Healthy Whole Chicken Recipes

Juicy on the inside and crisp on the outside--Is there anything better than a whole roasted chicken? It's an easy and beautiful main dish for entertaining or a great tool for meal prep--just roast once to eat all week. Plus, these healthy recipes have almost half the amount of sodium of a grocery story rotisserie chicken.

Staff Picks

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup with Rotisserie Chicken

Rating: 5 stars 46
This creamy chicken noodle soup recipe has a delicious pot pie feel to it. We call for rotisserie chicken to streamline your prep time—look for a nice big one with lots of breast meat on it.
By Karen Rankin

Creamy Rotisserie-Chicken Noodle Casserole

Rating: 3 stars 6
This creamy chicken noodle casserole recipe is inspired by our popular Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup with Rotisserie Chicken by Karen Rankin. We use store-bought rotisserie chicken to cut down on cooking time. This casserole is cozy and delicious.
By Carolyn Casner

Chopped Power Salad with Chicken

Rating: 5 stars 3
Enjoy this filling and colorful salad for lunch or dinner. The dressing gets made in the same bowl that the salad is tossed in, so the greens absorb every bit of flavor.
By Carolyn Casner

3-Ingredient Creamy Rotisserie Chicken Salad

Rating: 2 stars 5
We put a flavor twist on the classic chicken salad by using a lemon-herb mayonnaise. Try other mayo varieties, like roasted garlic or chipotle lime, in this fast, no-cook lunch recipe. Serve this rotisserie chicken salad recipe with whole-grain crackers.
Carolyn Hodges Headshot
By Carolyn Hodges, M.S., RDN

Lemon Chicken Pasta

Rating: 5 stars 8
In this easy lemon chicken pasta recipe, we love the combination of lemon zest and toasted breadcrumbs. This healthy dinner is made with rotisserie chicken, quick-cooking spiralized zucchini and baby zucchini, so you get a complete meal in just 10 minutes.
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By Sara Haas, RDN

Green Chile Rotisserie Chicken Casserole

Rating: 4.5 stars 5
This green chile rotisserie chicken casserole features tender rotisserie chicken with lots of tender vegetables. The corn adds a nice pop of sweetness, while the rice helps absorb some of the flavors. A crunchy topping of crushed tortilla chips finishes off this comforting, Southwestern-inspired casserole.
john somerall headshot
By John Somerall

Green Chile Chicken Tortilla Casserole

Rating: 5 stars 1
Prepare this dish the night ahead of time so all you have to do is pop it in the oven for an easy and delicious dinner.
By Diabetic Living Magazine

3-Ingredient Farro Bowl with Rotisserie Chicken

To make this hearty grain bowl, grab a salad kit from the grocery store. Then, top the kit with farro and chicken for a high-protein lunch or dinner that's ready in minutes.
By Carolyn Hodges, M.S., RDN

One-Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta with Zucchini

Rating: 3.5 stars 2
This one-pot creamy chicken with zucchini is comfort food at its best. Here, we take advantage of fresh summer zucchini, which lightens up the dish. This easy dinner is made all in one pot on the stovetop, so you can give your oven a rest on a warm day and enjoy an easy cleanup.
Headshot of Adam wearing a blue button up shirt on a white background
By Adam Dolge

My 3 Key Ingredients for the Best Rotisserie Chicken Soup

In this installment of Diaspora Dining, author and historian Jessica B. Harris contemplates change and chicken soup, and how her own tastes and methods have evolved.
By Jessica B. Harris, Ph.D.

3-Ingredient Chicken Salad Tostadas

Rating: 5 stars 1
For this three-ingredient dinner, a premade salad kit is the perfect shortcut because it has everything you need in one bag, including the dressing. Swap in canned black beans for the chicken to make this vegetarian.
Carolyn Hodges Headshot
By Carolyn Hodges, M.S., RDN

3-Ingredient One-Pot Lemon Pasta with Rotisserie Chicken

Rating: 3 stars 2
This satisfying one-pot pasta cooks with just the right amount of water so you're left with perfectly cooked noodles and enough starchy liquid to act as a sauce. Stir in lemon juice and zest at the end for a bright finish.
Carolyn Hodges Headshot
By Carolyn Hodges, M.S., RDN
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Inspiration and Ideas

15 Cozy Casseroles You Can Make with Rotisserie Chicken
Make the most of a rotisserie chicken with these cozy casserole recipes. Perfect for chilly nights, these warm and filling casseroles are yummy choices for dinner.
18 Sunday Dinners You Can Make With Rotisserie Chicken
Whether you're using it in a salad or stirring it into macaroni and cheese, rotisserie chicken adds a satisfying boost of protein to these delicious dinners.
Air-Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
Rating: 5 stars 2

Replicate the flavor, lovely burnished skin and moist texture of a classic rotisserie chicken with this easy recipe for cooking a whole chicken in your air fryer. With just a handful of ingredients and 10 minutes of active time, you get a roast chicken with lemon and herbs that's a remarkable doppelganger for a deli chicken right after it comes out of the rotisserie. Serve this air-fryer rotisserie chicken with your favorite veggie sides for a healthy weeknight dinner or weekend supper. And if you're hosting a dinner party, cooking your main course in the air fryer is also a great way free up oven space for casseroles, rolls and other dishes.