Looking for a tasty way to use up Sunday’s roast chicken? Try this easy leftover chicken tacos recipe for a quick and delicious family dinner! It’s a great way to turn leftovers into a fun and satisfying meal.
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I hate waste. If we ever have leftover meat, vegetables, or potatoes, I try to use them up as part of another filling midweek meal.
Beef and lamb are ideal in stews and casseroles, but I’m often a bit lost with chicken.
We generally have less chicken left, and random bits of chicken breast or leg aren’t great in a casserole.
Often, leftover roast chicken gets stuffed in a sandwich, which is fine, but sometimes I want something different.
I’ve got a few leftover chicken pasta recipes, but these leftover chicken tacos are a lovely change, and the kids are obsessed with them!
Why I Love Leftover Chicken Tacos
I love this recipe for leftover chicken tacos because:
- Shredded chicken tacos are delicious.
- You can easily add more veg or beans if you don’t have much chicken.
- They are great with leftover leg or breast meat.
- The kids love them.
- Homemade taco seasoning can be used for plenty of different meals.
- Tacos are a great way to introduce new flavours and ingredients, as everyone around the table can fill their own with different additions.
- Social eating like this is a great way to enjoy family meal times and encourages children to eat more.
- Leftover chicken tacos are super colourful and tasty.
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Ingredients For Leftover Chicken Tacos
When I make tacos with leftover roast chicken, I use:
Cooking Spray – Swap for olive oil or another cooking oil if you prefer.
Red Onion
Bell Peppers – I tend to use red and yellow because they are our favourites, but any are fine.
Leftover Roast Chicken – Ideally, you want about 400-500g. You could add more peppers and perhaps more beans if you have less. A tin of butter beans would be great. I shred my leftover chicken by just pulling strands off with my fingers. You could also dice or slice into small strips.
Kidney Beans
Dried Ground Cumin
Chilli Powder
Paprika
Dried Oregano
Cinnamon
Salt and Pepper
Water
Taco Boats or Shells, Cheese, Salad and Dips – My kids prefer soft taco boats, so that’s what we have. Hard shells would be fine, too. Use your favourites.
You’ll Also Need
When I make these leftover roast chicken tacos, I use:
- A sharp knife and chopping board to prepare the ingredients.
- A small bowl and spoon to mix the spices.
- Cheese grater.
- Large, non-stick frying pan. Any flameproof pan or dish will do.
- Wooden spoon or spatula to stir.
- A Baking tray to warm the taco boats.
- Tongs to serve the chicken.
How to Make Leftover Chicken Tacos – Step-by-Step Instructions
Full, easy-to-follow instructions and quantities are available in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step One
Mix the cumin, chilli, paprika, oregano, cinnamon, salt and pepper in a small bowl and leave to one side.
I add all of this taco spice mix, but it is a lot, so if you want a milder flavour, use half and cover the rest to use another time. In an airtight tub it will keep well.
Step Two
Mist a large, non-stick pan liberally with cooking spray and warm over medium heat on the hob. If you are using cooking oil, warm the pan first before adding a tablespoon.
Step Three
Add the sliced onions and fry for 5 minutes, stirring often.
Step Four
Add the peppers and fry for 3 minutes, stirring often.
Step Five
Add the shredded chicken and drained beans and stir.
Step Six
Sprinkle on the prepared spice mix and pour over the water. If you’ve got less chicken or are using less of the spice mix, you’ll also need less water.
If you find that there’s too much water, you can stir through little tomato paste or puree.
Step Seven
Bring to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring often until the chicken is piping hot. I recommend using a food thermometer (affiliate link) to make sure a bigger piece of chicken is at least 75 degrees C, and that it stays there for at least 2 minutes before serving.
Step Eight
Prepare taco boats or shells according to packet instructions, and serve them filled with the chicken mix, cheese, salad, and dips. Anything that you like, really.
Top Tips
My only real tips are to make sure you’ve stored the chicken correctly and for no longer than two days.
If you have any doubts about it, throw it away and save this recipe for another time!
Then, make sure all of the chicken is absolutely piping hot. If you need to cook it longer, you might want to add more water.
If your pan has a lid, covering it can help you to make sure the chicken is hot.
Another tip is to just add half of the spice mix if you prefer a milder dish. Taste before serving, and add more if you want more flavour.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve these tacos as they are filled with cheese, salad and dips.
We tend to add other sides like wedges, corn tortillas, rice and a side salad.
Variations
Add Some Heat
These tacos are a little spicy, but not too much.
If you prefer more of a kick, add a pinch of chilli flakes or a teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
Add More Veg
Extra peppers, some sliced courgette, different beans, and even frozen sweetcorn can be fantastic additions to tacos, especially if you have less chicken than you’d like. Experiment with different additions to your tacos with leftover chicken.
Add Lime Juice
Adding lime juice with the water can give your tacos a tangier flavour. Add a little to start with and taste before adding more.
Leftovers
Disclaimer: While I aim to be as accurate as possible, any advice in this post, including but not limited to, cooking times, quantities, nutritional information and storage and freezing guidance is based on my own experience. Please use your own skills, knowledge and judgement, and get up to date food safety information.
Because these chicken tacos are made from cooked chicken, I wouldn’t recommend saving and reheating any leftovers.
Storage
Serve your leftover chicken tacos straight away while they are still piping hot. Don’t store it for another time.
FAQ
If your leftover roast chicken is quite dry, I recommend something slow-cooked in a sauce, like a curry.
Meat, vegetables, salad, peppers, onion, beans, cheese, and even rice are lovely in tacos. Try to add things with different colours and textures for a satisfying and fun dinner.
I make my own spice mix with cumin, chilli, paprika, oregano, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. You can buy a taco mix if you prefer.
Other Recipes
If you like this recipe for leftover chicken tacos, you might also want to try:
- Leftover Lamb Tacos
- Burritos with Leftover Roast Beef
- Sausage Burritos
- Air Fryer Chilli Con Carne
- Leftover Chilli Loaded Wedges
- Five Bean Chilli
- Leftover Chicken Fried Rice
- Leftover Chicken Curry
- Homemade Enchilada Sauce
Recipe Card
Leftover Chicken Tacos
Ingredients
- Cooking Spray (Or Oil)
- 1 Red Onion (Finely sliced)
- 1 Red Pepper (Deseeded and sliced)
- 1 Yellow Pepper (Deseeded and sliced)
- 500 g Leftover Roast Chicken (Shredded)
- 400 g Kidney Beans (Drained)
- 1 Tablespoon Cumin
- 2 Tablespoons Chilli Powder
- 1 Tablespoon Paprika
- 1 Teaspoon Oregano
- Pinch Cinnamon
- Pinch Salt and pepper
- 150 ml Water
- Taco Boats or Shells (Cheese, Salad and Dips – To serve)
Instructions
- Mix the cumin, chilli, paprika, oregano, cinnamon, salt and pepper in a small bowl and leave to one side.
- Mist a large, non-stick pan liberally with cooking spray and warm over medium heat on the hob.
- Add the sliced onions and fry for 5 minutes, stirring often.
- Add the peppers and fry for 3 minutes, stirring often.
- Add the chicken and drained beans and stir.
- Sprinkle on the prepared spice mix and pour over the water.
- Bring to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring often until the chicken is piping hot.
- Prepare taco boats or taco shells according to packet instructions, and serve them filled with the chicken mix, cheese, salad, and dips of choice.
Notes
- I serve in soft taco boats with cheddar, salsa, soured cream, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, and cucumber.
- Use different coloured peppers if you prefer.
- Make sure the chicken is piping hot before serving.
Nutrition
Any nutritional information is given as a general guide only and may not be accurate. The information is provided using an online calculator and is specific to my ingredients. Please make your own calculations if you want precise information.
An absolute fantastic recipe for leftovers, flavoursome and yummy. Definitely morish!
Thanks Evilo, so happy you enjoyed them!