A fresh, zesty twist on the classic comfort meal — with ingredients you already have

Let’s be honest: dinner doesn’t always need to be fancy. Some nights, it just needs to work — taste good, feel good, and get to the table fast. That’s exactly where this easy pasta leftover rotisserie chicken recipe comes in.

I made it on a random Tuesday when the fridge was mostly a mystery and the energy to cook was… low. I had a container of shredded rotisserie chicken, half a box of spaghetti, and some garlic. The result? A lemony, buttery pasta that somehow tasted like way more than the sum of its parts. And now, it’s in my regular dinner rotation — especially when I’m staring down yet another Tupperware of chicken leftovers.

Easy Pasta Leftover Rotisserie Chicken: Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easily adaptable — swap the pasta, add veggies, make it yours
Light and flavorful — garlic, lemon, and herbs make it feel fresh
Uses what you’ve got — perfect for that chicken you meant to use yesterday
Ready in under 30 minutes — because life is full enough already

Ingredients For Easy Pasta Leftover Rotisserie Chicken

Shredded leftover rotisserie chicken
Pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or whatever’s in the pantry)
Butter
Olive oil
Garlic, minced
Lemon (zest + juice)
Grated Parmesan
Fresh parsley or basil (optional)
Salt and pepper
Red pepper flakes (optional, for a little kick)
Optional: baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, or frozen peas

Tips & Tricks

No fresh lemon? A bit of bottled lemon juice will do — just don’t skip it. It brightens the whole dish.
Want it creamier? Add a spoonful of cream cheese or a splash of cream at the end.
More veggies? Stir in spinach or peas at the end, or sauté cherry tomatoes with the garlic.

More Leftover Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Ideas

There are so many leftover rotisserie chicken recipes with pasta — it’s kind of the ultimate “I don’t know what to make” move. Here are a few other ideas to keep in your back pocket:

Try this creamy buffalo chicken pasta for something with a kick.
Or go cozier with this chicken broccoli rice casserole — another great use for leftovers.

For more inspiration, Epicurious has a great roundup of rotisserie chicken ideas, and if you’re wondering how long that chicken is still safe to eat, check out USDA’s food safety guide.

Variations to Try

Whether you’re craving something cheesy, spicy, or veggie-packed, there’s a rotisserie chicken recipes leftover pasta version for you:

Creamy herb version — Add a splash of cream and fresh thyme
Spicy tomato version — Toss in a few spoonfuls of marinara and red chili flakes
Pesto version — Stir in a spoonful of pesto for a whole new flavor twist

Seriously, leftover rotisserie chicken recipes pasta dishes are endlessly adaptable — and once you start playing around, you’ll never look at leftovers the same way again.

Let’s Keep It Real

If you try this easy pasta leftover rotisserie chicken recipe, I’d love to know how it turns out. Did you add something fun? Make it for your kids? Eat it straight from the pan while watching Netflix? (No judgment — same here.)

Drop a comment, send a pic, or just make it your own. This kind of cooking is real life — imperfect, delicious, and good for the soul.

Easy Pasta Leftover Rotisserie Chicken

Author: Elyse
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x

Print Recipe

Description

A quick and zesty pasta dish made with leftover rotisserie chicken, fresh lemon, garlic, and Parmesan. Perfect for busy weeknights!

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until just al dente. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of the pasta water, then drain and set pasta aside.
Freshly cooked spaghetti drained and ready — the perfect base for a quick and cozy pasta dinner.
In a large skillet or sauté pan, melt the butter with the olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant but not browned. Stir in the lemon zest and red pepper flakes (if using).
Sautéing garlic in butter and olive oil creates the aromatic base for this lemony chicken pasta dish.
Add the shredded rotisserie chicken to the skillet. Cook for 2–3 minutes until warmed through. Stir in the lemon juice, and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Adding shredded rotisserie chicken to the skillet to soak up all the garlic lemon flavor before tossing with pasta.
Add the cooked pasta to the skillet along with about ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated in the sauce. Add more pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.

Pasta meets garlic, lemon, and rotisserie chicken in the skillet — everything starts to come together in this cozy one-pan dish.
If using spinach, cherry tomatoes, or peas, stir them in now and cook for another 1–2 minutes until just wilted or warmed through.
Remove from heat. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan and fresh parsley or basil. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve warm, with extra cheese or a drizzle of olive oil if you’d like.

Notes

Great way to use up leftover rotisserie chicken. Add any vegetables you have on hand for extra color and nutrition.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 520
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 480mg
Fat: 22g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Unsaturated Fat: 11g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 48g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 32g
Cholesterol: 85mg

Keywords: rotisserie chicken, pasta, lemon garlic, quick dinner, leftover chicken