MasterChef star's clever trick for using your $12 Woolworths roast chicken

There are few things more equalising than the love of a roast chook from your local Woolworths, Coles or Costco. It doesn't matter what walk of life you are from or how 'sophisticated' your tastebuds are - grabbing a rotisserie chicken (quaintly known as the 'bachelor's handbag') is just an Aussie way of life.

For just $12 ($6.99 at Costco!) you can have lunch, dinner or that last-minute picnic/beach hang sorted and, let's be frank - they taste freaking delicious. Even MasterChef superstar Hayden Quinn is a fan, telling Yahoo Lifestyle that he almost always has one on hand.

"I love grabbing a roast chook from my local Woolies," he says. "We always seem to have one in the fridge as they are the perfect saviour when you need to make a meal quick, whether it is a classic chicken sambo, spicy chicken tacos, chicken to add to a chicken noodle soup or toss it through your 'everything in the fridge' fried rice."

Hayden's ideas for what to do with a roast chicken are a great example of how versatile they are - something that was also the topic of discussion online recently.

Recipe ideas using Woolies, Coles or Costco roast chicken

"Hit us with some meal ideas using roast chicken from the supermarket." Oh So Busy Mum Cheree Lawrence encouraged her followers. "My go-to is normally a hot chicken with rolls."

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More than 1000 comments quickly populated the post with clever time-saving ideas like, "We have 'build your own Subway nights' with these.. cut up all the sides the way Subway does with a range of sauces," and "We make kebabs with it on busy nights (just add pita bread, lettuce, tomato, cheese, sour cream and bbq sauce. Fold up, cover with foil and put in the sandwich toaster for a few minutes)."

Other people suggested everything from curry chicken to pizza, chicken noodle soup, enchiladas, rice paper rolls and chicken and leek pie.

In case you are looking for some inspo for what creations to make with your next bachelor's handbag, we've got ten of them right here.

Hayden Quinn's tacos

Taco Tuesday is the name of the game for Hayden's take on a rotisserie chicken delicacy with the beloved Aussie chef sharing a how-to on his Instagram.

All you need is 3 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded (plus the juice or ‘jelly’ from the bag), 1/2 onion, diced, 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped, 2 tsp ground cumin and 2 Tbsp chipotle in adobo*, chopped, plus white cabbage, sour cream, coriander and line to serve.

• Step 1. Fry the onion and garlic in olive oil until soft. Add the cumin and season with a little salt. Add the chipotle sauce and chicken jelly (if you have it) with 1/4 cup water. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes.

• Step 2. Add the chicken and stir through the sauce (add more water if needed to moisten).

• Step 3. Serve the chicken with warm, soft tortillas, extra chipotle sauce, sour cream, shredded cabbage, coriander and lime.

Update a retro classic

One person came up with the delicious idea of using the roast chicken to make stuffed jacket potatoes. "Pierce spud with a fork and cook in microwave for 8 mins," they said. "Then crisp up in AirFryer for 15 mins. Top with coleslaw kit and dressing included, hot chook, grated cheese and sour cream."

Add an Asian twist

For a light and yummy option, someone suggested their take on a vermicelli rice bowl.

"Hot chicken all diced up, fine rice noodles, soaked in hot water for a few mins then rinsed with cold water until cool," they wrote. "Drain and sprinkle some sesame seed oil to keep them separate, bag fine shredded coleslaw mix, bunch coriander, bunch mint, juice of two limes, Pandaro Vietnamese salad dressing to taste, chop and prepare everything. Throw into a large bowl, serve and have everyone put their own dressing on as it can be quite sweet, and you don’t need much. Plenty for lunch the next day."

Simple and hearty

"Chicken casserole," someone else said. "Add broccoli (part cooked) tin of cream of chicken soup, tub of sour cream and some curry powder. Topped with cheese. Serve with rice!"

An Indian-style lasagne

One of the most inventive recipes surely had to be this one.

"Raw veg on the bottom of baking or lasagna dish, eg broccoli/cauliflower/carrots and beans," someone wrote. "Cover with pulled apart BBQ chicken, mix tub of sour cream with tin of Campbell's cream of chicken soup and mix through Clive of India curry powder. I add about half a tin as we like it a bit spicy. Taste to your liking, then pour over the chicken and veg. Cover with cheese and sprinkle with paprika. Bake in the oven at 180 ° C for an hour and serve with rice. Absolutely family favourite and freezes well, too."

Summer salads

Another salad recipe that caught our eye was this one: "Chicken salad - it’s a delicious summer meal," one person wrote. "You just need to add boiled egg, crispy bacon, red onion or green onion, corn, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber. The dressing I use is balsamic vinegar, oil, garlic paste or diced garlic, honey."

Mum's favourite

I had to add this one that someone suggested because it reminds me of my own mum, who used to make Apricot Chicken every other week when I was a kid.

"Love Apricot Chicken," the person wrote. "Break up chicken in pieces, put in casserole dish, sprinkle over a French Onion soup mix, add 1 can of Apricot Nectar. Add some chopped apricot halves. Heat in oven for 45 minutes and serve with rice."

Sweet and sour

"Quick easy sweet and sour," was another suggestion. "I buy sweet and sour sauce from Aldi and add shredded chicken, if I need a little extra I sauté onion, capsicum, carrot and pineapple chunks and simmer til hot, serve with rice. Or quick butter chicken buy jar of butter chicken sauce , sauté onion add sauce and shredded chicken simmer til hot serve with rice or naan bread."

More Mexican

If chimichangas are more your vibe than tacos, try this person's recipe:

• 3 cups shredded chicken

• Jar of salsa

• Can of refried beans

• Garlic powder

• Paprika

• Salt and pepper

• Onion

"1/2 cup of that mixture in a large tortilla wrap, top with havarti cheese, then fold wrap up. Spray with oil and air fry for 10 mins on 200! Serve on rice with sour cream and guacamole."

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A piece of cake pie

Several people also recommended using filo or puff pastry to make savory pies with the rotisserie birds.

"I use it and make chicken alfredo parcels," was one comment. "Cream cheese, cream, garlic, chives or parsley. Frozen puff pastry sheets. Make triangles, brush with egg and sesame seeds and pop in oven until golden."

"Fry chopped onion, add 1 cup of BBQ chicken, half cup of sour cream, 1 tbl spoon of wholeseed mustard," another said. "Stir mix and place in pastry sheet. Brush with egg and then cook in oven for approx 20 mins. Eat pie with salad."

"Sauté Leek & bacon, add bbq chicken meat, 300ml tub of cooking cream, tbsp chicken stock powder, tsp dried thyme, salt + pepper - let it cool & make pies or triangles using puff pastry," was another recipe.

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