Paleo AIP Ideas for Leftover Chicken

These Paleo AIP Ideas for Leftover Chicken are perfect for using up poultry and getting ahead for meal prep!

Did you purchase a naked roast chicken from the deli or do you have some homemade boiled chicken breasts leftover? These ideas are going to help stretch out what poultry you have on hand and transform it into a whole new, delicious meal that is Autoimmune Protocol compliant, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

Since I am a huge fan of meal prep on the Paleo AIP, these leftover ideas are dear to my heart. I encourage you to buy one extra deli chicken (one that is roasted with just salt and no other ingredients would be AIP friendly) than usual the  next time you go grocery shopping. Or to double the amount of plain chicken breast, thighs, or whole chickens you cook next time you prepare your proteins in the kitchen. This way you can have lots of leftover cooked chicken on hand in the freezer to make easy meals in a pinch!

Read on for some simple ideas that use up that chicken:

Tacos

Just because you’re on an elimination diet doesn’t mean Taco Tuesday is canceled! You’d be surprised about how much southwest flavor you can give leftover chicken when you add compliant spices like oregano, ginger, garlic, cilantro, turmeric, and smoked sea salt. Try this chicken taco supper idea below!

1. Add the above recommended seasonings to taste to a medium pot with 1 cup of bone broth, then whisk in ½ tablespoon arrowroot starch.

2. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then stir in 2 cups of leftover shredded chicken. Return to a simmer, then reduce the liquid until it is almost gone.

3. Serve your shredded taco meat inside these NUCO Cassava Coconut Wraps, or if you have a bit more time, make these AIP Cassava Tortillas (by The Roasted Root) a day ahead and use them as your bread. You can also use cooked cauliflower rice instead of tortillas and make taco bowls!

4. Top with shredded lettuce, diced radishes, more cilantro, additive-free coconut milk yogurt, grated AIP Tapioca Cheese, and Garden Cherry Salsa.

Casserole

Did someone say weeknight supper? Casseroles are one of my favorite mid-week meals because I can take a bunch of leftover veggies and meat, make a quick sauce, then bake it all in one dish. Try this delicious mushroom broccoli casserole that’s dairy-free and delicious!

1. Preheat your oven to 375. Grease a 8×8” baking dish with tallow or lard, then set aside.

2. Saute 2 cups chopped broccoli florets, 1 cup frozen diced onions, and 8 oz diced mushrooms in a large skillet with 1 tablespoon of tallow. Cook for 6 minutes or until broccoli is tender-crisp. Set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 1 BPA-free, additive-free can of coconut milk, 2 tablespoons arrowroot starch, and ¼ cup non-fortified nutritional yeast.

4. Whisk in AIP Paleo Powder Seasoning to taste. Stir in 2 cups of shredded cooked chicken, then add the sauteed veggies.

5. Pour mixture into the prepared baking dish, then bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.

Stir Fry

A delicious AIP stir fry is all about the sauce. This soy-free, gluten-free Paleo AIP Teriyaki Sauce is one of the most popular recipes on my blog – and for good reason! It takes just minutes to make, and once you have a batch made ahead of time, it is the best stir fry helper to keep on hand in the fridge. Here’s how to make the easiest not-takeout ever once you’ve prepare a batch of the teriyaki:

1. Add 2 tablespoons coconut oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. When it’s good and hot, add 1 cup frozen diced onions, plus a large bag of frozen mixed veggies that are AIP compliant (like Normandy blend or California blend).

2. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until veggies are thawed and hot. Drain the excess liquid from the pan, then return to the heat.

3. Stir in the Paleo AIP Teriyaki Sauce to taste and your leftover chicken, then heat through. Enjoy!

You’ll also love this Beef Chow Mein from the blog archives!

Chicken Salad

How do you make a compliant chicken salad without mayonnaise? Easy: you use nutrient-dense mashed avocado instead! Here’s how to make a killer chicken salad:

1. Add 2 large ripe avocados, 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, and 1 teaspoon green Herbamare to a medium mixing bowl. Mash well with a fork until smooth.

2. Stir in 2 thinly sliced scallions, 1 cup grated carrots, 1 small minced cucumber, and ½ cup unsulphured raisins.

3. Fold in the chicken, then enjoy served inside lettuce wraps or with plantain chips.

Alfredo

Make the creamiest, richest chicken alfredo that is free from dairy or gluten – yup!

Here is how I make mine:

1. Make a batch of this AIP American Cheese but add 1 tsp of garlic powder to the mixture, and don’t refrigerate it. Set it aside.

2. Cook a package of this Jovial Cassava Pasta, then drain all but ⅓ cup of the cooking water from the pot.

3. Return the pot to medium heat, then use tongs to stir in the AIP American Cheese and 1 to 2 cups of leftover chopped chicken. Heat through until steaming.

4. Serve topped with chopped parsley, and for an extra fancy touch add Pork Panko on top to resemble breadcrumbs!

Soup

Last, but not certainly least, is the humble but oh-so comforting pot of chicken soup. Soup is kind of like casserole in the sense you can add whatever ingredients you have on hand to the mix, and it’s going to come out delicious! Here are two chicken soup recipes from the blog archives that I know you’ll adore adding your leftover cooked chicken to: 

• AIP Chicken Noodle-less Soup
• Roast Chicken Soup

Enjoy using up all the scraps with these Paleo AIP Ideas for Leftover Chicken!

Let me know in the comments how you like to use up leftover meats and veggies. I’d love to hear!