Chicken Fritters (With Leftover Chicken)

I’m a big fan of rotisserie chickens for a simple weekday dinner option, but no one in our house is a big fan of the white meat. We love that moist and juicy dark meat, and oftentimes, the white meat can taste a little dry. These chicken fritters come out moist and juicy every time and will be your new favorite way to repurpose any leftover chicken! The secret ingredient here is the cream cheese which adds moisture and flavor to help combat that dryness!

If you’re looking for more ways to use up any leftover chicken, be sure to try out these mini chicken pot pies, chicken salad rollups, and broccoli and cheese chicken pinwheels as well!

• Shredded Chicken: I like to use leftover rotisserie chicken breast, but any type of leftover chicken will work.
• Egg: Used as a binder to help hold these fritters together.
• Cream Cheese: Adds moisture to the fritters to help prevent them from being too dry.
• Mozzarella Cheese: For added flavor.
• Flour: Used to help the fritters maintain their shape and hold together.
• Salt: Optional ingredient for added flavor. Salt can be omitted if serving to a young baby.
• Oil/Butter: To cook the fritters.

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Ingredient Substitutions & Additions

• Eggs: For an egg-free version, substitute the egg with a flax egg by mixing one tablespoon of ground flaxseed meal with three tablespoons of water and letting it sit in the fridge for 15 minutes to set and thicken. You may also swap it with a liquid egg replacer like the brand Just Egg.
• Flour: I used all-purpose flour for these fritters, but any type of flour may be used.
• Cheeses: The cream cheese and mozzarella may be replaced with dairy-free cream cheese (like the brand Kite Hill) and dairy-free shredded cheese.
• Spices: Feel free to add in other spices like paprika, onion powder, and/or garlic powder for added flavor.

Step By Step Instructions

STEP 1: Add the chicken to a bowl and use a pair of kitchen scissors or a knife to chop it up into small pieces (Images 1 & 2). You should have about 1.5 cups of chicken once it is chopped.

STEP 2: Add the cream cheese, mozzarella, egg, flour, and salt (if using) to the bowl with the chicken (Image 3). Mix well until combined (Image 4).

STEP 3: Heat 1 tablespoon of oil or butter on a frying pan on medium-low heat.

STEP 4: Scoop out heaping tablespoon-sized portions onto the pan and press down on the portions with the back of a spoon or a spatula to shape the portions into small fritters (Image 5).

STEP 5: Cook the fritters until golden, about 2 to 3 minutes per side (Image 6). Transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to cool. The fritters should be slightly crisp on the outside and soft and tender on the inside.