Barbecued chicken is a delicious and versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of recipes. Shredded barbecued chicken has an amazing smoky flavor that enhances any dish. If you have leftover pulled barbecued chicken or purposefully cook extra so you can use it later, there are so many tasty ways to transform shredded barbecued chicken into easy, quick meals.
Shredded barbecued chicken is extremely versatile. It can be used to make hearty main dishes, light salads, savory sandwiches, comforting casseroles and more. The smoky, tangy flavor pairs well with many different cuisines and ingredients. With a bit of shredded BBQ chicken, you can whip up flavorful weeknight dinners, game day snacks, hearty lunches and even delicious breakfasts.
This article will explore over 30 amazing ways to use shredded barbecued chicken so you can get the most out of this handy ingredient. We will provide recipes and serving ideas so you can reinvent your leftover chicken in delicious new ways.
Savory Main Dishes
Shredded barbecued chicken makes a fantastic addition to main dishes. The bold BBQ flavor infuses dishes with a delicious smoky taste. Here are some savory main dish recipes and serving ideas that showcase barbecued chicken:
BBQ Chicken Stuffed Potatoes
Turn baked potatoes into a hearty meal by stuffing them with shredded BBQ chicken, cheese, sour cream and scallions. The combo of fluffy russets, smoky chicken and melty cheese is ultimate comfort food.
BBQ Chicken Casserole
For a family-friendly one-dish meal, make a casserole with shredded chicken, macaroni or rice, veggies and cheese. Top with breadcrumbs or potato chips and bake until bubbly.
BBQ Chicken Enchiladas
Fill tortillas with shredded chicken, enchilada sauce, beans, corn and cheese. Roll up and bake until hot and melty for a flavorful Tex-Mex meal.
BBQ Chicken Shepherd’s Pie
Make shepherd’s pie with a Southern flair by using shredded BBQ chicken instead of ground meat. Layer chicken, vegetables and mashed potatoes in a baking dish for a hearty dinner.
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Pile shredded chicken, mozzarella, red onion and cilantro onto a prepared pizza crust. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly for a quick homemade pizza.
BBQ Chicken Fried Rice
Stir shredded chicken into fried rice with veggies like carrots, peas, onions and eggs. The barbecue flavor gives classic fried rice a tasty twist.
BBQ Chicken Tacos
Pile shredded chicken into warmed tortillas along with toppings like avocado, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo and pepper jack cheese for an easy taco night.
BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
Fill a tortilla with shredded chicken, cheese and onions. Grill or pan fry for a few minutes until the cheese melts for quick quesadillas.
BBQ Chicken Nachos
Layer shredded chicken, cheese, beans and diced tomatoes over tortilla chips. Bake or broil until the cheese is bubbly for hearty nachos.
BBQ Chicken Lasagna Roll Ups
Spread chicken mixture onto lasagna noodles. Roll up and place seam-side down in a baking dish. Cover with sauce and cheese then bake for a fun twist on lasagna.
Quick & Easy BBQ Chicken Salads
Shredded barbecued chicken transforms ordinary salads into hearty main dish meals. The smoky meat pairs deliciously with crisp greens, veggies and zesty dressings. Whip up these salads for a satisfying lunch or light dinner:
BBQ Chicken Cobb Salad
Top a bed of lettuce with diced chicken, avocado, tomatoes, hard-boiled egg, bacon, blue cheese and ranch dressing for a hearty Cobb salad.
BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad
Chop romaine lettuce then toss with shredded chicken, corn, black beans, tortilla strips and ranch or barbecue ranch dressing for a filling chopped salad.
BBQ Chicken Caesar Salad
Make a satisfying Caesar salad with romaine lettuce, chicken, parmesan, croutons and creamy Caesar dressing.
Loaded BBQ Chicken Potato Salad
Mix potatoes, shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, bacon, onions, pickles and barbecue sauce. Chill before serving this loaded potato salad.
BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad
Toss cooked pasta with shredded chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion and Italian dressing for a quick and easy pasta salad.
BBQ Chicken Greek Salad
Combine chicken, romaine, feta, olives, onions, tomatoes and Greek dressing for a fresh Greek-inspired salad.
BBQ Chicken Taco Salad
Fill a fried tortilla bowl with lettuce, chicken, salsa, beans, corn, shredded cheese and other taco toppings for aflavorful taco salad.
BBQ Chicken Salad with Fruit
Bring sweetness to savory chicken by making a salad with greens, shredded chicken and fruits like mandarin oranges, dried cranberries or fresh berries.
Appetizing BBQ Chicken Appetizers & Snacks
Hearty shredded chicken makes fantastic appetizers for parties or game day. These bite-sized snacks are sure to disappear quickly!
BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
Cut quesadillas made with chicken, cheese and onions into wedges for easy finger food. Serve with salsa and sour cream.
BBQ Chicken Nachos
Pile tortilla chips with chicken, beans, cheese, jalapeños and other toppings for a crowd-pleasing appetizer.
BBQ Chicken Sliders
Pile chicken onto mini slider buns along with pickle chips and creamy coleslaw for a tasty hand-held bite.
BBQ Chicken Dip
Blend shredded chicken with cream cheese, cheddar, BBQ sauce and seasoning. Bake until bubbly then serve with tortilla chips or crackers.
BBQ Chicken Egg Rolls
Wrap shredded chicken and veggies like cabbage and carrots in egg roll wrappers. Fry until golden and crispy and serve with dipping sauce.
BBQ Chicken Hand Pies
Fill pastry shells with chicken, cheese, onions and barbecue sauce. Bake or fry until the crust is golden brown for individual hand pies.
BBQ Chicken Pizza Bites
Top small rounds of bread or pizza dough with chicken, cheese and barbecue sauce. Bake into mini pizza bites for a crowd-pleasing app.
BBQ Chicken Pinwheels
Spread chicken mixture onto tortillas, then tightly roll up. Slice into pinwheels and secure with toothpicks for an easy bite-sized snack.
BBQ Chicken Wonton Cups
Place wonton wrappers into muffin tins and bake into crispy cups. Fill with chicken, cheese, ranch and bacon bits for a fun appetizer.
BBQ Chicken Potato Skins
Scoop out baked potatoes and fill with shredded chicken, cheese, scallions and bacon. Broil until melted for loaded potato skins.
Hearty BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
Shredded chicken cooked in tangy barbecue sauce makes for amazing sandwich fillings. Pile it onto buns, bread, rolls or wraps along with toppings for a satisfying hand-held meal. Try these tasty BBQ chicken sandwich recipes:
BBQ Chicken Sloppy Joes
Mix chicken with barbecue sauce and pile onto burger buns for a fun twist on classic sloppy joes. Add sliced pickles, onions or peppers for crunch.
BBQ Chicken Po’Boys
Build po’boy sandwiches by layering chicken on French bread with lettuce, tomato, pickles and remoulade sauce.
BBQ Chicken Wraps
Wrap shredded chicken, cheese, lettuce and ranch dressing or barbecue sauce in a tortilla or flatbread for a quick lunch or dinner.
BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
Top burger buns or sandwich bread with chicken, coleslaw and pickles for a Southern-style chicken sandwich.
BBQ Chicken Grilled Cheese
Make an open faced grilled cheese sandwich with chicken, BBQ sauce and melty cheddar or provolone cheese.
BBQ Chicken French Dip Sandwiches
Pile chicken onto rolls, then serve au jus dipping sauce on the side for a tasty French dip sandwich.
BBQ Chicken Banh Mi
Fill a baguette with chicken, cucumbers, cilantro, pickled carrots and spicy mayo for a flavorful Vietnamese banh mi sandwich.
BBQ Chicken Muffuletta
Build a muffuletta sandwich by layering chicken, ham, salami and olive tapenade onto a round Italian loaf.
BBQ Chicken Gyro
Stuff warm pita bread with chicken, lettuce, tomato and tzatziki sauce for a smoky take on a classic gyro.
Easy BBQ Chicken Pastas & Casseroles
Shredded barbecued chicken is fantastic mixed into comforting casseroles and pasta bakes. The savory chicken takes these dishes to the next level.
BBQ Chicken & Rice Casserole
Combine chicken, long grain rice, cream of mushroom soup, cheese and roasted veggies. Bake until hot for an easy one-dish meal.
BBQ Chicken Pasta Bake
Toss cooked pasta with chicken, veggies and Alfredo sauce. Top with mozzarella and bake until melted and bubbly.
BBQ Chicken Mac & Cheese
Add shredded chicken to macaroni and cheese. Stir in barbecue sauce and top with breadcrumbs or potato chips before baking.
King Ranch Chicken Casserole
Make this Tex-Mex casserole by layering tortillas, chicken, enchilada sauce, beans, corn, tomatoes and cheese.
BBQ Chicken Baked Ziti
Incorporate chicken into baked ziti along with marinara sauce, ricotta and mozzarella cheese for extra flavor.
BBQ Chicken Lasagna
Make homemade or store bought lasagna even better by mixing shredded chicken into the ricotta cheese layer before baking.
BBQ Chicken & Broccoli Pasta
Toss hot cooked pasta with chicken, broccoli, garlic, olive oil and parmesan for a quick and easy dinner.
BBQ Chicken Penne
Cook penne pasta then mix with chicken, roasted red peppers, spinach and feta cheese for a mediterranean-style pasta.
Easy BBQ Chicken Soups, Stews & Chilis
Shredded barbecue chicken adds hearty flavor and protein to soups, stews and chilis. Try using it in these satisfying dishes:
BBQ Chicken Tortilla Soup
Simmer chicken in a tomato and vegetable broth along with onions, corn and beans. Ladle into bowls topped with tortilla strips.
BBQ Chicken Posole
Cook chicken in a pot with hominy, onions, garlic, chili peppers and lime juice for a smoky posole stew.
BBQ Chicken Chili
Make classic chili even better by browning ground beef then stirring in shredded chicken, beans, tomatoes, onions and chili powder.
BBQ Chicken & Vegetable Soup
Simmer chicken in broth with potatoes, carrots, celery, onions and beans for a healthy and hearty soup.
BBQ Chicken Corn Chowder
Puree some of the soup to make it thick and creamy, then add chicken, corn, potatoes and bacon.
BBQ Chicken Noodle Soup
Shredded chicken boosts classic chicken noodle soup. Simmer chicken in broth with carrots, celery, noodles and herbs.
BBQ Chicken & Dumpling Soup
Make this comforting soup by dropping dumpling dough into chicken broth cooked with chicken, veggies and seasonings.
BBQ Chicken & Rice Soup
Cook chicken broth with tomatoes, carrots, celery and rice. Stir in shredded chicken just before serving.
Unique Ways to Use BBQ Chicken
Beyond traditional recipes, shredded barbecue chicken also shines in these creative dishes:
BBQ Chicken Breakfast Burrito
Scramble eggs with chicken, cheese, potatoes and veggies. Wrap in a tortilla for a hearty breakfast burrito.
BBQ Chicken & Waffles
Top waffles with maple syrup and fried chicken for a sweet and savory Southern-inspired breakfast.
BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza
Top flatbread or naan with chicken, mozzarella, red onions and cilantro for a quick personal pizza.
BBQ Chicken Avocado Toast
Mash avocado onto toast and top with shredded chicken, red onion and queso fresco for a tasty snack or light meal.
BBQ Chicken Omelette
Make an omelette filled with chicken, cheese, onions, peppers or other favorite omelette fillings.
BBQ Chicken Burrito Bowl
Fill a bowl with rice, beans, chicken, salsa, cheese, guacamole and other burrito toppings for a build-your-own style meal.
BBQ Chicken & Hummus Wrap
Spread hummus onto a tortilla or flatbread. Top with chicken, feta, cucumbers, lettuce and tzatziki sauce.
BBQ Chicken Stuffed Peppers
Fill bell peppers with chicken, rice, onions, tomatoes and cheese. Bake until the peppers are tender.
BBQ Chicken Cauliflower Rice
Stir shredded chicken into riced cauliflower cooked with garlic, onions and seasonings for a low carb meal.
BBQ Chicken Power Bowl
Assemble quinoa or rice, chicken, roasted veggies, avocado, nuts and a fried egg for a balanced meal in a bowl.
Conclusion
As you can see, shredded barbecued chicken is one of the most versatile leftover ingredients. With a bit of pre-cooked BBQ chicken, you can make easy weeknight dinners, hearty sandwiches, satisfying snacks and creative breakfasts. BBQ chicken transforms ordinary recipes into amazing, flavorful meals with its delicious sweet and smoky taste.
Hopefully this article has provided plenty of recipe inspiration to help you reinvent leftover shredded barbecue chicken in over 30 different ways. From pasta bakes to nachos to salad, the possibilities are endless! With a creative mindset and a package of shredded BBQ chicken, you’ll never have a boring dinner again.