$5.00 Crock Pot Chicken "Stir Fry"

I love Chicken Stir Fry. It is an easy and healthy meal. However, out of curiosity I wanted to see if there was a way to mimic the flavor in the Crock Pot - therefore making it even easier. I found this recipe for an Asian inspired Crock Pot Chicken. Using the user comments on the recipe I adapted the recipe.

The night before I prepared the sauce to make a quick fix in the morning. If you make the sauce in advance, be sure to stir it well in the morning as the brown sugar will separate out. The sauce probably has a few more calories than regular Chicken Stir Fry, however you are saving fat from not using oil to fry the chicken. I also saved calories by replacing the Sprite with lemon and lime juice. If I had Sprite Zero or Diet Sprite this would have been a good choice as well.

Below I have calculated the approximate cost of both the main dish and a side salad.

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts with rib meat, large $2.70 ($8.11/lg. package divided by 3 meals)
• Frozen stir-fry vegetables $0.99
• Brown Rice $0.56 ($1.69/box divided by 3 meals)
• Total = $4.25

Pantry Items:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2/3 cup vinegar
• 1/4 cup Lemon and Lime juice (about 1/8 cup each)
  
• 3 -4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
  
• 1 teaspoon white pepper
  
• cornstarch

Directions:

1. Place chicken in crock pot.
2. Pour frozen vegetables over chicken.
3. Mix all pantry ingredients and pour over chicken.
   
4. Cook on low for 6 hours.
5. Break up chicken with spoon.
   
6. Add cornstarch to thicken sauce a bit. A shake or two will do.
7. Serve over cooked rice.
8. Enjoy!

Side Tossed Salad

2 bags chopped lettuce $4.98 ($2.49 x 2)
4 tomatoes $3.49
2 cucumbers $1.58
Total = $10.05

Obviously, buying a head of lettuce would have been less expensive, however the store did not have any available while we were shopping. I used the ingredients to make one large salad in a covered bowl. This will save time throughout the week as all I’ll have to do is serve out a small side salad with several meals. I expect to use this salad for at least 5 meals. This makes each day about $2 or $1 per person.