5 Chicken Dump Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep chicken breast moist for meal prep? ›

We recommend baking your chicken on a sheet tray on a bed of chopped vegetables. As the vegetables cook, they release steam, which helps to keep the chicken moist — and you get more bang for your buck. Opt for veggies (or fruits) that cook quickly, in about 30 minutes.

Use multiple cooking pots: If you need to cook a large amount of chicken, you may need multiple pots, like multiple slow cookers or roasting pans. You'll want to avoid overstuffing a single pot so the chicken can cook evenly and thoroughly.

Can I meal prep chicken for a week? Yes, but 7 days is the maximum I recommend prepping chicken ahead of time. Really, the best approach is to prepare 4-5 days worth of food to avoid spoilage. After day 5, you may notice a change in the smell and taste of the meat.

Bring a little oil, butter, spray or whatever you'd like to heat over high heat in a skillet. Add the chicken once the oil starts to shimmer and smoke a little. You should hear an immediate pop and sizzle (psshhhhh) when you add the chicken. Now quickly turn the heat down to low and let cook for about 5-7 minutes.

To bake: Preheat the oven to 400 F. Place the breasts on a lined sheet tray in the oven and cook for 30 to 40 minutes. To maintain extra moisture, tent the foil halfway through to keep the breasts covered and lock in some more moisture.

Thinner breasts or cutlets are less likely to dry out, as they won't spend as much time in the pan. A simple option is to pound the chicken until it is 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick, using a meat mallet/pounder, heavy skillet or even a hammer. This is best done between parchment paper or plastic wrap.

If I'm going to do chicken for meal prep, I cook it in the crockpot, but I also use boneless skinless breasts and then completely cover them in broth after adding whatever spices I want to add. Then I shred it afterwards and use it throughout the week.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that cooked chicken can last three to four days in the refrigerator, if stored at 40°F or less. 1 And that goes for any type of cooked chicken—store-bought, homemade, or restaurant leftovers.

Unlike chicken breasts, chicken thighs and drumsticks actually become more tender the longer they cook. That's because of their makeup. Dark meat has an abundant amount of connective tissue, which dissolves into gelatin as the meat cooks, rendering it juicy and tender.

Once the chicken has cooled, transfer it to an airtight container or wrap it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Label the container with the date of preparation so you know how long it has been stored in the fridge. Cooked chicken can be safely stored in the fridge for up to four days.

Can I just eat chicken all day? ›

Chicken is a healthy food (as long as it's poached, baked or grilled), but that doesn't mean you should eat it every single day. As both dietitians have explained, eating a wide variety of foods is the best way to give your body the nutrients it needs.

USDA recommends using cooked chicken within three to four days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less).

While both baking and pan frying can give you tasty, juicy chicken, if you are in a hurry, it is better to pan fry it. Because baked chicken breast is easy to dry out, it needs time to brine or marinade before you cook it.

“Covering the chicken keeps the heat even and helps the chicken cook through,” Corriher said. “But you'll want to uncover it toward the end, to crisp it. Covering the skillet does make a racket, though — it's the drops of condensed moisture dropping into the oil that create all that carrying-on.”

Mistake: Not Covering Your Pan While Frying

As the chicken cooks, cover the pan with a lid to trap the heat. This helps render the fat and water from the chicken for a crisp crust and evenly cooked meat.

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!

Brine the chicken: Soak the chicken breasts in a saltwater solution for 30 minutes to an hour before baking. This helps retain moisture and flavor. 2. Use bone-in, skin-on chicken: Cooking chicken breasts with the bone and skin helps preserve moisture and adds flavor.

Drizzle a tiny bit of olive oil and a teaspoon or two of water over the chicken. This will help keep the meat moist. (You can also use water and salsa or chicken broth for extra flavor.)

Keep chicken moist

A cooking hack from my catering days of frying and grilling chicken for the masses is poaching. Poach chicken on low heat in a mixture of buttermilk and chicken stock, or just stock. Once cooked through, refrigerate until ready to grill (perfect for overnight).