Introduction to Meal Prepping a Whole Chicken
While cooking a whole chicken can take just over an hour, there are several ways to meal prep it to make it possible on a weeknight. You can cook it completely on the day of the meal, cook a little on the day of the meal, or cook it entirely beforehand.
Cooking Completely on the Day of the Meal
If you want to cook your chicken fresh but eliminate prep time on the day of the meal, you can do the prepping beforehand.
Prepare the Components
Make the butter mixture and spice rub. Cut up the veggies and herbs, store them in an air-tight container in the fridge. If you have time, go ahead and press the butter mix under the skin! The chicken and stuffing can chill in the fridge up to 3 days like this.
The day of the meal, coat it in oil and the spice rub, then bake away!
Cooking a Little on the Day of the Meal
If you want to get most of the work out of the way early but still serve fresh, juicy pieces of chicken, that’s possible too!
Undercook then Broil
Up to 1 day before, prepare the chicken but leave it slightly undercooked. You could shave off about 10 minutes of the final cooking time and let it cool.
Once cool, carve the chicken pieces, being careful to leave as much skin on each piece as possible. Store in a roasting pan, covered in the fridge up to one day.
When ready to eat, place uncovered roasting pan under the broiler for 3-5 minutes (rely on thermometer to get to 165 degrees F).
No Cooking on the Day of the Meal
This is how you make unbelievably juicy roast chicken for your casseroles, soups, and quick dinners!
Cook & Shred
On your meal prep day, cook the chicken completely. Allow chicken to cool, then remove all the meat from the carcass. Remove the skin and shred or cube meat for another recipe.
The skin gets so perfectly crispy, but you don’t want it included in your shredded chicken. Throw it away if you must, but… I wrap little crispy bits around green beans or asparagus or cheese and make an easy, quick snack!
