Welcome back! Okay, I thought last week’s meal prep was the last I was going to cook in my kitchen before moving, but I was wrong. Mid-week I decided to use up the last four chicken thighs in my freezer to make these Sticky Ginger Soy Glazed Chicken Meal Prep boxes to get us through the rest of the week before packing up and shipping out.
This week’s meal prep is super simple, but also my favorite type of meal prep. I love doing an easy base of rice or noodles, frozen broccoli florets for my greens, and some sort of protein. It’s such an easy and delicious formula and you can do so many variations on the rice or noodles and protein, that I never get tired of it. I love using frozen broccoli florets in meal prep boxes because they hold up well, and because they require no chopping or cooking (they’re already blanched), so they’re super convenient.
The highlight of this meal prep box is the Sticky Ginger Soy Glazed Chicken and rich Garlic Noodles. Both are extremely easy, so this week’s meal prep comes together very quickly. Everything in this meal prep holds up well in the fridge, but I wouldn’t freeze this one as the noodles will get quite dry. One more note about the chicken: the glaze will be nice and clear when you first cook it, but it may turn a bit cloudy as it refrigerates. No worries, though, the flavor wont’ be affected. :)
For more information about meal prepping, how it works, and why I do it, check out Meal Prep 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Prepping and Portioning Meals, or check out my entire Budget-Friendly Meal Prep Archive.
Sticky Ginger Soy Glazed Chicken Meal Prep
This Sticky Ginger Soy Glazed Chicken Meal Prep Includes:
Sticky Ginger Soy Glazed Chicken (1/2 batch, 4 thighs): $4.04
Garlic Noodles: $2.54
3/4 lb. Frozen Broccoli Florets: $1.27
Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes: $0.05
Total Cost: $7.90
Cost Per Box: $1.98
No Leftovers this time, yay! I added a pinch of red pepper to each box just because I wanted a little heat, but that’s totally optional.
The single compartment glass meal prep containers seen in the photos are from Amazon. (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Tips:
- Make sure to read the label on frozen broccoli closely! There are several types of frozen broccoli and while the terminology can depend on the brand, they’re usually along the lines of florets, cuts, or stems and pieces. Make sure to get the bag labeled “florets” or you may end up with a lot of stems. While stems are great for casseroles, soups, and recipes where the broccoli will be puréed, they’re not quite as appetizing just for eating plain.
- Spoon all of the sauce from the Sticky Ginger Soy Glazed Chicken into your boxes so you have a little extra flavor to share with the broccoli. :)
- This box reheats in the microwave without any special considerations (but it’s always a good idea to stir often while reheating). You also shouldn’t have any issues with extra juices or things getting soggy or limp this week. That’s why I love this type of box!
- If you want to use fresh broccoli, I suggest steaming the florets until they just begin to turn tender and are bright green before adding them to the box. That will soften them just enough so that they will cook at an even rate with everything else when you reheat your meal.
- For frozen florets, you don’t need to even thaw them before adding them to the box (unless you’re going to eat one portion the same day). The florets will thaw in the fridge overnight.
And that’s all I’ve got for you this week! I may nor may not have a meal prep next week depending on when the movers deliver our belongings, but my fingers are crossed! :)
I love that you’ve started doing this meal prep series! I meal prep your mini garden turkey loaves about once a month. They are perfect with some mashed potatoes/cauliflower and a veggie!
Welcome to Nashville. You are going to love it. Been here all my life. Hope the move goes well.
Loving the site, just joined a few weeks ago after reading your book at the library. Got several good recipes that I have been trying. Like the added bonus on the site of the approximate cost. Very helpful.
Welcome! And thank you! :)
thank you SO MUCH for these meal prep posts that you have been doing. i’ve been trying to meal prep for lunch way more often (so much easier than making different things daily) and i like seeing how you combine the different recipes you have. keep doing these, please!!
No matter how prepared you are, moving is always stressful and exhausting–best wishes for a problem free experience! And thanks for another wonderful idea.
You mentioned you grabbed the chicken out of the freezer- did you freeze pre-cooking or after? Is it OK to marinate ahead of time, chuck in the freezer, then thaw and cook later?
I had the thighs frozen by themselves. I did thaw them in the refrigerator over night before making this. :) You could probably add the marinade and freeze them that way before cooking. I wouldn’t freeze them after cooking, though. The sauce won’t stay nice and sticky.
I do a number of different chicken “and sauce” freezer packs. Our favorite is Maple Dijon, but Teriyaki works, so this one will, too. Instead of individual servings, I served family style.
I get a bulk pack of chicken thighs and split into meal-for-family amounts. You can do it for singles, too. I make a triple batch of the sauce, and put the meat and the sauce into zipper freezer bags. Freeze flat so they can be stored more easily. Separately, I freeze cooked brown rice in quart bags (feeds 4-5). This way, the meat and starch is done, just bake the chicken as directed (after fully thawed), and saute or steam some fresh carrots, broccoli, string beans, or greens. So easy! BONUS: you can give away a meal just like this when someone you care about is moving, or just had a baby or surgery, or a spouse come home from being overseas… contain 3 quart bags (meat, rice, veg) inside a gallon storage bag. with a love note!
Just echoing all the thanks for doing the meal prep posts. I’m newly single and trying to cook for myself more, and these are exactly my speed.
Moving can be an adventure! Hope all goes well for you.
I’ve made this exact meal before, except with your quick garlic parmesan broccoli (often skipping the parmesan as I often forget to buy it when I run out). I’ll have to try with frozen florets when I forget about buy the broccoli crowns.
Thanks for another great meal prep! Moving can be such a pain, I hope it goes smoothly for you!
Good luck with your move, Beth!! :-)
I was dying to make your garlic noodles but I was struggling with how to make a real meal out of it, so clearly this was divine intervention! I substituted the chicken with baked tofu and it was still really amazing. Very grateful you took a moment in a hectic time to share yet another great meal with us!
it looks like these are single serve plates, which is a cool idea.
are these able to go into the freezer?
I don’t think this one will freeze so well because the garlic noodles don’t have a thick enough sauce to keep them moist through the freeze/thaw.
Good luck with your move, Beth!
This looks awesome, but I have to say I’m most impressed with the fact that you’re keeping up with the cooking/blogging/posting/prepping after you’ve packed up your kitchen!! Good luck with the move! 😀
Hahaha, I wish. This was the last thing I cooked BEFORE packing my kitchen. :D
I am obsessed with these meal plans! My boyfriend and I have been using your website to prep lunches for the week for years, but this makes my life so much easier. Please keep up the awesome work!
Thank you!!