Four Healthy, Low Carb Ways to Use a Rotisserie Chicken
Fall-apart tender and juicy, rotisserie chicken is unbelievably delicious. It’s also an inexpensive and convenient way to whip up a great weeknight dinner. Our health coaches love all the creative ways you can use rotisserie chicken to create an easy, filling, and delicious low carb dinner.
Chicken Packs a Nutritional Punch
Why choose chicken? Because it is baked, rotisserie chicken is much healthier than its fried counterpart. Frying chicken exposes the meat to extremely high temperatures, which can trigger the formation of inflammatory compounds that are bad for your heart. Frying chicken in oil also adds calories that can cause weight gain – and if you are like most older adults, weight management is always an issue.
A rotisserie uses dry heat rather than oil and cooks at a lower temperature, so rotisserie chicken is lower in calories, and is better for your health.
Rotisserie Chicken is a Great Source of Protein
Rotisserie chicken is a good source of protein, which is why we love is as an easy weeknight dinner option. Protein is essential to build and repair muscles and bones, and to make hormones and enzymes. Chicken is especially helpful for weight loss, as protein helps you feel fuller, so you’ll eat less.
Many health professionals feel that older adults should get more protein than do younger people. As we age, we tend to lose muscle mass, and this leaves us weaker and more prone to falls. The human body stores protein in muscle tissue, so the loss of muscle tissue also translates into lower protein levels throughout the body. Low protein levels can make skin more fragile, weaken the immune system, slow healing, and make it harder to withstand challenges in the environment. Unfortunately, up to a third of older adults don’t get the protein they need.
Chicken is also rich in niacin, which your body uses to turn food into fuel. It provides other important nutrients too, such as selenium, riboflavin, vitamin B12, phosphorus, and zinc.
Four Delicious and Healthy Ways to Use Rotisserie Chicken
Buying a pre-made rotisserie chicken is a quick and healthy way to make a weeknight dinner everyone will love. Here are some low carb, healthy, and delicious ways to use a rotisserie chicken.
On Greens for a Nutritionally Dense Powerhouse
Salads are a great way to get your dietary fiber, but they can be light on protein – and let’s face it, even your favorite salads can use a little jazzing up. Adding rotisserie chicken to a vegetarian salad boosts protein, provides a pleasant chewy texture, and ramps up the flavor. Try adding rotisserie chicken to a Mediterranean pasta salad or a spinach strawberry salad for interesting flavor and texture that make an anything-but-boring salad!
Rotisserie chicken is juicier and tastier than baked chicken and lower in calories than fried chicken, so it’s a superior choice for any salad recipe that calls for chicken. It is the perfect addition to a chicken kale Waldorf salad with avocado and cheese, for example, or in a pesto chicken bruschetta.
In a Zesty Taco or a Savory Burrito Bowl
Rotisserie chicken adds flavor and protein to a grain-free or low carb taco. Or, forgo the taco shell to make a yummy burrito bowl. You can add whatever you like, including:
Rice
Lettuce
Tomato
Avocado
Peppers
Salsa
Cheese
Black beans
Topped with Easy and Delicious Homemade Sauces
Rotisserie chicken lends itself well to topping with homemade sauces to make it truly your own.
Make a tasty BBQ chicken by smothering the meat in a homemade sugar-free BBQ sauce, for example. Get creative by splashing a bit of cashew ranch dressing, green goddess dressing or a homemade Greek yogurt ranch dressing on your rotisserie chicken.
Paired with Easy, Mouth-Watering Sides
Of course, rotisserie chicken is fantastic all on its own! Just add a few healthy side dishes to create an easy dinner everyone will love. Rotisserie chicken pairs well with roasted garlic parmesan cauliflower and looks amazing sitting next to cilantro lime cauliflower rice on your plate. This high-protein, low-fat meat goes well with just about any vegetable dish, including cheesy garlic roasted asparagus, green beans, sweet potatoes, or whatever your favorite is. You can even “beef up” cowboy caviar by adding rotisserie chicken. Giddyup!
Bonus: Make Your Own Stock After You’ve Eaten the Chicken
Whether you make it at home or buy it from your local grocery store, rotisserie chicken is highly versatile and convenient. You can even get more bang for your buck by using the leftover scraps and bones to make your very own chicken stock!
For more ideas on using rotisserie chicken and other ways to make fast and easy meals, consult with your Mighty Health coach! From losing weight, to reducing pain, Mighty is your home for personalized health guidance for those 50 and above!