One of the things I buy that I can streeeeetch my dollar really far on, the Rotisserie Chicken. I have to say I much prefer my homegrown and processed hens, but, I am totally out of those right now so here comes my budget conscious self to the rescue!
Out of pocket I spend $9.98 for the two chickens, and I head home with a smile that tonight's dinner for my family of 7 is going to be SUPER easy!
Meal #1- Whole Roasted Chicken & sides (usually potatoes and salad)
That went pretty well, and there is still a breast left over! (2 legs, 2 thighs, 2 wings and a breast were devoured by my clan). I take the leftover breast meat and chop it up finely, that is part of tomorrow's meal.
The second chicken, the one that didn't have a date with my dinner table, was brought home from Costco and immediately shredded from the bone and into a large ziplock freezer bag. I find that doing this right away is so much easier as once the chicken is refrigerated it is so much more difficult to shred the meat (oh and I also pull the skin off, not using it in my shredded meat). Lately I have also been tossing in a can of fire roasted tomatoes and 1 tsp curry and 1 tsp cumin in with the chicken. I then use this as a base in my Mexican chicken and rice soup as well as in my Taquitos.
Meal #2- Chicken Salad Lunch
We sometimes have a light lunch here, crackers and chicken salad with sides of veggies and fruit are perfect. Enter in the chicken salad. If stretched it can make enough for the kids, if not a large sandwich for hubby and a side for me.
This one is quick and easy.
Meal #4- Mexican Taquitos
I will have to post a step by step tutorial on this recipe soon as this has become a HUGE fan favorite at my house. We either roll the tortillas up like you see in the picture and eat them with a side of mexican rice (homemade of course) or we fry them flat and layer with refried beans, rice and the chicken mixture.
I either make a potato soup with my chicken broth or some other kind of vegetable soup with it, I still have enough broth to make soup 1-2 more times from the broth I garnered from those two rotisserie chickens.
There you have it between 5-7 different meals/lunches all from 2 Rotisserie chickens. If you are not a family of 7 like we are I am sure you could stretch these even further. If you prefer to avoid the seasonings in the Rotisserie chickens for health reasons you can always roast your own as whole chickens cost less per pound then store bought. This is one of my answers to "Fast food" instead of eating out, this is how we can make quick and easy meals.
Any other ways you use leftovers? Please comment and share below!