Frugal Friday: Chicken Pockets with Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
These Chicken Pockets are the perfect “lazy” dinner. They come out to just $1.63/serving, making them the perfect budget meal too. I like to pair these with fresh arugula drizzled with lemon juice, olive oil, and salt for the perfect weeknight dinner.

The Budget Breakdown
Heres the breakdown:
I used frozen chicken that I got for $11.11 for 48oz ($0.23 /oz) This recipe calls for 8 oz, bringing my total to just $1.84 for the chicken. You can double this for more protein, you will just need to add 1/4 cup of chicken broth to the mixture to accommodate the texture.
1 Pillsbury Crescent Roll Cans – Total of $6.68 for 16 rolls.
16oz Cream Cheese – $4.50
Total Cost- $13.02 ÷ 8 = ~$1.63/Serving (2 Chicken Pockets)
I use salt, pepper, and freeze dried chives to season the filling, but you can use whatever you already have on hand. Red pepper flakes are so good in the recipe too!
I have a pretty big family, so this is technically a double batch of the recipe. You can cut this recipe in half if you have fewer people to feed; however, these save so well in the freezer and make the perfect lunch paired with some fruit or a salad!
How to make Chicken Pockets
Step 1
Start by boiling your chicken. Chop the cooked chicken and set aside.
Step 2
In a mixer, combine the cream cheese, chicken, salt, pepper, and chives (or whatever seasonings you already have on hand) Mix on high until well combined and chicken is shredded.
Step 3
Fill the Pillsbury Crescent rolls with the mixture and bake at 350 until golden brown (about 15 minutes). Enjoy these chicken pockets warm or save in an airtight container in the freezer and reheat before serving.
Serving Ideas
For lunch, I like to pair these Chicken Pockets with a spinach salad with strawberries, or an apple if I am on the go.
For dinner, my favorite way to serve these is with a simple, fresh arugula salad.
Frugal Shopping Tips
Compare prices by looking at the price per oz instead the total price when cooking for multiple people.
Opt for “off brand” or “house brand” items vs the name brand. These are usually almost identical and will most definitely save you some $$$
Avoid “convince” packed items. These are usually pre-cut fruits or veggies, or pre-cooked meats that can end up bring priced 5-10x the amount of the actual food itself. Try to prep all of your foods at home.
PLAN. The best way to save money at the grocery store is to plan ahead. Start by planning your meals and go in with a shopping list. Don’t buy anything that isn’t already on that list.
Cook as much of your food from scratch as you can.
If you liked this recipe, make sure to keep and eye out every Friday for my Frugal Friday posts with homemade bread recipes, homemade pasta recipes, homemade salads and dressings recipes, homemade dinner and dessert recipes and more! These posts will always include a brief Budget Breakdown and simple ingredients to help you put together easy dinner ideas that the whole family will love.