Summer is in full swing in our house. The girls are home, I'm working from home, and I'm taxiing both of them to and from camps/friend meet-ups/sleepovers and all things summer entails for 2 tween girls. Grant it, it's not school hectic, but it's still hectic ... and warm. The last thing I want to do at the end of the day is think about turning on the oven or spending a ton of time in the kitchen. My go-to solution for summer mealtime on those crazy and/or warm nights is (drum roll, please) ... rotisserie chicken! Below are 5 of my family's favorite recipes that can be made quickly and easily, especially if you keep the basics on hand. As a matter of fact, we're having the chicken fried rice tonight, because I have been running and working all day and just don't want to be stuck in the kitchen any longer than I have to tonight.
Mom Hack: I buy 4 rotisserie chickens at a time and de-bone/shred them as soon as I get home the store. I then seal them in 2 cup servings and freeze. This way, I have a recipe portion ready to just thaw and use last minute, if need be.
Mom Math: Rotisserie chickens at Costco or Sam's Club are $5... 4 of them equals $20. You cannot buy fresh chickens and bake them at home for that price. Winner, winner chicken dinner!
1. Chicken Quesadillas
Ingredients:
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- 1½ cups shredded cheese
- 1 can black beans (optional)
- 1 bell pepper, diced (optional)
- 4 large flour tortillas
- Olive oil or cooking spray
- Salsa, sour cream, or guacamole
Instructions:
- Heat skillet on medium.
- Layer chicken, cheese, beans, and peppers on half of each tortilla. Fold.
- Cook 2–3 mins per side until golden and melty.
- Cut and serve with dips.
2. Chicken Salad
Ingredients:
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- ½ cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt for a lighter version)
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 celery stalk, diced
- ⅓ cup red grapes or dried cranberries, halved
- 1 tablespoon dried dill weed
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Optional: chopped walnuts or pecans
Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl, combine mayo, sour cream, dill weed, salt, and pepper.
- Add chicken, celery, and grapes (and nuts if using).
- Mix until everything is well coated.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Enjoy in sandwiches, lettuce wraps, or with crackers.
3. Chicken Alfredo Pasta
Ingredients:
- 8 oz pasta
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- Salt, pepper, parsley
- Optional: broccoli or spinach
Instructions:
- Cook pasta. Save ½ cup pasta water.
- In pan, melt butter. Sauté garlic. Add cream and simmer 3–4 mins.
- Stir in Parmesan until melted. Add chicken and pasta.
- Toss to coat; thin with pasta water. Garnish with parsley.
4. Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Ingredients:
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- ½ cup buffalo sauce
- ¼ cup ranch or blue cheese dressing
- Slider buns (8–10)
- Optional: slaw or pickles
Instructions:
- Mix chicken with buffalo sauce and dressing.
- Heat mixture. Toast buns.
- Fill with chicken and optional toppings. Serve warm.
5. Chicken Fried Rice
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp oil
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
- 3 cups cooked rice (cold)
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce (optional)
- 2 green onions, sliced
Instructions:
- Scramble eggs in oil, remove.
- Sauté onion and veggies. Add rice and cook until hot.
- Stir in chicken, eggs, sauces. Cook 2–3 mins.
- Garnish with green onions.
Shopping List for 5 Rotisserie Chicken Recipes (Printable PDF)
Protein:
- 4 rotisserie chickens (2-3 cups shredded chicken total from each chicken)
Dairy & Eggs:
- 1½ cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or blend)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup mayonnaise or Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- Butter (2 tbsp)
Produce:
- 1 small onion
- 1 bell pepper (optional for quesadillas)
- 1 celery stalk
- 2 green onions
- 1 small bunch of parsley (optional garnish)
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
- Optional: 1-2 cups fresh broccoli or spinach
Bread, Grains, Pasta:
- 4 large flour tortillas
- Slider buns (8-10)
- 8 oz fettuccine or pasta of choice
- 3 cups cooked white rice (or 1½ cups uncooked)
Pantry and Canned Goods:
- 1 can black beans (optional for quesadillas)
- Olive oil or vegetable oil
- Soy sauce (at least 3 tbsp)
- Oyster sauce (optional - 1 tbsp)
- Buffalo wing sauce (½ cup)
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing (¼ cup)
- Salt and pepper
Spices and Herbs:
- 1 tablespoon dried dill weed
Optional Add-Ins:
- 1/3 cup red grapes or dried cranberries
- Chopped walnuts or pecans
- Pickle slices or coleslaw mix (for sliders)
- Salsa, sour cream, or guacamole (for serving with quesadillas)
