Creative Uses For Leftover Bbq Chicken Leg Quarters

what to do with leftover barbeque chicken leg quarters

Leftover barbecue chicken leg quarters can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days or frozen for up to three months. There are many ways to repurpose leftover barbecue chicken leg quarters, from chicken casseroles to sandwiches to salads. For a quick and easy meal, simply shred the chicken and add your favourite barbecue sauce, serving with a gluten-free bun or bread. For a healthier option, serve the shredded chicken with a leafy salad, adding toppings such as avocado, sour cream, or sweet potato.

Characteristics Values
Storage Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days
Freeze in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months
Reheating Thaw overnight in the fridge
Remove skin before using in recipes
Recipes Chicken tacos, enchiladas, nachos, sandwiches, wraps, casseroles, salads, soups, etc.

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Chicken tacos

Ingredients

  • Leftover barbecue chicken leg quarters
  • Corn tortillas
  • Black beans
  • Corn
  • Onion
  • Cilantro
  • Avocado
  • Creamy cilantro lime sauce
  • BBQ sauce
  • Salt and pepper

Method

  • Remove the skin from the leftover chicken and shred the meat.
  • In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken with BBQ sauce, salt, and pepper to taste. Mix well.
  • Make the creamy cilantro lime sauce by blending all the ingredients until smooth.
  • Warm the tortillas on a grill or in a hot skillet.
  • Add a spoonful of the chicken mixture to each tortilla. Top with corn, black beans, chopped onion, cilantro, and avocado.
  • Drizzle with extra BBQ sauce and the creamy cilantro lime sauce.
  • Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve immediately.

Tips

  • You can marinate the chicken in BBQ sauce and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days before cooking.
  • Leftover chicken tacos can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
  • Get creative with your toppings! Other options include sour cream, shredded lettuce, cotija cheese, and tomatoes.
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Chicken nachos

First, remove the chicken meat from the bones and shred it with a fork. You should be able to get a good amount of meat from the leg quarters. If you're starting with cooked chicken, you can skip this step and go straight to assembling the nachos.

For the nachos, you'll need tortilla chips, shredded cheese, and your favourite nacho toppings. Common toppings include chopped onions, diced tomatoes, jalapeños, black olives, refried beans, and sour cream. You can also add in some extra barbecue sauce for a tangy kick.

To assemble, layer a baking dish with tortilla chips, then sprinkle on your shredded chicken. Top with your chosen toppings and finish with a generous layer of shredded cheese. Pop the dish into a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

If you like your nachos extra crispy, you can broil them for a minute or two, watching carefully to avoid burning. Serve your chicken nachos straight from the oven with your choice of sides, such as guacamole, salsa, or extra sour cream. They're best enjoyed fresh, so dig in while they're hot!

Feel free to get creative with your ingredients and experiment with different combinations. You can also adjust the amount of chicken and toppings to your preference, ensuring you have a hearty and satisfying snack or meal from your leftover chicken leg quarters.

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Chicken salad

Leftover barbecue chicken leg quarters can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Before using leftover chicken in other recipes, remove the skin.

Barbeque Chicken Salad

This chicken salad has all the classic summer ingredients. Start by preparing the dressing by combining barbeque sauce and mayonnaise in a large mixing bowl. Shred the chicken and add it to the bowl with the dressing, followed by roasted corn, red onion, and scallions. Stir everything until combined. This chicken salad can be served with your favourite bread or wrap, or inside a lettuce wrap.

BBQ Chicken Salad with Avocado Ranch Dressing

This protein-packed salad is perfect for summer. Combine grilled BBQ chicken with romaine lettuce, corn, garbanzo beans, tomatoes, and avocado ranch dressing. The avocado ranch dressing is made with ranch, avocado, lemon juice, and chives. Top the salad with feta cheese.

These shortcut chicken salad sandwiches are a great option when you're short on time. Simply combine leftover grilled chicken with a homemade dressing to add moisture and texture. Serve the chicken salad on a chewy croissant or your favourite bread.

Chicken Enchiladas

This recipe is a great way to use up leftover chicken. Combine shredded chicken with enchilada sauce and salt and pepper. Fill tortillas with the shredded chicken mixture and shredded cheese. Roll the tortillas tightly and place them in a baking dish. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the rolled tortillas and top with more cheese. Bake for 20 minutes and serve immediately.

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Chicken sandwiches

Chicken leg quarters are a versatile leftover that can be used in many ways. Here are some ideas for chicken sandwiches:

Baked BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

For a delicious and easy option, try making baked BBQ chicken sandwiches. Start by shredding or slicing the leftover chicken leg quarters. You can enhance the flavour by adding some fresh herbs under the skin before roasting the chicken. Then, simply assemble the sandwich by placing the chicken on a bun or sliced bread and topping it with bacon and your favourite BBQ sauce.

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Chicken salad sandwiches are another great option for leftover chicken leg quarters. You can use a chewy croissant as the bread for this sandwich. For the filling, mix the shredded or cubed chicken with mayonnaise, celery, onion, and any other desired ingredients such as grapes, apples, or nuts. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Grilled Chicken Sandwiches

If you're looking for a sandwich with a smoky flavour, try using leftover grilled chicken leg quarters. Assemble the sandwich with crispy lettuce, creamy avocado, and the grilled chicken. You can also add some cumin and garlic powder to the chicken before assembling the sandwich.

BBQ Chicken Grilled Cheese

This sandwich is a simple yet tasty option. Start by shredding the leftover chicken and adding your favourite BBQ sauce. Then, make a grilled cheese sandwich as you normally would, but add the BBQ chicken inside for an extra layer of flavour.

Storage Tips

To ensure your leftover chicken leg quarters stay fresh and safe to eat, it's important to store them properly. Place the chicken in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag to prevent it from drying out and protect it from contaminants. If you don't plan on eating the leftovers within a few days, you can freeze the chicken to extend its shelf life.

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Chicken casseroles

Shredded BBQ Chicken Casserole

This hearty casserole features shredded BBQ chicken combined with pasta, corn, diced tomatoes, sour cream, and cheese. It is drizzled with more BBQ sauce and garnished with green onions and cilantro. You can use either freshly shredded chicken or leftovers for this recipe. It is perfect for a quick and easy meal and also works well for meal prep.

Tex-Mex Chicken Casserole

This comforting casserole brings together all your favourite Tex-Mex flavours. Simply chop up leftover grilled chicken and add it to the casserole for extra smoky flavour. Top it with fresh cilantro and serve it hot and bubbly. This casserole is ready in under an hour and is a great way to use up leftover chicken.

Chicken and Noodle Casserole

This casserole is based on a favourite soup and is sure to satisfy any comfort food craving. Using leftover grilled chicken instead of rotisserie chicken adds extra smoky depth to the dish. Remember to partially cook the egg noodles so they can soak up the sauce without becoming too soft. Bake and serve hot and bubbly.

BBQ Chicken Smothered Burritos

For this recipe, you can use leftover BBQ chicken casserole. Wrap it in tortillas, place them in a baking dish, and pour your favourite Salsa Verde on top. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and bake until the cheese is melted. You can also make twice-baked potatoes with the leftover chicken casserole.

BBQ Chicken Pizza

This is a great way to use up leftover chicken. Simply top your pizza base with BBQ chicken, cheese, and your favourite toppings. You can also add other ingredients like pulled pork, mozzarella cheese, and a drizzle of BBQ sauce for a delicious BBQ chicken pizza.

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Frequently asked questions

Leftover BBQ chicken leg quarters can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days or frozen for up to three months.

There are several quick and easy recipes, including chicken tacos, chicken lettuce wraps, chicken nachos, chicken casseroles, and chicken salads.

You can get creative by making chicken quesadillas, BBQ chicken pizzas, BBQ chicken pasta, or BBQ chicken sandwiches.

Yes, you can shred the leftover chicken, mix it with enchilada sauce, and fill tortillas to make chicken enchiladas.

Leftover grilled chicken can be repurposed into a variety of dishes, including casseroles, sandwiches, and salads. It adds a smoky flavor to dishes like chicken pot pie and chicken chili.

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