Chicken is an ingredient in so many recipes.  Buying a rotisserie chicken saves you time making dinner on a busy day.

Other time saving tips are:

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• Buy pre-cut vegetables or prep earlier in the week. They can be used immediately, refrigerated for 2-3 days or frozen.

• Sautéed vegetables can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for 3 days.

• Buy premade crusts and keep in freezer, ready to use for pot pies and other recipes.

• Freeze leftover chicken for future use.

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1. Chicken Pot Pie: Buy or make a pie crust. In a pot, add 3 cups chopped chicken, your favorite cooked vegetables and seasonings and 2 teaspoons flour. Mix and cook over medium heat until the mixture thickens. Place chicken mixture in crust and use a vented top crust if desired. Bake for 30 minutes until crust is golden.

2. Chicken Quesadillas: Sauté vegetables of choice such as bell peppers, onions and mushrooms. Layer tortillas with chicken pieces, vegetables and cheese. Fold and bake about 10 minutes. Top with your favorite salsa.

3. Chicken Stir Fry: Buy or cut a mixture of vegetables such as carrots, bell peppers, zucchini, snow peas, onions or garlic. Heat vegetable oil until hot and stir fry the vegetables.  Add bite size chicken pieces and mix.  Add your favorite sauce and stir until thickened. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve over rice or Asian noodles. 

4. Chicken with Pasta:  Cut chicken into bite size pieces. Use fresh chopped tomatoes, basil and a tasty marinara or alfredo sauce.  Cook your favorite pasta and drain, saving 1/4 cup of the pasta water.  Add chicken mixture and sauce to pasta, tossing gently. Add cheese if desired.

5. Chicken Tacos: Cut chicken into bite size pieces. Add chopped fresh vegetable such as lettuce, tomatoes or bell peppers. Place in tacos and top with a salsa.

6. Chicken Noodle Soup: Add bought or home made broth and cut vegetables such as onions, carrots and celery. Cook until soft. Or add frozen vegetables of choice and heat briefly.  Stir in chopped chicken and cooked noodles and you have an easy and comforting meal. Soup can be easily frozen for future use.

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