5 Easy Weeknight Meals to Make From 1 Roast Chicken

Before heading home, stop by the store and grab some corn tortillas, salsa, and avocado; add roasted chicken to the spread, and you'll have dinner on the table in 10 minutes flat. If you want to get a little more creative while still keeping things simple for yourself, try this recipe for chicken tacos with greens. Save on calories by using Greek yogurt instead of Mexican crema. If tacos aren't your style, replace the tortillas with whole wheat or pita bread, then layer with some fresh veggies for a filling sandwich.

During the colder months, there's nothing quite as satisfying as a steaming bowl of soup. Add shredded chicken to store-bought canned soup for extra protein, or use it in a homemade recipe to eat throughout the week. Make things spicy with this recipe for low-carb tortilla soup, or go the classic route and make a bowl of healthy chicken noodle soup. If you prefer Asian flavors, try this recipe for Thai lemongrass chicken soup instead.

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to use leftover roasted chicken is in a nutritious salad. Stock your fridge with these must-have salad ingredients, which will give you everything you need to build a salad on the fly. Or if you prefer to put together a recipe, try our baby kale chicken salad or our healthy spin on a Chinese chicken salad.

Whether served with noodles, with veggies, or atop a bed of quinoa, a healthy stir-fry is a quick and easy way to utilize leftover roasted chicken. Use chicken in place of turkey in this recipe for Thai drunken noodles, or, if you're looking to save on carbs, try this shirataki noodle stir-fry with spicy peanut sauce. Shirataki noodles are made from tofu, making them a great choice when you are looking to save on calories and carbs. We also love this classic chicken and veggie stir-fry but do serve it on brown rice.

While not a meal, stock is one of the most important things you can make from leftover roast chicken — the carcass, to be exact. Once you've made homemade stock, you have the base for soups, stews, stir-frys, and also gravy for any upcoming holiday dinners you have planned. We're fans of Alton Brown's recipe for chicken stock and like the ease of making stock in a slow cooker— both recipes can be frozen for future use.