I bought a Publix GreenWise Whole Chicken weighing just under 5 pounds for $12.00. Publix GreenWise products contain at least 70% organic ingredients and are free of artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors. GreenWise meats are raised without antibiotics or added hormones and are fed a 100% vegetarian diet. I am not a paid endorser for Publix, but I’m stating the case for why I find it worth the extra cost compared to conventional products when I don’t have access to farm-fresh.

As a stay-at-home mom, I try to stretch our grocery budget by making the most of our purchases. One of my strategies is to purchase whole meat, like this whole chicken, and utilize every part of it across multiple dishes. This approach helps me make the most of my ingredients and stretch our food budget. For example, I used an entire Prime Rib from Christmas as the main entrée, then turned it into French dip subs with Au Jus, and finally utilized the bones for a beef-barley and vegetable stew. I can typically create three meals from one whole chicken or roast.

On the first evening, I cooked the chicken in the rotisserie, resulting in a moist, flavorful, and tender chicken. The next evening, I used the leftover deboned chicken to create a Cheesy Chicken, Spinach, and Ranch Stromboli. Lastly, I utilized the chicken carcass to prepare a rich chicken broth base for a comforting Chicken Noodle soup. Below, you’ll find the detailed recipes.

Kick’n Chicken Rotisserie Chicken with Turmeric Spinach Couscous

For the first chicken meal, I washed and olive-oiled the whole bird. I then liberally applied Weber Kick’n Chicken Seasoning and cooked it on the rotisserie setting in my AirFryer Oven at 400 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes. The result was a moist, flavorful chicken with a nicely crisped skin and perfect kickin’ flavor. Meanwhile, I prepared pearled couscous according to the package instructions, adding a handful of spinach, turmeric, curry powder, and salt for flavoring. I served this meal with dinner rolls. It was a simple, yet delicious meal that also provided enough leftovers for my husband’s work lunch, as well as shredded meat for meal #2.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken
• Olive oil
• Weber Kick’n Chicken Seasoning
• 2 cups pearled couscous
• Handful of spinach
• 1 Tbs Turmeric
• 1 Tbs Curry powder
• 1 ts Salt

Instructions:

1. Wash the whole chicken and pat it dry.
2. Rub the chicken with olive oil then liberally apply the Weber Kick’n Chicken Seasoning.
3. Cook the chicken on the rotisserie setting in an AirFryer Oven at 400 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes, until the skin is crisped
4. Meanwhile, prepare pearled couscous according to the package instructions, additionally stirring in a handful of spinach, 1 tbs turmeric, 1 tbs curry powder, and 1 tsp of salt for extra flavor.
5. Serve the juicy Kick’n Chicken with the aromatic turmeric spinach couscous.

Cheesy Chicken, Spinach & Ranch Stromboli

For this second meal, I started by making a pizza dough in my Cuisinart breadmaker. It’s the #1 bestseller on Amazon, and for good reason. You can create up to a 2lb loaf in one pan; it will even cook the loaf. You just put the ingredients in and forget it. It kneads, rises, and bakes. Alternatively, you can make doughs for rolls, pizza, and more. I adore this breadmaker and use it often; it is a must-have for a well-stocked kitchen.

I used the leftover shredded chicken to create this Cheesy Chicken, Spinach & Ranch Stromboli. It’s creamy, rich in flavor, with a nice zesty tang from the ranch and would also make a great appetizer or potluck item. I sliced the Stromboli loaf into bread slices and served it alongside Pacific Foods Organic Tomato Soup that I was able to obtain on a red-line discount at a grocery outlet. There was even enough for lunch leftovers! Don’t forget to check out the embedded YouTube short below the recipe for the process of making the Stromboli.

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1 (8 oz) block of cream cheese, softened
• 1 (8 oz) package shredded Swiss cheese
• 1 (10.5 oz) can cream of chicken soup
• 1 packet Ranch Seasoning
• 1 lb shredded chicken
• 2 handfuls of fresh spinach leaves
• 1 pizza crust dough

Instructions

1. Preheat & Prepare: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Melt butter in a skillet. Add cream cheese, Swiss cheese, cream of chicken soup, and ranch seasoning. Stir until melted and well-incorporated. Add shredded chicken and spinach, mix well, and set aside to slightly cool down.
2. Roll and Fill: Dust your working surface with cornmeal or flour. Roll out the pizza crust dough to about 1 inch thick in a rectangle shape. Pour the filling onto the rolled-out dough, leaving space around the edges.
3. Fold & Seal: Fold each side of the dough over into the middle and seal the sides and ends of the dough. Flip the stromboli onto a baking sheet with the seam side down.
4. Bake: Slice three small slits into the top of the dough for steam release. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
5. Serve: Allow the stromboli to cool for 10 minutes, then slice and serve. Enjoy your Cheesy Chicken, Spinach & Ranch Stromboli!

Warm and Comforting Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

For the third meal, I used the chicken carcass to make a delicious broth, serving as the base for a comforting homestyle chicken soup. A few cups of the broth evaporated, so I compensated the difference with water and bouillon to retain the 10 cups called for in the recipe. Additionally, I opted for whole wheat noodles to increase the fiber content. The outcome? A hearty, classically flavored, and comforting bowl of chicken soup. This comforting and flavorful homemade chicken noodle soup is perfect for warming up on a chilly day. Below, you’ll find concise instructions along with a short video and a few photos. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 chicken carcass with leftover meat
• 10 cups water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 3 celery stalks, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbs dried thyme
• 1tbs dried sage
• 2 bay leaf’s
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 8 oz egg noodles, or your preference noodles
• Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Prep vegetables: chop celery, peel and slice carrots, and dice onions – save vegetable scraps of celery tops, carrot peels, and onion skin for stock pot.
2. Place the chicken carcass and vegetable scraps in a large pot and cover it with 10 cups of water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 1 hour.
3. Once the broth is done, remove the carcass and vegetable scraps and strain the broth into a clean bowl or pot. Discard the bones and any solids and reserve the broth.
4. In the same pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, sliced carrots, and chopped celery. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until the vegetables are soft and the onion is translucent.
5. Add the minced garlic, dried thyme, and bay leaf to the pot. Cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Pour the reserved chicken broth back into the pot with the vegetables, adding additional water needed for 10 cups of total liquid. Bring to a simmer and let it cook for 15-20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Add the egg noodles to the pot and cook according to the package instructions, until al dente.
8. Once the noodles are cooked, add the leftover cooked chicken meat into the soup. Allow it to heat through for a few minutes.
9. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Remove the bay leaf’s from the pot.
10. Serve the homemade chicken noodle soup hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley (optional). Enjoy!

Concluding Thoughts

Opting for high-quality, products like the Publix GreenWise Whole Chicken not only offers the opportunity to maximize its value by creating multiple meals but also supports healthy choices without compromising on taste and nutrition. By utilizing the entire chicken in different recipes, such as rotisserie chicken, Stromboli, and flavorful broth-based soup, it’s possible to savor delicious and varied dishes while effectively managing the grocery budget. Additionally, using whole chicken and roasts allows for the creation of up to three meals, while incorporating stretcher ingredients like flour and water in breads and soups and smart shopping strategies to reduce the grocery bill without sacrificing flavor. For further tips on grocery strategies and pantry preparation, check out 10 Effective Ways to Make the Most of Your Grocery Budget! and The Essential Pantry: Checklist and Video Tour. What are your strategies for making your food dollars stretch? Join me in the comments section.

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