Whole Chicken

Get your Monday off to the right start by making a fast and simple chicken roast that'll also be a versatile add-in for meals later in the week. Buy twice the whole chicken needed for yesterday's meal and pan-roast the remaining chicken in a skillet until juicy and aromatic. Serve it alongside a simple salad and crusty baguette for a rustic meal. You can easily incorporate any of the leftover roast chicken on top of a Spring salad, in a hero sandwich for lunch, or a cheesy baked casserole. For the recipe, read on.

After a long week of admittedly too much partying, I'm in the mood for an easy, nourishing meal. Tonight, I'll be using my slow cooker to make a bacon-flecked stew with white wine and a whole cut-up chicken, reminiscent of the French countryside favorite coq au vin.

Hours later, when the scent wafting from the crockpot tells me that dinner's ready, I'll enjoy it at the table with the rest of the leftover wine. Sound like a relaxing close to a long, busy week? Then make the recipe yourself when you read more.

As I mentioned before, my favorite way to buy chicken on a budget is to get it whole and cut it up into pieces, so I enjoy a taste of every part, from the wings to the drumsticks to the breasts and thighs.

Yesterday, I simmered the chicken in a cacciatore sauce of tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, and herbs, and tonight I'm using another one to make a straightforward roast that can be shredded into salads, soups, and pastas, or simply enjoyed on its own.

For a roasted chicken recipe that you can count on again and again, keep reading.

Chicken breasts and thighs have always been a staple in my household, but lately I've been doing some serious wallet-watching, and I've discovered that the best bang for your buck lies with the purchase of whole chickens.

So today, I'll pick up a couple chickens to make a classic poultry dish, chicken cacciatore, which uses every piece of the bird. Cacciatore means "hunter" in Italian, and protein prepared in this style is simmered in a sauce of mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and herbs until succulent. Dying to try out the flavors for yourself? Then read more.