# What to do with overcooked chicken breast? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 12, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-overcooked-chicken-breast/668684 "2013-09-12T18:53:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-overcooked-chicken-breast/668684/1 "2013-09-12T18:53:36Z")
They’re not burnt, just cooked too long, so they’re very chewy and not fun to eat. But of course I made a whole bunch at the same time, and cubed up a bunch and froze it. Can I use these rubbery chicken cubes for something like chili, where they’ll get broken down enough to be marginally enjoyable? Chop them superfine for a casserole or something? I hate to waste them, but I’d hate to eat them as-is even more. (I DO have a great meat thermometer, but I also have small children who distract me.) ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-overcooked-chicken-breast/668684/2 "2013-09-12T18:55:39Z")
Simmer them into something like jambalaya, with plenty of extra liquid to start with. Maybe simmer the cubes in broth a while to soften them first. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-overcooked-chicken-breast/668684/3 "2013-09-12T19:07:13Z")
This is why we have a dog. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-overcooked-chicken-breast/668684/4 "2013-09-12T19:08:03Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > This is why we have a dog. 🙂 Dog doesn’t overcook that easily? ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-overcooked-chicken-breast/668684/5 "2013-09-12T19:23:10Z")
Shred it as much as you can and make it into chicken salad. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-overcooked-chicken-breast/668684/6 "2013-09-12T19:52:39Z")
Or grind it up and make a chicken sandwich spread. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-overcooked-chicken-breast/668684/7 "2013-09-12T20:08:40Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > Shred it as much as you can and make it into chicken salad. If you can chop them down to small enough pieces, are they salvageable as a Chickensteak sandwich (think Cheesesteak, but with chicken)? ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-overcooked-chicken-breast/668684/8 "2013-09-12T20:11:05Z")
Yeah, chicken salad sandwiches are the way to go from my perspective. If the meat is particularly dry, I’ll add a little milk to the mixture and not just mayo. The finer you dice the meat, the less noticeable the dryness is. Chicken enchiladas are another good take on this. Dice or shred it up fine and put on extra green chile sauce and jack cheese. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-overcooked-chicken-breast/668684/9 "2013-09-12T20:28:26Z")
I have to disagree. If you use this in a chicken dish, you will have an unenjoyable chicken dish. Feed it to an animal. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-overcooked-chicken-breast/668684/10 "2013-09-12T20:30:41Z")
I vote Mexican also. I frequently pulverize leftover pieces of pork chop, chicken or other meat in the food processor, adding a little broth as necessary. Then I spread the meat, along with cheese and refried beans, over a tortilla and fry as quesidillas. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-overcooked-chicken-breast/668684/11 "2013-09-12T20:39:08Z")
Shred it, simmer with sauce and make enchiladas. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-overcooked-chicken-breast/668684/12 "2013-09-12T20:45:04Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > Or grind it up and make a chicken sandwich spread. Now this has captured my imagination. I found a [chicken pate](http://presleyspantry.com/2011/06/09/chicken-pate-ooh-la-la/)recipe that calls for grinding up cooked white meat with garlic, mustard, butter, and mayonnaise in the food processor. The processor would demolish all the chewy stringiness, and the fats would add tenderness and moisture. I might try that for lunch tomorrow (worst case scenario, I bin it and make an early dinner). Or the enchilada idea - that sounds pretty good too. I love the Dope! ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-overcooked-chicken-breast/668684/13 "2013-09-12T21:03:41Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > Shred it as much as you can and make it into chicken salad. Seconded. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-overcooked-chicken-breast/668684/14 "2013-09-12T21:14:56Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Shred it, simmer with sauce and make enchiladas. No brainer. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-overcooked-chicken-breast/668684/15 "2013-09-12T23:47:14Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > I have to disagree. If you use this in a chicken dish, you will have an unenjoyable chicken dish. > > Feed it to an animal. I tend to agree with this. Shredding it and putting it in a sauce just gets you wet, overcooked chicken. It’s not inedible, but it’s not particularly enjoyable–it’s still mealy and a bit stringy. But I’ve done it to salvage food before. Now that I have a dog, though, I’d just give it to him.