How to Meal Prep Chicken...if you hate meal prepping.

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📃 RECIPE Link(s)
▪ Chilaquiles - www.ethanchlebowski.com/cooki...
▪ Chicken Salad - www.ethanchlebowski.com/cooki...
▪ Grilled Chicken Wrap - www.ethanchlebowski.com/cooki...
▪ Green Chile Chicken Mac & Cheese - www.ethanchlebowski.com/cooki...
▪ Poblano con Queso Taco - www.ethanchlebowski.com/cooki...
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📚 Videos & Sources mentioned:
▪ How to Meal Prep...if you hate meal prepping - • How to 'Meal Prep'...i...
📸 Instagram ➔ / echleb
🎚 TikTok ➔ / ethanchlebowski
🐣 Twitter ➔ / ethanchleb
USEFUL KITCHEN GEAR
🌡Thermapen Thermometer: alnk.to/6bSXCCG
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🥌 Budget Whetstone for sharpening: geni.us/1k6kComboWhetstone
🧂 Salt Pig: geni.us/SaltContainer
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🪓 Woodcutting board: geni.us/SolidWoodCuttingBoard
⏱ TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Intro
1:50 Sunday
3:15 1 - Monday Lunch: Pizza Sandwich
6:30 2 - Monday Dinner: Grilled Chicken Salad
8:40 3 - Tuesday Lunch: Poblano con Queso with Chicken
11:40 4- Tuesday Dinner: Green Chile Cheddar Chicken Pasta
14:00 5 - Wednesday Lunch: Chicken Salad Flatbread
15:55 6 - Wednesday Dinner: Chilaquiles Verde w/ Chicken
🎵 Music by Epidemic Sound (free 30-day trial - Affiliate): share.epidemicsound.com/33cnNZ
MISC. DETAILS
Music: Provided by Epidemic Sound
Filmed on: Sony a6600 & Sony A7C
Voice recorded on Shure MV7
Edited in: Premiere Pro
Affiliate Disclosure:
Ethan is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to [Amazon.com](amazon.com/) and affiliated sites.

[@helmutkrusemann9194]

Vote for a playlist actually titled "Things the Ethan Actually meal prep and Cook for himself in Real Life." More meal prep videos please

[@EthanChlebowski]

I'll try to do these every once in awhile!

[@noodles.dumplings.kimchi2878]

Second this motion.

[@MrJacobegg]

These videos where Ethan goes through a real "pseudo meal prep" and then shows what he does with the protein during the week are easily his most practically helpful videos. I love the science deep dives and fancy dishes, but my life is busy AF and I only have time to get fancy in the kitchen at most once or twice a week. The rest of the time, I need something that can be ready in 5-15 min, tops, especially for lunch.

[@noobcannon1322]

@@EthanChlebowski These, and more macro-friendly videos please! Your macro-friendly recipes actually taste like normal food rather than dry-scooping whey powder.

[@colinvazquez5643]

We need these videos every week. It’s a nice crossover into the fitness community. We need more people who can actually cook and not just dump protein powder into a recipe and call it healthy/good tasting

[@dwmetzger]

This is my favorite video Ethan has ever done. I fear that it may be less "algorithm friendly" than "How to make a delicious sandwich" or "best way to cook bacon at home," but I would love (and pay for) 10 more in this series. I loved that some of the meals were a little odd, maybe not ready for a thumbnail or instagram -- because they demonstrate the thought process of pulling something together last-minute that still works even better than something more polished. I was also inspired by the small detail of coming home after a week of travel and (after doom-scrolling for a while) going to the store for just a handful of basic fresh ingredients. And, even more outside the main scope of the video, I was super inspired by the way Ethan integrates a wide variety of activity and exercise (golf, traditional lifting, jogging, hot yoga) into his day, and his clear commitment to work/life balance. I don't know what we need to do to support more content like this, because it's clearly as much work as a regular video and probably appeals to a smaller audience, but I'd pay for more if I could!

[@87911]

This is cooking not a meal prepping like the previous video mealnprepping with beef. He doesn't braise or precook the chicken so he can prepare meal faster.

[@earningattorney9887]

retweet

[@arunkarthikma3121]

@@87911 Did you not watch the entire second half of the video? He braises the chicken and uses it in 5 different recipes. Not to mention, the whole point of this video is to show a realistic week. He used the leftovers as prep for the next day.

[@Homer-OJ-Simpson]

You’re meal prep using slow cooked meat from two weeks ago was perhaps the most useful cooking video I’ve seen. I already tried it after buying a 10 lb slab of pork for $11. I slow cooked 5lbs and used it throughout the week to make variations of the same meals you did - Tinga tacos, ban mi sandwich, and pasta with meat. I also used it in a stir fry. I still have another 5lbs frozen and next time a slow cook meat is on sale, I’m going to buy and repeat the process again. Such a useful video. Will also be trying this chicken meal prep.

[@13ON3S]

Some would say the pinnacle of cooking is working at a 3 Michelin star place or something, but to me it’s this. The whole cooking great food at a pinch with what you have and doing it every day like this is hard and its a skill. You seem to have it and so does Kenji. Cooking like this is what I aspire to eventually do.

[@jimbojimbo6873]

It’s always about you isn’t it TuckTuck?

[@zvezdoblyat]

But 3 Michelin star chefs don't cook 3 star dishes for themselves at home either. Their process probably looks somewhat like this

[@winterfoxx6363]

THIS is real life. It’s exactly the kind of content we need

[@ab81747]

This honestly just makes me feel so envious that you can set your own schedule. I'm so glad some people get to live this way and wish it was more common. When basically 9 hours of everyday is already pre-scheduled by your employer it makes it so much more demotivating to be creative and active outside of work. Man all this food looks incredible.

[@jsegovia]

This might be the BEST video you've ever made. And that's no small compliment given the high quality videos you usually make. This video is exactly what I strive to achieve as a home cook. Prep a main ingredient (protein) during the beginning of the week and then use pantry staples, leftovers, and a few grocery buys to make simple, inexpensive meals based on whatever it is I'm in the mood for at that moment. Brilliant strategy and I love that you've laid it out for us to follow in a very simple manner. Thanks Ethan!

[@sunidaze]

I braised some Chuck roast last week and my most picky kid told me that he "'couldn't stop eating it". I have some frozen thighs and can't wait to try this meal. I even happen to have the white cheddar powder too - I originally got it for popcorn and didn't think about making cheesy pasta. Edit: I has some tostadas left over from the crunch wraps too. This video seems tailor made for me! Lol

[@oryxthemad]

I really love this "food I made with random shit I found" thing. I'm always really scared with recipes turning out too different when I make it with ingredients that only half fit, so the improvisation in this video was comforting because the presentation of even most home cooks on youtube is that they always know what they're doing. It feels good to know that things can turn out well even if you don't plan everything out to a T. Most relatable and notable moments were the "I'm so tired I can barely even talk so I made a sandwich out of a pizza" on Monday as well as the "this pita bread was in my freezer for a month" lmao

[@jtoscat]

I'm going to pile on into the praises for this video and concept Ethan. You've been absolutely crushing it recently between this prepping/philosophical content and the ingredient subtype breakdowns. Really hitting the sweet spot merging education and science with relatability and unabashed truth/openness.

[@BostonFan7754]

This is one of the most insane KZbin videos I've seen in my entire life it's absolutely surreal watching someone with their life this together

[@EmilyMarais]

This feels like such a cosy insight into what you really eat. And it’s cool to see how you spend your time, taking advantage of good weather to play golf and working into the evening afterwards is a great example of being consistent, not rigid.

[@mariasantos-cl3th]

good lunchbox meals would be good! eg. recipes that work well eaten cold too. for uni students, work etc

[@GuysInGreenHats]

Its actually so nice to see that all the food you make for your videos doesn't go to waste. I'm sure it can be annoying at times, but you definitely utilize it throughout your weeks.

[@miketuttlesmusic]

These “Meal Prep Without Actually Meal Prepping” videos are so useful. I have a massive pork shoulder braised and sitting in my fridge right now, alongside a whole chicken I pressure cooked. Ready to whip up meals for our family of 3 this week.

[@-beTHEchange-123-]

This is the most real life meal prep I’ve seen ever. This is how I cook !

[@gabenight7]

This is perfect for me. I struggle with leftovers and doing something like this is the perfect in-between AND doesn't lock me in on specific meals.

[@stephenhawkins9476]

I follow a lot of chefs on KZbin and it can be daunting and soul crushing to see them use a grocery list of expensive items that you can't afford! Relatability is important!! Thanks Ethan for this video. You made multiple meals out of simple food we all have access too!!❤️❤️

[@bffmrk]

Might not copy the exact ingridients but Ethan gives me ideas how to really make a "lazy" meal for the weekdays. Such relatable content from the grocery part down to really using them for the rest of the week/month.

[@edensthings]

This combo of "prep one thing then just see what strikes inspiration" is the perfect combo of Meal Prep and ADHD it's perfect for me! Any chance you could try a a vegetarian video in this style?

[@404JNF]

I love this! “Ingredient stacking” is something I rarely consider, but this shows just how effective it can be in making lunch and dinner less of a chore.

[@TheBswan]

Suburban mom pasta looks fire. Also admiring your restraint from crushing leftover pizza by itself.

[@briankobayashi1998]

Easily one of my favorite videos you have made thus far, would love for this type of series to become a regular thing, so helpful and encouraging.

[@sabreenabdullah5623]

This version of meal prepping is so helpful I've been looking for ways to prep chicken thighs for the week. Can't wait to try!!

[@Sweatyleftist]

Yeah this is great for someone who has access to their kitchen at every point of the day

[@ProbstfeldCreative]

Mad respect that you edit your own videos.

[@boothgoodies6348]

I loved the braised beef prep from a few weeks ago, but my family doesn’t anything that feels like “leftovers”. I was able to sneak some of it into a Bolognese sauce. Today, you’ve inspired me to grab a bunch of proteins from the freezer, have them prepped and ready in my fridge, but still cook them fresh for that day’s meal. Also - you gave me a great idea of what the heck to do with my leftover quesadilla ingredients. About to go make a taco salad!

[@ellen2321]

Love these ideas! I'd love to see this series continue with some ideas for this style of meal prep for people who pack lunches for work or school.

[@hm02fly75]

This is possibly my favorite series of yours. Starting with a base of a protein that can last throughout the week and building out meals from there has made cooking so much more pleasant. After watching the first video I braised a chuck roast from Costco and made pastas, sandwiches, quesadillas, and rice bowls for me and my wife and this video has given me some ideas to put something together with some chicken. Cooking is enjoyable but between work, life, etc. it can feel cumbersome trying to put together meals all the time so getting the protein out of the way and keeping my fiber options simple but complimentary to the protein is very helpful and makes meals come together so much more quickly.

[@jmcmonster]

Nice! This is how I cook basically every week. The main difference is that I cook all of the protein (chicken in this case) on the same day. I keep it super simple from a seasoning perspective on that initial cook and then make flavor mods when putting together the actual dish. Still allows me to save time during the week, but I’m not eating the same exact meal every day. The key to success is having a well stocked pantry and fridge/freezer to make the meal complete.

[@tahadarwiche8059]

Love how genuine you are in these videos and how easy these recipes can be made! Such a useful video.

[@MrBraddizzle24]

This type of video is AWESOME! Ways to vary the "meal prep" videos is really useful and helps me have more confidence in the kitchen. One question - what's the longest you've let chicken dry brine? I thought I remember you or Kenji at one point saying not to dry brine longer than 8-12 hours, but I can't remember why - taste or texture gets weird after that? Am I just remembering incorrectly? If there were no terrible effects, I think having some ready-to-go brined chicken in our fridge to cook fresh at any time throughout the week would be awesome.

[@112Famine]

Honey-mustard is great on chicken & as a salad dressing & it's two ingredients, Natural Nate's "Texas" honey, & Gordon's Spicy Brown mustard, is the brands I'd pick.

[@Lucas-fl6py]

This is so perfect!! I watched the meal prep video last week and tried to do something like it but I don't really like that kind of beef so I struggled to actually follow through with it. I'm sometimes wary of just buying ingredients without knowing exactly what I want to cook because I don't like to waste food, but the use of chicken in this video and the multitude of different ways you made meals while still sticking to the same basic formula (meat, vegetables, flavorings) is the perfect combination of laziness and creativity for a person like me who likes to cook but can get overwhelmed by the prospect of meal prep. The true improvisation is really really motivating!!

[@yitziyyb]

Loving this meal prep series!!

[@christopherkarr1872]

Thank you, Ethan, for sharing the biggest tip in preventing food waste! If you don't have room (or the desire) to freeze proteins, you can *always* salt them at the time of purchase and get an extra couple days to a week of fridge storage out of them; and since you're going to want to salt them anyway, it's a win-win.

[@nahomap]

This is how I cook too. I would love to see your take on how you choose your produce to minimize waste and also get lots of fresh veggies in your food.

[@hollish196]

Love the banana pepper liquid with the oil for dressing! Bet that salad would be great with Napa cabbage, too. (I really dislike leafy lettuce). Also like the slow braise on the chicken!

[@arraiacc]

I'm only 2 minutes 22 seconds in but... more like this please! So far this is right up my alley, exactly what I needed! Thanks 🙂

[@debtozzi1]

Love your videos and Sunday Cooking Club newsletters. You are such an inspiration! I have been doing this type of meal prep since I retired as it allows my passion for cooking to get to a level of creativity I never knew I had! I call these meals my "Chopped" meals (as in the TV show). The best thing is that my husband thinks I am a cooking wizard that can put a meal together with just about anything I have in the fridge or pantry!

[@pheonix1371]

I can't praise you enough. My week is going so much smoother after prepping protein like how you showed in this video and using it to make similar dishes.

[@sepidehshahmohammad5624]

I love that you are going through the food that you have made for other videos and not waste or spoile anything 🌸

[@catherinejbaker]

I love this format, more of this please!

[@terry5749]

I LOVE this new series. It’s so flexible and doable with a varied schedule!❤

[@ky_23]

yes!!! absolutely loved this!!!! hope to see more of this series!!!!

[@johannboth]

Your tip around clean while you cook is a game changer... It's a massive time saver.

[@15drasedrase]

Please please please make more of these!!!! This is the content I need in my life!!!! I feel inspired!!!

[@agd712]

Fire content as always. You have ramped up my cooking rotation 10 fold.

[@kunalshah800]

You are doing a great job! I have seen your channel grow and seeing your channel helps for day to day cooking, is really helpful

[@BigTimeEaters]

Ethan always coming through with the efficient ideas for home cooking and love the inclusion of atomic habits, great read

[@JohnDotBomb]

I do this! I usually bake one of those 10 pound bags of chicken thighs for my roommates and I every week. the giant bags have skins and bones which I take out after baking and throw in a slow cooker for broth

[@mikesims6638]

Another fantastic video! I always look forward to your weekday meals video to give me inspiration!

[@saturn_Il]

As someone who's just trying chicken in my diet due to its remarkably low calories, and hates meals prepping this is a perfect in-between. You get quick easy savory meals with optional variety everyday!

[@rohitdas4573]

Cleaning & Decluttering while cooking sounds so simple but it never came naturally to me. Thank you very much for making these videos. It has actually made a positive impact on my life.

[@lukaszenko10000]

This philosophy of cooking is definitely inspiring

[@bleachismyfriend]

thank you Ethan! This video was recommended to me but I used to watch your videos a lot a couple years ago and stopped. I think I’ll keep watching your videos to instill some creativity in the kitchen for myself. I have so many ingredient foods in my pantry and fridge but just don’t know how to assemble them into a nice meal anymore. I’ll slowly get better though

[@GarrettGarman]

Thank you for making this!! You’ve addressed all my resistance to meal prepping. ❤🎉🎉🎉

[@boateye]

I loved your method with the Sunday chuck roast braise so I'm looking forward to this!

[@LostQuays-wg6xn]

Awesome video. You've answered my questions and inspired me some. Thank you for the info ! 👍

[@anonharingenamn]

This type of meal prep is perfect for my life. More please

[@bishwajit1996]

Just started home cooking when I moved to my own place, and I am definitely gonna try this Thank you !!

[@TwistedArtLady]

I love these meal prep videos you've been doing, also been loving your comparison videos. Have you done a pulled pork meal prep video? If not I'd love to add my vote for that. Cheers, happy holidays.

[@praetorfenix69]

This concept has been so helpful to me since the first video a couple of weeks ago! I'd love to see you do this kind of video with some non-meat protein options like beans or tofu.

[@puppibanana]

I love these meal prepping series, they really help me save time and eat well at the same time.

[@sdarg6271]

After braising some chicken thighs this morning, I wondered if Ethan had a video for what to do with the shredded bits! My hero! Thank you!

[@VerhoevenSimon]

It's the same for me, I like to ingredient prep rather than meal prep. And then whip something up as the mood strikes.

[@georgelennon3151]

I love this series, keep it going.

[@dabnessofp]

Totally relate to daylight savings ruining golfing! We play par 3 at like 330pm so we can try to get 9 or 18 holes in depending on how fast it moves. Also great recipes and framework for super useful weekday cooking on a busy schedule. Keep stuff like this coming

[@joshold5840]

I loved this and the braised chuck meal prep vids

[@BLACKbloodPUNK]

Very very helpful, Thank you Ethan!

[@Moto_Plus]

Hands down my favorite YTer, keep it up Ethan!

[@tylergroenendal5220]

This was a great video, thank you. This and the braising stuff has caused me to re-evaluate my entire meal prepping strategy.

[@akicarus9508]

i hope people actually listen and watch, them implement, your ancillary kitchen tasks i.e. clean/prep as you go. it makes cooking at home so much more expedient and doable. love the content lad

[@laifnow]

Great inspo and super handy tomato-cutting-hack. Thx

[@tawmjawn]

Great comment about how traditional meal prep can take away the fun of cooking during the week. I like that while it’s chicken all these days, it’s cooked and presented in a bunch of different ways rather than being the same grilled chicken through till Wednesday.

[@clucero1986]

These are the most useful videos for a novice cook that relies on recipes.

[@truthinlovemama]

Great video! With three kids, this is how I often cook- didn’t know it had a name! It just makes sense to cook extra if I’m cooking something anyway. “Ingredient stacking” for the win. I love what you did with the chicken. I am always looking for new ideas, so thank you!!’ Going to watch the braised beef video next.

[@liftstretchrepeat]

How long does it take you to shoot and edit a video? The amount of detail you put into these is insane

[@SolarGuy605]

So glad you did this! I was already doing this with a whole chicken.

[@rafaelperalta1676]

Good thing I always have my notif on for your channel.

[@juliannam3456]

i LOVED this video, big fan but like many others have said one of the best videos you have made

[@ryanleung206]

one of my favorite videos of yours!

[@Adustlandfaerytale]

I would love a video from you on how best to use your freezer for home cooking. For example, I never thought jt freeze fresh made bread products or homemade tortillas, but it's a game changer. So other tips like that for ingredient components we could pull out to still cook a proper meal.

[@SANTAMU3RTE]

Ethan you’re a god!!! thank you for these meal prep videos they’re very inspiring!

[@claireworld_]

I absolutely love it!

[@RubyJamez]

I like those videos, this is a similar weekday cooking situation to what I already do, but this videos help me be a little more creative in what dishes I can make with my bulk. Ethan maybe you can make one like that for vegans/vegetarians, having bulk meat on hand is less tricky then a pot of beans.

[@TitanTubs]

Very valuable information for somebody who has eaten take out and fast food my entire life. 💜

[@TxDan100]

I love this... thank you!

[@camillewinnie4389]

Thanks for another great video.

[@alexozerovmeyer]

Fantastic video as always Ethan! Would really love to know more about your pre production process ie writing the script and what you mean by that and the general framework of your videos.

[@stephend2239]

Haven't heard of Made In until your Carbon Griddle and Press. Thanks for the intro.

[@tomodda1]

Man, I just went thru a container of Ethan Braised Shredded Meal-Prep beef. Now for chicken, looking forward to it!

[@ashleafgirl9741]

Even tho Monday was a so called weird day for you, it was awesome to see some unique ideas with the pizza for how to utilize leftovers. Very realistic for how the week goes and great ideas for recipes. Thoroughly enjoyed this video!

[@hatchhermit77]

Pretty impressive video, but the wow moment for me was when you cut up all those grape tomatoes in one slice! Wow!

[@JCrozier1]

Hell yeah! Definitely learned some things on this one. Just ate, but I'm hungry again now. thanks.

[@michaelmarchiano6737]

Your best video yet!

[@clipship7940]

high quality content as always

[@aluette1]

you are so organized!

[@freemovies411]

Oh I love this video, especially the Ingredient Stacking thing! It'll definitely make me feel less bad about always having leftovers one way or another. lol

[@ApocalypseGuy1]

Great video as always. That being said, this kind of approach only really works if cooking is also your hobby. Me personally, I like cooking huge meals for meal prep 1-2 times a week, but if I had to spend time in the kitchen every night after work, I'd probably be too tired to do it more often than not.