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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to start to believe in the magical Mumsnet chicken?

183 replies

HootOwl · 30/01/2022 13:58

Maybe it is actually real?! 🐔😆

I roasted an (admittedly huge) chicken and also this was all only to feed me and two small children so not huge portions but from one chicken we had:

Roast dinner
Chicken fricassee
Chicken risotto
Chicken pasta bake
Paprika chicken
Chicken soup
Crispy chicken skin (snack)

Will make the effort to roast a whole one more often! I swear it only had two breasts, two legs and two wings...

OP posts:
londonmummy1966 · 30/01/2022 14:03

You've just demonstrated why buying a small chicken is a false economy. When I had me DH and 2 teenagers to feed I'd roast a large one and get a roast dinner on Sunday, risotto or curry on Monday, chicken noodle salad or wraps for Tuesday lunch boxes and a chicken and veg soup for Wednesday lunch.

SheWolfOFFrancee · 30/01/2022 14:04

There are definitely times it works. When I was a single mum a large chicken would do me and DS1 for dinners for most of the week as we didn’t eat much and bulked out with veg and stuff like potatoes & rice but now we’re a family of 5 I’m lucky if it lasts 3 meals. I don’t believe the mythical chicken as the answer to feed a family of 4+ for dinners and lunch 🤣

HootOwl · 30/01/2022 14:05

Yes totally agree. It actually works out so cheap per meal. So many options for what to do with the leftovers. I froze some and then used it across a couple of weeks so we weren't having chicken every day.

OP posts:
HootOwl · 30/01/2022 14:06

@SheWolfOFFrancee

There are definitely times it works. When I was a single mum a large chicken would do me and DS1 for dinners for most of the week as we didn’t eat much and bulked out with veg and stuff like potatoes & rice but now we’re a family of 5 I’m lucky if it lasts 3 meals. I don’t believe the mythical chicken as the answer to feed a family of 4+ for dinners and lunch 🤣
Yes obviously very different if you have two adults in the house and hungry teens! 🤣
OP posts:
HootOwl · 30/01/2022 14:07

Chicken chow mein is another one that's great for leftover roast chicken.

OP posts:
Baystard · 30/01/2022 14:08

Yes, I think the modern chicken is very muscular and meaty and there's a deceptively large amount of meat on the carcase other than the obvious drumstick or breast.

PattyPan · 30/01/2022 14:09

I don't know why people think this is a MN thing, it's not. It's discussed on plenty of other sites like the MSE forum where it is treated as a perfectly normal thing!
Looking at the Sainsbury's website a pre-cooked standard sized chicken says it serves 5 so assuming 2 adults and 2 children it's easy to get a roast dinner using around 3/5 of it, then put the other 2/5 into a dish with pieces of chicken like pasta bake, curry, risotto etc, and then use the carcass for soup.
I think a lot of people have lost sight of what a portion of meat is - it's about the size of your palm or a deck of cards.

WeeFae · 30/01/2022 14:10

Hmmm it would barely stretch to 2 meals here, for 3 of us (adults). We must eat way bigger portions.

ememem84 · 30/01/2022 14:10

I always buy a large chick for this reason. DH two dc and a cat. We get at least 3 if not 4 dinners from it.

Catface has her share too.

HootOwl · 30/01/2022 14:10

@Baystard

Yes, I think the modern chicken is very muscular and meaty and there's a deceptively large amount of meat on the carcase other than the obvious drumstick or breast.
Yes. Two of the meals I made were just with scraps picked after (my appalling attempt at) carving.
OP posts:
KKslidoff · 30/01/2022 14:12

Are you sure it was a chicken and not an ostrich?

HootOwl · 30/01/2022 14:13

@KKslidoff

Are you sure it was a chicken and not an ostrich?
Hah! It was big but it wasn't a mutant! It weighed 2kg.
OP posts:
Peachandpearl · 30/01/2022 14:15

Years ago when I was single parent to one DC I used to roast two chickens a week. It was the most economical way to feed 2 people good quality protein throughout the week. For lunch's we had chicken salads, chicken wraps, chicken soups, for dinners we had chicken pasta, chicken risotto, chicken curry, chicken stir fry, chicken pie. We would also have eggs, some beans and pulses, yogurt, whatever veg and fruit was cheapest, and lots of bread/rice/pasta/ potatoes etc.

HootOwl · 30/01/2022 14:17

I'm a total convert now!

Please hit me up with recipe recommendations!

OP posts:
Twinkleylight · 30/01/2022 14:27

I usually make a chicken biryaani for Monday night dinner after a Sunday roast. Biryaani is good for using up left over roast meat and vegetables.

Peachandpearl · 30/01/2022 14:28

I used to make 'Mexican lasagne' which wax tomato pasta sauce, mixed with sweetcorn, chopped peppers and shredded leftover roast chicken, between layers of tortilla. Then the top layer was covered in a thin layer of tomato pasta sauce, then loads of grated cheese and jalapeños.

mumofEandE · 30/01/2022 14:32

Well done - I am too greedy sadly
But 'chicken skin snack'?? Shock

Peachandpearl · 30/01/2022 14:34

My really easy leftover chicken recipe is make oven chips, then fry off some mushrooms, onions and chicken, boil some frozen peas (I do these in the microwave), and heat up some ready make curry sauce. Then I mix it all together.

Brown rice, satay sauce, stir fried Savoy cabbage and leftover chicken. Amazing.

Or I make coronation chicken to put on baked potatoes.

I also do honey mustard chicken which is just leftover chicken cooked in a little butter, Dijon mustard and a drizzle of honey and some seasoning, at the end stir through a little bit of double cream or creme fraiche. Serve with mashed potatoes and green beans.

bowlingalleyblues · 30/01/2022 14:36

Any tips on getting all the meat off? I really struggle to get the bits off.

SamphiretheStickerist · 30/01/2022 14:44

Once you have taken legs and wings off, carved off the breast meat, look up chicken oyster and take that off too.

Then put the knife down and pick the carcase clean, remembering to turn it upside down and clear that too.

Then make stock out if the bones: bones, water, whatever odds and ends of bendy veg your might have, herbs if you want. Take the bones out and have another pick, putting the little bits back in the stock. Reduce it depending on whether you are making soup or 'stock cubes'. Strain and use or freeze. We use the well boiled veg and chicken bits as 'sprinkles' for the dog.

unname · 30/01/2022 14:45

I’m here for the tips!

gogohm · 30/01/2022 14:47

I don't tend to get as much out of a chicken, 2 meals plus sandwiches for 2 adults, but pork shoulder is another matter! Roast, stir fry, hog roast, served with mash and still enough for sandwiches all for £6

Faevern · 30/01/2022 14:54

@bowlingalleyblues I once did a chicken in the slow cooker, the meat fell off. Never again though, one I don’t like the chicken scraps, and two the bones oh dear the tiniest bones and sinews, still makes me shudder. 🤢

chesirecat99 · 30/01/2022 14:54

Obviously, the chicken stock can be used as a base for all kinds of soups, not just chicken soups, served with crusty bread, matzo balls, dumplings or noodles.

If you want to turn it into a heartier, main meal my favourites are:

Ramen noodles with shredded chicken, a soft boiled egg, mushrooms, spring onions and pak choi. You can use pretty much any vegetable though, even frozen peas. You can use any flavourings, eg soy sauce, ginger, chilli, you like (google for ideas) but plain is good for little ones and fussy eaters.

Spanish garlic soup - make croutons by tossing cubes of bread in oil or garlic butter and baking, fry 6 cloves of garlic finely chopped until golden, add shredded ham or chopped streaky bacon (1 or 2 rashers per person) fry until heated through/cooked, add a tsp or 2 of smoked paprika (optional for fussy eaters) and the croutons, cook for a minute then add 1.5l of chicken stock, season with salt and pepper, heat through. Then break an egg per person into the soup, cover with a lid and poach. If it's easier for you, you can poach the eggs separately then add them to the soup or use soft boiled eggs.

BeyondMyWits · 30/01/2022 14:56

We had a big chicken for lunch today... 4 adults. Have used about 2/3 of it. Put the bones on for soup stock and will shred the leftover chicken into it with sweetcorn a chilli and noodles for 4 lunch portions next week.

That's enough from a chicken for us..