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Kid-Friendly Chicken on the Cheap

With big flavors and small prices, you can prepare these kid-approved chicken recipes from All You for under a $1.50 per serving.

Chicken Tonight

Hands-down, chicken is the most popular main dish to serve for dinner. So why not save money on this family favorite? We put our budget-friendly recipes to the test with our kid taste-testers; see which recipes came out on top.
Chicken Pot Pie (1.38)

Your kids may not even notice that they’re eating veggies when the spoon into in the creamy chicken mixture topped with tender biscuits. The budget-friendly feature of this recipe is that you make your own biscuits from pantry basics instead of buying canned or frozen biscuits.

Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie
Cornflake-Crusted Chicken (1.43)

Use your kids’ favorite breakfast cereal to make a crispy coating for chicken tenders. Decrease or omit the red pepper if your kids don’t care for the heat.

Recipe: Cornflake-Crusted Chicken
Teriyaki Chicken Drumsticks (1.01)

Make an easy teriyaki sauce for the drumsticks with soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic and ginger. Kids love the sweetness of this not-too-spicy sauce.

Recipe: Teriyaki Chicken Drumsticks
Easy Broiled Drumsticks ($0.86)

"It's a little crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside, with a lot of flavor," kid judge Davis raved. Plus, drumsticks are just as easy for small hands to hold as they are for Mom to make!Recipe: Easy Broiled Drumsticks
Grilled Chicken Skewers ($0.92)

The key to getting kids to eat healthier is to make meals fun! Our panel of judges enjoyed eating this grilled chicken off of skewers, and even suggested serving it with easy sides such as broccoli and mashed potatoes.Recipe: Grilled Chicken Skewers
Fried Chicken ($.65)

This Southern favorite makes use of the whole chicken; a less expensive option than chicken breasts. Be sure to start prepping early so that the poultry has plenty of time to soak in the buttermilk.Recipe: Fried Chicken
Buttermilk Chicken Tenders ($1.19)

With a kick of heat from Tabasco and cayenne, this recipe received the highest marks. (You can leave out the spices for not-so-daring taste buds.) In the judges' words, the chicken tenders are "spicy, really juicy, and flavorful." See more kid-friendly chicken fingers. Recipe: Buttermilk Chicken Tenders
Chicken Fried Rice with Vegetables ($0.88)

Why order takeout when you can fix fried rice for the family in less than 30 minutes? Although this hearty dish can stand alone, feel free to add other Chinese recipes to your dinner menu.Recipe: Chicken Fried Rice with Vegetables