10 Grocery Shortcuts That Will Turn Your Rotisserie Chicken into a Full Meal

Rotisserie chickens are among the best buys in the grocery store. How else can you serve hot and juicy roasted chicken without spending any time in the kitchen? The trick to including this deli-fresh chicken in your meal plan is to pick up sides at the same time. Luckily, supermarkets are packed with smart shortcuts that make getting dinner on the table the easiest task on your to-do list. Here are the 10 best groceries to complete that rotisserie chicken dinner.

What’s a more fitting pairing for roast chicken dinner than mashed potatoes? These refrigerated taters are simple to serve, with no peeling, boiling, or mashing required. You can stir in a clove of minced garlic or a handful of shredded cheddar cheese, but it’s not required; these mashed potatoes taste homemade straight from the package.

After a late lunch or after-work appetizers, I need dinner that’s light and easy. Toss shredded rotisserie chicken with canned hearts of palm and tender artichoke hearts for a two-ingredient antipasto-ish salad.

Frozen mashed butternut squash makes it simple to serve winter squash on a weeknight with rotisserie chicken from the deli. Add a pat of butter and flaky salt to the hot squash or spice it up with minced chipotle chiles.

Frozen fried potatoes are my go-to easy side dish. I buy tots one week and steak fries another, but for me, the ultimate french fry is the curly fry. I like to serve them alongside rotisserie chicken with ketchup, honey mustard, or ranch dressing for dipping.

Substitute rotisserie chicken for ground meat and use this pre-sliced slaw as the base for an easy egg roll in a bowl. Toss the mix with a tangy dressing and top with shredded chicken as a salad or stuff into tortillas with crumbled queso fresco for an almost-instant taco night.

We love Rao’s pasta sauces and soups, and their frozen meatballs are a staple in our freezers. With all of those favorites, there was no hesitation when we spotted this side dish in the freezer aisle. While boxed mac and cheese is always an option, if you’re looking for something that tastes closer to homemade, this cheesy pasta bake is for you.

Nothing says comfort food quite like a casserole. This frozen side dish is almost a complete meal with creamy cheese, tender broccoli, and rice. Add your rotisserie chicken and you’ve got dinner.

Do you love quick-cooking stir-fries for busy weeknights, but hate all the prep? This stir-fry kit has the veggies you need and the sauce you want. It needs only shredded rotisserie chicken at the end.

Spread these pinto beans by A Dozen Cousins on crispy tostada shells, then layer with rotisserie chicken and sliced avocado. Don’t forget to serve with this fresh blender salsa and plenty of tortilla chips.

When you need rice in a rush, look toward your microwave — not the rice cooker. Maya Kaimal makes of some of our favorite simmer sauces, and also makes parboiled rice that’s already flavored with turmeric and cumin.

What are your favorite sides to serve with rotisserie chicken? Share you picks in the comments below.