Frugal Meals for the Week Using Chicken and Potatoes

If you're looking for a way to make your groceries stretch further without adding more work to your week, this simple trick is going to be a game-changer: chicken and baked potatoes — made together in the crock pot.

That’s right — just two affordable ingredients, one slow cooker, and endless possibilities for meals all week long. It’s the kind of no-fuss prep that works perfectly for busy families, budget-friendly meal plans, or anyone who wants dinner without drama.

One Crock Pot, Two Staples:

Here’s how we do it:

• Place raw chicken (breasts or thighs) in the bottom of the crock pot. Remove some of the skin if needed. Season generously — think garlic powder, salt, pepper, paprika, or whatever you've got in the spice drawer.

• Wash and poke the potatoes with a fork, then place them right on top of the chicken in the same slow cooker.

• Cover and cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for about 4.

That’s it. By the time dinner rolls around, the chicken is tender and easy to shred, and the potatoes are soft and fluffy. Two basics, prepped at once, with zero oven time and no standing over the stove.

Stretch It Through the Week:

Once everything is cooked, you’ve got a mix-and-match meal prep base that can take on different flavors every day. Here are a few simple ways to use it:

• Loaded Baked Potatoes with Shredded Chicken
  Add cheese, sour cream, green onions, or BBQ sauce for an easy dinner.

• Chicken Potato Bowls
  Chop the potato, toss with chicken and leftover veggies or greens, and top with ranch or dressing of choice.

• Tacos or Wraps
  Shred the chicken, slice the potatoes, and serve it all up in tortillas with salsa, beans, or slaw.

• Homestyle Chicken & Potato Hash
  Pan-fry chopped potatoes with chicken, onions, and peppers for a quick skillet meal.

• Easy Chicken Lo Mein Teriyaki
  We just added this recipe to the blog using leftover spaghetti noodles, chicken, and a bag of coleslaw!

At Grateful Acres Farmstead, we’re all about meals that stretch, save, and satisfy. This crock pot combo checks all the boxes:

- Minimal prep
- No waste
- Budget-friendly
- Kid-approved

And best of all — you can make it once and have options all week long.

Want more practical ideas like this? Be sure to subscribe to the Grateful Acres YouTube channel for weekly recipes, frugal food tips, and real-life encouragement from our home to yours. 💛