One-Pot Leftover Roast Chicken Pasta - My Gorgeous Recipes (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Daniela Apostol · This post may contain affiliate links · 35 Comments

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One-Pot LeftoverRoastChicken Pasta, a quick and easy chicken dinner recipe for the whole family. Transform your leftovers into a spectacular dish that will have everybody asking for seconds. It's cheesy, it's delicious, a great midweek dinner no matter the season.

One-Pot Leftover Roast Chicken Pasta - My Gorgeous Recipes (1)

Roast Chicken always makes its way on our table whenever there is a big celebration. And on most days when we fancy a little feast without breaking the bank. It's quicker to cook than any other meat, it's easy, and kids rarely say no to it. Plus, it's proper delicious.

But, as it happens, a whole chicken rarely gets to be eaten up, and leftovers are inevitable. No need to waste all that excellent roast, especially when the good old pasta can come to the rescue.

Pasta is another dish that disappears quickly with us. It's the ultimate comfort food no matter how you cook it. And you only need a few simple ingredients to make it into a fabulous quick dinner.

My leftover chicken pasta is made in one pot, which means less mess, less stress. And it's ready in well under 30 minutes. It can't get any better than that! If you like one pot recipes, why not check my One-Pot Orzo with Bacon and Peas or my One-Pot Ground Beef Pasta?

Jump to:
  • STEP-BY-STEP photos and instructions
  • Variations
  • Expert tips
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Other leftover chicken recipes
  • One-Pot Leftover Roast Chicken Pasta
One-Pot Leftover Roast Chicken Pasta - My Gorgeous Recipes (2)

STEP-BY-STEP photos and instructions

Since the chicken is already cooked, all we have to worry about is making the tomato sauce. Nothing fancy, super simple, this tomato sauce is the easiest to make, and also super delicious.

You add a jar of ready-made sauce if you wish, but making your own sauce is well worth it, plus you know for sure it's sugar free, and a lot better.

  • sautee the onion and garlic, add the chopped tomatoes, and leave to cook for 3-4 minutes until some of the liquid is reduced
  • add Italian herbs, or any dried herbs you like with a sauce, and that's your sauce done

Now, all that's left is adding the leftover chicken, which I just shredded roughly, but you can also chop it if you like.

  • In goes the pasta too, with either water or chicken broth.
One-Pot Leftover Roast Chicken Pasta - My Gorgeous Recipes (3)
  • Cover the pan with a lid and leave to cook until the liquid is absorbed, and the pasta is cooked through.

If you like your pasta cooked really well, add some more liquid if that's already been absorbed.

  • Add the parmesan, season to taste, and add plenty of fresh parsley, or basil. And that's our fabulous chicken pasta done!
One-Pot Leftover Roast Chicken Pasta - My Gorgeous Recipes (4)

Variations

Use any leftover meat you have from your Sunday roast, Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, or any other celebration - they usually equal plenty of leftovers.

This easy one-pot pasta can be made with any of these: leftover ham, leftover lamb, leftover beef, leftover turkey, leftover pork, or any other leftover roast you have. Or even a combination of the above.

Expert tips

By all means, you can cook the meat if you don't happen to have leftovers, just cook it separately, before adding it to the pan, and follow the exactly same steps afterwards.

It's an easy dish that kids love, my little girls really liked it, and were super happy to have a large portion. And trust me, I know what fussy kids are like!

Recipe FAQs

Can you reheat cooked cold chicken?

Yes, you can. Just make sure that you leave the meat to cool completely before refrigerating, and that it is stored in an airtight container or a foil. Once you add it to the dish, make sure it's heated well, and there are no cold spots in the middle.

Can I freeze cooked pasta?

I don't like freezing pasta, as once reheated, the texture changes and it becomes mushy. I prefer to cook fresh pasta every single time I need it.

Other leftover chicken recipes

  • Green Bean Stew with Leftover Chicken
  • Leftover Roast Chicken Noodle Soup
  • Leftover Chicken Tikka Masala
One-Pot Leftover Roast Chicken Pasta - My Gorgeous Recipes (8)

If you’ve liked myONE-POT LEFTOVER ROAST CHICKEN PASTA or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can alsoFOLLOW MEonFACEBOOK, andPINTERESTto see more delicious food and what I’m getting up to.

One-Pot Leftover Roast Chicken Pasta - My Gorgeous Recipes (9)

One-Pot Leftover Roast Chicken Pasta

One-Pot LeftoverRoastChicken Pasta, a quick and easy chicken dinner recipe for the whole family. Transform your leftovers into a spectacular dish that will have everybody asking for seconds. It's cheesy, it's delicious, a great midweek dinner no matter the season.

3.81 from 373 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: International

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 300kcal

Author: Daniela Apostol

Ingredients

  • 1 onion
  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • 1 tin chopped tomatoes (400 g, 13 oz)
  • 2 cups leftover roast chicken (shredded)
  • 3 ½ cups water or chicken broth
  • 2 cups fusilli pasta
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan
  • 1 teaspoon Italian herbs
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoon fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

  • Heat up the oil in a large pan.

  • Add the chopped onion and garlic, and sautee for 2-3 minutes or until the onion is transluscent.

  • Add the chopped tomatoes, herbs and seasoning, and leave to simmer for 3-4 minutes until the sauce is slightly reduced.

  • Add the cooked chicken, water or chicken broth, and pasta.

  • Leave to cook with the lid on until the liquid is absorbed and the pasta is cooked.

  • Mix in the parmesan, then garnish with parsley.

  • Remove from the heat and serve hot with more parmesan if you like.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 309mg | Potassium: 286mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 245IU | Vitamin C: 5.3mg | Calcium: 111mg | Iron: 1.6mg

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One-Pot Leftover Roast Chicken Pasta - My Gorgeous Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can you add cold cooked chicken to hot pasta? ›

Do you mean, “Is it safe to mix warm/hot foods with cooked cold chicken from the fridge?” If that is what you mean, then yes, it is perfectly safe. If you add too much of the cold chicken, it may cook your food more than you want.

How do you get the most meals out of a whole chicken? ›

Turn the chicken breast-side up, then press down firmly on the breastbone to flatten and open out the chicken.
  1. Meal 1: Spatchco*cked roast chicken with orzo and roast vegetables. ...
  2. Meal 2: Chicken, leek and ham pasties. ...
  3. Meal 3 Freekeh, chicken and pomegranate salad. ...
  4. Meal 4: Chicken and mango coconut curry.

How do you make pasta cold after cooking? ›

Running your noodles under cold water does indeed have the desired effect, but this method can also lead to some less-than-creamy pasta dishes. Instead of this technique, try moving your cooked plain pasta onto a sheet tray and then letting it cool for about 30 minutes (via All Recipes).

Should pasta be added to hot or cold water? ›

Ultimately, both methods can result in an exquisitely cooked noodle (just remember to take the pasta out in a timely manner!), but if you're a little short on time, the cold water method can save you a few minutes since you don't have to wait for the water to boil to start cooking.

How many meals can you get out of a roast chicken? ›

1 Chicken = 5 Meals (All gluten free, by the way!)

This would go well served over rice or mashed white or sweet potatoes! I'd love to hear about your ideas of how to stretch a whole chicken and some of your favorite chicken dishes!

Can you eat a whole chicken everyday? ›

While chicken can be a versatile and convenient protein to cook, if your diet doesn't have a diverse protein profile, you lose out on some key nutrients—including essential fats, such as omega-3s. "Eating chicken every day as your sole protein source could result in some nutrient gaps," says Burgess.

How many meals can 1 whole chicken make? ›

I often buy whole chickens and create an entire menu plan around 1 chicken, using it in a variety of different ways to create 4-5 meals from one chicken. The meals are diverse enough that it doesn't feel like you're eating the same thing every day.

Can you cook cold cooked chicken? ›

In short, yes, you can, which is great news for those who hate waste. However, when re-heating any type of poultry you need to be careful that you don't undercook it. You must ensure that the reheated meat reaches a temperature of at least 75°C in the middle.

Is it OK to cook cold chicken? ›

Here are common mistakes people make when prepping and cooking this popular poultry and the correct way to do them. Don't: Cook cold chicken straight from the fridge. Ice-cold chicken straight from the fridge doesn't cook as evenly as room-temperature meat.

Is it OK to have cold cooked chicken? ›

Yes, it is possible to consume cold chicken. Cold chicken is a healthy, nutritious, and flavorful supplement to most diets as long as it is thoroughly cooked before putting into the fridge and preserved at the right cold storage temperature.

Can you put cold chicken in hot water? ›

No, meat and poultry should not be thawed in hot water.

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