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I've gotta tell you about my go-to trick for jazzing up chicken leftovers! These fritters are mind-blowing - they mix soft chicken with gooey cheese to make the most mouth-watering quick bite ever. What I adore is how they're ready in just 20 minutes, which makes them spot-on for those crazy days when you want something substantial and yummy.
The Brilliant Secret of These Fritters
What's really awesome about these fritters is how they save even the most parched leftover chicken. The real trick lies in the cream cheese as it maintains perfect moisture while the mozzarella brings that tempting cheesy stretch. They're super flexible too so you can tweak them to match whatever food needs you have.
Must-Have Fritter Ingredients
- Chicken Shreds: Day-old rotisserie breast is ideal, but honestly any cooked chicken works great.
- Egg: Works to glue all the ingredients together.
- Cream Cheese: Stops everything from drying out and kicks up the taste.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Gives that awesome stretchy, melty goodness.
- Flour: Regular all-purpose helps your fritters stay together.
- Salt: You can skip this, especially for the little ones.
- Oil or Butter: For cooking until they're beautifully golden.
Creating Tasty Fritter Magic
- Step 1 - Chop the Chicken
- Toss your leftover chicken in a bowl and snip it into tiny bits with scissors or a knife. Try to get around 1.5 cups of finely diced chicken.
- Step 2 - Mix the Ingredients
- Throw the chopped chicken, cream cheese, mozzarella, egg, flour, and salt (if you want) into a bowl. Stir everything until it's all mixed up.
- Step 3 - Heat the Pan
- Warm up a tablespoon of oil or butter in your frying pan on medium-low heat.
- Step 4 - Form and Cook the Fritters
- Drop big spoonfuls onto the hot pan. Press them down a bit with your spoon or spatula to make fritter shapes. Let them cook about 2-3 minutes on each side until they turn golden and crisp.
- Step 5 - Serve and Cool
- Move your cooked fritters to a plate lined with paper towels to soak up extra oil. Serve them warm with your top choice of dip.
Store Your Fritters Right
These little gems stay tasty in the fridge for a few days if you keep them in a sealed container. I always make extra to stick in the freezer just put some parchment paper between them so they won't stick together. When you're hungry for them again just pop them in the microwave and they'll taste almost fresh-made.
Clever Cooking Tricks
Kitchen scissors make chicken chopping way faster than using a knife. Keep an eye on those fritters while they cook you want them perfectly golden all over. I like throwing in different spices to change things up my top picks are paprika and garlic powder.
Answers To Your Questions
People always ask if thigh meat works and yes it's sometimes even better! You can switch things up with turkey or try making them veggie-style too. They turn out wonderfully crunchy outside but tender inside making them great for everyone from small kids to grown-ups. We enjoy them with all kinds of dips but our family favorites are definitely ranch and ketchup.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- → What leftover chicken works best for these bites?
You can use any cooked chicken - from Sunday's roast to store-bought rotisserie. Just chop it well and watch that it isn't too dry. For chicken breast, you might want to add a bit more cream cheese to keep things juicy.
- → Can I make these bites in advance?
You can mix everything up and keep it in the fridge for a day before cooking. But for that nice crunch, it's best to cook them right before you want to eat. Already cooked ones can be warmed up in a slow oven till they're hot again.
- → What goes well with these bites?
These bites taste great dunked in ranch, honey mustard, or tomato sauce. Pair them with a green salad or slaw for a full meal. They're good for parties or can be stuffed into small buns.
- → How do I stop the bites from falling apart when cooking?
Make sure your pan is hot when you add the bites, and don't try to flip them too soon. Wait until they're golden underneath. The egg and flour help bind them, and as the cheese melts, it'll keep everything stuck together.
- → What spices can I throw in these bites?
Try some garlic or onion powder, mixed Italian herbs, or spicy cajun mix for extra kick. Fresh herbs like parsley or chives are great too. Just remember your chicken might already have some flavor from when you first cooked it.
Conclusion
These simple bites mix extra shredded chicken with smooth cream cheese and stretchy mozzarella for a fast, crunchy snack. They're the perfect way to use up chicken sitting in your fridge.