One Chicken, Eighteen Servings

Last week, I picked up a rotisserie chicken on the way home from church.  The chickens at Sam's are really big, and feed us for several meals.  Sometimes, the chicken is the feature of the meal, other times, it's supported with other protein sources, like the cheese in the bbq chicken pizza. Here are the ways we used one chicken:

That afternoon we had chicken, stuffing, green beans and sweet corn for Sunday dinner - three servings.

After dinner I put together a meal for Husband to take to work on Tuesday - one serving. 

I drained the juices from the packaging into a container so I can use them later for stock.  I cut away the remaining leg, wing, breast and thigh for future meals and then removed all the little 'bits' of chicken from the frame for another future meal.  Finally, I put the frame into some water with herbs, garlic, etc. to simmer for additional stock.

Daughter had a chicken wing as part of her lunch one day - one serving.

Warmed chicken on Cesar salads.

One night we had Cesar salads with slices of warm chicken, croutons and parmesan shreds - three servings.

We also had barbecue chicken pizzas for supper one night, made from the 'bits' I'd removed from the frame.  We ended up with enough left over that all three of us had it for lunch another day - six servings.

Flour tortillas, barbecue sauce, cheese, chicken bits, bacon, herbs and onion - yum!
I made chicken soup from the remaining chicken (one chicken leg) and the stock.  I added odds and ends from the vegetable drawer in the fridge - a little leftover corn, some chopped tomato from taco salad night, the last three inches from a large zucchini, a carrot, a celery stalk, some celery leaves and a little chopped cabbage.  All that, some salt, pepper and herbs, and I had lunch for myself - three servings.

clean out the fridge soup with homemade croutons

There are many more possibilities, but that is the way that we got eighteen servings from this rotisserie chicken.  I'd love to hear ways that you use leftovers to create new meals - leave a comment, pretty please!

Blessings,
-Laura at TenThingsFarm

Comments

Mamame said…
I love doing that! Whenever we're at Costco, I get a chicken just for that reason. We'll usually have it for a meal, make soup like you did and get at least a few more meals out of it (chicken pot pie, chicken salad, salad with chicken). I can feed my family of 6 no less than 3 full meals and still have plenty of leftovers for lunch and stuff. :) Not bad for $5!!
Rhonda said…
Wow! That's really stretching it! You inspire me with your frugal-ness. Love reading your blog!! :)
momma-lana said…
Well done! I save the plastic tops to put over seeds I am starting. It really accelerates their growth.
Laura said…
Thanks, to all of you! I know there are a lot of ways to 'stretch' a chicken, and I love hearing all the ideas people come up with. :) Lana, I have started seedlings under those domes too!
Cathi said…
I am so impressed! I'm happy to get nine servings out of one of those chickens and you doubled it. Wow! Way to go!
terricheney said…
I love this! I am forever amazed at how God multiplies my 'fishes and loaves' and I gather the baskets of leftovers. It appears He does the same in your household.

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