Nothing makes me feel more like my Appalachian grandmothers than using one $4.98 Sam’s Club rotisserie chicken for the protein for eight+ full meals for my family of seven. Here’s how I’m doing this one, in case you need ideas:
I picked all the meat off the bones while it was still warm and chopped it and divided it into two freezer bags (two bags on the bottom of the photo). These bags usually weigh a little over a pound each.
I put the carcass in a large stock pot and fill with water. I bring it to a boil, reduce to a simmer then cover and let it simmer about 2 hours. Then I turn off the heat, cover tightly with a lid, and leave it to “steep” on the warming burner overnight. First thing in the morning, I take out all the chicken and strain the broth into quart containers (these come in a 3-pack at Dollar Tree). I always get 4-6 quarts.
Then, I go over the carcass and pick off all the rest of the bits of meat. I put that in a freezer bag for soup.
This particular rotisserie chicken is going to make:
1. Minestrone soup-2 qts broth (enough for two full meals)
2. Jambalaya pasta-one bag of the chopped chicken (enough for two full meals)
3. Chicken burrito bowls-one bag of the chopped chicken (enough for two full meals)
4. Chicken and wild rice soup with broccoli and asparagus-3 qts broth and the bag of soup chicken (enough for two full meals)
The meals I make are always a full meal for dinner then a full meal for lunch a day or two later (I homeschool and my husband works from home so lunches are served here).
Other meals/things I can make with these things:
Chicken and veggie Alfredo
Chicken enchiladas
Chicken tostadas
Chicken sheet pan nachos
Homemade enchilada sauce
Buffalo chicken/BBQ chicken pizzas
Chicken salad sandwiches
Chicken noodle soup
Avgolemono soup
Chicken pot pie
Chicken noodles (to eat over mashed potatoes)
Chicken tikka masala or butter chicken
Za’atar chicken
White chicken chili
BBQ chicken sandwiches
Gumbo
Jambalaya
Chicken Caesar wraps
Chicken cheesesteak subs
