One Costco Chicken = Multiple Meals

 

One of my former students, just got married and they asked for easy weeknight dinners. I have also been a new homeowner and a beginning teacher with half an hour to get dinner on the table after work, so I thought this was such a wonderful ask for her wedding. This post is for the new Mrs. Darcy V. Congratulations and may you both have a blessed life. 

What to do with a $4.99 Costco Chicken

Choosing

Lines are usually not a good thing, but in Costco, lines at the chicken counter mean that the new batch is coming out. That is a good sign. Stand in that line. You want to buy the chicken that is close to the time you are buying it (the times are on the label). You will also notice that even when it has just come out, people are still looking at it, even picking it up. Choose the chicken that is freshest out of the oven, evenly browned skin, and heaviest. That is the best chicken. The lighter ones are usually more dried out and they have been under the lamps a little longer so the juices are drying out.

Recipe 1 Roast Chicken (as is)

Want to know how to cut it so you can serve it as is? Here is a video.

(Don't throw away the carcass and bones  - there is another recipe coming up)

Things to serve with your roast chicken (that can just be microwaved in a dish to warm it up)

Salad

Rice or other favorite starch 

Veggies (frozen, canned, fresh)

Recipe 2 Asian Chicken Wraps (DIY)

Shred chicken into long-ish strips (to use in a flour tortilla) - again, save bones

Other ingredients:

• flour tortillas (wrap stack in dampened paper towels and microwave about 30 seconds)
• Japanese cucumber sliced into strips (almost like making cucumber sticks, but a little thinner)
• cilantro (like in banh mi)
• green onion (again, cut like in banh mi)
• assorted favorite sauces (plum sauce, hoisin, sweet chili, sriracha. . .)

To assemble, have the options out, take a tortilla, put down your favorite sauce(s), put in your ingredients, fold, eat and talk about your days. 

Recipe 3  Midweek Chicken Soup

I am the 30 minute, 1 pot queen. Here is one of my go to recipes for that. You need:

• 1 Dutch oven (covered pot)
• 1-2 carrots, peeled, diced
• 1 russet potato, peeled, diced (the trick is to make them small is and evenly sized to the carrots because this will cook as fast as the vegetables)
• 1 onion diced
• chicken carcass from roasted chicken and chicken meat, chunked
• 1 can corn, drained (optional)
• 1 can roasted tomatoes (optional)
• 1 box chicken broth (32 oz)

Throw the chicken carcass and everything else into the pot.  1 bay leaf is optional. If the chicken broth does not cover the carcass, just add a little water. Set it to medium high and let it boil/simmer until you can pierce the carrots and potatoes with a fork (the chicken is already cooked) so I boil this thing, turn it down a little to medium, cover and walk away for 15-20 minutes. 

Once the vegetables are cooked, turn it off, add:

• 1 can creamed chicken soup
• 1/2 can of water

Stir, let the heat of the broth warm up the cream and ready to serve. 

Recipe 4: Chicken Corn Scallop

Another 1 pot, 30 minutes or less

• Roasted chicken meat chopped up or shredded
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 can of sweet corn, drained
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup

In the pot with a little oil, soften onion, then add the chicken and corn to heat up the chicken again. Turn it down a little, add the mushroom soup and 1/2 can water. Stir, turn down to simmer, cover and let it incorporate and slow bubble for about 10 minutes. Stir so it does not burn but the cover helps it get steam into it and creates a gravy with the chicken juice and the skin.  Done.

Recipe 5: Roast chicken fajitas

• white meat from roast chicken (breast)
• favorite packet of fajita seasoning 
• bell pepper, sliced
• onion, sliced
• tortillas
• cheese, sour cream, black beans (drained), cilantro, lime (optional)

Follow the packet directions.

Other no recipe things to do with Costco chicken - 

• Roast chicken enchiladas (use canned enchilada sauce, taco seasoning to taste, corn tortillas, cheese)
• Chicken salad sandwich
• Salad with chicken as the protein