2 Roasted Chickens, 7 Meal Ideas!
Weeknight meal planning and cooking can really be a challenge…we’re all busy, everyone is hungry and time is of the essence. There are days when I really have to dig deep to figure out what we’re having for dinner! And more often than I’d like to admit we turn to take out. But if I plan properly, and bake and cook in big batches I can avoid all that dinner planning stress.
One of my go-to big batch meals is roasted chicken, either roasting them at home, our purchasing rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. I know that when we have roasted chicken for dinner one night, I can get several meals (and lunches) out of that roasted chicken for the next few days. I love this because not only is this a convenient and inexpensive way to meal plan, but I like knowing that we are enjoying nutritious, high quality and affordable meals.
A single chicken can be turned into a number of different meals: from roasted chicken one night, to soups, to stews, to stocks that are used as a base for other dishes for other nights. I’ve always done this type of meal planning with roasted chicken, so when I was challenged by the Chicken Farmers of Canada to take 2 roasted chickens and make 7 meals for the week out of them, I actually couldn’t wait to see what meals we could enjoy over the next 7 days. This challenge was surprisingly a lot easier than I thought it would be.
So the next time you’re serving roasted chicken for dinner, you can feel good knowing that you are already halfway to having dinner plans for the next few days!
2 roasted chickens, 7 meals
For the first night we enjoyed Oven Roasted Chicken with mashed potatoes, roasted squash, green peas and a salad. Just a simple and classic meal…a perfect Sunday dinner to set up the week.
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For the second day, I made Homemade Chicken Broth, which is the easiest thing in the world to make, and so convenient to have around (it freezes great too). This recipe makes a large batch of broth that can be used for 2 soup recipes. So for day #2 I used half of the broth for this Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup.
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For day #3 I made this Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti Bake. My kids LOVED this dish. All you have to do is boil enough spaghetti noodles for your family (I used leftover spaghetti noodles), add the cooked noodles to a baking dish, pour in a jar of spaghetti sauce, sprinkle on 1 cup of shredded left over chicken, sprinkle on 1 – 2 cups of shredded cheese and bake in a 350 degree oven for 35 – 40 minutes. Yum.
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For day #4 I served this warm & hearty Cheddar & Ale Chicken Chowder. The original recipe is made in a crockpot, but it can also be made directly on the stove. Just follow the recipe, adding all of the ingredients to a pot on the stove, and substitute the raw chicken for 1 cup of cooked, shredded chicken. This soup recipe also makes a large batch so it’s great for sending with the kids for school lunches the next day.
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For day #5 we enjoyed this Easy Chicken Chilaquiles dinner. This is a family favourite and SO easy to make…this recipe is ready in less than one hour too, making it a perfect weeknight meal!
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Chicken is a great protein for lunches too! My kids have been packing chicken sandwiches with BBQ sauce and cheese in their lunches for school, and I enjoyed these Chicken and Apple Tortilla Melts at home. (Recipe and image from Chicken.ca)
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And for the final recipe, I made this 30-Minute Chicken & Rice Soup. As I was making this soup I remarked at how good my home smelled…there’s something so delicious and nostalgic about the smells of carrots, celery and onions cooking on the stove. These are the smells of childhood and holidays and the anticipation of something delicious coming! And they can be the smells of everyday life too…simple 30 minute dinners that make everyone come running to the table.
Print30 Minute Chicken & Rice Soup
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 – 3 carrots (chopped)
- 2 celery sticks (chopped)
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 1/2 green pepper (chopped)
- 4 cups of home made chicken stock
- salt (if necessary (adjust to taste))
- fresh ground pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 1 cup cooked (shredded chicken)
- 1 cup frozen peas
Instructions
- In a saucepan saute the carrots, celery, onion and green pepper in the butter for about 3 minutes.
- Sprinkle on some salt & pepper to taste.
- Add the thyme and cook for about 2 more minutes. Set aside.
- Bring your stock to a low boil, then add the rice, cooked chicken and carrot mixture.
- Lower the heat to low-medium and simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Add the frozen peas, simmer for about 5 more minutes.
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Isn’t it amazing how many delicious (and uncomplicated) meals you can get out of 2 roasted chickens? Not to mention healthy and easy on the wallet too! I hope you got some ideas here for your next meal plan! Enjoy!
Have a delicious day!
Disclosure: I am participating in the Chicken Farmers of Canada campaign managed by SJ Consulting. I received compensation in exchange for my participation in this campaign. The opinions on this blog are my own.
This time of the year I love make Chicken and Dumplings! Chicken Parmesan is another family favourite. We eat chicken several times a week!
Love o good chicken pot pie
I love Cajun roasted chicken breast with mashed potatoes, the kids go crazy for it as well 🙂
I am famous for my chicken cassarole…White meat chicken with dressing and a cream sauce in the middle! Family request them for Christmas!
I love being able to create so many meals from one beginning!
My fave chicken meal is a chiciken enchiladoa casserole.
I love making Chicken Alfredo! It’s so yummy!
I love to make chicken, pasta and broccoli bake, with dome cheese and stuffing for the topping! My kids love it.
We love chicken it seems I’m always using chicken. Our favourite is Chicken Parmesan! We love a stuffing on the side!
Chicken, ale and cheddar? Sold!
We love chicken but our fave is Chicken Pot Pie
Chicken faiths and chicken enchiladas are our favourite.
You have inspired me to make so many new recipes now. Looks delicious!
I LOVE Chicken Lasagna
You are speaking my language, sister! Love making a chicken or two on a Sunday and then turning it into other stuff during the week. These recipes all look great. I’m a big fan of chicken enchiladas :-).
Chicken Alfredo
Salsa chicken
chicken and dumpling stew….my fav and my comfort food!
We eat chicken more than any other meat…I’d say stuffed chicken with spinach, cheese and sundried tomato is my favourite, with a nice alfredo sauce! Love this post!
I love roasted chickens for the same reason – all the leftovers! And there’s nothing like homemade chicken broth. I’m the weirdo who finds herself up to her elbows in chicken meat and bones while making broth at 5:30 in the morning lol.
This soup looks fantastic. 🙂
My favourite chicken recipe is probably chicken piccata – it’s so easy and delicious!
There are so many great uses for roast chicken here! Your chicken and rice soup looks delicious!
Great ideas! Buying a chicken and then stretching it across several meals helps keep me sane during busy times!
Chicken Enchilada Pasta is one of our favourite recipes.
These are great recipes, and so economical. You know what’s funny? Chicken, cheese and BBQ sauce sandwiches were one of my school favourites when I was a kid, too. 🙂
I Love a Thai Coconut Curry Chicken Soup!!
I love how one chicken can go so far. Great post!
My favorite chicken recipe is roasted chicken parts that have been marinated in rosemary, lemon juice and olive oil.
Soft Tortillas shells wrapped with grilled chicken breast – topped with cheese/tomatoes/ranch dressing and the piece de resistance a dollop of *red hot chili flakes* …..*HEAT*…Comfort food.
Eva Mitton-Urban
My favourite recipe is Easy Chicken Chilaquiles…hmmmmmmm!!
I love making creamy chicken alfrado in my slow cooker
I love roasted chicken, and homemade chicken noodle soup!
I love cheesy fried chicken! Mix bread crumbs and crushed up cheese crackers. Top with more cheddar cheese and bake – huge hit at my house!
My favourite chicken recipe is probably Chicken Piccata.
My favorite chicken recipe is Chicken and Dumplings. YUM!
I love homemade chicken soup with rice. Yum! Comfort food.
I like a nice chicken curry
Growing up chicken Caesar was always on the table!
My Mom’s Chicken Rice Soup is where I learned how far you can go with a couple of roasted chickens!! Wonderful recipes!!
Especially over the fall and winter my favourite meal to cook (and eat) at home is a savoury Butter Chicken. Mmmmm!
@myblocktyler
love roasted chicken…. We did that at thanksgiving this year instead of Turkey 🙂
Let over roasted chicken roughly chopped and put in pitas with tzatziki, cucumbers and tomato and feta cheese
I LOVE this week of recipes. Fantastic! I would need to roast 4 of them to get all the recipes though as my family pick the bones clean with no left overs! Thanks for this lovely little meal planning!
I want to print out every one of these. I hate thinking about what to make for dinner. I love that chicken spagetti cheesy goodness for day 2.
Chicken Pot Pie is one of my favourite comfort foods.
Chicken pot pie of course, but I also make a mean pasta dish I call Pasta Antonio. Chicken, sundried tomato pesto, basil, roasted red peppers, portobello mushrooms all together in a cream sauce… Yum!
I like Classy Chicken & my kids like it too!
This is great! So handy for a busy life!
I love everything with chicken but I especially love Tostadas de Tinga de Pollo.
Chicken Legs or wings – I zest a lime, and combine it with montreal steak spice, then squeeze the juice over the chicken and season it with lime zesty spice. Bake at 400 for about an hour. Yum.
Buffalo chicken dip!
We always make Chicken Noodle Soup and Classy Chicken from the Best of Bridge with our leftover roast chicken. Right now I am using one for salads and the leftovers will get made into soup stock. I love Chicken 😀
I love a chicken pot pie. My MIL made the most amazing ones, and I sadly cannot replicate them at all.
I love making a modified chicken pot pie with biscuits or dumplings on top instead of a traditional pie crust. And our go-to weeknight/lazy meal is chicken thighs with a sticky-sweet glaze that I found in a old copy of Canadian Living.
Chicken Fajitas are a fave in our house. We’ve used everything from ground, shredded, cubed and left over chicken. So delish!
Jerk bbq chicken with rice & peas.
Crockpot Chicken Fajitas – Easy to make and delish – Just Chicken and Salsa and a couple of hours later – yumminess
I’m a sucker for a classic, I love coq au vin.
My favourite chicken dish is Chicken Tikka Masala!
My favourite recipes are the soups – any soup with chicken in it is a winner for me!
One of my favourite chicken dishes is a Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole
I love this recipe for Easy Skillet Chicken Parmesan: http://www.cookwithcampbells.ca/en-ca/Recipes/easyskilletchickenparmesan.aspx
Beyond simple roast chicken, I love browning chicken parts and popping them into a crockpot with sausages, aromatics and a bottle of beer.
Rotisserie chickens are a life-saver after a crazy busy day at the office, though I usually can’t be bothered to do much besides cutting the chicken up into portions and then shoving it in my mouth. 🙂
When life isn’t so hectic, I make a pretty killer chicken tagine with bone-in chicken thighs, green olives, almonds and cranberries in a saffron sauce. I make an extra-large batch sometimes so that I can get two or three meals out of one pot!
Chicken fajitas are one of my favourite meals.
Good old chicken and dumplings is always good!
Chicken noodle soup is still my favorite!
Chicken broth. It’s just so versatile.
Chicken soup is a great starter recipe.
I love a great roasted chicken sliced up and served in tortillas for mid-week.
Then using the bones for a homemade chicken noodle soup for the lunch on the weekend.
Kim
“Bun Thang”, a Vietnamese noodle soup dish with a chicken based broth and shredded chicken, eggs, and Vietnamese sausage on top!
I love Chicken Parm, but I have to say my grandfather’s Chicken Adobo has always been a fave!
Roasted chicken with salt meat and veggies! Hands down!
This is exactly what we do when we have chicken, buy it whole and roast it, maybe a pasta or pot pie, then soup (curried chicken and rice soup is our favourite!)
all the recipes look so good, can’t wait to try them
Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti Bake
I am a big believer in old fashioned home made chicken broth. It’s the one thing I really enjoy making!
I love a good old fashioned lemon and thyme roasted chicken. I love the leftovers one simple dish can generate.
Honestly, my favourite is a simple roasted chicken. The crispy skin gets me every time! But chicken noodle soup is a close second 🙂
I love BBQ chicken in the slow cooker…. soooooo delish!
Your meal ideas look great!! Going to try a few for sure…
I call it “Cinnamon Chicken”. It’s actually really good.
Great giveaway, lady!
Love the 30 Minute Chicken & Rice Soup you posted and will definitely be trying it out!
Love chicken wings..bbq and chicken soup.
I love chicken pot pie!
My favorite recipe is Double Crunch Honey Garlic Fried Chicken Breasts.
My fave recipe is Jamie Oliver’s Hit ‘n’ run panbaked chicken:
https://www.sobeys.com/en/recipes/hit-n-run-panbaked-chicken
Thanks so much for this chance to win!