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Farm logo featuring a stylized evergreen tree, representing sustainability and agriculture. The design emphasizes a clean, modern look with bold typography.

One Chicken, Many Meals

Blog

When flu season is making the rounds, most of us are craving the same things: warm food, simple ingredients, and meals that actually make us feel nourished.

One of the most reliable winter habits we know is this: roast one whole chicken for dinner, then turn the bones into broth or soup.

It’s economical, comforting, and deeply rooted in traditional home cooking — long before “immune support” became a buzzword.

Why Start With a Whole Chicken?

A whole chicken gives you:

  • A satisfying dinner the first night

  • Leftover meat for lunches or a second meal

  • Bones and connective tissue perfect for broth

Instead of buying multiple products, you’re getting several meals from one animal — with very little extra effort.

Step 1: Roast the Chicken (Simple Is Best)

You don’t need a complicated recipe. The goal is good flavor and juicy meat.

Basic Roast Chicken Method

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F

  2. Pat the chicken dry

  3. Season generously with salt and pepper

  4. Optional additions: garlic cloves, onion halves, lemon, thyme, rosemary

  5. Roast for 45–60 minutes, until the skin is golden and the juices run clear

Let the chicken rest before carving. This keeps the meat tender and flavorful.

Dinner idea:
Serve with roasted root vegetables, potatoes, or a simple salad.

Step 2: Save Everything

After dinner:

  • Store leftover meat in the fridge

  • Put the carcass, skin, and any drippings into a container

This is where the magic happens.

Step 3: Make a Nourishing Broth

Broth is less about curing anything and more about supporting your body with hydration, minerals, and warmth — especially helpful when appetites are low or throats are sore.

Simple Chicken Broth

  • Chicken carcass

  • 1 onion (rough chopped)

  • 1–2 carrots

  • 1–2 celery stalks

  • A splash of apple cider vinegar (helps draw out the micronutrients from the bones)

  • Water to cover

Simmer gently for 2–12 hours (stovetop or slow cooker). Strain, salt to taste, and store

👉 Pro tip: Souper Cubes make freezing and storing a breeze

Why people love it during cold & flu season:

  • Warm liquids are soothing

  • Easy to digest

  • Encourages hydration

  • Uses the whole animal

No claims. Just good food doing what good food has always done.

Step 4: Turn Broth Into Soup

Broth can stand alone — or become something more filling.

Ideas:

  • Chicken noodle soup

  • Chicken & rice

  • Lemon chicken soup

  • Add leftover chicken meat, garlic, greens, and grains

You’ve now turned one chicken into multiple meals across several days.

Why This Matters (Especially in Winter)

Cooking this way:

  • Reduces food waste

  • Saves money

  • Makes weeknight meals easier

  • Honors the animal by using the whole bird

And during the winter months — when illnesses circulate and schedules feel heavier — having nourishing food ready to go can make a real difference in how a week feels.

Start With a Better Bird

When chickens are raised with care — slowly, on pasture, with good feed and good lives — the difference shows up in flavor, texture, and how satisfying the meals feel.

A well-raised chicken doesn’t just make a better dinner. It carries you through the week. 👉 Shop now