15 leftover chicken recipes

The sweetness of apricot preserves is brightened with lemon and balanced by a bit of cayenne pepper with some toasted nuts for added texture. This recipe is lightened by replacing the typical mayo with yogurt and delivers a cleaner taste on the palate.

Quick and simple chicken salad that is a great way to use up leftover chicken, be it grilled, broiled or poached.

Chicken and wild rice casserole with broth-cooked rice blend, sauteed mushrooms, Italian dressing, and sour cream. A 40-minute weeknight dump-and-bake for leftover rotisserie or cooked chicken.

Chicken gyros with cucumber salsa and tsatsiki turn leftover roast chicken into a fast Greek dinner. Garlic-herb oil, cool yogurt sauce, crunchy cucumber-tomato salsa, warm pita.

Leftover vegetable soup pureed smooth with chicken broth and seasoned with Tabasco, herbs, and a touch of cream. The thrifty cleanout-the-fridge soup that turns leftovers into something genuinely good.

Turkey tomato soup with leftover cooked turkey, fresh tomatoes, bay leaf, and thyme in a simple chicken broth base. A homey, weeknight-fast way to turn Thanksgiving leftovers into a bright bowl.

Chicken and rice wrapped in crescent roll dough with shallots, garlic, and thyme. Golden pastry pockets that come together fast using leftover chicken.

Quick Caribbean-inspired chicken with curry, lime, green beans, and coconut simmered with noodles in one pot. Uses leftover cooked chicken for a 25-minute weeknight meal.

Smoked chicken and potato hash with cooked potatoes, garlic, fresh cilantro, and a hot sauce kick. Uses leftover smoked chicken for a fast skillet dinner.

Don't hesitate to make this delicious casserole. I have made it with leftover chicken or turkey meat, and they all turned out great.

Low-calorie curried chicken with toasted almonds, diced apple, mushrooms, and a creamy lemon sauce. A smart way to turn leftover chicken into a new meal. Serves 5.

Pork and apple salad for two with toasted almonds, grapes, and a curried soy-mayo dressing. A quick, elegant lunch salad that uses leftover cooked pork or chicken.

Curried rice with chicken or turkey, brown rice, kale, leeks, carrots, and mushrooms in one pot. A fiber-rich leftover-meat recycling meal with mild Indian warmth.

Curried pork and apple salad with toasted almonds, seedless grapes, and a soy-curry mayonnaise dressing. A quick, no-cook lunch for two using leftover pork or chicken.

Create-a-casserole: a customizable baked pasta with your choice of meat, tomato sauce, and cheese. A flexible pantry dinner that uses up leftover cooked beef or chicken in 30 minutes of oven time.