Easy High Protein Meal Prep on a Budget **TOP 3 RECIPES**

Summary

This video offers three simple and budget-friendly meal prep ideas designed for those with minimal cooking skills. The recipes include easy-to-make high-protein dishes like chicken fried rice, shredded chicken burritos, and creamy Cajun chicken pasta. Each recipe is detailed with step-by-step instructions, focusing on affordability, taste, and ease of preparation, ensuring viewers can confidently create nutritious meals even with limited culinary expertise.

Takeaways

• 🍚 The first meal prep idea is a simple chicken fried rice, which is easy to prepare and stores well in the freezer.
• 🐔 The core ingredients for the chicken fried rice are rice, chicken breast, carrot, sweet corn, peas, and soy sauce.
• 🔪 Preparing the chicken in small pieces ensures it remains palatable after freezing and reheating.
• 🥕 Carrots are sliced thinly and cooked to achieve some color, enhancing the texture and flavor of the fried rice.
• 🌽 Sweet corn and other vegetables are chosen for their ability to withstand the freezing process without turning mushy.
• 🍳 A high-sided pan is recommended for cooking the fried rice to prevent food from spilling over.
• 🧂 Optional extras like sesame oil and sesame seeds can be added for extra flavor without breaking the budget.
• 🌯 The second meal prep suggestion is shredded chicken burritos, which are slightly more complex but still easy to make.
• 🌶 The burritos include ingredients like fajita seasoning, beans, and a variety of vegetables for a flavorful filling.
• 🍝 The final meal prep idea is a creamy Cajun chicken pasta, which is both easy and tasty.
• 🍗 For the pasta, chicken thighs are used for a richer flavor, and a Cajun spice blend simplifies the seasoning process.

Q & A

What are the three easy meal prep ideas discussed in the script?

The three easy meal prep ideas are chicken fried rice, shredded chicken burritos, and creamy Cajun chicken pasta.

What are the core ingredients needed for the chicken fried rice?

The core ingredients for the chicken fried rice are rice, chicken breast, carrot, sweet corn, peas, and soy sauce.

Why is it recommended to cook rice the day before when preparing chicken fried rice?

Cooking rice the day before is recommended to prevent overcooking and to ensure the rice doesn't become soggy, which is important for good fried rice.

What is the purpose of using sesame oil in the chicken fried rice recipe?

Sesame oil is used to add flavor to the chicken fried rice, although it's optional due to its additional cost and calories.

What are the key ingredients for the shredded chicken burritos?

The key ingredients for the shredded chicken burritos are chicken breast, 8-inch white tortillas, sweet corn, beans, jalapenos, bell pepper, onion, lime, and fajita spice mix.

Why is it suggested to poach and shred the chicken for the burritos?

The chicken is poached and shredded to make it easier to wrap neatly in a burrito, easier to eat, and to provide more surface area for the seasoning to attach to.

What is the reason for not overfilling the burritos during the wrapping process?

Overfilling the burritos can cause the filling to spill out and make the burritos difficult to wrap and eat.

What is the significance of using rigatoni or fucili for the creamy Cajun chicken pasta?

Rigatoni or fucili are recommended for the creamy Cajun chicken pasta because they are better at retaining their shape and texture when meal prepped, unlike other pasta types that can become mushy.

Why is it important to monitor the salt content when making the creamy Cajun chicken pasta?

Monitoring the salt content is important to avoid the final dish being too salty, as both the Cajun seasoning and chicken stock can contribute to the overall saltiness.

What is the recommended storage method for the creamy Cajun chicken pasta after it's prepared?

The creamy Cajun chicken pasta is best stored in the fridge for up to 4 days, as it may not survive freezing as well as the other meal prep ideas.