How To Meal Plan With Chicken – No Store-Bought Broth
Are you interested in learning how to meal plan with chicken without store-bought broth and save some money? I have planned meals with a 10lb bag of chicken leg quarters – for years – it’s now second nature.
With it, I prepare at least three chicken recipes that my family of 4 enjoys without using the grocery-store broth.
If this sounds like what you are looking for, read on because I would be holding nothing back. I’m sharing some of my budget-friendly kitchen hacks with you.
Let’s get started.
How to meal plan with chicken without grocery store broth and save money.
To plan efficiently and get the best tasting homemade chicken broth, you need to prep your ingredients.
Ingredients needed to season a 10lb bag of chicken:
- 2 medium onions,
- 4 -5 garlic cloves, or
- 2 tbsp garlic powder,
- ginger,
- 2 tsp turmeric,
- 1 tbsp thyme leaves,
- pepper,
- insert other herbs you prefer here…,
- 1 tbsp chicken bouillon or better than bouillon, and
- salt to taste. (a little bit at a time. If it’s not enough, you can add a little when eating, instead of it being too much).
Note: The ingredients listed are those I am used to, and some of them may not be present in grocery store broth. The plan is to show you how to make chicken broth at home, not to make it taste exactly like grocery store ones.
Instructions
Blend your onions, pepper, garlic, and ginger into a puree, and set that aside.
You can chop them up if you like.
But I believe the meat absorbs the ingredients better when blended.
Plus, blending is more convenient.
Then follow the steps below.
1. Cut, season, and marinate all the chicken
The first step is to cut up, wash the chicken, and put them in a big bowl.
Then add your blended ingredients plus salt, pepper, thyme, turmeric, and chicken seasoning (important), then mix it up.
Feel free to add other herbs and spices you like before mixing, using a wooden spoon or your hands.
I prefer to season meat this way because it saves time, and every piece of chicken comes out tasty.
2. Portion your meat, label the baggies, and marinate the chicken
The next step is to portion them into different baggies, label, and place the bags in a bowl in case of leakage. Store it overnight on the refrigerator rack closest to the freezer.
You can even freeze any bag you do not intend to use yet.
Labeling the bags based on recipes you plan to make simplifies and speeds up your cooking.
For example, chicken for
- grilling or baking,
- steaming for sandwiches,
- for soups,
- shredded chicken recipes,
- and a new category; for making broth.
Moving on…
3. Make your broth – Kill several birds with one stone
Now it’s time to nail four or more recipes with one pot of chicken.
For dishes that require boiling your meat, cook the apportioned chicken for those together.
Considering chicken usually contains water, you can add just enough to the level of the meat in your pot.
So your meat can cook and produce great-tasting broth that thickens when cold.
Are you excited? Well, I am.
I’m so glad you’d finally lower your grocery budget by a few bucks.
When your meat is cooked, separate them from the stock, but leave those little bits of meat in the pot.
If you plan to shred some of the meat, quickly do so, and put the bones back into the pot, and let it boil. The extra bones improve the taste and nutrients of your stock.
Do you see what I mean by killing several birds with one stone? You just nailed it!
If you like, you can make beef stock using this method too.
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Things To Look Out For In Your Homemade Chicken Stock or Broth
- Homemade chicken broth prepared with skin-on chicken would be fatty. As a matter of fact, you’d see the oil floating on top while it is cooking. However, when the stock is cold, the oil would set, making it convenient to separate the contents.
- I would break it off with a fork and store it separately. I usually add it to fried rice, and black-eyed peas, then use less or no vegetable oil.
- But making broth at home with skin-less chicken may have less fat content.
- Additionally, homemade chicken broth usually has bits of meat and bones. This makes for a delicious and flavor-rich stock ready to be added to your recipes.
- This chicken broth would settle, and harden like jelly when it is cold. And you can easily scoop the amount you need with a cooking spoon, and see the goodies in the bottom. Then freeze the remaining for future use.
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4. Grill and store the remaining chicken
There would be leftover ingredients in the bag, pour it over the chicken. Then spray on a few puffs of oil, and bake with the appropriate temperature and time.
When it is done, you can enjoy your grilled chicken with salads, potatoes, or on its own. Then freeze any leftovers for later.
You may also enjoy 9 Unusual Meal Planning Tips To Simplify Kitchen Life.
How To Meal Plan With 10lb Bag of Chicken And Never Buy Grocery Store Broth Again
Boom! That’s how to meal plan with chicken plus bonus delicious homemade chicken broth.
Now you can save some money since you won’t be needing grocery store broth anymore.
And most importantly, you now know how to make chicken broth at home; and also can identify the ingredients it contains.
No high amounts of sodium.
I hope this helps you save a few dollars on grocery shopping while preparing savory meals with homemade chicken stock.
Did you make chicken broth at home using this method? And what other ways do you meal plan with chicken? Please share your tips with us.
Thanks for reading.
Please be a darling, and share.
