Our kitchen has the power to redefine healthy eating. What do you want to define it as?
We want healthy eating to be a delight rather than a chore, and something you look forward to rather than dread. That’s why we are taking the time to outline 5 quick dinner ideas using chicken recipes. Each of these easy weeknight dinners features bold, unique flavors, which allows you to save money by purchasing bulk chicken at the beginning of the week to use throughout each recipe.
Did we forget to mention? We created a grocery list so you don’t have to! Every ingredient you need for a week of meals is already here – now all you have to do is go home and get cooking.
Let’s cover aspects of these recipes that make them so easy, affordable, and delicious!
Save time and money
If you struggle to include vegetables in your meals regularly, keep in mind that canned and frozen options are nutritious, affordable, and time-efficient. Utilizing these alternatives can help you incorporate veggies into your budget-friendly meals more consistently!
Simplify your dinner
Make healthy eating more convenient by including leftovers as the base of future meals!
- If you always find yourself eating a freezer meal when you run out of time in the evening, consider turning leftovers into healthy freezer friendly meals that you can grab later.
- Store a few extra servings of rice to include as the grain for a different meal.
- If a recipe calls for half a diced onion, dice the other half and add it later to a different meal.
Check out our blog on healthy meal prep for more meal planning tips!
Buy in season produce
Purchasing fruits and vegetables in bulk may be challenging due to their shorter shelf life. Luckily, fruits and veggies tend to be less expensive when they’re in season, allowing you to get the best quality at the best price during this time!
Invest in a grocery list
Do you often buy things that you don’t need at the store? We can relate! That’s why we suggest creating a grocery list before you go shopping. A list will help you avoid the urge to just add whatever looks good to your cart (it also ensures you won’t forget any ingredients).
Below, you’ll find a complete grocery list with everything you need to make each of these five recipes. We’ve taken care of all the preparation, so all you need to focus on is cooking each of these healthy chicken recipes.
Weekly Menu Theme
When meal planning, include ingredients that can be used in multiple ways. For example, this blog includes five recipes using chicken, but each uses unique seasonings and flavors to ensure you don’t get bored.
When you create your theme, you can base it around a certain ingredient (like chicken), or around a culture (like Indian) which saves money by allowing you to purchase the same ingredients for multiple meals.
Swap it
When you find yourself missing ingredients for a recipe you’d like to prepare, try substituting with items you already have on hand.
Buy in bulk
If you have a family and are confident your food will be eaten before it expires, consider buying ingredients in bulk. Generally, larger containers cost less per ounce than smaller ones. Pantry staples like rice, beans, oats, and peanut butter are excellent choices to purchase in bulk. A healthy selection of basics will help make healthy cooking easy and convenient – to learn more, check out our blog Pantry Staples for Healthy Cooking!
Pantry items are not the only food that you may want to consider buying in bulk: proteins, like beef or chicken, are the most expensive part of a meal, so you can stretch your dollars by buying proteins in bulk and making several budget-friendly meals out of them.
Look for sales
Find sales and base your meals around those more affordable ingredients. To make it easy, use the search bar feature on the Choose Homemade to explore by ingredient!
Grocery List for Chicken Recipes
This grocery list creates 32 servings in total, or about eight individual meals for a family of four. Each of these healthy dinner ideas for families can be prepared in under 30 minutes, and the following list contains everything you need to prepare each recipe. Cross check this list with what you already have to avoid buying extras!
| Meat | Spices |
| Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (5 ½ lbs) | Red pepper flakes |
| Black pepper | |
| Produce | Italian seasoning |
| Sweet potatoes (2 large) | Parsley |
| Collard greens (10 oz) | Minced onion |
| Mushrooms (8 oz) | Dill |
| Fresh garlic bulb | Garlic powder |
| Tomato (4 medium) | Onion powder |
| Fresh basil (1 bunch) | |
| Fresh oregano (1 bunch) | Canned & Dry Goods |
| Lime | Canned chicken broth (14.5 oz) |
| Red bell pepper (medium) | Carton unsalted chicken broth (32 oz) |
| Green onion (1 bunch) | Quick barley (11 oz) |
| Cucumber (medium) | Pesto (8 oz) |
| Avocado (medium) | |
| Red onion (medium) | Grains |
| Lemon | Whole wheat spaghetti (16 oz) |
| Yellow onion (medium) | Instant brown rice (14 oz) |
| Shredded lettuce (8 oz) | Pineapple chunks (8 oz) |
| Whole wheat pita (6) | |
| Dairy | |
| Shredded parmesan cheese (6 oz) | Pantry Items |
| Plain non-fat Greek yogurt (32 oz) | Balsamic vinegar |
| Low-fat sour cream (16 oz) | Olive oil |
| 1% low-fat milk (½ gallon) | Cooking spray |
| Apple cider vinegar | |
| Frozen | Low sodium soy sauce |
| Mixed vegetable (12 oz) | Honey |
| Tater tots (32 oz) | Canola oil |
| All purpose flour |
5 Easy Weeknight Chicken Recipes
Homestyle Chicken Soup
Cost per serving: $1.90
If you want to change it up, experiment with adding different grains like brown rice or whole wheat pasta!
Italian Chicken Bruschetta Pasta
Cost per serving: $1.91
To turn this dish into an appetizer, simply serve the bruschetta mix over toasted ciabatta or french bread!
Aloha Chicken
Cost per serving: $2.09
One of our personal favorites, aloha chicken combines the sweetness of pineapple and red bell pepper with the flavors of lime, honey, and apple cider vinegar to create a fresh and tasty chicken recipe. Instant brown rice keeps the prep time under 30 minutes!
Chicken Ranch Pitas
Cost per serving: $2.60
These easy chicken ranch pitas can also be made with canned chicken or tuna to cut down on preparation time!
Pro tip: add a smear of pesto for an extra kick of flavor to compliment the creaminess of the ranch dip perfectly.
Chicken Pot Tots
Cost per serving: $1.37
It only takes about 15 minutes to whip this casserole dish up, thanks to the help of frozen veggies and tater tots. Contrary to popular belief, frozen vegetables have just as much, if not more, nutrients than fresh veggies, making them an incredible option to speed up dinners while adding extra nutrients.
If you don’t like tater tots or are having trouble finding them at the store, use frozen hash browns instead! You can also use this trick to make an easy breakfast the whole family will enjoy!
Dips and Sauces
Homemade Ranch Dip
Homemade ranch dip is so easy (and so much tastier than the store bought stuff)!
Homemade Zesty Italian Seasoning
Rather than buying an italian blend at the store, use what you already have at home to create it!
Homemade Chipotle Honey Sauce
Don’t know how to season your food? Marinate chicken or beef in this sauce – you won’t regret it.
Homemade Spinach Pesto
Homemade pesto is loaded with healthy greens, and this one can be used traditionally as a pasta sauce or as a dip for veggies. Smear it onto your chicken ranch pitas as well!
Conclusion
These healthy recipes are designed to save you time, money, and hassle in the kitchen. See for yourself how you can use different flavors to compliment the same protein source in a variety of easy weeknight dinners. With these meal planning tips, healthy meal prep has never been easier!
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