Stop throwing away your leftover rotisserie chicken bits and pieces. By transforming the skin, bones, and scraps into a simple, homemade broth, you can whip up a flavorful curried lentil and rotisserie chicken stew that is as hearty as it is healthy. With the perfect balance of warm curry, earthy lentils, and a surprise hint of carrot and apple sweetness, this is the ultimate zero-waste meal made from leftovers, perfect for days when you need a wee bit of warm comfort.
Day three’s recipe is the most elaborate of the ones that I have given you so far, but it’s still pretty darn simple. You will spend most of your time waiting for the chicken broth to cook down, and how hard is that really? Throw everything in a pot, cover with water, and walk away for two hours. If you want, you can come back every once in a while to stir the pot, make sure the kitchen hasn’t totally caught on fire, or to reassure yourself that the cat is not on the stove drinking straight out of the stockpot.
This recipe is perfect for using the dried-out white meat that is left from your rotisserie chicken; it will have some life breathed back into it from the chicken broth. A little bit of dark meat won’t hurt either; it’ll just bump up the flavor. You’re most likely going to have some broth leftover as well. No big deal, you’ll find a use for it later on. For now, you can either store it in the fridge for up to a week or throw it in the freezer until you have a use for it later on.
Bonus Recipe Idea – Rice with Chicken Broth – Yeah, it’s as simple as that. Follow the directions on the back of your rice package. Instead of adding water, add the same amount of chicken broth. That was just way too hard, right? Want to get even crazier? Spoon some Curried Lentil and Rotisserie Chicken Stew over the rice. Mind-blowing, right?
Three days, three ways to use rotisserie chicken, and more than three meals. How simple was that? For more rotisserie chicken recipes, check out the first recipe in our next “Make Three Recipes with One Rotisserie Chicken” series, Dill Pickle Shredded Rotisserie Chicken Salad.
Ingredients:
- 4 Cups Chicken Broth
- 1 Cup Red Lentils
- 1 Cup Rotisserie Chicken, Very Finely Diced
- 1 Carrot, Finely Diced
- 1 Fuji Apple, Finely Diced
- 1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 1 1/2 Teaspoons Curry Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Dried Minced Onions
- 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- Sour Cream (Optional)
Directions:
- Throw all of the ingredients, except for the sour cream, into a large stockpot over high heat.
- Bring the stew to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 30 minutes, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes.
- Remove and discard the bay leaves.
- Serve the soup with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of salt and freshly ground black pepper on top.
Suggestions:
- How to make simple chicken broth from a rotisserie chicken: Remove all of the meat from the rotisserie chicken. Place the leftover carcass, including all of the bones and skin, into a large pot and fill with water. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then lower the heat to medium-low. Cook for 2 hours. Using a colander, drain the liquid into a large bowl or container and allow to cool before refrigerating. The next day, you will be able to skim any excess fat off the top of the broth before using it.
- Use your favorite curry powder in this recipe. Mine is nothing fancy, but it has a very mild flavor, which is perfect for people, like B.O.B. Bob and I, who don’t like too much spice.
Improvements:
- If you are avoiding dairy, or don’t happen to have sour cream on hand, try topping the stew with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.
- Add fresh herbs for added color.
- CLICK HERE to see our many other soup, chili, stew, and chowder recipes.
Ingredients:
- 4 Cups Chicken Broth
- 1 Cup Red Lentils
- 1 Cup Rotisserie Chicken, Very Finely Diced
- 1 Carrot, Finely Diced
- 1 Fuji Apple, Finely Diced
- 1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 1 1/2 Teaspoons Curry Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Dried Minced Onions
- 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- Sour Cream (Optional)
Directions:
- Throw all of the ingredients, except for the sour cream, into a large stockpot over high heat.
- Bring the stew to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 30 minutes, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes.
- Remove and discard the bay leaves.
- Serve the soup with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of salt and freshly ground black pepper on top.
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Rotisserie Chicken Day 1 – Blood Orange Poppy Seed Vinaigrette
This is the kind of dressing that turns a standard bowl of greens into a show-stopping meal, especially when paired with rotisserie chicken for an effortless, healthy lunch or dinner. When blood oranges are in season, their brilliant color and berry-like sweetness make a simple poppy seed vinaigrette really come to life. This salad dressing is tangy, sweet, and easy to whip up. And, if blood oranges aren’t in season, a regular navel orange is a perfectly delicious year-round substitute. CLICK HERE for the recipe.
Rotisserie Chicken Day 2 – Paprika and Tarragon Vinegar Rotisserie Chicken Salad
Store-bought rotisserie chicken is the ultimate busy weeknight dinner solution, but its true magic lies in what happens after the first meal. Why let all of those leftovers go to waste when you can turn them into a crave-worthy rotisserie chicken salad? With one chicken, you can feed your family, stock your fridge or freezer with homemade broth, and whip up the best chicken salad you’ve ever tasted. This chicken salad recipe features a bright pop of tarragon vinegar, a smoky kiss of paprika, and just the right touch of sweet relish to keep things interesting. Whether you’re spreading it onto a crusty baguette or serving it with crisp crackers, this flavor-packed recipe is about to become your new lunch or snack-time go-to. CLICK HERE for the recipe.
Rotisserie Chicken Day 3 – Curried Lentil and Rotisserie Chicken Stew
Stop throwing away your leftover rotisserie chicken bits and pieces. By transforming the skin, bones, and scraps into a simple, homemade broth, you can whip up a flavorful curried lentil and rotisserie chicken stew that is as hearty as it is healthy. With the perfect balance of warm curry, earthy lentils, and a surprise hint of carrot and apple sweetness, this is the ultimate zero-waste meal made from leftovers, perfect for days when you need a wee bit of warm comfort. CLICK HERE for the recipe.
