Jam-packed afternoons are sending families back to an old favourite to ease the never-ending ‘what’s for dinner?’ panic.

For many families, the dinner rush doesn’t start anywhere near 6pm, it’s more like a 4pm dread that collides with the busiest time of the day.

First there’s the school run, then the kids need to get to sport, someone still has homework, there’s a load of washing waiting to be folded and suddenly you realise you haven’t thought about dinner.

For so many Australian families, the answer is increasingly an old supermarket favourite: the hot roast chook.

We recently asked more than 100 Mouths of Mums members to try IGA’s Hot Roast Chicken and share their thoughts. Many of them discovered that the humble bachelor’s handbag is a brilliant dinner shortcut, and so much more.

‘The 4pm panic bag is a winner!’

Reviewer Elle G summed it up perfectly, saying an IGA Hot Roast Chicken is, “The 4pm panic bag.”

The beauty of a hot chook is that it’s a dinner solution you don’t have to plan days ahead. It’s easy to grab on the way home from after-school activities and have dinner ready in a jiffy.

For reviewer Skye M, the chicken meant dinner was sorted before heading out for football:

“Dinner was on the table in under 20mins and a much better option than takeaway.”

And for Hannah T, discovering her local IGA had hot chickens was a game changer:

“What a lifesaver, I didn’t know our local IGA offered hot and fresh roast chickens.”

She served it in different ways for her family, then turned the leftovers into school lunch sandwiches.

Today’s dinner becomes tomorrow’s lunch and dinner inspo

Families told us they used their leftover chicken in pasta, wraps, sandwiches, salads, soup and curry.

Bianca H turned hers into a quick pasta dinner and then used the leftovers for sandwiches and wraps for the week.

Nicole F was already planning the next meal:

“I’d also like to make curry chicken and rice, easy as, the chicken is already cooked, so perfect when the family has busy times.”

And Kirrilee C said hot chicken had become a regular part of her meal planning:

“Staple in the fortnightly meal plan, saves me cooking and whole family enjoys the taste, even super fussy kids!”

One chicken goes a long way

For families, the real test of a roast chicken isn’t necessarily whether it feeds everyone once. It’s whether there’s enough left for tomorrow.

Kaylie B said:

“We had enough to feed our family of four for two days!”

She served the chicken with risotto before turning the leftovers into grilled chicken and cheese sandwiches.

Another reviewer, Chantal C, was impressed by how much mileage she got from hers:

“$10 and we were able to feed the family and have left overs.”

Reviewer Monique G agreed.

“With competitor’s chickens, I rarely get left-overs for our family of six, however the IGA chicken was generous and plump.”

And even fussy eaters loved the IGA Hot Roast Chickens.

“My boys are very picky eaters and I struggle to find something they both like but this dinner had them asking for more!” – Rhylee L

So, is the humble roast chook having a comeback?

Or maybe it never really went away! But our reviewers suggest the supermarket roast chook is finding a new role in family life.

It’s not just the Sunday roast anymore, it’s the ‘we’ve got football in 20 minutes’ dinner.

The ‘I forgot to think about dinner’ dinner. The ‘we’ve suddenly got three extra teenagers here’ dinner.

Hot Roast Chicken FAQ

How long does a hot roast chicken last in the fridge?

Once purchased, cooked chicken should be refrigerated promptly and kept at 5°C or colder. Food Standards Australia New Zealand recommends using refrigerated leftovers within 2 to 3 days. Always check the storage instructions on the packaging.

Can you reheat a hot roast chicken?

Yes. Leftover cooked chicken can be reheated, but it should be heated thoroughly until it is steaming hot all the way through. Australian food-safety guidance recommends reheating leftovers to at least 75°C in the centre.

Only reheat the amount you plan to eat rather than repeatedly reheating the entire chicken.

What’s the best way to reheat roast chicken?

You can reheat chicken in the oven, air fryer, microwave or on the stovetop.

The best method depends on whether you’re reheating a whole portion, individual pieces or shredded chicken. Whatever method you use, make sure the chicken is hot throughout before serving.

Can you freeze leftover roast chicken?

Yes. Cooked chicken can be frozen when it has been handled and stored safely.

If you aren’t going to eat the leftovers within the recommended refrigerated storage period, freezing them can help extend their shelf life. Portioning the meat before freezing also makes it easier to defrost only what you need.

How many people does a roast chicken feed?

It depends on the size of the chicken, how many people you’re feeding and what you serve with it.

The IGA reviews show that some families were able to stretch a generous chicken across more than one meal, particularly when the meat was added to pasta, wraps, sandwiches, salads or soup.

What can you make with leftover roast chicken?

Try leftover chicken in:

• sandwiches and wraps
• pasta
• salads
• curry
• soup
• toasted sandwiches
• rice dishes
• school lunches
• work lunches

How do you make a roast chicken stretch further?

Serve it with vegetables, salad, rice, pasta or bread, then save the leftover meat for another meal.

The Mouths of Mums reviews show families using leftovers for everything from sandwiches and wraps to pasta, curry and soup.

Is supermarket roast chicken healthy?

That depends on the particular product, how it has been prepared and what you serve with it.

Roast chicken can be a source of protein, but nutritional information varies between products. Check the nutrition panel on the specific chicken if you’re looking for information about calories, fat, sodium or other nutrients.

Is a supermarket roast chicken good value?

It depends on the price, size and how much of the chicken you use.

The reviews suggest families see value when one chicken provides dinner plus leftovers for lunches or another meal. Price is still an important consideration, though, and what represents good value will vary between households.

What can you do with the chicken bones?

Once you’ve safely removed and stored the leftover meat, the bones can be used to make chicken stock or broth.

One reviewer mentioned making broth from the bones, showing that even the bits left after dinner can be put to good use.

Based on real experiences shared by the Mouths of Mums IGA Hot Roast Chicken Review Team.