Creative Leftovers: Repurpose Bbq Chicken For New Delicious Meals

BBQ chicken is a versatile dish that can be repurposed into several mouth-watering meals. Whether you have leftover pulled chicken or shredded rotisserie chicken, there are endless possibilities to transform your leftovers into something new and exciting. From BBQ chicken quesadillas and enchiladas to chicken pot pie and BBQ chicken pizzas, the options are endless. With a little creativity and some simple ingredients, you can elevate your leftovers and create delicious meals that the whole family will love. So, get ready to repurpose your BBQ chicken like a pro and make the most of those leftovers!

BBQ chicken pizza

Ingredients:

• Pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
• BBQ sauce
• Cooked chicken (shredded or cubed)
• Cheese (mozzarella, smoked gouda, or a combination)
• Red onion (thinly sliced)
• Fresh cilantro (chopped)
• Olive oil
• Cornmeal (optional)

Method:

• Preheat your oven to a high temperature, around 450-475°F (230-246°C).
• If making your own pizza dough, prepare it according to your chosen recipe and let it rise. Store-bought dough can be used as is or thawed if frozen.
• Grease a baking sheet or pizza pan with olive oil and sprinkle with cornmeal for extra crunch (optional).
• Roll out the dough and stretch it into a circle, aiming for a thickness of about 1/2 inch. Create a lip around the edges by lifting and pinching the dough.
• Use your fingers to push dents into the surface of the dough to prevent bubbling. Brush the remaining olive oil over the dough.
• Spread a generous amount of BBQ sauce over the dough—about 1/3 cup or more if you like it saucy.
• In a bowl, toss the cooked chicken with a few tablespoons of BBQ sauce to prevent it from drying out.
• Top the pizza with the saucy chicken, followed by your chosen cheese and sliced red onion.
• Bake the pizza for approximately 15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
• Remove the pizza from the oven and sprinkle with fresh chopped cilantro.
• Slice and serve immediately.

Tips and Variations:

• You can use pre-cooked or rotisserie chicken, or cook your own chicken specifically for the pizza.
• Feel free to experiment with different types of cheese. While mozzarella is classic, smoked gouda adds a wonderful smoky flavour.
• If you're making the pizza ahead of time, it can be prepared up to a day in advance. Simply roll out the dough, bake for 6 minutes, add the toppings, cover, and refrigerate until ready to bake.
• Get creative with additional toppings! Peppers, spinach, and jalapeños can add a spicy kick, while bacon or avocado might also be tasty inclusions.

BBQ chicken quesadillas

Ingredients:

• BBQ Chicken (shredded or cubed)
• Flour Tortillas
• Shredded Cheese (Monterey Jack, Cheddar, or a blend)
• Olive Oil
• Red Onion (diced)
• Parsley (chopped)
• BBQ Sauce

Optional Ingredients:

• Avocado
• Jalapeños
• Black Beans
• Cilantro
• Chili Powder
• Smoked Paprika

Instructions:

• Sauté the diced red onion in olive oil for about 5 minutes until soft. If you have time, you can cook them slower to caramelize the onions.
• Add the leftover BBQ chicken and chopped parsley to the onions. Stir everything together until the chicken is heated through, about 1-2 minutes.
• Place a flour tortilla in a skillet and sprinkle shredded cheese on one half.
• Add the chicken mixture to the tortilla, placing it on the side with the cheese. You can adjust the amount of chicken to your preference.
• Top the chicken with another layer of shredded cheese and place another tortilla on top.
• Cook the quesadilla until each side is golden brown. You can use some of the juices from the chicken mixture or add a little oil to the skillet for extra crispness and color.
• Fold the quesadilla in half and cook until both sides are golden brown and the cheese is melted.
• Serve with extra BBQ sauce on the side or your favorite dip.

Feel free to adjust the ingredients and amounts to your taste preferences. You can also add other ingredients like avocado, jalapeños, black beans, or cilantro for some extra flavor and texture. This recipe is versatile, so get creative and enjoy your BBQ chicken quesadillas!

BBQ chicken nachos

Ingredients:

• 2-3 cups of cooked, shredded chicken (about 2 chicken breasts)
• 3/4 cup of your favourite BBQ sauce
• 13 oz of your favourite tortilla chips
• 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
• 15 oz of black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup of frozen corn, thawed
• 1/3 cup of finely chopped red onion
• 1 jalapeño, seeds removed and diced (add more to your liking)
• 2-2.5 cups of shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a Mexican blend)
• Sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, black olives, fresh cilantro, or other desired toppings

Optional seasonings for chicken:

• 1 tablespoon of canola oil
• 1/2 tablespoon of kosher salt
• 1/2 tablespoon of freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon of garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon of chilli powder

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare a rimmed baking sheet by lining it with aluminium foil and spraying with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, mix the shredded chicken with the barbecue sauce. Ensure the chicken is coated completely.

Place 2/3 of the tortilla chips onto the prepared sheet, spreading them out to the edges.

Spread 2/3 of the BBQ chicken evenly over the tortilla chips. Follow this with 2/3 of each of the tomatoes, black beans, corn, red onion, and jalapeño.

Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese over the entire baking sheet.

Place the remaining chips on top and layer with the remaining ingredients, topping with the cheese and jalapeños.

Bake for 7-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Enjoy!

Tips:

• For extra crunch, use sturdy tortilla chips that can hold up well under toppings.
• Layer your nachos with extra cheese, bacon, and fresh parsley or other herbs.
• If you like spice, add more jalapeño or use a spicy BBQ sauce.
• If you prefer less spice, serve the jalapeño on the side or use a milder cheese such as Monterey Jack.
• For a healthier option, use baked tortilla chips and reduced-fat cheese.

BBQ chicken enchiladas

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 small red onion, peeled and diced
• 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced into small 1/2-inch pieces (or see substitution below for using pre-cooked shredded chicken)
• 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
• 1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup whole-kernel corn
• 1 (8-count) package large flour tortillas
• 3 cups Mexican-blend shredded cheese
• 1 1/4 cups red enchilada sauce, homemade or store-bought
• 1/2 cup BBQ sauce, homemade or store-bought
• (optional toppings: 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, extra diced red onions)

Method:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add the red onion and saute for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Next, add the diced chicken and green chiles, and season with salt and pepper. Saute for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the chicken is cooked through. Then, stir in beans and corn until combined. Remove from heat and set aside.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the enchilada sauce and BBQ sauce until combined. Set aside.

To assemble the enchiladas, lay out a tortilla on a flat work surface, then spread two tablespoons of sauce over the surface. Add a few spoonfuls of the chicken mixture, then sprinkle with 1/3 cup cheese. Roll up the tortilla and place it in a greased 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Repeat with the remaining ingredients and filling. Then spread the remaining enchilada sauce on top of the tortillas and sprinkle on the remaining shredded cheese.

Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are crispy around the edges. Remove from the oven and serve immediately, garnished with chopped fresh cilantro and extra diced red onions if desired.

BBQ chicken sliders

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients:

• Slider buns or Hawaiian sweet rolls
• Cooked shredded chicken
• BBQ sauce
• Cheese (such as mozzarella, gouda, cheddar, or pepper jack)
• Red onion
• Butter
• Fresh herbs (such as cilantro or parsley)
• Salt and pepper (optional)

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
• Prepare the BBQ chicken filling by mixing the shredded chicken with BBQ sauce in a bowl. You can adjust the amount of sauce to your preference.
• Slice the slider buns or Hawaiian sweet rolls in half lengthwise and place the bottoms in a baking dish.
• Spread the BBQ chicken filling evenly over the buns.
• Top the chicken with sliced red onion and your choice of cheese. You can also add fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley for extra flavour.
• Place the top half of the buns on top of the sliders.
• Cover the baking dish with foil and bake the sliders for about 15 minutes.
• While the sliders are baking, melt some butter and brush it over the top of the buns. You can also add pepper or other seasonings to taste.
• Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 to 20 minutes, until the tops are golden brown and the cheese is melted.
• Serve the BBQ chicken sliders immediately while they are still warm.

Tips and Variations

• You can use leftover BBQ chicken or cook your own chicken by seasoning and grilling chicken breasts or tenders.
• Feel free to adjust the amount of filling and toppings to your preference.
• If you want to make a larger batch, you can double the recipe and bake it in a larger baking dish.
• For a spicier kick, you can add chilli garlic sauce to the BBQ chicken filling.
• You can store any leftover sliders in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week and reheat them in the oven or microwave.

Frequently asked questions