Chicken is overwhelmingly Canada’s favourite protein. But it can also be a pricey addition to your grocery bill. The good news is that consumers are seeing price reductions with big grocery-store chains as they try to compete in the natural, free-range, and organic meat sector. But there are other ways to cut costs when purchasing and preparing chicken:
- Buy whole chickens. Go big to score the biggest savings. Whole chickens generally costs less than pieces and you end up with enough for potentially 2-3 meals. You can also use the bones into a nutritious broth after. Try this simple broth with vegetables and herbs using homemade or store-bought rotisserie chicken.
- Use breasts wisely. The key here is to eat smaller portions of meat that are more expensive. Skewer small pieces of breast meat with assorted vegetables, or mix with an alternative protein such as tofu to have a satisfying meal that doesn’t break the bank. Or try Lemony Chicken Piccata, where you can slice the breasts in half to make thin cutlets.
- Buy thighs. Generally thighs are cheaper than breasts and can easily be substituted for a slightly longer cooking time. Chicken thighs are less likely to dry out during cooking. They are great cut-up and skewered as souvlaki or used for satays.
- Or legs. Try this extremely simple recipe for Oven-Roasted Chicken Legs to make the most of one of the cheapest cuts of chicken: bone-in legs.
- Wings are an easy win. Make some into hot wings, of course. And do what chefs do and use the rest of the wings to make nourishing broths for a fraction of the cost of other cuts.
Forget bacon, bring home the chicken! And make the most of it so you can spend that saved money elsewhere.
