Devil Cooked Rice and Other Things to Do with Leftover Fried Chicken

Filipinos love fried chicken so much that it just doesn’t make sense to cook or order small servings of it. This classic comfort food is best enjoyed in big batches and shared with a crowd. But what if you’ve eaten your fill and there are still a few pieces left over? What can you do to stretch your favorite fried chicken recipe or turn fast-food chicken into a tasty delight? 

Fear not, because there are so many ways to transform fried chicken and make the leftovers into something even tastier. Here are seven delectable ideas for your next batch of leftover fried chicken!

Devil Cooked Rice

In Japan, KFC fried chicken is synonymous with Christmastime. Thanks to a successful advertising campaign that boosted the brand’s popularity in years past, fried chicken became a staple food for the holidays. One byproduct of that newfound popularity is the recipe for “devil cooked rice.” The recipe involves steaming rice, soy sauce, chicken broth, and a few pieces of original KFC chicken in a rice cooker. You honestly don’t have to wait until the holidays to try this viral rice cooker hack for yourself. With one appliance and a few simple ingredients, you’ll turn your leftovers into a savory feast that can be enjoyed all year round.

Chicken Katsu Curry

Another Japanese-inspired recipe that you can try with your leftover fried chicken is chicken katsu curry. Slice up the breaded chicken so that it resembles the cutlets you see in a restaurant. Next, make a rich Japanese-style curry gravy with either prepackaged curry roux or a homemade roux made out of butter, flour, curry powder, garam masala, and chili powder. Mix that roux base with water, and boil some diced potatoes and carrots in the liquid until they’re tender. Top your fried chicken leftovers with the curry sauce and serve with piping hot rice.  

Fried Chicken Sandwich

Are you craving a fried chicken sandwich that’s just like the one made by your favorite quick-service restaurant? The good news is that it’s pretty easy to assemble on your own, and it’s just as easy to customize it to your liking. Grab a hamburger bun and butter on both pieces of bread, then grill the buttered sides in a pan until they’re toasted. Then, add your cut-up fried chicken and toppings of your choice. For the vegetable component, you can choose between plain lettuce or a classic cabbage-and-carrot coleslaw. To cut the fatty taste, you can add either pickles or sliced jalapeños. For best results, slather the sandwich with a thousand island dressing or a sauce made with ketchup, mayo, diced white onions, mustard, and a dash of hot sauce. 

Chicken Salad Wrap

For a quick and hearty lunch or merienda, you can whip up a chicken salad and wrap it in a tortilla. Slice your leftover fried chicken into strips or cubes, then toss them in a salad of shredded lettuce, red onions, tomatoes, corn, and other veggies of your choosing. Toss the contents of the salad with your favorite dressing—Italian, ranch, and roasted sesame dressing will work great. Carefully spoon the salad into the middle of your plain or wholewheat tortilla, fold the top and bottom flaps over the center, and roll like a burrito. Then, eat as is, or wrap in foil to save for later!

Parmigiana-Style Fried Chicken Fillet

You can also do a cheater’s version of this classic Italian dish with a fried chicken fillet. Whip up your own tomato-based pasta sauce, or use the variety that comes in a packet or bottle. Spoon a serving of the tomato sauce over the chicken, then top with a generous helping of mozzarella cheese. Heat this in the microwave until the cheese is melted, then finish with chopped parsley or basil. You can eat this dish with your favorite pasta or with a simple green salad.  

Barbecue Chicken Pizza

Having a hard time deciding between pizza and fried chicken? You can actually combine both and make your own barbecue chicken pizza. Slather some homemade or store-bought pizza dough with a layer of your favorite barbecue sauce, then top this with shredded fried chicken, thinly sliced red onions, mozzarella cheese, and cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted and the pizza crust is golden brown. Finish this with a handful of chopped cilantro, then serve with soda, iced tea, or a cold beer!

Fried Chicken Quesadillas

Yet another way to dress up your leftover fried chicken is to turn it into quesadillas. At its core, a quesadilla recipe only demands a tortilla and melty cheese. But you can liven this up by adding caramelized onions, sauteed bell peppers, chopped jalapeños, or buffalo sauce to the leftover chicken and cheese. Place your tortilla in a skillet, then spoon the chicken and cheese mixture onto one side of the circle. Carefully flip the other side over the contents to make a half-moon shape, and wait until the cheese is melted before you turn the quesadilla over with a spatula. When both sides are golden brown, it’s ready. Serve this with sour cream, guacamole, or salsa. 

As you can see from the recipes above, there are a lot of fun things you can do with leftover fried chicken. Enjoy your next big plate or bucket of fried chicken, knowing that you can cook up a brand-new feast with the leftovers!

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