Meal Prepping With Rotisserie Chicken: How to Make it a Healthy Meal

A common misconception about healthy eating is that you have to cook everything from scratch. Meal prepping with rotisserie chicken is one of my favorite simple meal prep hacks. Using already-cooked foods makes healthy meals doable when you are short on time or don’t like cooking.

Let’s explore how you can assemble a healthy and balanced meal with rotisserie chicken and give you a few ideas to start. 

Foods to Pair with Rotisserie Chicken

First, you want to brainstorm what to pair with the chicken to make balanced meals that will keep you full and fend off cravings for hours. Because that is the point of eating meals. Meals should keep you feeling full and energized for hours. 

Choose a Starch

Think about what starch you want to pair with the meal centered around the chicken. The food options are endless, and there is no wrong way.

To increase the meal’s nutritional value, you can usually choose whole grains. Here are some examples:

• Whole grain bread 
• Whole grain pasta
• Rice of your choice
• A starchy vegetable like potatoes
• Quinoa

Add Vegetables and Fiber

Now that we have protein and starch picked out. Choose a non-starchy vegetable to add more vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Fiber helps slow digestion, keeping you full longer and energized with less food. Here are some of my favorite easy vegetable sides:

• Air-fried green beans
• Pre-made salad kits
• Sauteed kale or greens with garlic
• Pre-made stir fry kits 
• Canned corn 

Add a Healthy Fat 

Fat is a macronutrient that our body needs every day. Adding fat to your meal can increase flavor and satisfaction in your meal.

You can add healthy fats, like oil, while cooking a side for your meal. Or add fat to enhance the flavor of the meal at the end. Examples of fats also include:

• Sauces
• Dressings
• Condiments
• Avocado

Rotisserie Chicken Meal Prep Ideas

Chicken Power Bowl

Use the plate method to combine rotisserie chicken and make a healthy meal. For example, you can make a bowl by combining kale, quinoa, shredded carrots, and rotisserie chicken.

Top it with pecans and your favorite sauce or dressing. And there you have it, a quick and easy meal that is totally customizable to your favorite foods.

Chicken Sandwich or Wrap

Use your favorite bread as a base for your favorite sandwich. I like keeping it simple and making my club sandwich with rotisserie chicken.

If you prefer a wrap, buy flat bread or pita bread to make a rotisserie chicken-centered nutritious and balanced meal. It is also an excellent option for traveling or work.

Add Chicken to a Salad Kit

Another one of my favorite easy meal hacks is buying salad kits. All you have to do is throw it together.

No thinking is required! However, some salad kits may be lower in protein. So add some shredded rotisserie chicken, and then you have an easy, high-protein meal.

Is Rotisserie Chicken Healthy?

Unless specified, most foods you buy from the grocery store, deli, or restaurant will likely be higher in salt. Most Americans get plenty of salt, but that doesn’t make rotisserie chicken unhealthy.

If you know that you will eat rotisserie chicken, which may have more salt, you can pair it with foods with less or no sodium to balance your daily intake. Remember, sodium is an essential nutrient that your body needs every day. The recommended daily intake for sodium is less than 2300mg. 

Summary

Rotisserie chicken is incredibly versatile and a great shortcut to help you plan your meals when you are short on time or are just learning the art of throwing together easy and delicious meals.

Try incorporating it into your meal planning for the week, and let me know what you think. Take a picture of your meal and share it with me on Instagram.