By: April Graff, MS, RD, LD. Hy-Vee Dietitian

The only thing more stressful than getting a meal on the table is planning the actual meal! Meal planning not only helps keep you on track for healthier eating throughout the week, but it can also save time and money. If you’re short on time, rotisserie chicken can be an easy time-saver for a quick and healthy meal for the entire family.

• Chicken provides a good source of protein, with about 24 grams in a 4-ounce serving.
• Chicken is packed with B-vitamins which are essential for helping provide energy.
  • • • Niacin (vitamin B3) is important for our cell function but also helps convert food into energy.
      • Vitamin B6 helps with our metabolism as well as brain development and immune function.
• Save a few dollars and buy the whole rotisserie chicken and shred it at home yourself. Short on time? Buy rotisserie chicken already shredded for an easy meal prep option for the week.

 

10 Ways to Use a Rotisserie Chicken:

1. Salad – Add sliced rotisserie chicken to a salad kit.
2. Sandwiches and Wraps – Mix chicken slices with chipotle mayo and whatever raw veggies you have on hand. Roll into a whole-wheat tortilla, or use whole-grain bread. Eat cold or grill for a warm and satisfying meal.
3. Soups – Rotisserie chicken lends a slow-cooked flavor to soups.
4. Pizza Topping – Top a crust with chicken, sauce and your other favorite toppings. Bake and enjoy!
5. Skillet Meals – Add chicken chunks to frozen, bagged skillet meals.
6. Burrito Bowl – Mix shredded chicken with ingredients such as black beans, refried beans, green chilies, salsa, corn or sautéed peppers. Heat until bubbly in microwave, then spoon mixture into tortillas or taco shells. Top with shredded cheese, avocado, salsa or other toppings of choice.
7. Pasta Dishes – Replace beef in lasagna and other pasta casseroles with chicken.
8. Barbeque Sandwiches – Mix shredded rotisserie chicken with your favorite barbecue sauce and put on a whole-wheat roll. One whole chicken serves about six people. Yum!
9. Quesadilla – Combine shredded rotisserie chicken with a pinch of cumin. Spoon on one half of a whole-wheat tortilla. Sprinkle with shredded Monterey Jack or other cheese. Fold in half and heat in a nonstick skillet on both sides until crispy and brown. No butter or oil needed! Serve with salsa on the side.
10. Chicken-In-A-Bowl – Start with warm mashed potatoes on the bottom, add a handful of chicken chunks, warm gravy, and garnish with shredded cheese and choice of veggies.

More rotisserie chicken recipes here. Rotisserie Chicken: Winner, Winner! Fast (and Fun) Ways to Use It | Hy-Vee

Did you know: Omega-3 fatty acids support heart health, provide the body with energy, and help cells function as they should? Do you know if you are getting enough?

Get your FREE Omega-3 screening done this month at your local Hy-Vee. Register here: https://ms.spr.ly/61865t6yG