16 Easy Dinners for a Family Using Leftover Chicken
Leftover chicken is a budget-conscious cook’s best friend! It’s already cooked, full of flavor, and can be transformed into countless delicious meals. Instead of letting it go to waste, here are 11 creative and tasty ways to use up leftover chicken while keeping your grocery bill low. These cheap dinners for a family will save you time and money without sacrificing taste. I’ve also included my favourite sourdough recipes which stretch leftover chicken for miles.
How to Make Family Dinners Cheap
Saving money on family dinners doesn’t mean sacrificing quality or taste. Here are a few tips to stretch your budget while ensuring satisfying meals:
- Plan Your Meals – Create a weekly meal plan using ingredients you already have to avoid unnecessary grocery trips.
- Buy in Bulk – Purchase staple ingredients like rice, pasta, and frozen vegetables in bulk to save money.
- Use Leftovers Creatively – Transform leftovers into new meals instead of letting them go to waste.
- Cook from Scratch – Pre-packaged and takeout meals are expensive; cooking at home is more cost-effective.
- Choose Budget-Friendly Proteins – Stretch meats like chicken by mixing them with grains, beans, or vegetables.
- Shop Sales and Use Coupons – Keep an eye out for discounts on essential items.
- Make One-Pot Meals – These save time, energy, and money while making cleanup easier.
1. Chicken and Rice Casserole
A classic comfort meal that stretches ingredients while being satisfying. Combine your leftover chicken with cooked rice, a can of cream of mushroom or chicken soup, some frozen veggies, and shredded cheese. Bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes for an easy, filling meal.
Why it’s cheap: Uses affordable pantry staples like rice and canned soup to stretch a small amount of chicken into a filling meal.
2. Chicken Tacos
Taco night just got easier! Shred your leftover chicken and warm it up with taco seasoning and a splash of broth. Serve in tortillas with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, and sour cream. A simple, crowd-pleasing meal.
Why it’s cheap: Tortillas, beans, and basic toppings are inexpensive, and you only need a little chicken to make a full meal.
3. Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry
A healthy, quick dinner packed with flavor. Stir-fry leftover chicken with whatever vegetables you have on hand—carrots, bell peppers, broccoli—then toss with soy sauce, garlic, and a pinch of ginger. Serve over rice or noodles for a satisfying meal.
Why it’s cheap: Uses whatever vegetables you have on hand, reducing waste and maximizing value with a simple soy sauce-based seasoning.
4. Chicken Alfredo Pasta
Turn leftover chicken into a creamy pasta dish! Heat up some cream, butter, and Parmesan cheese to create a quick Alfredo sauce, then toss in the chicken and cooked pasta. Add some steamed broccoli for extra nutrition.
Why it’s cheap: Pasta is one of the most budget-friendly staples, and a simple homemade Alfredo sauce is much cheaper than store-bought versions. Make it even cheaper with my sourdough pasta dough recipe.
5. Buffalo Chicken Wraps
A spicy, zesty meal that’s perfect for busy nights. Mix shredded chicken with hot sauce and a bit of ranch dressing. Wrap it in a tortilla with lettuce and shredded cheese for an easy, flavorful dinner.
Why it’s cheap: this recipe uses tortillas and a small amount of chicken, and you can stretch the filling with lettuce and cheese for extra volume.
6. Chicken and Potato Skillet
A hearty, one-pan meal. Sauté diced potatoes with onions until golden brown, then add leftover chicken and season with paprika, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt. Cook until everything is crispy and serve with a side of veggies.
Why it’s cheap: Potatoes are an inexpensive, filling ingredient that pairs well with chicken to make a hearty meal.
7. Chicken Soup
Turn your leftover chicken into a warm, comforting soup. Simmer chicken with broth, chopped carrots, celery, and onions. Add rice, noodles, or beans for extra bulk, making it an affordable and nutritious meal.
Why it’s cheap: Uses chicken broth, inexpensive vegetables, and pasta or rice to make a large batch with minimal ingredients. You can even use sourdough starter to make it super creamy!
8. BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
Mix shredded chicken with barbecue sauce and serve on buns with coleslaw. This quick and delicious meal is perfect for a busy night when you need something fast and satisfying.
This is the best sourdough buns recipe, and it makes this meal so much cheaper when you make it from scratch!
Why it’s cheap: Uses a simple BBQ sauce and inexpensive hamburger buns to transform leftover chicken into a delicious meal.
9. Chicken Quesadillas
A cheesy, crispy favorite that kids love. Simply place leftover chicken and shredded cheese between two tortillas and cook on a skillet until golden brown. If you have them on hand, serve with salsa and sour cream.
I use this recipe for sourdough tortillas all the time – and it makes for such a cheap dinner!
Why it’s cheap: Requires just a small amount of chicken, tortillas, and cheese to make a satisfying meal.
10. Chicken Fried Rice
A takeout favorite that’s even cheaper to make at home. Stir-fry leftover rice with scrambled eggs, frozen peas, diced carrots, soy sauce, and leftover chicken for a quick and delicious meal.
Why it’s cheap: Uses leftover rice and frozen veggies, making it a great way to repurpose ingredients you already have.
11. Chicken Pot Pie
A comforting, homemade dish that makes the most of leftovers. Mix leftover chicken with frozen mixed vegetables and a simple creamy sauce, then top with a pie crust or biscuit dough and bake until golden.
Why it’s cheap: A simple biscuit or pie crust can stretch leftovers into a filling and comforting meal without requiring a lot of chicken. Use this sourdough pie crust recipe – it’s the best!
12. Chicken Stuffed Peppers
Stuff bell peppers with a mix of shredded chicken, rice, tomato sauce, and cheese. Bake until the peppers are tender for a nutritious, affordable meal.
Why it’s cheap: Bell peppers, rice, and tomato sauce are inexpensive, and you only need a little chicken to create a balanced meal.
13. Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Mix shredded chicken with mayonnaise, diced celery, onions, and a touch of mustard. Serve on bread or in a lettuce wrap for a light yet satisfying meal.
Why it’s cheap: Uses basic pantry ingredients like mayo and bread, and you can add inexpensive veggies like celery and onions for crunch.
My high protein sourdough bread would be PERFECT to have on hand for this meal!
14. Chicken Pizza
Use leftover chicken as a topping for homemade pizza! Spread pizza sauce on a crust, add shredded chicken, cheese, and any veggies you have on hand. Bake until bubbly and golden.
Why it’s cheap: A homemade pizza crust and simple toppings stretch the chicken into a filling, cheap dinner for a family.
Here’s my favourite sourdough pizza base recipe – it makes the best, artisan-style pizza bases, for a fraction of the price of supermarket ones!
15. Chicken and Bean Chili
Combine shredded chicken with canned beans, diced tomatoes, and chili seasoning for a hearty and filling meal that costs next to nothing.
Why it’s cheap: Beans are an affordable protein source that complements chicken, making the meal hearty and filling with minimal meat.
16. Chicken and Cornbread Casserole
Layer shredded chicken with a can of cream soup and frozen mixed veggies, then top with cornbread batter. Bake until golden for a delicious and budget-friendly dinner.
Why it’s cheap: Uses budget-friendly ingredients like cornbread mix and canned vegetables to create a comforting meal with minimal effort.
Here’s a great recipe for sourdough discard cornbread!
Free Printable: $5 Family Dinner Meal Plan & Shopping List
Want to make Family Dinners even easier? Grab my free printable “$5 Winter Dinners” PDF, complete with:
- A one-week meal plan using simple, few ingredient recipes
- A master shopping list under $40
- Tips for stretching ingredients across multiple meals
👉 Download your free printable here
Final Thoughts
With these cheap dinners for a family, you can stretch your budget while making delicious meals your family will love. Leftover chicken is versatile and can be used in so many ways to create easy, satisfying dinners. Next time you have extra chicken, try one of these recipes and enjoy a stress-free, affordable meal!
