3 Creative Low Carb Uses for Rotisserie Chicken

Rotisserie chicken from the supermarket is a lifesaver for anyone who's busy, but especially for those who follow a low carb diet. You can't get much lower carb than meat! However, plain rotisserie chicken makes for a pretty boring meal. Supermarket rotisserie chickens can sometimes be a little dry, and it's tough to decide what to do with the inevitable leftovers. Here are a few creative low carb ideas to make even the plainest rotisserie chicken fabulous!

Garlic Chicken Salad
Everyone knows how to make a standard chicken salad, but why not jazz it up? Mix fresh crushed garlic and lots of black pepper into mayonnaise, then toss with shredded rotisserie chicken and low carb ingredients like julienned red bell peppers, chopped kalamata olives and crumbled feta cheese. The salty olives and cheese are a great contrast to the sweet peppers, and the garlicky mayo adds interest to the otherwise bland rotisserie chicken. You can also add some Tabasco sauce for spice, or turn this into a low carb pasta salad by adding cooked and cooled Dreamfield's pasta to the mix.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Just like your favorite Mexican restaurant enchiladas, but without the carbs. Mix shredded rotisserie chicken, cream cheese, sour cream, tomatillo salsa and diced green chiles and pour into a casserole dish. Top with cheddar or jack cheese and bake until everything is melted and bubbly. This rotisserie chicken-cheese mixture can also be used as a filling for more traditional (but still low carb) enchiladas made with low carb tortillas.

Chicken Soup
Traditional chicken soup is naturally low carb, and you could even add low carb pasta to it for a low carb version of chicken noodle soup, but there are plenty of other soups involving chicken that can be made low carb. Put an ethnic twist on chicken soup by making a low carb version of a Thai classic, Tom Ka Gai. Saute minced garlic and ginger or galangal in a saucepan with a bit of red or green curry paste. Add chicken broth, bring to a simmer and add sliced mushrooms, julienned red bell peppers and minced green onions, plus kaffir lime leaves and/or lemongrass if available. Cook for a few minutes, then add unsweetened coconut milk (approximately twice as much coconut milk as chicken broth), shredded rotisserie chicken, lime juice, fish sauce (nam pla) and artificial sweetener to taste. Heat through and serve.

Rotisserie chicken may be commonplace in a low carb kitchen, but it need never be boring. By flexing your creative muscle, you can turn even the blandest rotisserie chicken into a spectacular low carb meal in minutes!