$50 Grocery Haul: 4 Recipes From One Batch of Shredded Chicken Breast
Looking for an easy way to save money on meals without eating the same thing all week? This chicken haul starts with one large batch of shredded chicken breast made in the Instant Pot or slow cooker, and turns it into four completely different budget-friendly meals.
With just a handful of shared ingredients, you can make easy chicken enchiladas, chicken quesadillas, a BLT chicken salad, and pulled chicken sandwiches. It’s an easy meal prep strategy that saves both time and money while keeping dinner interesting.
$50 Shredded Chicken Grocery Haul at a Glance
- Total grocery budget: About $50
- Main protein: Shredded chicken breast
- Meals created: 4 different meals
- Total servings: 4 to 5 per meal
- Average cost per serving: About $2.50
- Bonus: Leftover ingredients for additional meals and lunches
Shredded Chicken Grocery Haul Recipe List
- Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Breast (protein base)
- Easy Chicken Enchiladas
- Chicken Quesadillas
- BLT Chicken Salad
- BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
The Grocery Haul Concept
One of my goals with Plating Pixels is to help people make delicious meals while saving money. With about $50 worth of groceries and one batch of shredded chicken, you can create four family-friendly meals that deliver around 20 servings in total, costing less than $2.50 per serving.
Because many of the ingredients are used across multiple recipes, this approach helps maximize your grocery trip and each ingredient, while keeping meal prep simple. You’ll also have some leftover ingredients that can be used for extra meals, lunches, or easy add-ons later in the week. When everything is divided out, the cost averages about $2.50 per serving, making these recipes a great example of how a little planning can go a long way.
Why This Haul Works
- One shopping trip with budget-friendly recipes
- Cook once, eat multiple meals
- Four completely different recipes
- Minimal food waste
- Family-friendly dinners
- Great for meal prep lunches
- Leftover ingredients for future meals
$50 Chicken Haul Shopping List
This simple grocery haul provided enough ingredients to create four easy family meals throughout the week.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Meat
☐ Boneless skinless chicken breasts: About 4 to 5 pounds
☐ Thick-cut bacon: 16 ounces
Bakery & Tortillas
☐ Hamburger buns: 4
☐ Large flour soft taco tortillas: 5
Produce
☐ Iceberg lettuce: 2 heads
☐ Roma tomatoes: 6
☐ Tri-color coleslaw mix: 16 ounces
☐ Yellow onion: 1
☐ Garlic bulb: 1
☐ Fresh limes: 2
Dairy
☐ Fiesta blend shredded cheese: 16 ounces
Canned Goods
☐ Green enchilada sauce: 2 cans (10 ounces each)
☐ Diced green chiles: 1 can (4 ounces)
Condiments & Sauces
☐ Barbecue sauce: 6 ounces
☐ Apple cider vinegar: 2 ounces
Spices
☐ Ground cumin: 1 jar
Note: Pantry staples such as salt, pepper, and cooking oil are not included in this shopping list.
Shredded Chicken Base Recipe
The foundation for all four meals is my easy Instant Pot shredded chicken recipe. The chicken comes out juicy, tender, and perfectly seasoned. It’s great for meal prep because it stays moist in the refrigerator and works in everything from sandwiches to salads. Cook this first, then store or freeze the leftovers to make the following recipes later.
Get the Shredded Chicken Recipe
Don’t have an Instant Pot? You can use cooked, shredded rotisserie chicken or my Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken.
Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Video
Prefer to learn while watching? Check out my YouTube channel to watch and follow along while cooking this recipe.
Meal #1: Easy Chicken Enchiladas
Servings: 5 large enchiladas
Using about 1 pound of the shredded chicken, plus tortillas, enchilada sauce, green chiles, and cheese from the grocery haul, I made these easy chicken enchiladas. These chicken enchiladas are loaded with authentic flavors for an easy comfort food dinner.
Why I love them:
- Family friendly
- Great for leftovers
- Freezer friendly
- Perfect use for shredded chicken
Get the Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
Chicken Enchiladas Video
Prefer to learn while watching? Check out my YouTube channel to watch and follow along while cooking this recipe.
Meal #2: Chicken Quesadillas
Servings: 4
When I need a quick lunch or weeknight dinner, chicken quesadillas are one of my favorite options. Crispy tortillas, melted cheese, and seasoned shredded chicken come together in minutes.
Why I love them:
- Ready fast
- Kid friendly
- Easy to customize
- Great for leftover chicken
Get the Chicken Quesadillas Recipe
Chicken Quesadillas Video
Prefer to learn while watching? Check out my YouTube channel to watch and follow along while cooking this recipe.
Meal #3: BLT Chicken Salad
Servings: 4
This BLT salad with chicken is a lighter option that still feels filling and satisfying. Crisp lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, and shredded chicken are tossed with a creamy dressing for a meal that’s perfect during warmer months.
Why I love it:
- High protein
- Lower carb option
- Great for meal prep lunches
- Fresh and flavorful
Get the BLT Chicken Salad Recipe
Meal #4: BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
Servings: 4
These pulled chicken sandwiches are one of the easiest meals in the entire haul. The shredded chicken gets tossed with barbecue sauce and piled onto buns. Add coleslaw on top for extra crunch and flavor.
Why I love them:
- Budget friendly
- Crowd pleasing
- Great for game day
- Minimal prep
Get the Pulled Chicken Sandwiches Recipe
Pulled Chicken Sandwiches Video
Prefer to learn while watching? Check out my YouTube channel to watch and follow along while cooking this recipe.
More Budget-Friendly Meal Prep Ideas Coming Soon
This shredded chicken grocery haul is the first in a series of budget-friendly meal hauls and meal prep plans.
Upcoming hauls include:
- Pork Chop Haul
- Shrimp Haul
- Ground Beef Haul
- Family Dinner Meal Plans
If you enjoyed this post, be sure to bookmark it and subscribe to my newsletter for future budget-friendly meal ideas.
I am always looking for budget friendly recipes and all four of these fit the bill! Good tasty meals for the family.