How to Hack a Blue Apron Box Like a Boss

Most people think cooking as a college student sucks. You might not have access to a fully-functioning kitchen, you’re short on time, you don’t know what you’re doing, or all the above. So many excuses.

We wanted to prove that you can hack a legit meal together with just a few ingredients, in full college swagger. So we teamed up with our friends at Blue Apron to challenge the idea that college kids can’t cook.

In our makeshift office “kitchen,” we transformed their chicken pot pie recipe into savory chicken and waffles, which feels a bit more college-y, and isn’t too bad as a late-night snack either.

Photo courtesy of Blue Apron

Most importantly though, there’s no full kitchen required. All you need is a toaster oven, waffle iron, single burner and a little creativity. BOOM.

Blue Apron is extending a special discount to Spoon readers so you can hack your own box. Click here to try Blue Apron and get your first two meals free. #winning

Chicken & Sage Biscuit Pot Pie: Hacked into Savory Chicken & Waffles

• Prep Time:15 minutes
• Cook Time:45 minutes
• Total Time:1 hour
• Servings:2
• Medium

Ingredients

• 1 skinless chicken breast
• 1 cup buttermilk biscuit mix
• 1 oz white mushrooms
• 1 carrot
• 1 stalk celery
• 1/2 lb purple top turnips
• 1 pinch sage
• 3 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoon chicken demi-glace
• 1 tablespoon crème fraîche
• Salt
• Pepper
• Olive oil

• Step 1

  Finely chop mushrooms, celery and sage.

  

• Step 2

  On an olive oil coated pan, cook celery and mushrooms down until cooked, about 5 minutes.

  

• Step 3

  Add a dollop of crème fraiche and a touch of salt and pepper. Mix together.

  

• Step 4

  Chop turnips and carrots into cubes.

  

• Step 5

  Season with olive oil, salt and pepper and roast in the toaster oven at 400°F for 20 minutes.

  

• Step 6

  Slice breasts of chicken into strips and coat in flour.

  

• Step 7

  Take vegetables out of the oven, move veggies to one side of the pan. On the empty side, spray with cooking oil and place strips of chicken. Put back in the oven and cook for 10-15 minutes at 400°F until cooked.

  

• Step 8

  While the chicken is baking, mix biscuit dough with water until it just comes together.

• Step 9

  Add the cooked mushrooms, celery and sage to the biscuit dough and mix until fully incorporated.

  

• Step 10

  Spray your heated waffle iron with cooking spray and place biscuit dough in the iron. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown.

  

• Step 11

  Heat chicken demi-glace in the microwave for 10-15 seconds until a liquid-like consistency.

• Step 12

  Assemble your chicken and waffle and enjoy. Hack lyfe.

  

• Step 13

  #SpoonTip: If you can’t find a plate, use the top of the Blue Apron shipping box.

   

   

  After you’ve finished cooking the meal, you can either recycle the packaging or reuse it.

  And being the scrappy startup peeps we are, we found alternative uses for all of it.

  Shipping Box

  

  Photo by Max Bartick

  Necessary cutting board for tequila shot limes.

  Spice Carton

  

  Detangle your headphones for good.

  Cooler Bag

  

  Photo by Max Bartick

  Host a party like a champ by keeping your dranks cool.