Chicken Fritters (With Leftover Chicken)
on Jan 02, 2024, Updated Jan 26, 2024
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These chicken fritters are a great way to repurpose some leftover chicken! Everything comes together in one bowl and in under 20 minutes, you’ll have a filling, high-iron meal ready to serve!
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!
Table of Contents
What You’ll Need
Here is what you’ll need to make these chicken fritters:
- 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.
Storage Instructions
Once cooled, store the chicken fritters in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To freeze, place the cooled fritters in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag with parchment paper lined between each one and freeze for up to 1 month. Reheat on high in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or until warmed through.
Tips For Success
- I find that kitchen scissors are the easiest way to quickly chop up leftover chicken. I like to leave in some chunks for texture, but you can chop them up more if you prefer fewer chunks in the fritters.
- Make sure to watch the fritters closely and flip them as soon as they start getting a golden color. Since the chicken is pre-cooked, they cook pretty quickly.
- Feel free to add in extra spices for added flavor!
Recipe FAQs
Yes! I usually use white meat since it tends to be drier and less preferred over dark meat, but dark meat can be used as well. You can also use a mixture of white and dark meat.
These fritters would work similarly with leftover turkey. You can also try out these green bean fritters, carrot fritters, and sweet potato fritters for some veggie-based fritter options!
These fritters are soft-textured and perfect for babies and toddlers. They are lightly crisp on the outside and soft and tender on the inside.
These fritters pair well with your favorite dip like ketchup or ranch!
Other Fritter Recipes You’ll Love
Green Bean Fritters
Apple Fritters (Fritters For Babies)
Carrot Fritters
Cheesy Zucchini Fritters (Or Bites!)
If you tried these Chicken Fritters please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below! I love hearing from you!
Chicken Fritters (With Leftover Chicken)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups leftover shredded chicken breast, 9 oz in weight
- 2 tbsp cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp all purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt, optional
Instructions
- Add the chicken to a bowl and use a pair of kitchen scissors or a knife to chop it up into small pieces. You should have about 1.5 cups of chicken once it is chopped.
- Add the cream cheese, mozzarella, egg, flour, and salt (if using) to the bowl with the chicken. Mix well until combined.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil or butter on a frying pan on medium-low heat.
- 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.
- Cook the fritters until golden, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. 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.
Notes
- I find that kitchen scissors are the easiest way to quickly chop up leftover chicken. I like to leave in some chunks for texture, but you can chop them up more if you prefer fewer chunks in the fritters.
- Make sure to watch the fritters closely and flip them as soon as they start getting a golden color. Since the chicken is pre-cooked, they cook pretty quickly.
- Feel free to add in extra spices for added flavor!
Absolutely love these! So easy to throw together and so good!
I’m so glad you enjoyed these fritters, Kayla!
We love these! Do you think they would work well with salmon too?
I’m so glad you enjoyed them! I haven’t tried these fritters with salmon but I think it should work out! I also like to make these mini salmon cakes with leftover salmon as well😊
How do you reheat these?
Hi Linda! You can either reheat them in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds or until warmed through or on a pan over medium low heat until warmed through.
My little loved it! So easy and quick. Will definitely keep this in my rotation
Really can’t believe how yummy these are!!! So jealous that my little guy is the one that gets to eat these. Ha! Will definitely be doubling the batch next time we make these!!
Thank you Lily for being such a genius with these recipes!
Hi Alyssa! I’m so glad to hear that your little one enjoyed these fritters! Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback!😊
My little girl loved this, so easy to make as well
I’m so glad that your little one enjoyed these fritters, Sarah-Jane!😊
These are amazing, sometimes we add broccoli and use a lot of nice seasoning. They are delish!!!!
I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, Alana!😊
awesome recipe! do you think these could be baked instead of fried?
Hi Laura! I worry about these being baked since the base is made with pre-cooked chicken that could potentially dry out if baked. They also wouldn’t obtain that golden brown color without being baked for a long enough time. If you don’t mind the color, you could try baking them for just a few minutes, until dry to the touch.😊
I had some leftover rotisserie chicken getting old in my fridge, so I had to try this recipe! I followed the recipe but added some garlic powder and poultry seasoning. It was a hit with the whole family. My 13-month-old enjoyed the fritters by themselves and my 5-year-old dipped them in ketchup. My husband and I also found them tasty. Great way to use up rotisserie chicken!
Hi Katie! I’m so glad to hear that you all enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for sharing your feedback!😊
I have some leftover ground chicken that I’d like to use to make these fritters. What’s a good substitute for the cream cheese as I do not have it now? Thanks!
Hi Sheena! Sour cream or Greek yogurt may work, but they would definitely alter the overall taste of the fritters. I hope it works out!
Hi there are these make-ahead or freezer friendly?
Hi Crystal! Yes, these fritters can be frozen in an airtight, freezer safe container or ziploc bag.😊