14 Ways To Repurpose Leftover Chick-Fil-A

You know how it goes: you've ordered Chick-fil-A when you're super hungry, and your takeout goodies include some nuggets. But, by the time you get to them, you're full up and you just can't finish them. Save them up and, next dinnertime, toss some veggies with olive oil and seasoning and bake in the oven with your leftover nuggets. 

To make a roasted Chick-fil-A nugget sheet pan dinner, start by cutting sweet potatoes into the same size pieces as your chicken. Then, season and coat in olive oil and roast for 10 minutes at 425 degrees. Turn the oven down to 325, and add diced onion and green pepper that have also been seasoned and oiled. Next, throw on the chicken nuggets and bake for 15-20 minutes. You've likely got some sauces from the fast food chain to serve with this dish. Rice or quinoa are great on the side as well. Who knew nuggets could turn into a roasted vegetable main course? 

Have you run out of leftover nuggets, but still really want to make this delicious dish? Make your own version with copycat Chick-fil-A nuggets instead.

You've chowed down on some good ol' American-style Chick-fil-A and you've still got some left in the fridge. But now you're hankering after a Mexican-style tortilla dish. You're in luck! By adding a few simple ingredients to the mix, you can turn your leftovers into a Chick-fil-A quesadilla. Dice leftover nuggets and waffle fries, then fry in oil to reheat. Remove, then add a flour tortilla to the now-greased pan. Allow one side to brown, then flip and add shredded cheese, followed by the chicken and fries and another layer of cheese. Fold the tortilla in half and cook until the cheese has melted. Cut into triangles and serve with Chick-fil-A sauce. 

Another way to make this dish is to take a flour tortilla and cut it up from the bottom edge, stopping in the center. On the quarter of the circle to the right of the cut, add Chick-fil-A sauce. Directly above this, add leftover chicken nuggets. Next to this, add waffle fries. In the final quadrant, add shredded cheese. Fold the sauce quarter over the chicken, then continue to fold so all the fillings are on top of each other, in pockets that are divided by the tortilla. Add to a sandwich press so that it flattens and you get visually pleasing grill marks on the outside.

Imagine that don't want to order takeout or go shopping, and you don't have much food stocked up. What you do have, though, are some leftover chicken strips. These breaded boneless chicken tenders are so delectable that you couldn't throw them out even though you had your fill at the time. But if you've got just a few more ingredients, you might have the makings for some terrific taquitos. These are the perfect crunchy snacks to share while watching a binge-worthy series.

To make these, chop up chicken tenders and mix the results with salsa and shredded cheese. Fill flour tortillas with refried beans and the chicken tender mixture, making sure the ingredients reach the edges of the tortilla. Take one edge, fold it over a little, then roll. Each tortilla will make one taquito, so be sure to craft a batch as you're bound to want more than one. 

Line the rolls up on a greased sheet pan, then cover them with another greased pan. Set your oven to 400 degrees and cook your Chick-fil-A-inspired Mexican classic for 20-25 minutes. Let them cool a little before serving. Serve with a Chick-fil-A dipping sauce or easily make your own by mixing sour cream and salsa in equal portions. 

There's nothing wrong with enjoying a simple meal of chicken nuggets or tenders, but there's something downright iconic about Chick-fil-A's chicken sandwich. What's not to love about a breaded chicken breast served on a toasted bun with slices of dill pickle? The chain also currently serves up a spicy chicken sandwich with seasoning added to the breading.

If you're looking for appetizing ways to turn a simple Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich into something a little spicier, start by making your own sauce. In a bowl, mix garlic puree, olive oil, and paprika with Greek yogurt along with a generous amount of cayenne pepper and freshly-ground black pepper. Add in a dose of Sriracha hot sauce and grate Parmesan on top. Mix it all together with a little water to get a thick dressing. 

Next, heat your chicken according to the recommended guidelines for reheating poultry, then dunk it in the bowl of spicy garlic and Parmesan sauce. Serve it all on Chick-fil-A buns that you've re-toasted and add crunchy iceberg lettuce for additional texture.

You know when you really want a double hit of fast food? One dish that will definitely appeal during those times is Chick-fil-A pizza. You might be confused — Chick-fil-A doesn't currently serve pizza — but all you have to know is that this is a delicious way to repurpose your Chick-fil-A leftovers. After all, chicken pizza is popular already, so it makes sense to use any takeout chicken you haven't finished to recreate this favorite with some nuggets. If you're feeling extra motivated, why not make your own pizza dough and spread Chick-Fil-A Sauce on top with grated mozzarella? Top that with chopped-up leftover nuggets and waffle fries, then a final layer of cheese. Serve with pickles and sauce (of course, you can always grab some premade dough from your local grocery, too).

For another variant, cut your leftover Chick-fil-A nuggets in half and add them to a pizza crust covered in tomato sauce. Follow that up with shredded Monterey Jack and blue cheese crumbles. Scatter chopped green onions on top and cook in a 400 degree oven for around 10 minutes. Before serving, pour on Zesty Buffalo dip to really make those cheesy chicken flavors zing. 

Make a Buffalo blue cheese pizza using shredded Chick-fil-A chicken that you've first mixed with hot sauce, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Spread this on a pizza crust and top with shredded mozzarella and red onion. Garnish the slices with green onions and serve with dip or dressing. 

If you can make a leftover rotisserie chicken soup, then it figures that a serving of chicken from Chick-fil-A can be transformed into a similar dish as well. That way you get more out of your fast food order — and who doesn't love a warming bowl of chicken soup? The easiest way to achieve this is to cut Chick-fil-A nuggets into small pieces and just add them to some you've already got going soup. You'll get the taste of chicken, while the breaded coating presents a tasty alternative to croutons. If you don't want to add the nuggets to the soup while cold (which you can), make sure you heat them properly for food safety's sake.

If you want to cook a (mostly) from-scratch dish, turn Chick-fil-A fare into an amazingly flavorful Asian soup. Take the breaded coasting off your leftover Chick-fil-A chicken and shred the meat. Next, mae the soup with coconut milk and chicken broth as the base, then add in ginger, garlic, onion, mushrooms, and soy sauce. Add chili-garlic sauce, sugar, and the zest and juice of a fresh lime. Heat the shredded chicken in this tangy, sweet mixture for a flavorful delight.

Chicken cordon bleu is an impressive dish to make, not to mention consume. Diners can be delighted by the process of cutting a breaded piece of chicken to find a cheese and ham center. It's also perfect for a weekday meal served with green beans, though you can make this recipe for a dinner party and fancy it up with grilled asparagus and buttery mashed potatoes. If you're not sure about making chicken cordon bleu as a way to repurpose leftover Chick-fil-A, then just try it for yourself. 

For each Chick-fil-A breaded chicken filet that you use, you'll need one slice each of ham and Swiss cheese. Lay the chicken out on a greased baking tray, then add the ham, then cheese, on top of each filet. You can also add veggies that have been seasoned and coated in olive oil to the pan. Cook it all for 20 minutes in a 325 degree oven. Serve with homemade sauce made from a can of cream of chicken soup and Dijon mustard that you've mixed with water and heated.