{"id":1186,"date":"2022-10-11T06:49:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-11T06:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fitmencook.com\/?p=1186"},"modified":"2023-06-29T16:11:43","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T16:11:43","slug":"how-to-meal-prep-chicken","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fitmencook.com\/blog\/how-to-meal-prep-chicken\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Cook Meal Prep Chicken 2 Ways"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Healthy eating doesn\u2019t have to be expensive and it definitely doesn\u2019t need to sacrifice flavor. But even when we WANT to eat healthy foods, prepackaged processed foods and fast food just seem so\u2026 convenient<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When dinnertime rolls around, and you\u2019re hungry, it\u2019s easy<\/em> to give in to those unhealthy cravings because of how fast they can satisfy your hunger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what if healthy meals made themselves? What if healthy eating was just as fast and easy as the prepacked junk?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re on this page, you know exactly how we\u2019re gonna make that happen\u2026 meal prep!<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you have your protein prepped and ready to go, the rest of the ingredients come together in a sinch and\u2026 BOOM! with cooked chicken stored in the fridge, your healthy meal will require little to no effort on your part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If meal prepping chicken seems daunting, don\u2019t worry. Below I detail just how simple and life-changing it can be to prep chicken ahead of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are two main approaches for how to season your chicken for meal prep. So read on, and \u201cprep\u201d for an entire week of delicious, healthy, AND EASY meal options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can cook the chicken for specific recipes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this method, you follow recipes using the seasoning or marinade and the cooking method for those recipes, but you just make the chicken several days ahead of making the rest. After you have your chicken breasts or thighs marinated or seasoned, keep the process simple with an easy cooking method of your choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re a meal planner, this approach is right up your alley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The benefits of this method are that you get a variety of flavors and eliminate the questions later in the week about what you should make. You choose an ideal time for cooking. Weekends may be better time for cooking than weeknights, so by moving the bulk of your meal prep to a more convenient time you\u2019ve made healthy eating more convenient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To get started, find some easy chicken recipes you enjoy. If you need some ideas, you\u2019ll want to try. Pick a day of the week when you have a bit more time to be in the kitchen \u2013 again, usually the weekend. Then pause the recipes after the chicken is prepped and finish the recipe off later in the week when you\u2019re ready to eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though you\u2019re doing the same steps you could have done throughout the week, you\u2019ll be amazed at how this will reduce your total time in the kitchen, and you\u2019ll be so much more empowered to make healthy eating choices when you have quick chicken on hand! Save on prep, cooking, and cleaning time when you knock out multiple meals at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n FMC Tip: Double each recipe and freeze half for future use!<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can use a neutral seasoning and cooking method to cook chicken in bulk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re more of a spur-of-the-moment person and meal planning isn\u2019t your thing, then keeping life flexible with this approach is the way to go. Without locking yourself into recipes, meal-prepping one neutral flavor of chicken can give you lots of options throughout the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use this method to get started if you\u2019re a beginner at prepping. Or if you\u2019re an experienced prepper, this is a great approach for large batches of meal prep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are looking to substitute your prepped chicken into various recipes, it\u2019s good to have a few in mind that you know are great options \u2013 this way, you don\u2019t find yourself stuck in the middle of the week without any ideas and that junk food calling to you! Check out these options<\/a> for more ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grab your favorite spice combo \u2013 something that can compliment your favorite recipes or that would be good on its own. For spice ideas, try our Everyday Blend<\/a> as a starter and experiment until you find what works best for your taste. If you plan on eating the chicken with a side of veggies or a complex carb, other great starter options for flavor are cajun chicken, bbq chicken, lemon pepper, or just throwing on a little bit of olive oil and some ground black pepper and sea salt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember that the purpose of meal prepping is to make life easier for YOU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mix things up from one week to the next until you figure out what fits into your schedule and style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n FMC Tip: If you\u2019re looking for a low-carb weekday meal, chicken and vegetables can hit the table in under ten minutes on those busy nights with chicken meal prep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re prepping for a specific recipe or keeping your seasoning neutral, getting your chicken cooked and in the fridge is super simple \u2013 anyone can do it! \u2013 with these six easy steps\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n FMC Tip: If you want to know how to meal prep chicken without it getting dry, the secret is cooking the chicken pieces whole. When you dice the chicken before cooking you lose a lot of the juices in the process. So keep the pieces whole until after the cooking and resting periods, then chop away!<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the USDA, you shouldn\u2019t let your chicken hang out in the fridge for more than 3-4 days. After that, you\u2019re on your own to decide if the chicken is still safe to eat. But remember that not all spoilage gives you clear warnings that you can see or smell, so when in doubt it\u2019s best to throw it out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you do notice any changes in smell, taste, or looks throughout the week, these changes are especially good warnings that your chicken may need to be tossed. Slimy chicken or any signs of mold mean the chicken has gone bad and shouldn\u2019t be eaten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n FMC Tip: Lots of meal preppers split their weekly prepping into two days (often Sundays and Wednesdays) to make sure their food stays fresh. You can also stretch your meal prepping times by popping some of the chicken into the freezer. Chicken can last up to three months in the freezer when stored correctly. If you\u2019re looking for a great meal prep container, check out our stainless steel lunch box.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Most people prefer the convenience of the microwave for reheating. You\u2019ll want to zap your chicken on mediumhigh heat for 1 minute. If you find your chicken drying out a bit during reheat, adding a small drizzle of olive oil to the chicken before microwaving can help lock in the moisture and flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also reheat in an air fryer, on the stove top, or in the oven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n FMC Tip: If you\u2019re looking to avoid the extra olive oil but you still want to know how to meal prep chicken without it getting dry, lightly covering your chicken using a microwave-safe lid can also help keep your chicken moist during reheat. Make sure the lid isn\u2019t completely closed so there is a way for steam to vent.<\/p>\n\n\nHOW TO MAKE CHICKEN FOR MEAL PREP \u2013 METHOD 1<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN FOR MEAL PREP \u2013 METHOD 2<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
HOW TO COOK CHICKEN FOR MEAL PREP IN 6 EASY STEPS:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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HOW LONG CAN YOU KEEP CHICKEN FOR MEAL PREP<\/strong> IN THE FRIDGE?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
HOW TO REHEAT CHICKEN MEAL PREP<\/h2>\n\n\n\n