Where to Buy Chicken in Bulk: A Complete Guide

Chicken is one of the most versatile and popular meats. It can be prepared in endless ways – fried baked, grilled sautéed – and used in everything from soups and salads to main dishes and sandwiches. Buying chicken in bulk allows you to save money while always having this tasty and healthy protein on hand. But where exactly can you find affordable bulk chicken? This complete guide covers the best places to buy chicken in bulk along with helpful tips for choosing quality bulk chicken.

Online Direct from Farms

One of the best ways to buy fresh, high-quality chicken in bulk is to order it online directly from sustainable family farms When you buy directly from the source, you are getting the freshest chicken possible Many small farms now offer online ordering and direct shipping options. Here are some of the top farms to buy bulk chicken online

Watson Farms

• Based in South Carolina, Watson Farms raises chickens on pasture and feeds them an all-natural, non-GMO diet.
• You can order whole pastured chickens along with bulk packs of chicken breasts, thighs, wings, and leg quarters.
• Watson Farms ships frozen chicken nationwide from their online farm store. They offer 1-day shipping to North Carolina residents.

Perdue Farms

• A leader in premium chicken, Perdue Farms sells organic, free-range, and high-quality conventional chicken.
• Their bulk chicken packs include boneless skinless breasts, wings, thighs, leg quarters, and whole chickens.
• Value packs come in sizes ranging from 3 lbs up to 15 lbs. Perdue ships frozen chicken nationwide.

Bringhurst Meats

• Bringhurst Meats is a small family-run business selling pastured chicken from Amish country farms.
• Their bulk chicken options include whole birds, breasts, thighs, legs, wings, and backs sold by the case. You can customize cutting and wrapping.
• Bringhurst Meats is located in New Jersey and offers pickup options in addition to nationwide shipping of frozen chicken.

The benefit of ordering bulk chicken directly from family farms is that you know exactly where your chicken is coming from. You can feel good supporting small sustainable farms while getting delicious, humanely-raised chicken.

Warehouse Clubs

Warehouse clubs like Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s are go-to sources for buying bulk chicken at discounted prices Benefits of shopping bulk chicken at warehouse clubs include

• Huge pack sizes – Warehouse clubs carry value packs ranging from 6 lbs up to 40 lbs of chicken. This allows you to stock up and save.

• Private label brands – Many warehouse clubs have their own private label chicken brands, such as Kirkland at Costco. These house brands are high-quality and affordable.

• Frozen or fresh – Warehouse clubs sell both frozen bulk chicken packs as well as fresh chicken you can individually quick freeze at home.

• Other discounts – As warehouse club members, you can take advantage of other perks like fuel discounts when buying bulk chicken.

Check the weekly sales and ads at your local warehouse club to find the best bulk chicken deals. Make sure to compare unit prices.

Grocery Stores

Your local grocery store is another convenient option when looking to buy chicken in bulk on a budget. Here are some tips for finding the best bulk chicken deals at the grocery store:

• Seek out family packs – Look for value-sized family packs of chicken breasts, thighs, drumsticks, etc. These usually range from 2-5 lbs.

• Check freezer section – The frozen meat department almost always carries larger bulk sizes of chicken compared to the fresh meat counter.

• Ask a butcher – The in-store butcher can let you know when they get shipments of bulk chicken or can custom cut family packs.

• Time sales – Check newspaper ads and online circulars to find the best bulk chicken deals and stock up when chicken goes on sale.

• Buy generic brands – Opt for the grocery store’s private label generic chicken over national brands to save money on bulk chicken.

Butcher Shops & Meat Markets

Local butcher shops and specialty meat markets are fantastic sources for finding high-quality chicken in bulk quantities. Here’s what to know about buying bulk chicken from butchers and meat markets:

• Custom cutting – Many butchers will custom cut, trim, and package chicken per your request and budget. Ask them to create bulk value packs.

• Unique selections – Butchers source chicken from smaller local farms that grocery stores don’t carry. This means you can find heritage breed and locally raised chicken.

• Discounted pricing – Because butchers work directly with farms and cut out retail markups, their bulk chicken prices are often cheaper than grocers.

• Fresh or frozen – Ask your butcher for both fresh bulk chicken options that you can freeze at home as well as frozen value packs.

Developing a relationship with a local butcher is a great way to access specialty bulk chicken for less.

Shopping at Multiple Places

The truth is you’ll often find the best bulk chicken deals by shopping at a combination of places – from farms online to warehouse clubs and butchers. Here are some tips for shopping multiple venues:

• Compare pricing between stores before stocking up to get the best deals. Unit prices are key.

• Buy fresh local chicken from a butcher and pair it with frozen online farm chicken for variety.

• Stack discounts, coupons, and rewards programs from across retailers.

• Break up bulk packs from different stores for more variety in cuts, sizes, etc.

• Store bulk packs in the freezer and restock when supplies run low.

Mixing up where you buy bulk chicken helps you find the finest quality chicken for the most affordable pricing.

Buying Chicken in Bulk: What to Look For

To make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck when buying chicken in bulk, keep these tips in mind:

• Inspect packaging – Packaging should be intact, not leaking, and chicken should be well frozen if purchasing frozen chicken.

• Check sell-by date – Only buy bulk chicken with a sell-by date that allows you adequate time to cook it.

• Know your cuts – Understand the differences between cuts like boneless skinless breasts, bone-in thighs, leg quarters, etc.

• Consider processing – Unprocessed chicken costs less than pre-cut chicken. But pre-cut can save time.

• Focus on cost per pound – Bulk sizes lower the per-pound price, but confirm the unit price is really cheaper.

• Factor in added value – Free-range and organic chicken costs more but provides added health benefits.

Doing a little research helps ensure the bulk chicken you buy is both a bargain and high quality.

Storing Chicken Bought in Bulk

The key to enjoying chicken bought in bulk is proper storage. Follow these tips:

• Use freezer bags – Re-package bulk packs using heavy duty freezer bags or vacuum seal if possible.

• Freeze fast – Get bulk chicken into the freezer within 1-2 days of purchasing for best quality.

• Maximize freezer space – Use flat containers or bags to stack and efficiently freeze bulk chicken.

• Avoid freezer burn – Use moisture-proof packaging and minimize air exposure to prevent freezer burn.

• Organize – Label bags with contents, amount, and date frozen for easy freezer organization.

• Keep frozen – Only thaw bulk chicken as needed and keep the remaining packs frozen.

With the right freezer storage methods, you can keep bulk chicken fresh for 9 months or longer.

Get Cooking with Bulk Chicken!

The possibilities are endless when cooking with bulk chicken. Here are just a few ideas for putting bulk chicken packs to delicious use:

• Shred rotisserie chicken for easy casseroles, sandwiches, wraps, and salads all week long.

• Simmer bone-in chicken thighs in a soup or braise until fall-off-the-bone tender.

• Grill marinated chicken breasts or drumsticks for effortless weekday meals.

• Bread and bake chicken tenders or nuggets for an easy weeknight family dinner.

• Meal prep baked or sautéed chicken breasts to add to healthy lunches and bowls.

• Whip up a classic chicken noodle soup with pulled roast chicken, stock and veggies.

• Use ground chicken in place of beef for lighter tacos, burgers, meatballs and more.

With endless versatility and variety, bulk chicken makes easy, budget-friendly eating a breeze!

Buying chicken in bulk allows you to save money on this healthy staple protein. You can source great quality bulk chicken through online farms, warehouse clubs, grocers, and butchers. Focus on cost per pound, inspect packaging, and employ proper freezer storage. With a well-stocked bulk chicken freezer, you’ll always be ready to make delicious, quick and easy chicken recipes your family will love.

How Much Food to Serve at a Party

A 40 lb case of chicken breasts can contain anywhere from 20 to 75 or more individual breasts, depending on the size and cut of the breasts.