A dread-day dinner that still covers the basics: crispy General Tso's chicken from the freezer bag, a full bag of broccoli florets, and jasmine rice. Three items, one stop in the frozen and rice aisles, about 5 minutes of actual work.
Time20 min5 minutes hands on
People23 works too, see below
Rough kcal700per person, estimate
Tonight$11.36of $11.36 in packages
01
Balance check
ProteinGeneral Tso's chicken
Green vegetableBroccoli florets
StarchJasmine rice
The sauce is sweet and salty. Use only part of it if you want it lighter, and toss some of it with the broccoli.
About 700 kcalper person, rough estimate
General Tso's chicken420
Steamed broccoli florets40
Jasmine rice240
02
Prep order
About 20 minutes
0:00
Start firstpreheat the air fryer (or oven) to the temperature on the chicken bag. If the bag says to thaw the sauce pouch, set it in a bowl of hot water from the water heater now.
0:03
Chicken into the air fryer basket in one layer. Set the timer for the bag's air fryer time and shake the basket halfway.
Last 6 min
Broccoli bag into the microwave for the time printed on the bag.
Last 2 min
Rice pouches in the microwave, 90 seconds. Warm the sauce if it is still cold.
Serve
Toss the hot chicken with the sauce in a big bowl right before eating so it stays crisp. Rice, broccoli, chicken on top.
03
Recipes
3 parts
Air fryer (or oven)Serves 2
Air fryer General Tso's chicken
Ingredients
1 bag (18 oz) InnovAsian General Tso's chicken, with its sauce pouch
Steps
Preheat the air fryer to the temperature printed on the bag. The oven works too; use the bag's oven directions.
If the bag says to thaw the sauce, keep the pouch sealed and set it in a bowl of hot water while the chicken cooks.
Spread the frozen chicken in one layer. Do not crowd it; do two batches if your basket is small.
Cook for the bag's time, shaking halfway, until the pieces are crisp and hot all the way through.
Warm the sauce if needed, toss it with the chicken in a large bowl, and serve right away.
Sauce goes on at the very end. Tossed early, the coating goes soft.
Microwave steam bagServes 2
Steamed broccoli florets
Ingredients
1 bag (12 oz) Meijer steamable broccoli florets
Optional: a few drops of soy sauce, or a spoonful of the General Tso's sauce
Steps
Microwave the bag as printed on it, then let it sit a minute before opening (the steam is hot).
Split between two plates. Season with a little soy sauce or some of the chicken sauce.
MicrowaveServes 2
Jasmine rice
Ingredients
2 pouches Meijer 90 second jasmine rice
Steps
Squeeze each pouch to break up the rice, tear the vent, and microwave 90 seconds.
Aisle and section numbers come from Meijer's product pages. The store map is unknown, so the walk between stops is a best guess: shelf-stable first, cold food last. Pantry items, if you need them, are in Aisle B 15 (see Pantry check).
Buy 2 bags of chicken (you will use about 1.5 bags; the rest keeps in the freezer) and 3 rice pouches. One bag of broccoli stretches to 3, or grab a second for bigger portions. Cook the chicken in two batches if the basket is full. Tonight's share comes to about $16.25.
Prices, aisles, and sections are from the Urbana Meijer catalog pages, not checked at the shelf today. Cook times come from the packages, so check each bag. Nothing was ordered. Meijer, 2500 S Philo Road, Urbana.