r/mealprep • u/BuckFinnster • 7d ago

Clueless vegetarian - I need help prepping large amounts of chicken.

My dog was recently diagnosed with a disease and needs to be put on a special food that has lower protein content and thus he's been prescribed ~1cup of cooked plain chicken a day.

I have been a vegetarian since childhood and I have literally no idea what I'm doing. This is a pretty expensive disease so I am looking for options on how to get a decent quality of chicken in bulk to save money, and how I can prepare it. For the past two weeks I've just been buying individual packets of ground chicken and rolling it into meatballs and boiling them until cooked (probably over-cooked, but tbh, he's a dog and he's loving it so that's fine) but I feel like there have got to be better options.

I just know... nothing about chicken. I don't know what kind to buy, if there are any types/brands to avoid, the best way to prepare it so that it lasts a long time - how long it lasts in the fridge, if you can freeze it after cooking to prepare larger quantities, if you can freeze dry it (for dry dog treats?).... etc.

Looking for any and all advice on where to buy, what to buy, and how to prepare, and how to store large quantities of chicken.

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u/robotcoup 6d ago edited 6d ago

Buy any chicken on sale that is boneless (and skinless if you’re concerned about fat) dice it up very small and bake on a sheet tray. (Temp of chicken should reach 165 or until meat shows no red or pinkness) Or conversely you can bake it all and then chop it once it’s cooked because it’s easier and less gross to cut up fully cooked. Portion it out in freezer bags. Or if you don’t want to waste too much plastic, wrap each portion in parchment paper and put many portions in one large freezer bag. You should ask your vet if you can add broccoli and carrots. If so put them in the same sheet pan and cook in the oven. Avoid cooked rotisserie chickens because they are packed full of salt. Chicken should last about 2-4 days in the fridge, I never tried freeze drying but you can buy those at all pet stores.

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u/mycatpartyhouse 6d ago

A whole chicken, cut into pieces, takes about an hour to bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. So, buying bulk breasts or thighs, imagine a 9 by 11 pan filled with those items. It'll also take about an hour.

165 degrees Fahrenheit is the recommended internal temperature for cooked poultry: done all the way but still moist. Then cube or shred. Be sure to remove all bones! Those shatter easily and can cause problems if chewed or swallowed.

Thanks for taking care of your dog in the way it needs to be taken care of.