Easy summer recipes...the Cheatin' chicken :)

So I had a better idea for simplified summer cooking!  My very favorite CHEAT- the rotisserie (or roasted) chicken. You know the ones you buy at c@stco or s@ms.  When I go, I always pick up a few and the first night we eat the chicken with a few different sides.  Then I pull of all the meat from the rest of the chickens and I always know I have some easy dinners the next couple of nights.   I decided to write up a few of my favorite ideas using the leftover chicken.  All of these recipe ideas can be made in under 10 minutes of hands on time since your chicken is already DONE!  I went ahead and left out all the soup and casserole recipes because they just don't fit in with my idea of summer cooking.


 Also, sometimes I roast my own and I use this recipe here, I even sometimes use a rotisserie spice mix I buy at the grocery so I really just have to throw them in the oven for a few hours, I add some garlic potatoes and other roasted veggies and we usually make a nice Sunday dinner out of it.. I of course make 2 or 3 extra chickens to have left-overs for the next few nights {yes we eat a lot :) }


So here you go. All of the things I can think of making with a rotisserie Chicken as I sit here on the sidelines of the soccer field:)

"Greek"-ingredients  Chicken, sun-dried (or fresh) tomatoes, olives, feta, cucumber,Artichokes, mushrooms, lemon , onion,  parsley, Rosemary, Italian dressing

Pick your favorites of the above ingredients and put them on a salad, on a pizza, over bow-tie noodles, over couscous, in a panini,or in a pita with tzatziki sauce

Here is a step by step of our favorite I posted on the blog a while back 

"ASIAN" - 

chicken fried rice

quick stir-fry with a bag of frozen Asian veggies over rice or noodles

Asian slaw:  Prepared bagged cole-slaw mix add, ginger, soy sauce, rice vinegar, a bit of sugar, red pepper flakes...top with chicken

MEXICAN ;Chicken, salsa, black beans and corn,cilantro, Lime, refried black beans, sour cream, black olives, green onions, lettuce,tomato, tortilla chips, taco seasoning

Take any combo of above and put them on a salad, in a tortilla, on pizza, over yellow, white or brown rice, over chips to make nachos, or on a tortilla and bake for a true mexican pizza.  

Chicken salad, so many ways... 

chicken simply over greens with favorite toppings.  My kids always like when I do a salad loaded with cheese, bacon bits, tomatoes and croutons, throw the healthy benefits right out the window :) 

Cobb Salad

Chicken Ceasar 

Asian chicken salad:  with chicken, mandarin oranges, veggies, sprouts, chow mein noodles and ginger dressing.  

other quickies:

Super Easy Chicken pasta: Chicken, frozen peas, add a tub of that new philladelphi@ cooking cream. heat. Pour over cooked bowtie noodles.  add some more Parmesan if you'd like.  this dinner takes about 7 minutes to make and my kids eat it up like mad.  

Buffalo Chicken dip:  You may want to consult your physician before making this one :)  

Spread a brick of cream cheese on the bottom of a pie pan,  mix shredded chicken with fr@nks red hot sauce and pour on top of the cream cheese mixture.  Finally top with blue cheese dressing and bake until all hot and bubbly..  the blue cheese will just start to brown.  Serve with Frito scoops... I even freeze this dip and take it to the beach.. it sure isn't pretty, but it satisfies the meanest of junk food cravings :) 

BBQ Chicken sandwiches : shred chicken, add BBQ sauce ,heat, and put on a bun with some slaw.

BBQ chicken pizza. you can use the bbq sauce for the "pizza sauce" sliced red onions (or caramelized onions) , chicken, cilantro, and cheese and bake

One of our family favorites :PANINI's

To make: use any type of bakery bread, you can grill the sandwiches with either sliced bread or rolls. Brush with olive oil or butter and toast in a panini press( or in a pan with a foil wrapped brick on top, or if your fancy like me, on a Ge@rge Form@n :) . Another beautiful thing about these yummy sandwiches is that you can assemble them before hand and then grill them up at dinner time!

 Here is a few good panini's using your already cooked chicken:

Chicken, mozzarella, Tomato and Basil  (you can even leave out the chicken on this one like we did HERE)

Chicken, salami or prosciutto, basil, fontina, and tomato on rolls with a bit of italian dressing and maybe even a sprinkle of oregano

chicken, apples, & cheddar

chicken, bacon, avocado (or guacamole)& provolone

chicken, pesto, tomato, & mozzarella

chicken, mayo, artichoke, squeeze of lemon, greens,& provolone  

chicken,  ham, provolone cheese, Fresh spinach leaves, or baby lettuce and a bit of mayo

chicken,salt and pepper, olive oil, drained jarred roasted red peppers -- chopped, kalamata olives, fresh basil and provolone cheese

Let me know if you have any other ideas.  I'm sure I think of a ton more once I hit the publish button :)