How to Stretch a $5 Costco Rotisserie Chicken into Delicious Meals All Week

Costco’s $5 rotisserie chicken is a legendary deal, and it’s always in my cart whenever I’m shopping at Costco. I’m not alone in that, in 2023, Costco sold 137 million rotisserie chickens! But this chicken is more than just a convenient dinner—it’s the starting point for several delicious, budget-friendly meals. With a little creativity, you can stretch this favorite deal into multiple dishes that the whole family will love.

Depending on the size of your family and appetites, you may even want to stock up and grab two of the rotisserie chickens so you have enough!

Day 1: Serve It as Is

Start simple: enjoy the rotisserie chicken fresh from the container, paired with easy sides like French green beans, lemon risotto, or a crisp green salad. If you can time it correctly, it’s best served straight from the store though you certainly can reheat it at home if needed. Save the bones for bone broth in a few days!

Day 2: BEST Chicken Salad

Grab your food processor and get ready for the BEST chicken salad. Instead of big chunks of chicken and celery, everything is processed together into a pate-like texture that is absolutely perfect. It’s delicious scooped up with crackers and fresh vegetables, stuffed into tomatoes, or in between two slices of good bread for a classic chicken salad sandwich.

On a good week, I have some lunch items prepped ahead. On a great week? It’s a batch of this chicken salad with a big bowl of cowboy caviar or dense bean salad and a box of almond flour crackers. It’s filling, nourishing, and so SO tasty.

Day 3: BUFFALO CHICKEN SLIDERS

You’ll love the irresistible and saucy buffalo chicken sliders! With layers of sweet rolls, tender chicken, melty white American, and a ranch butter sauce they are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. While the recipe calls for crockpot buffalo chicken, it’s easy to swap out shredded chicken and drizzle with a bit of buffalo sauce before using.

This meal is perfect for busy weeknights, potlucks, or game-day spreads, they come together quickly with minimal prep and you can even make the chicken in the slow cooker!

Day 4: chicken nachos

Chicken nachos are a great way to stretch the chicken as it doesn’t have to be the main component of the meal. Adding a bit of chicken in addition to some beans and cheese and you’ll still manage to pack in a decent amount of protein.

Layer crunchy chips with shredded chicken, beans, and two layers of cheese. After a quick broil, it’s time to top with all of the fresh nacho toppings like salsa, sour cream, shredded lettuce, guacamole, and hot sauce. These chili-spiced chicken tostadas are another delicious Tex Mex option.

Day 5: bone broth

Once the chicken meat has all been eaten, take all the bones and add them to a slow cooker. Cover with water, cover, and cook on Low heat overnight. Strain well and you’ll be left with a flavorful and nourishing bone broth. Drink up with a squeeze of lemon juice and salt if needed or freeze to use later in chicken taco or dumpling soup.

Bonus Tips for Stretching Your Chicken

1. Portion Strategically: Separate the meat into light and dark meat portions when you bring it home. Use the dark meat for soups or casseroles and the lighter meat for chicken salads or buffalo sliders.
2. Save the Bones: The carcass is a treasure for homemade stock. Freeze it if you’re not ready to make broth right away.
3. Add Flavor Variations: Season leftovers differently for each meal—think BBQ sauce for sandwiches or teriyaki glaze for a stir-fry.

With a little planning, a $5 Costco rotisserie chicken can become the hero of your weekly meal prep. Not only does it save time, but it’s also a delicious way to stay on a budget without sacrificing variety or flavor. Save this post and come back to it next time you head to Costco!