2 chicken breast in a curry for

[Ooff]

3 adults. 1 teens. 1 child.

I've a 4 pack of chicken.

I need something for tea tomorrow so I've had to just cut up 2 breasts small and put extra veg in (peppers and onion)

Anyone else having to do shite like this

Got rice and naan though so we're all good.

Just baffles me how expensive meat is now

Why don't you add in some lentils or a can of chickpeas? Or a potato/sweet potato?

Cause I don't have any in.

In fairness, chicken breasts have always been expensive and it's a bit of a waste for a meal like a curry, which is designed for slow-cooking cheaper cuts.

Thighs are much better value for curries / stews / casseroles.

Do a lentil curry ( Dahl) to go alongside it, tasty, cheap and filling. We usually have more than one curry, one of which will be something pretty cheap like egg or Dahl. In fact, I rarely do meat curries. Or do a slower cooked one with cheaper cut of beef.

Yep. Chickpea curry is one of my staples now (it's actually really nice and could recommend but I was not looking forward to it first time I made it). It sounds like you have a great dinner otherwise though, (I'm having curry tonight as well but no naan as I'm on a diet!)

One of the ways to help make chicken go a little further is to cook the breasts whole and then shred it using two forks, then add to the sauce you've made. I've started doing this and it makes it bulk out the meal more than just diced if that makes sense? X

We always go two or three curries - usually a Dal and something like aloo Gobi or spinach and chickpea, which are super cheap and would help the chicken stretch further. Also home made garlic Nan is very filling and very easy to make.

Thighs are almost as expensive now!

If you’ve got a tin of baked means, empty them into a sieve, rinse under tap. Drain any excess water and add to curry. Good way to use the cheapest baked beans.

I was going to say this too. Breast always dries out in a curry IME. My Grandma (who was Indian) only ever used thigh in her curries.

Give up meat then.

Veggie curries are the best

Did anyone complain? I've always put extra veg in currys and things like that, even when I'm not stretched finanically, but to get people to eat more veg! You don'r really need all that much meat really, and at the moment full tummies are the most important thing.

I generally only use 2 chicken breasts for a meal for 3 adults and 1 pre teen, plus a single portion leftover for a packed lunch.

it is an expensive meat.

cauliflower bulks out curry really well, for the future.

I used to do a lovely cauliflower and chickpea curry - I should do that again, was delicious.

I do one chicken breast and half a block of paneer cheese for two adults in a curry, rice and a big naan

That would be just enough for 2 adults. But this is mumsnet, home of the magical everlasting chicken 🤣

You may have already done this, but frozen chicken breasts can be cheaper. Just in case you hadnt considered this.

I bulk up a curry with a tin of tomatoes and some cubed potatoes, if I have cauliflower that goes in, I quite like carrots in curries, but my family don’t.

Two is about 300g? Between 4 and a half is about 65g per adult. Sounds fine if you are eating meat most nights or have other sources of protein. Fairly normal for a 400 odd gram pack of thighs to do us three nights between two people in a curry, so about the same.

I always do this. more because I try to use higher quality meat and therefore can afford less of it.
Always steam carrots or butternut squash, add lots of peppers and definitely a tin of chickpeas to add.
If I do rice to go with I stir in some frozen peas and a couple of tablespoons of crushed (kindly, with a rolling pin 🙂) salted cashews.

I find Turkey cheaper.

I would make it into Chicken Katsu Curry. The chicken pieces are bulked up by breading them, and curry soaked breadcrumbs taste so good.

Cook a dal as well, or buy a can of chickpeas to bulk it out. Next time buy whole chicken thighs

For future curries, cubed potato helps bulk it out cheaply. I also shred the chicken rather than leaving it in chunks.

Make shredded chicken and two breasts will look and feel like 4!
Put the chicken in some water about half way up the breast side and simply simmer until cooked. The. Using forks shred the chicken up. It’s a game changer!

I’ve started having some meat free meals and then still use as much meat as I normally would at other times. Tonight we’re having a veggie pasta bake, so no meat at all. Tomorrow we’re having curry and I’ll still use 3 chicken breasts for 2 adults and 2 kids (10&7).