Recipes  

How to Use Leftover Uncooked Chicken

Do you have an excess of uncooked chicken that you stored in the fridge prior to cooking dinner? Given its limited shelf life, we recommend thinking quickly about how to cook it the next day. Here are six tasty suggestions for you to get ahead.

1. In a wrap

For this zero-waste recipe, you’ll need to marinate the chicken in an Asian-style marinade prior to cooking. Serve it as a Vietnamese-style nem, wrapped with carrot ribbons in a lettuce leaf.

2. Cutlets

By making cutlets out of chicken breasts, you’ll increase the number of meat pieces for a well-loaded plate, which is further enhanced with a side or two. To make them, cut a chicken breast in half horizontally and, if desired, you can flatten the halves with a mallet or rolling pin. Fry them in a skillet, cook them on a baking sheet in the oven, or simply grill them.

3. As part of a hearty salad

For a nourishing salad that eats like a meal, cook your leftover chicken and then shred it. Add legumes such as chickpeas or white beans to boost its protein content, like in our panzanella salad with legumes and chicken.

4. Cook in the air fryer

Given that the air fryer has a rather limited capacity, it’s ideal for cooking a meal for one or two people. This particular recipe only requires two chicken breast halves.

5. In a sandwich

For lunch, enjoy a panini made from leftover chicken thighs. Step away from the usual version by replacing bread with store-bought pizza crust. Brown the chicken alongside the peppers, and load your sandwich with cheese and arugula.

6. In a soup

Including chicken in a vegetable soup, even in small quantities, helps to increase your meal’s protein content. Try it in this cozy recipe; be sure to dice the chicken before browning it and adding the remaining ingredients.

Looking for more great leftover suggestions for other ingredients, as well as tips on keeping fruits and veggies fresher, longer? Check out our wide selection of zero waste-related articles: