Uses for leftover rotisserie chicken

The first rule of thumb with a grocery store heat lamp rotisserie chicken is to always debone the meat before putting it in the fridge. I'm assuming that you will start off by attacking the rotisserie chicken "barbarian style," because that is obviously the right thing to do. But when you're done eating, take a few minutes to strip the meat from the carcass. I like to use the lid of the rotisserie container to hold all the bones, while I pack the meat into a separate Tupperware container.

The meat is far easier to get off the bone when the chicken is warm and fresh. And the job is much more pleasant now than it will be later, when the grease has congealed and all the meat is cold.

Chicken Stock

Don't throw away the bones and carcass! Use them to make chicken stock. It's easy if you have a slow cooker, and only slightly more complicated on the stovetop.

Chicken Salad

A staple of the 1950s, chicken salad has largely been replaced by tuna salad due to the relative ease of opening a can of tuna. But canned tuna is gross and tastes fishy and has mercury in it, making chicken salad far more preferable. (Or maybe it's just me.)

Shred the meat, mix it with a dollop of mayo, and serve it as a salad filling, scoop it up with crackers, or on a bed of lettuce.

Chicken Quesadillas

Is there anything easier than a quesadilla? Fold a flour tortilla in half, add a handful of shredded cheese, a handful of shredded chicken, and whatever sauce you prefer. Microwave for the truly lazy, or cook it in a skillet until browned on each side.

Salad Topping

Add a handful of sliced breast meat to your next salad. Delicious, filling, and lean!

Chicken Curry

Get a jar of curry paste and a can of coconut milk, or buy ready-to-use curry sauce in a jar (Patak's is my favorite brand, but Taste of Thai is good too). Sear vegetables in a pan, add some chicken and the sauce and simmer for about 10 minutes until warm. Serve over chunks of steamed potato or a bed of rice. Delicious!

Image courtesy of Flickr/A Culinary (Photo) Journal