My husband and I have found this to be very cost effective and provides easy, flavorful meal ideas when you don’t want to think about what to cook.
We will pick up 2 packages of chicken breasts from Sam’s Club, trim the fat, and cut each one in half.
I will put marinade in a freezer bag and he will put 4 pieces in each bag. I write the flavor and the date. The key is to keep the packages in the fridge for 1 day before freezing. I usually get 1 dinner and leftovers for lunch or another dinner meal depending on what I make to go with the chicken.
Then I just have to thaw and bake at 350 for about 20-30 mins., make some veggies and I’m done. We do portion out plain and I will use those for casseroles or shredding, etc. Sometimes we will already chunk the chicken to make it even easier for making stir fry, casseroles, etc.
There are 7 bags here but I had a plain in the fridge for tomorrow’s dinner. So 8 bags were less than $5/bag.
Recipe: Easy Marinated Baked Chicken with Versatile Meal Options
Ingredients:
- 2 packages of chicken breasts (from Sam’s Club)
- Marinade ingredients (your choice, see suggestions below)
- Assorted vegetables for roasting or stir-frying
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Marinade Options: Choose one of the following or create your own:
- Honey Mustard Marinade:
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Lemon Herb Marinade:
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped herbs (rosemary, thyme, parsley)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Teriyaki Marinade:
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
Instructions:
- Prepare Chicken:
- Trim excess fat from chicken breasts.
- Cut each chicken breast in half to create smaller portions.
- Marinating:
- In a large bowl, prepare the marinade of your choice.
- Place the chicken pieces in a freezer bag, and pour the marinade over them.
- Write down the flavor and date on the bag.
- Allow the marinated chicken to rest in the fridge for 1 day before freezing.
- Freezing:
- Divide the marinated chicken into portions (4 pieces per bag) and store them in the freezer bags.
- Cooking:
- When ready to cook, thaw the chicken in the refrigerator.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the marinated chicken on a baking sheet and bake for 20-30 minutes or until fully cooked.
- Vegetable Accompaniment:
- While the chicken is baking, prepare a mix of your favorite veggies.
- Toss the vegetables in olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Roast in the oven or stir-fry in a pan until they reach your desired level of tenderness.
- Serving:
- Serve the baked chicken alongside the veggies for a complete meal.
- Use the plain chicken portions for casseroles, shredding, or in other creative recipes.
- Meal Planning:
- Plan for at least one dinner and leftovers for lunch or another dinner, depending on the side dishes you pair with the chicken.
- Cost-Effective Cooking:
- With 8 bags costing less than $5 each, this recipe provides a budget-friendly solution for multiple meals.
Feel free to experiment with different marinades and side dishes to keep your meals exciting and varied. Enjoy your easy, flavorful, and cost-effective chicken dinners
