With just a few ingredients you can transform chicken into the yummiest Chicken Fritters to share with the kids. These are great as a baby-led weaning food, a nutritious finger food, or just a delish family dinner option.
These chicken fritters are delicious, yes, but they also solve a problem I often have—what to do with leftover chicken to ensure that it actually gets eaten. In the colder months, I use it in my Chicken Soup for Kids, but otherwise, I haven’t found an option that we really enjoy…until now!
You can make these tender chicken fritters with any cooked chicken you have on hand, either leftover or purchased cooked from the store. Then, you can make the chicken fritters in just a few minutes, with or without the addition of vegetables, as an easy meal component.
This chicken recipe for kids can even be packed as a toddler lunch idea or for your own lunch idea for work. They are versatile in terms of their flavor and have such a great texture. And they work with any dip your family enjoys!
(You may also like Broccoli Fritters, Quinoa Patties, Marinated Chicken Tenders, and Baked Zucchini Fritters.)
Table of Contents
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Ingredients You Need
Here’s a look at the ingredients you need to have on hand to make Chicken Fritters so you know what to pick up from the store or have ready.
- Chicken: You can use any fully cooked chicken you have or prefer. It can be leftover chicken (like my Chicken Bites) or purchased cooked chicken, such as rotisserie chicken, grilled chicken, or sauteed chicken. I prefer the chicken to not be breaded and to be either breast or thigh meat, not ground chicken. If the chicken is damp, pat it with a paper towel.
- Cheese: I like to make these fritters with shredded mozzarella cheese or cheddar cheese.
- Egg: Eggs help the mixture hold together and cook up into fritters that hold their shape nicely.
- Flour: A little flour helps ensure that the mixture holds together, I use all-purpose flour here.
- Cumin or oregano, optional for more flavor.
- Broccoli (optional): You can use kitchen scissors to trim off some of the ends of broccoli florets to add some veggie goodness to the fritters. I use raw broccoli.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a preview of how to make these Chicken Fritters so you know what to expect from the process. Scroll down to the end of this post for the full information, including the amounts and the timing.
Step 1. Mince the cooked chicken.
Step 2. Add all the other ingredients to a large bowl with the chicken. Mix well.
Step 3. Warm the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Form the fritters and add to the pan.
Step 4. Cook fritters through on both sides until golden brown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Serve with dipping sauces such as ketchup, Cucumber Sauce, sour cream, or salsa. Serve with fruit, pasta, rice, or any other side you like.
This recipe contains chicken, cheese, egg, flour and seasonings.
Yes. Add minced raw broccoli for a dose of veggies in the mix.
How to Store
Store cooked Chicken Fritters in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Warm through on a heat-safe plate in the microwave for 30 seconds or for 2-3 minutes in an air fryer on 325 degrees F.
Best Tips for Success
- Use leftover chicken breasts or chicken thighs, rotisserie chicken, grilled chicken, or pan-seared chicken. It can be cold from the fridge.
- Add minced raw broccoli for a dose of veggies in the mix.
- Use a small ice cream scoop to make portioning out the mixture easy.
- Serve Chicken Fritters with dipping sauces such as ketchup, Cucumber Yogurt Sauce, sour cream, mayonnaise, or salsa.
- Add minced fresh parsley or other fresh herbs, black pepper, or garlic powder to the mixture for more flavor and taste as you like.
- This works as an appetizer, toddler lunches, or just one of a handful of go-to chicken recipes.
- Pack in a thermos as an easy school lunch idea.
- Serve with Carrot Fries, fruit, pasta, rice, or any other side you like.
- Dairy-free: Use dairy-free cheese.
- Gluten-free: Use all-purpose gluten-free flour.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback on this post, so please rate and comment below!
Easy Chicken Fritters
Ingredients
- 2 cups minced cooked chicken
- ½ cup shredded cheese (such as cheddar or mozzarella)
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon cumin or oregano (optional for more flavor)
- ¼ teaspoon salt (optional)
- ¼ cup minced broccoli (optional)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a medium bowl. Mix well with a spoon or clean hands.
- Form into fritters using ¼ cup batter in each. (I use a measuring cup to make this easy.)
- Warm the olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the fitters, allowing a little space in between for even cooking. Cook for 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Be gentle when flipping over.
- Serve warm with a dipping sauce, as desired.
Notes
- Store cooked Chicken Fritters in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Warm through on a heat-safe plate in the microwave for 30 seconds or for 2-3 minutes in an air fryer on 325 degrees F.
- Use leftover rotisserie chicken, grilled chicken, or pan-seared chicken.
- Add minced raw broccoli for a dose of veggies in the mix.
- Serve with dipping sauces such as ketchup, Cucumber Yogurt Sauce, sour cream, or salsa.
- Serve with fruit, pasta, rice, or any other side you like.
- Dairy-free: Use nondairy cheese.
Cannot wait to make it! Just curious, my picky eater will see green broccoli spots and refuse it. I realise it’s an optional extra, but I would like to add the veggie component. Could one use cauliflower instead of broccoli or won’t it work for this recipe?
Huge fan. Thank you for your awesome quick, easy and healthy recipes…
Your work is amazing!
Sure, cauliflower will work similarly!
Devious, easy to make, and my picky eaters enjoyed them. Great option to revamp left overs! Thank you!!!
I’m always nervous introducing a new dinner, but my 2.5 year old loved these! They were easy to prepare, and cooked up so nicely. Also very easy to adapt with whatever flavour your family prefers in herbs and spices etc. Thank you Amy! Just to clarify, is it okay to reheat leftover fritters, given I used leftover chicken to make them?
Can I sub oat or almond flour to make gf?
The most similar option would be a gf all purpose flour. If you don’t have that, of these options I would probably use oat flour. Enjoy
These are great! My toddler is especially picky these days, and especially at dinnertime, but he gladly ate his fritter. I seasoned them with cumin and garlic, and we dipped them in garlic-y pizza sauce. I made ours with fresh chicken tenders, which cook up nicely in <10 min in a pan on the stove. I also used pre-cooked broccoli that I keep in the freezer. Very simple week night meal.
I made these today for my 17 month old who typically doesn’t like to eat meat. She devoured two of them for snack! I was so impressed. I didn’t have any broccoli on hand, so I substituted a bit of green onion instead. Definitely freezing the rest! Thanks for the recipe!
Can these be made baked in the oven instead?
I haven’t made them that way but it should work fine. Place fritters on a piece of parchment paper on a sheet pan and bake at 375 for about 16-18 minutes I think. Enjoy
Delish!
Mmm look so good. Can I use canned chicken??
I bet that will work great, just drain it first.
Thank you for sharing your recipes with me. I tried a few , they came out perfect and my granddaughter loves what I made .
Blessings 🙏🏼
Thank you.
I’m so glad to hear that!
What can I substitute the egg for? We have a kiddo with a sever allergy to egg.
With other similar recipes, I have had good luck using ricotta cheese in place of egg. Or you can use a liquid store bought egg replacer if there’s one that works for your family.
My kiddo has a egg allergy as well but can do dairy. How much ricotta cheese would you recommend? Thanks!
I’d do 1/4 cup.
Hi! Would a flax egg work?
Has anyone tried it with 1/4 cup ricotta? How did it turn out?
I do not think it will hold together with a flax egg. I have used ricotta in other similar fritter recipes and it worked well. Just mince the chicken pretty finely so the mixture is easy to stir together well.
These look delicious! Can’t wait to try them! Can they be frozen?
Sure, enjoy!