I intentionally make extra food when I prepare meals so that I have leftovers. That way I don’t need to prepare everything from scratch to prepare more meals. So what can you do with the leftover chicken and rice? Here are some ideas:

When you have eaten all the chicken and rice you want, take the rest of the chicken off the bones (A large chicken is great for more meat for leftovers). Put the bones back into the crockpot to make bone broth. Add a tablespoon of vinegar, an onion, a carrot, and a stalk of celery. A couple chicken feet would be good, too. Cover with water and add salt to taste. Cook on low for 12 to 24 hours. This makes a nutritious, high calcium broth that you can use to cook more rice, noodles, veggies, etc.

Ideas How to Use the Leftover Chicken and Rice

In any cookbook that has main dishes, you will find recipes that include cut up chicken. Here are some ideas:

• Chicken Soup. Cut up the chicken into bite sized pieces and put into a pan. Add the rice and enough water to make the soup the consistency you want. Or you could use the bone broth you cooked instead of the water. If desired, add veggies like chopped spinach or kale, peas, diced carrots, onion, etc. This is super easy and delicious.
• Chicken and Rice Casserole (the second time). Combine the cut up chicken and rice in a baking dish. Cover and heat 30 minutes to an hour at 350 degrees till hot. You could also heat the chicken and rice in a skillet in a little butter or coconut oil instead of in a baking dish.
• Chicken Salad. Add a little mayo and sour cream to the chicken along with some finely diced celery and onion. A little curry powder added gives some extra pizazz. This is great in a sandwich or on a bed of lettuce.
• Chicken Enchiladas. Make a mixture of cut up chicken, cheese, sour cream and chilies to your taste. Spoon mixture into the middle of tortillas and place seam side down in a baking dish. Top with a white sauce or salsa . Bake 45 to 60 minutes in a 350 degree oven or till hot. At the end, top with cheese and melt in oven. Serve with sour cream and salsa or guacamole.
• Add your favorite Bbq sauce to the cut up chicken and heat. Use for a baked potato topping or put into a bun.
• Chicken can be added to any veggie salad.
• With the bone broth and chicken, make a gravy to go on biscuits, mashed potatoes or rice.
• For breakfast, place a fried egg on a piece of toast. Top with chicken gravy. If you add a little mayo to the gravy, it adds interest to the dish.
• For a one-dish meal, stir fry some veggies with the chicken. Serve over rice or couscous.
• Add chicken, cheese and salsa and any vegetable you want to an omelet or scrambled eggs.
• Chicken Pizza. Top a pizza crust with chicken and all your favorite toppings.
• Chicken Gyro. Inside a gyro style pita bread, place cut up chicken, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, a little cucumber and some shredded cheese. Top with the salad dressing of your choice.

Use your creativity. Think about what foods you’re hungry for. Try them with chicken. Add some spices or sauces that sound good to you. Taste the food and adjust. You may come up with a new favorite dish. When it comes to cooking, creativity truly is the spice of life. Have fun!