the rice topped with the barbecue chicken, black beans, corn salsa, guacamole, and shredded cheese.
Drizzle with Mexican crema and hot sauce. Burrito flavors in a bowl, with the added smoky sweetness of bbq chicken.
BBQ Chicken Stir Fry
For a quick and healthy dinner, stir fry vegetables like peppers, onions, broccoli, and snap peas. Add chopped bbq chicken breast and continue stir frying until warmed through.
Serve over rice and garnish with sesame seeds. The leftover chicken already has lots of flavor, so the sauce options are wide open – teriyaki, oyster, sesame ginger, etc.
BBQ Chicken & Vegetable Buddha Bowl
Buddha bowls are flexible, well-balanced meals in a bowl. For your base, serve bbq chicken over quinoa or brown rice. Add roasted vegetables like sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and beets.
Top with an avocado sauce, hummus, nuts, or seeds for protein. Buddha bowls are nourishing while accommodating many dietary needs and preferences.
Tex Mex BBQ Chicken Rice Bowl
For a fun rice bowl, warm up leftover bbq chicken and mix with cilantro lime rice. Top with corn, black beans, pico de gallo, guacamole, and cotija cheese. The smoky chicken adds rich flavor to this fresh Tex-Mex meal.
Simple BBQ Chicken Pastas
Pasta combines effortlessly with shredded chicken and barbecue sauce flavors for fast dinner wins. The possibilities for pasta and bbq chicken are nearly endless!
BBQ Chicken Mac and Cheese
Transform leftover bbq chicken breast into the ultimate comfort food by adding it to mac and cheese. Along with elbow pasta and gooey cheese sauce, mix in chopped barbecue chicken. Top with breadcrumbs and broil for an irresistible dish.
BBQ Chicken Parmesan Pasta
Boil pasta like penne or rotini. Sauté chopped bbq chicken with tomato sauce and seasonings. Toss the hot pasta with the chicken and sauce. Top with mozzarella and parmesan and broil until bubbly and melty.
BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad
For an easy packed lunch or side at barbecues, transform your leftover chicken breast into bbq pasta salad. Toss cooked pasta with shredded barbecue chicken, corn, black beans, red onion, cilantro, and BBQ ranch dressing. Chill before serving.
BBQ Chicken Alfredo
Here’s a creamy, decadent dish – bbq chicken Alfredo! Sauté garlic in butter and heavy cream. Add Parmesan, seasoning, and cooked fettuccine. Toss with shredded bbq chicken breast to make an easy, impressive meal.
More Crave-Worthy BBQ Chicken Recipes
Beyond the recipes above, there are many more tasty ways to use up leftover bbq chicken breast. Get inspired by these ideas:
- BBQ chicken chili – simmer chopped chicken in tomatoey chili with beans. Top with cheese, onions, cilantro.
- BBQ chicken tacos – pile shredded chicken into warmed tortillas with salsa and fixings like lime, avocado, red onion, cilantro.
- BBQ chicken sliders – build mini sandwiches on slider buns with cheese, pickles, mayo, and other fun additions.
- BBQ chicken nachos – layer tortilla chips with bbq chicken, beans, salsa, jalapeños, guacamole, and melted cheese for an appetizer.
- BBQ chicken stuffed potatoes – fill baked potatoes with cheese, corn, bbq chicken, scallions, and sour cream.
- BBQ chicken baked potatoes – top loaded baked potatoes with butter, sour cream, green onions, cheese, bacon, and bbq chicken.
- BBQ chicken omelet – make omelets stuffed with your leftover chicken, cheese, and veggies.
- BBQ chicken breakfast taco – burritos taste great any time of day! Add eggs, cheese, and bbq chicken.
- BBQ chicken salad sandwiches – use chicken in any salad sandwich combo like grilled chicken Caesar baguettes.
- BBQ chicken flatbread pizzas – quick and easy individual pizzas on flatbread with chicken and veggies.
With so many diverse recipes to try, you can easily use up leftover bbq chicken breast. Keep taste and dietary preferences in mind, and have fun getting creative in the kitchen!
Frequently Asked Questions About BBQ Chicken Recipes
What kinds of seasonings go well with bbq chicken?
- Popular seasonings that complement bbq chicken include garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, parsley, basil, onion powder, pepper, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, and cilantro.
What are good barbecue sauces for leftover chicken?
- Sweet and tangy classics like hickory smoked, honey mustard, Kansas City, or Memphis-style sauces pair well with leftover barbecued chicken breast.
- For something different, try chili-based, Asian, or Alabama white sauces.
What vegetables taste good with bbq chicken?
- BBQ chicken pairs fantastically with grilled veggies like zucchini, bell peppers, onion, corn, and eggplant.
- In salads and bowls, try tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach, kale, broccoli, sweet potatoes, black beans, avocado and more.
What are easy side dishes to serve with bbq chicken?
- Coleslaw, potato salad, pasta salad, macaroni and cheese, cornbread, collard greens, baked beans, french fries, rice, and fresh green salads are classic bbq chicken sides.
How can I use up leftover bbq chicken breast quickly?
- Shred or chop it to make salads, sandwiches, pasta, soup, nachos, pizza, tacos, stuffed potatoes, omelets, or breakfast burritos.
- Heat it up plain or add it to a green salad, rice bowl, or casserole.
- Make chicken salad with mayo, onions, grapes, and nuts to eat alone or use as a sandwich filling.
Is it safe to reheat leftover bbq chicken?
Yes, as long as it has been safely stored in the fridge for less than 4 days. Reheat only until hot – do not overcook chicken or it will dry out. Reheating to 165°F will kill any bacteria. Bring sauces to a boil before pouring over reheated chicken.
In Summary
Leftover bbq chicken breast is an amazing ingredient to have on hand. It adds instant flavor to simple meals, keeping your food budget and waste in check. This versatile pre-seasoned meat can star in a wide range of global dishes from stir fries to tacos, sandwiches, soups, salads, and pizzas.
With endless possibilities for repurposing barbecue chicken, you could eat something different every night of the week! Next time you grill up a batch of chicken or have leftovers from a restaurant meal, get excited for the delicious new meals you can create.