Long summer days call for easy summer dinners, and nothing delivers quite like a rotisserie chicken. In honor of National Rotisserie Chicken Day on June 2, we’ve rounded up some warm-weather recipes that go way beyond eating it straight from the container (though no judgment if you do). Whether you’re feeding a hungry crowd after a day at the pool or just need dinner done fast, rotisserie chicken is the summer shortcut you didn’t know you needed.
Club Chicken Pasta Salad
Pasta salad and summer are a match made in heaven, and this version from AllRecipes takes things up a notch by packing all the flavors of a chicken club sandwich into every bite. We’re talking bacon, avocado, tender rotisserie chicken, and a creamy mayo-Italian dressing with just the right crunch from celery and crispy bacon. Cook your pasta, toss everything together, and you’ve got a crowd-pleasing dish that’s as easy as it is satisfying.
Flatbread BBQ Chicken Pizza
After a long summer day spent outdoors, who wants to spend the evening in the kitchen? You can throw together this BBQ chicken pizza from The Seasoned Mom in just 20 minutes. All you need is store-bought crust, rotisserie chicken, barbecue sauce, two types of cheese, sliced red onion, and fresh herbs. Eyeball the ingredients to taste, and double it easily if you’re feeding a hungry crowd.
Hawaiian Sliders
Sliders are always a good idea, and this recipe from A Paige of Positivity makes them even better. Pile spicy mayo, pepper jack cheese, avocado, and shredded rotisserie chicken onto Hawaiian rolls and bake for a grab-and-go meal that works for dinner, cookouts, or anything in between. You can make them ahead and serve hot or chilled, — either way, they disappear fast.
Melon Salad
Rotisserie chicken turns this colorful summer salad from Southern Discourse into a full meal worth showing off, and peak-season melon makes it taste like summer in every bite. Sweet melon, crunchy walnuts, feta, and fresh greens topped with sliced chicken and a zesty homemade garlic lemon vinaigrette… yum! Bowl or platter, it works either way.
Sesame Chicken Noodle Bowls
Cold or warm, this Thai-inspired noodle bowl from Recipe Runner is endlessly customizable. Rotisserie chicken makes the recipe super weeknight-easy. Red bell pepper, carrots, edamame, and ramen noodles all get tossed in a salty, savory almond butter sauce. Use what you’ve got and make it your own. If you want to save even more time, prep the ingredients earlier in the week.
Shredded Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Dinner just got a whole lot more interesting, and it took almost no effort. This recipe from Evolving Table starts with a rotisserie chicken and a sauce you’ll want to put on everything: peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and a kick of sriracha. Shred the chicken, toss in the flavorful sauce, and scoop it all into lettuce cups for a meal that’s fresh and fun. Boston or Bibb lettuce works best. Pro tip: chicken shreds like a dream when it’s still slightly warm!
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