20 Cheap Meal Prep Ideas with Chicken
In a world where fast food and takeout dominate the food industry, meal prepping has become a popular way to save money and stay healthy. Chicken is a versatile and affordable protein that can be used in countless meal prep recipes. Here are 20 cheap meal prep ideas with chicken that are delicious, easy to make, and will keep you feeling full and satisfied.
Chicken Salads
Chicken salads are an excellent meal prep option because they are easy to make and can be customized to fit your taste preferences. Here are a few chicken salad ideas to get you started:
Greek Chicken Salad: Mix chopped chicken with cucumbers, tomatoes, feta cheese, olives, and a Greek dressing.
Southwest Chicken Salad: Combine black beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado, and chicken with a chipotle dressing.
Waldorf Chicken Salad: Toss chicken with apples, grapes, celery, walnuts, and a light dressing.
Chicken Stir Fry
Stir-frying is a quick and easy cooking method that is perfect for meal prep. Here are a few chicken stir fry recipes to try:
Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry: Cook chicken, broccoli, carrots, and snow peas in a teriyaki sauce and serve over brown rice.
Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry: Saute chicken, bell peppers, and onions in a honey garlic sauce and serve over quinoa.
Pineapple Chicken Stir Fry: Cook chicken, pineapple, bell peppers, and carrots in a sweet and sour sauce and serve over rice.
Chicken Burrito Bowls
Burrito bowls are a popular meal prep option because they are easy to customize and can be made in large batches. Here are a few chicken burrito bowl ideas:
BBQ Chicken Burrito Bowl: Mix cooked chicken with black beans, corn, avocado, and BBQ sauce and serve over rice.
Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl: Combine cooked chicken with brown rice, black beans, corn, salsa, and chipotle sauce.
Greek Chicken Burrito Bowl: Mix cooked chicken with brown rice, cucumber, tomato, feta cheese, and tzatziki sauce.
Chicken Wraps
Wraps are a great meal prep option because they are portable and easy to eat on-the-go. Here are a few chicken wrap ideas:
Caesar Chicken Wrap: Combine cooked chicken with romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan cheese, and Caesar dressing.
Buffalo Chicken Wrap: Mix cooked chicken with buffalo sauce, lettuce, tomato, and blue cheese dressing.
Thai Chicken Wrap: Saute chicken with peanut sauce and serve in a wrap with shredded carrots, cucumber, and cilantro.
Chicken Chili
Chili is a hearty and filling meal prep option that is perfect for colder months. Here are a few chicken chili recipes to try:
White Chicken Chili: Cook chicken with white beans, green chilies, and a creamy sauce.
Spicy Chicken Chili: Saute chicken with chili powder, cumin, and diced tomatoes and serve with cornbread.
Sweet Potato Chicken Chili: Combine chicken with sweet potatoes, black beans, and a chili seasoning blend.
Chicken Pasta
Pasta is a comforting and easy meal prep option that can be made in large batches. Here are a few chicken pasta recipes to try:
Chicken Alfredo: Cook chicken with Alfredo sauce and serve over fettuccine pasta.
Chicken Parmesan: Bake chicken with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese and serve over spaghetti.
Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta: Saute chicken with garlic and lemon and serve over linguine pasta.
Chicken and Veggie Skewers
Another great meal prep idea is chicken and veggie skewers. They are easy to make, delicious, and perfect for a summer barbecue. Here are a few chicken skewer ideas to try:
Lemon Herb Chicken Skewers: Marinate chicken in a lemon herb marinade and skewer with cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and red onion.
Teriyaki Chicken Skewers: Marinate chicken in teriyaki sauce and skewer with pineapple, bell peppers, and onion.
Meal prepping with chicken can save you time and money, and help you stay on track with your healthy eating goals.
Here are some meal prep tips with chicken:
1. Plan ahead: Before you start meal prepping, plan out your meals for the week. This will help you know how much chicken you need to buy and what recipes you want to make.
2. Buy in bulk: Buying chicken in bulk can be more cost-effective than buying smaller packages. You can portion the chicken out and freeze what you don't need immediately.
3. Use a variety of cooking methods: Chicken can be cooked in a variety of ways, such as baking, grilling, and stir-frying. Using different cooking methods can help prevent boredom and keep your meals interesting.
4. Pre-cook your chicken: Pre-cooking your chicken can save you time and make meal prep easier. You can bake, grill, or poach your chicken ahead of time and store it in the fridge or freezer until you're ready to use it.
5. Use versatile seasonings and sauces: Using versatile seasonings and sauces can help you create a variety of meals with the same chicken. For example, you can use Mexican seasoning for one meal and then use Italian seasoning for another.
6. Portion out your meals: Portioning out your meals ahead of time can help you stay on track with your healthy eating goals. You can use meal prep containers or Ziploc bags to portion out your meals and snacks.
7. Don't forget the veggies: Adding veggies to your meals can help you get more nutrients and fiber. You can cook your veggies along with your chicken or prep them separately.
Meal prepping with chicken doesn't have to be boring or expensive. With these 20 ideas, you can create delicious and nutritious meals that will keep you satisfied and on track with your healthy eating goals. Plus, by meal prepping, you'll save time and money by avoiding expensive takeout and fast food. Give these recipes a try and see how easy and fun meal prep can be!
